8 Things You Ought to do Before Going on an Overnight Camping Trip

I had the opportunity to go camping on the outskirts of Mumbai over the Valentine's Day weekend and I grabbed it with both hands. The trip to Pawna Lake in Lonavla was organized by the Facebook group, Traventures and 14 happy campers made it to the venue. It was a good experience and I returned from the trip with some tips for my blog readers who may be interested in going to a campsite where everything is already set up. So here goes...

1. Remember to charge your powerbank the day before the trip.
2. To reach by 4 p.m. we had to leave Mumbai by 11:30 a.m. so be mentally prepared for traffic. 
3. Keep songs loaded on your phone to play in the car or at the venue. I suggest making a separate playlist for different moods.
4. Check what the weather will be like at night and pack warm clothes if needed. It was freezing cold when I went since the campsite was near a lake. But it was warm during the day so be prepared for contrasting weather during the day and night.
5. Ensure that your phone has strong network at the campsite. 
6. Preplan your stay time.
7. If you are camping around a lot of dry grass keep the fire at bay.
8. Bring a cheerful attitude along and remember why you're going for the trip in the first place - to have fun and make new memories. Dont forget to take lots of pics in case memory fails you down the line :-P so do carry a reliable camera.

Here's a somewhat elaborate checklist of things you'll probably require for an overnight camping trip:

[]Cell phone and powerbank/charger

[]Wallet (with ID) and money (cash)

[]Comfy night clothes - preferably long pants and tee (mosquitoes!) - 1 pair

[]Extra undergarments - 1 pair

[]Handkerchief and small towel

[]Hair brush and hair band

[]Extra contact lenses / Glasses

[]Moisturizer, night cream and day cream / sunscreen (face & body)

[]Facewash

[]Wet wipes and/or dry tissues

[]Tooth paste, toothbrush and tongue cleaner

[]Lip balm

[]Make up

[]Mirror

[]First Aid (Paracetamol, Avomin, Roko, painkiller tablet, band-aid, cotton)

[]Prescription meds

[]Odomos

[]Charged Kindle / Book 

[]Earphones

[]Shawl / Stole

[]Bottle of water

[]Bedsheet

[]Masks

[]Hand sanitizer

[]Surface disinfectant

[]Sunglasses

[]Cap

[]Socks

[]Sweater

[]Something to munch on on the way

[]Comfy shoes

[]Slippers

[]Deo - preferably a long lasting one

[]Scarf or bandana (to cover pillow and protect ears from cold)

[]Photography kit - camera, lenses, tripod, etc