For the first time in months my green backpack was emptied . . . completely. It wasn't a pleasant sight. You can understand, I'm sure. I've already regaled you about the laundry issues last week. I didn't have a choice.

"Okay, so what are you taking?"

"I can take the tuna, oatmeal, rice and lentils? Oh, and of course the chocolate."

"Ok I'll take everything else."

"Are you sure Diego? The box of wine is kinda heavy . . ."

"No, no Robyn it's fine. We can always trade."

My bag got filled, again, quite quickly, actually. Why? Because me and my Colombian travel buddy, Diego, were taking off into the wilderness of Torres Del Paine National Park in the south, south, south of Chile.

The lists began: Water-proof pants? Check. Gloves? Check. Food? Check.

Computer?

Yep. Even the computer was bagging a free-ride through Patagonia. This electronic lifesaver is probably the best travelled hardware in the world (okay, I exaggerate, but isn't that more fun?) Post-Patagonia, it also launched itself up Machu Picchu.

Your point, Robyn? I'm getting there. So while I struggled to pack it in the Torres del Paine-bound bag, it was often my connection to the world. No, this is not a packing article (I tried to regale you with that last week). This is about keeping in touch while abroad.

Journalist or not, tip one: take a computer. Nothing fancy. Nothing you're going to cry about if it goes. Find a small, notebook that will let you connect to the Internet. It doesn't even need a disc drive. You can download software for free online that will also enable you to write a word document. I never left home without it.

Not only will it allow you to connect to the Internet it will also, tip two, store photos. I had multiple ways of doing this. One was the computer and then memory sticks came in handy.

Use both and then post them on . . . tip three: Your Facebook (FB for those who know) group. I started the group Robyn's Rounder while I was away. This, of course has turned into the FB group and website: Robyn's Wanderings. An FB group helps keep the trip in one place – all the updates and photos to make your friends incredibly jealous.

But make sure that, tip four, your parents / friends / colleagues are connected to the site. I'm not tech savvy. Neither are my parents, but we managed to pool our resources and create a Facebook page for both and sign them up for my group. I think it kept them happy and informed while I was away.

Which leads me to what I didn't do before I departed . . . sign up for Skype. If you haven't heard about it or used it, well I don't know what to say. How different my life would be . . . Tip Five: sign up. It's free at www.skype.com and it allows for video chat. But on the parental front – make sure you sign them up too! And they know how to use it. How many battles I had with mine from Thailand /Cambodia / Chile!

"Why don't you sign up? It would be so much cheaper for me to call," I said. "We're not sure and right now we're too busy," they said.

Eleven months into my trip they finally caved in to the pressure and I saw my mom for the first time in almost a year.

Why do Skype? Because it saves a load of money. Skype to Skype calls are free and Skype to Bermuda phones are only ten cents a minute. The US is only two cents a minute. This especially helps when you have to call American Airlines for the billionth time to have a chat with your favourite One World desk employee to change your Round the World ticket.

But what do you need? Tip six – speakers on your laptop. Bring or buy (depends on where you are going) a head-set.

And if you don't bring a computer . . . well, good luck. No, I kid. Everywhere I went, even the 4,000 Islands in Laos where there was no electricity, had an Internet café (generators). These all come with Skype and headsets and . . . they're cheap! And easier than hiking with your laptop.

But what didn't I bring? Tip seven – a phone. Yep. I spent almost the entire year without the cell phone. Not always easy, especially when you think you're meeting a friend in Bangkok, but both of you haven't been able to check the Internet for a couple of hours.

If you want one of these devices, however, I suggest you unlock a tri-band phone and plan to purchase a SIM card for the country you are travelling in. Have you heard of roaming? You don't want to do that in Asia.

And thank you for reading, but remember, there's more online at www.robynswanderings.com. Stay tuned for next week for tips and views of the travel world from someone in it – the CEO of the Bermuda-based travel agency, CTravel, Carl Paiva.