Apr 27

How To Live Out of a Back Pack – Part 3

Shashi Harrie Shares Her Lifetime Experience – What to Pack to Live

Here’s the third and final part of the series on what of what to pack in your backpack to live anywhere in the world.  Shashi also discusses the problems of monkeys in India and warns about them.  Also check out your local REI store, she purchased a lot of her light weight stuff there.

Apr 16

Nomadic Woman Lives Out of Backpack For 20 Years

A Review of Her Backpack Contents and Tips For Extended Travel

by Adventurer Shashi Harrie

Video by Paulie Hunt

Photos by Julie Webster

Shashi’s Latest and Famous Backpack

Contents of Sashi’s Backpack.

Our dear friend Shashi was just about to leave for another travel adventure.  She had been globe-trotting for over 20 years, living simply and mostly out of her back pack and a rolly suitcase.  She has been almost everywhere, including Tibet and Latin America.  This trip was to go back to India, seeking wisdom at her favorite Ashram.

Before she left we persuaded her to meet at a friend’s apartment and go through her entire backpack kit.  Over the years she had refined the things she carried to get the lightest items, but also the strongest and long lasting items.  I know that one of  her favorite places was REI in Santa Monica for excellent camping gear.  She agreed to share her experience and go through the items that she has found to be a necessity for extended travel and adventure.  She caries a water filter, a rice cooker, and a device to grind nuts and seeds, because she will be eating mostly things she prepares and finds in even small villages, including rice, beans and fresh veggies.. Being on the road can be expensive if you travel like a rich tourist and stay in hotels and have all meals in restaurants.  Shashi prefers to be on foot or bus and find a really cheap place to  stay or camp and cook her own food.  This savings allows her to travel constantly on a very small fixed income.  She also works a little along the way, or  trades services with businesses.  She has fixed computers, done bookkeeping, is a licensed acupuncturist, a trained karate security guard, and many other talents.

Please enjoy the video below and following that some photos we took of her equipment.  Notice that to keep organized, things are kept in cloth or vinyl waterproof bags and little pouches.  For instance, the first aid kit is in one bag, toiletries in another, food prep stuff in another.   That keeps everything organized in her backpack.

Note:  The video below is only 16 minutes.  We will upload the entire 50 minute version soon.

 

Shashi Harri  (L) and Julie Webster

Big Fun Videographer Paulie with Shashi Harri

I am very  sad to say that our dear friend passed away on her last trip in early 2019, due to  being caught in a dreadful storm and getting pneumonia.  We will certainly miss her calm disposition and great knowledge.  This is her last gift to those who live out of their backpacks, by choice or by chance and hard times.  She was so happy to share this information with everyone at gypsycool.  Rest In Peace dear Shashi Harrie.