Gift suggestions

An inflatable pillow might be much appreciated but I think a pashmina or a cashmere poncho which can be unbuttoned and worn as a shawl and a bolero

A travel diary which can be used for this and future travel with a nice pen perhaps. Lovely and very interesting to look back on.

How about two or three of those waterproof capes that come in small packets, take up little room to pack but cover everything when it rains? They only cost £2 or £3 each and will tear after a while but could be really useful. Maybe those together with one of the suggestions above.

I am not a great traveller, but I know a lot of people who are. 3 things that always seem popular (and indeed I find useful on my camping holidays) are:
A Buff headband (so useful!)
A length of silk, about 2 metres x 140, which can be worm like a sarong, draped like a scarf or shawl. I have just bought a length of habutai silk and hemmed it (very easy)
A pashmina which can be used as a warm shawl, or an extra covering.
All of these fold into tiny spaces and weigh very little. Iput them all in a pocket of my rucksack.

How about a `Tree of Life' charm on a chain ? I don't know what meaning it could have in Asia, but I've just bought my French daughter in law one and she loves it.