u/CaptainScoregasm

I'll be traveling to SEA, Oceania and East Asia later this year and was trying to figure out if I should splash on new traveling gear or if I'm fine to just run with what I have available already.

Around 10 years ago I backpacked Cambodia and Vietnam and had a big nice 'backpacking backpack' with me but ever since then I just traveled with 'normal suitcases' but I haven't been on a trip over a month in a while.

Currently, I could just take a bigger checked luggage suitcase on wheels as well as a carry-on (certified or whatever, correct size) small suitcase. But I was also thinking about buying new gear like a high quality duffle bag or something along those lines (honestly Peak Design marketing got me there).

I'll be going "Indonesia -> Australia -> New Zealand -> Korea -> Japan -> Vietnam -> maybe more" later this year and I'll mainly be bringing along normal clothing and very very little and old/unexpensive camera gear. We'll mostly be staying at airbnb's, hotels and hostels - no adventure travel, no camping etc.

What's the advice here? Will two suitcases do (maybe along a day-backpack that I stash in luggage empty)? Is a duffle better for this type of travel?

Later this year I will travel Asia from mid August to mid/end of November, which would cover around 4 months of rent where I wouldn't by in my room for most of it (literally being on the other side of the planet does that).

I'd be allowed to try and sublet my room for those 4 months, which would be 4k that I wouldn't have to spend essentially, but it's not guaranteed that I'd find someone in that time. I'd also need to put in the effort myself for subletting of course.

The other possibility is just ending my tenancy, which I would have to do tomorrow with 3 months of notice. This way I'd be guaranteed not to pay 4k for nothing. I'm not that attached to the room (it's one room in a 11-people-shared-living situation) but it would mean moving back to my parents for 2 weeks in August and then again in November until I find a new apartment upon returning from my trip.

Generally, I don't mind a few weeks at my parents, we're on very good terms and it's a nice house (although a bit more rural) and I'm 29 already but whatever, I'm only a bit worried that finding an apartment after returning could take a few months as I'll also be looking at new jobs at the same time.

TL;DR: going on a 4 month trip later this year. Have to decide if i want to sublet or void my room while I'm gone.

I'll be traveling to Australia with a friend for the first time all the way from Switzerland in September this year and my first fixed stop will be in Melbourne early September as I've gotten event tickets there at the Cricket Ground. Essentially, I can arrive in either Adelaide or Melbourne on the 5th and the event is in Melbourne on the 11th (so ideally I wake up in Melbourne on the 11th).

For me it's a bit cheaper to fly into Adelaide while for my friend it's cheaper to fly into Melbourne, so if we'd go from Adelaide he'd fly into Melbourne and then travel to Adelaide himself (flight or train).

So the question essentially is, is it worth to have a night in Adelaide and Portland each (as well as the stretch between Adelaide and Portland) or are we better off just flying into Melbourne and then doing a sort-of circuit of the Great Ocean Road from there?

Are we missing out on something worthwhile when we just fly into Melbourne and do a 2-3 days circuit on the great ocean road? Or are the extra logistics not worth it?

PS: I'll be coming in from Bali and I'd be the one driving so jetlag isn't really a factor for me

Everywhere I've looked so far people have been recommending MONA, even on short stays in Tassie. I'm not the biggest Museum-guy, despite actually having studies art-adjacent fields (3D Animation/Game Art), and having visited some great Museums on past travels (and enjoyed them).

But is spending half a day at MONA really worth over being able to see more of Tassies nature? I get visiting Museums on a city-trip to say Paris, but when going to Tassie for a road trip just for a few days, am I missing out if I skip MONA?