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The Backpack Struggle: Souvenirs, Sandals & Squeezing It All In
Travelling with backpacks sounds great… until you want to bring things home 😅 After visiting Borobudur, we got to keep our Upanat shoes — the special sandals visitors wear to protect the ancient stone while walking through the temple. They’re made to reduce impact, preserve the carvings, and make sure a place that’s stood for over a thousand years stays standing a little longer. Very meaningful. Very cool. Also… there are six of us. So yes, we are now playing the game of “How do you fit SIX pairs of very bulky shoes into backpacks that were already full?” Send help. Or a bigger bag. Or both. #borobudur #yogyakarta #yogyakartatravel #javaindonesia
Traveling with backpacks always sounds like a good idea—until you try to bring meaningful souvenirs home. 😅
After exploring the awe-inspiring Borobudur Temple in Central Java, we were lucky enough to participate in a special visitor ritual: wearing Upanat shoes. These soft, sandal-style coverings protect the ancient stone carvings as you walk through the sacred site. Crafted to reduce wear and tear on the thousand-year-old structure, they’re more than footwear—they’re part of preserving a UNESCO World Heritage site for generations to come.
Naturally, we got to keep them afterward. A thoughtful keepsake tied to an unforgettable experience.
Also—there are six of us. Which means six pairs of surprisingly bulky Upanat sandals now need to find space in our already stuffed backpacks.
Let’s just say, Tetris has nothing on this.
This tiny travel dilemma is something every family encounters sooner or later: you set out packing light, proud of your minimalism… then stumble upon the kind of cultural treasure that’s impossible to leave behind. Whether it’s handwoven sarongs from Ubud or hand-crafted puppets from Yogyakarta, the memories you make often come with a price—in luggage space.
Our advice? Leave a little room — literally and metaphorically — for the unexpected. Maybe pack a lightweight foldable bag for souvenirs or designate a “keepsake carrier” among the family. Traveling light is freeing, but collecting stories (and sometimes sandals) along the way is what makes your journey truly unforgettable.
So if you're planning a family trip to Bali or Java, remember: the best souvenirs may not always fit in your bag… but they’ll always find a home in your heart. And possibly, under someone’s airplane seat.
