TRAVEL  SECURITY  TIPS   from     lifestylerenewal.com

Travel Tip for Backpackers

Always carry a little compass with you. Before arriving at a strange town by bus, study a map you can get from information counter at bus terminal or from tourist information and ascertain the locality of where the bus terminal is located in relation of where you want to stay. Orientate the map with your compass and head off confidently in the right direction. This could be a great saving on taxi fares.

While you are asleep, tuck your money belt into your pillowcase or the base of your sleeping sheet. This way you'll make sure that anyone thinking of stealing it will have to wake you first!

Sew or iron on some Velcro to the pockets of your swimming shorts. Your loose change, keys etc. will stay safe while you swim. This can also be used in trousers to stop pickpockets.

PARASITES

A Parasite is an organism living in or obtaining nourishment from another organism. Parasitic infections in humans are common in many countries, especially Asia, Africa and South America. Travellers coming back from overseas may not realize that they have a Parasite and symptoms may take weeks to develop. Prevention is better than cure and basic hygiene is important - Always wash hands or brush teeth with clean water. Wear light clothing that covers the body, especially at dusk, to prevent mosquito bites and infection from malaria. Be careful that you eat foods that are freshly cooked, drink bottled water or water that has been boiled for 10 minutes and having ice in drinks or dairy products.

The symptoms of Parasitic infections can be abdominal pains, diarrhoea, weight loss, dehydration and itching where the parasite may have entered the body. eg. anus. In cases such as malaria, symptoms include fever, sweating, chills and tiredness. For a cure, try a Naturopath and ask for Parex tablets, or go to your doctor. In South east Asian countries there is a treatment available for Malaria, called Artesinate, which is an extract of sweet wormwood or English wormwood that cures most types of malaria. It is not yet approved for use in most Western countries.  

INDONESIA  -  Here are some up to date travel tips for Indonesia, which is now a dangerous country to travel in.

Only a 60 day Visit Pass is available and at limited entry points, where there is an immigration officer. You can exit Indonesia will a short visit pass  i.e. go to Singapore or Malaysia for a week or so and return to Indonesia. At last report, the border between Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya (West Papua) is closed once again and there are no regular boats any more. You can take a risk and try to cross by land with the natives. Indonesia has a road from Jayapura to Vanimo in Papua New Guinea and visas can be got from the consulate just north of the Vanimo beach hotel for Indonesia and for travel the other way, if permitted, from the Indonesian consulate in Jl. Percetakan in Jayapura. Good luck. There is departure tax both ways and a some bribe money may be needed to get from Indonesia to Papua.. When travelling to Indonesia, you passport MUST be valid for at least another 6 months Indonesia is no longer considered a safe place for tourists.

If you are hell bent on going to Indonesia, I definitely recommend  that you learn some bahasa Indonesia. It is now very dangerous for any Westerners to travel anywhere in Indonesia, except perhaps the main tourist areas of Bali.

There have been MANY reports from travellers over the past year of robberies with violence, rapes of tourist women, scams, but the most worrying is the high incidence of attacks on the lone traveller in isolated places. If you are a surfer intending to go to Nias or other islands off the Sumatran coast, I suggest that you now only go with a group of at least 4 surfers that you can trust and travel there by one of the main boating companies. There are more robberies with violence, rapes, scams and aggressive threats to extort money from you in Lombok and Guli Air islands, parts of Sumatra including Nias and especially on Gunung Bromo (Mount Bromo)

At present with demonstrations in Indonesia by hard line Muslims, it is now only safe to travel to the main tourist areas in Bali. Even this is deemed unsafe after the terrorist attacks on the nightclubs in Kuta Beach on October,13, 2002. I still consider Bali to be a fairly safe travel destination, provided you do not frequent large nightclubs, or places where large amount of tourists congregate. I would stay in a small losman run by a Balinese family for safety and go to beergardens where there is a band and dancing. Jakarta is no longer safe for tourists. Surfers should now only go on an organised tours to the famous surfing spots. 

When you take small boats or outriggers to the reefs, pay only the one way fare to ensure that they will come back and get you for the return fare. Always carry some cash - about U.S$100 - on you (in a secure place) in remote areas, because there may not be travellers cheques or credit card facilities.

Shop early in the day - It is good luck for an Indonesian to make an early sale. Also speak and bargain in bahasa Indonesian and this will get you a better price.

Things to take with you include ear plugs and ear drops ,insect repellent, sheet sleeping bag, snorkel & goggles, long cotton pants, light collared long sleeve shirt, pegs, transistor radio with a short wave band & aerial wire, your own plastic cup, hat and sunglasses. You can also take the following items to give as presents, or to swap for Indonesian goods - good quality ball point pens, bonds tops with collars, books in English, especially with information about Australia. 

LIFESTYLE  RENEWAL  TRAVEL

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