Southeast Asia forum

Oil painter/artist going to SE asia - Equipment Questions
I am taking a four month trip to Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. My goal is tourism and to make on location oil paintings. So I take a significant amount of art supplies and a small portable easel that end up in my ratty old backpack which probably weighs 15 to 20 KG. I've done this in Europe and Central America. It sucks to lug around that stuff until I am blissfully set up somewhere sketching away.

So my other stuff, 3 days change of clothes, guidebooks and toiletries, end up in another bag. So I am thinking about a small rolling duffel that also has a strap. I would probably have a day-pack as well, although I suspect that would be empty except when I have checked my luggage or I collect souvenirs.

1.)Will the rolling duffel work often enough in the places I plan to go? Mostly cities well on the tourist route. Or should I try for a backpack to strap on my front?

2.)Also I wonder if I should take a cable and lock along?Does it help with security? Pac safe?
The stuff I take except a small camera is worth nothing unless your an artist, but it would be disastrous and expensive if I had to replace it. I don't know if it is common for thieve's just to grab a backpack or if they tend to rifle around more?

3.) How about a quick dry towel? worth the expense?

4.) And lastly I'd love to hear suggestions about where to go to paint? I love historical architecture and slow moving gatherings of people.

Unrelated, but....
5.) I have a US and an EU passport. There is a very remote possibility I will go to Europe before I return home, so I was planning to take the EU passport as well. Any reason not to take it with?

Thanks for any advice criticism or anything that will help me think this through except suggesting watercolors. I posted this in SE Asia mainland as well.

http://stephangiannini.com
blog:
http://chicagopainter.wordpress.com/