Cheers again for all the helpful suggestions.

Unfortunately as the K-r itself isn't weatherproof a WR lens won't be much help. I do have waterproof covers for both the backpack and holster, but the rainy season should be more or less gone by then (though Bangkok might need a wetsuit).

I've gone with a beanbag for now. I'll see how it goes and learn for next time. I was going to get a travel pillow anyway.....

Sadly past the stage where I used to buy things with the CC and worry later - I'm boringly responsible now.

I have the Think Tank 20. Mine's a version 1, but I don't think there is much, if anything, between version 1 and 2.

Mine happily swallows my K-r with the Pentax 18-250 attached and the lens hood in place. Like all of their holsters there is a zip at the base which, when opened, expands the holster to accomodate a larger lens.

It has an integral rain cover and a small zipped pocket on the side which will take 4 or 5 K-r batteries. I can get a couple of filters and SD cards in the pocket inside the lid.

Obviously the one you are looking at will be a bit bigger so might have extra capacity for bits and pieces.

I love mine. It looks a little bulky at first glance, but is very comfortable in use and sits on the hip nicely (though with the Bigma it might be nearer your knees...). It doesn't pull on the shoulder with the strap and sits quite well if attached to a belt. I suspect it would be even better with a proper Think Tank belt.

It's very well made and will stand up to a lot. I had a look at the alternatives and didn't think anything else came close, but that's obviously a personal choice.

There are usually a few knocking around on Ebay in good condition - I can see a 40 ending in around 5 hours and a 50 ending tomorrow.

If you want to know anything specific just ask.

Thanks - though the chances of me being having any money spare to spend on camera gear are fairly slim

I will be looking, but suspect that the Far East prices aren't quite the bargains they used to be. I'll be in Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Bangkok at various points so it will be good to compare. Won't have any money left by then, though.

Just bought one of the double bean bags which will fit over a car window or fence etc. A bit bulkier than a tripod, but much lighter and an awful lot cheaper.

I can't see many places where this wouldn't work as well as a gorillapod. Obviously it will have limitations compared with a tripod, but i'' work around that.

I might look a bit like the photo above on the way to the airport, but have got better at travelling light over time. Just got to the point where I only take the essentials, then buy a DSLR to replace my bridge camera and it all starts again.....

Thanks again for all the helpful suggestions

Thanks for the suggestions. I obviously need to have a think.

A beanbag seems a good idea, just not always possible to get the height I suppose.

I've thought about a monopod, but hand held is pretty good anyway with the IS and I can't see a monopod helping with long exposures.

I'd love a super-wide, but don't have the pennies having paid for the trip. I'm taking the 50mm because it's small and light and useful if I want to take photos in low light. Also a bit more unobtrusive if I'm asking locals if can take portraits.

I daresay whatever I take this time won't be perfect, but each time i get it wrong I'll learn something.

We are o.k. on general travel stuff - I was asking specifically about photo related items - if I listed everything we were taking it would be a long read, especially if I included my wife's list...

I have been considering a gorillapod as well, but the metal focus one is as expensive as a full size tripod. I had a smaller gorillapod with my bridge camera, but didn't use it that often. There is a cheaper dslr zoom version, but not sure how strong this would be or how stable as I like night photography.

Not sure I can run to a wide angle lens at present - I think the 18mm will have to do. It's my first longer trip with the 18-250mm so it's a bit experimental this time. Whatever I take I'm bound to find some restrictions if I don't want to overload with equipment, though that would be balanced out by the empty wallet....

I forgot to mention that I also have a Think Tank holster which takes the K-r with the 18-250 attached and the hood in place so I don't need to keep removing the backpack.

I'm going to take a trip around parts of Asia in a couple of weeks and will be away just under 4 weeks.

I'm planning on travelling as light as possible so won't be overloaded with equipment. At the moment I'm going to take my K-r with just the Pentax 18-250mm and my FA 50mm 1.7. I have three batteries and three class 10 8gb cards. Most days I should be able to re-charge batteries and download the days photos onto my netbook.

I have a polariser for the 18-250, but not for the FA 50.

I don't have any lens cleaners yet or any form of dust blower, though I'm more likely to blow dust in rather than out if I do get one.

I have a Kata backpack which has room for the photo equipment and also acts as a day pack.

The one obvious glaring omission is a tripod - trying to decide between a Redsnapper 284 or a Vanguard alta pro 263AT, but also a little concerned about the additional weight.

Any thoughts on anything I might have missed would be appreciated. I'm going to be in very modern cities right down to very rural areas.

I'm looking for a tripod as well and after reading this noticed that someone on Ebay has the Vanguard for a good price. Might be worth a look.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/270844797617?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1...

Can't recall the exact dates we are in KL, but it's after Myanmar so later than 10 Dec. A meditation retreat sounds just the job at the moment.....Have a relaxing time.