Superfluous things are:
Warm clothing, medicine, heavy boots, nice clothes and anything over 500
grams! Why? Because: When other people can live there, you can buy what you
need and then you can give it a poor, when you no longer need it. This
includes warm clothing, rainwear, medicine, life jacket, etc. It is also
easier to be picked up, when hitchhiker, and you are less interesting as a
mugging victim.
All I bring for 16 days on
Sardinia along with the one set of cloths I'm wearing.
The little light
luggage can be taken as hand luggage (I have mine in a pocket), so you and your luggage ends up in the
same airport - at the same time. On many occasions, I have changed money,
been to the toilet, had a cup of coffee and rented a car, while others still
are waiting
for their suitcase.
When you get to the cities, you do not have take the first
and best hotel, to get rite of the heavy backpack or suitcase. When you leave a dubious hotel, to go out to eat
and explore, you do not
leave anything.
Important thins:
A plan of what you will see and how to get there. I only use GPS points, as
addresses are a challenge due to different alphabets and changes. These days, I
use Maps.me on a smartphone to navigate. The smartphone doubles as spare camera,
diary writer, translator, accounting, bookings and alike. Experience says; if
the tour is really rewarding, you can not remember where you woke up that
morning! Therefore, the diary, in combination with photos, are worth gold. Bring
a small camera with good lens, way easier to use than the smartphone.
It is better
to look worn out and poor, than posh. You get easier in contact with local,
you will not be hassled nearly as much, and the chances of assault will also be
less.
Back-up:
If you have the option; scan your vaccination and insurance papers, passports,
driving licenses, telephone numbers of family and friends, airline tickets,
travel plan and everything else you may need from home. If your luggage is lost or wet,
you only need a internet cafe to be up and running again. Upload it to a private
site that requires code or mail it to your selves. (This is my travelling
companion Jesper's great idea).
While you are on tour, use the smartphone to back-up your photos, and shift the
memory card from time to time.
Medicine:
I am normally not using malaria pills, although I am in malarial
areas. Some pills have severe side effects, some real expensive, some you
have take for several months. Common to them is that there is great
resistance. That means they give false security. I wear long sleeves /
pants, move me, keep close to others with more mosquito-thatch than me, and
avoid sitting out in the
mosquito-soup in the
evenings. Should you use a repellent, do not add DEET and alike on your
skin. Put it on the clothing near bare skin. It is poison!
I have a few pain-killers and some "stop-pills" to the stomach, but fortunately
have never had use for them. I do not think you need more. Disposable
syringes arouse too much attention in airports. If you're not well enough to get the
doctor to sterilize the syringe, would you find your own, and how many? The
local doctors / wizards / sorcerer can usually cure the local disease, appendicitis,
and we will not get ill, right? BUT:
Make sure you have a travel insurance!
Vaccinations:
One should contact the official "institute of foreign diseases", to learn
what vaccinations are required and recommended. Your own doctor will
probably suggest some, but experience says; they do not know what they are
talking about. When we have three going, the same place for the same period,
we are recommended three different combinations of vaccinations - very
reassuring!. Money:
Take plenty!, once you are there, it is annoying
not to be able to afford to see anything. Visa cards are generally the best
along with Mastercards,
combining with 500 $ or € in 20 notes, hidden in your clothes, if
anything else fails. If you have a lot of cash: petty for the street trade, a
good bunch of hidden away for a robber, and the great bunch at the bottom of the
bag with the dirty socks.
The necessary things:
A smartphone for time, GPS, photos, internet, reservations and alike. A deodorant (I
recommend an alum stone),
toothbrush + paste, ear-plugs, needle +
thread, passport, visa card, camera, short (bathing) trousers, long
trousers, sandals, T-shirt, painkillers and diarrhoeal pills.
In cold regions can
be added a flees-jacket, socks and raincoat. Girls need to remember skip your
period or bring tampons enough, if they travel in the more interesting
countries.
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Booking:
Every time I set out on a journey, I check flight prices on the internet.
Experience has taught me; there is really much to save by using an hours behind
the screen. Generally I like to pay a little extra to book directly with the
airline, rather than through a suspect agent. However, Momondo.com do offer some
good offers.
Hostels/hotels/B&B/apartments are usually found on Booking.com, and reserved
from home. It forces me to stick to the plan, but I relax during the day,
knowing where I end up sleeping - and for what price.
Last minute places have been steep for me.The flight:
On long day flights, I use an eye pads, and ear-plugs, so I can sleep from it all. It
prevent me from jetlag, and the time appears to go faster. I usually choose the
cheapest airline. The food and service is perhaps worse, but I don't feel I get
enough extra from the expensive companies . Amazingly, most times, we will good
to get extra legroom, simply asking for it at check.
A few black-listenings:
Avianca Air, Charles de Gaul Air Port, small kids, charter tourists, and
especially: Jysk Rejsebureau,
Lufthansa og
Nyhavn
Rejser. Expedia:
I have only unfortunate experience with Expedia. The hotels are not where they
should be (address, dot on the map and GPS leads to three different places,
nothing is right. Phone no works). They don't have a room for me. The car agent
is not represented in the country, and Expedia will not refund rent and
insurance. The car re
The food:
If you are fussy, you have to reconsider for a moment, before back-packet
in poor or remote countries. Being a vegan does causes problems many places as
well. Beware of the water and things have been washed in
it. Eat, as far as possible, only food which have been cooked / fried, and
preferably while it is hot. I have a casual relation. I eat what I am presented, and has yet only had bad stomach once,
in seven years. If you should get diarrhoeal, Coca
Cola is one of the best treatments. Originally invented as a stomach medicine, cola
contain a perfect mixture of water, sugar and salts. Be sure to drink plenty of
fluids!
The locals:
People in the Far East, Mediterranean region, the Arab peninsular, Asia and Latin America
are
fantastic sweet and helpful. If you stand looking on a map, people stops and ask
what you're looking for. I have not seen near the same helpfulness and
friendliness in north Africa, and it can also lack in the big cities.
Language:
I'm really good at Danish and it is often enough! Finger language and
gestures works in all languages, and a good laughter can get you out of many
problems. It is no problem to travel in countries where you don't share a single
word with the local. Things just take a bit longer, but they do anyway. And
Google Translate is great too.
Criminality:
Personally, I have not been out for attacks, but my height, lack of
jewellery and luggage along with my old clothes, does not invite. It may also help that I
avoid tourist areas and big cities. Pay attention to the country's laws, there
are some curious laws around that can make you a criminal, without your
knowledge. Alcohol is not, for example, welcome in Muslim countries, take shoes
off at the visit to temples, wear long sleeves and trousers in churches,
mosques, temples and other shrines. Don't kiss, hold hands or alike in some
countries.
Behaviour follow ...
Pay attention to how the local conduct
themselves. You will not look like them, but try. Are they bright or dark
clothes, welcome at cops or ignore them. Can you touch the other and perhaps
kissing in public. There are many peculiar rules and customs in many countries
and it may well pay to get acquainted with them - and follow them!
Books:
There are unbelievably many books, but if you want to limit itself, the main for
me is Lonely Planet.
It gives a quick review of the country's geographical and political history, the
mention of most attractions, many maps, accommodation, bus and train schedules,
animals, plants, culture and useful tips. It should however be noted, some
of their guides are better than others!
Most important; enjoy whatever you see and meet on your
journey. |
