Travel Tips

Safety reminders • Keeping in touch • Adjusting to new cultures

Safety Reminders

Travelling At Night

When possible, try to avoid arriving in a new city at night time.  Attempting to orientate yourself at night poses a much serious risk.  Consider the first time you arrived in Toronto.  How well would you know which streets were safe at night and which were not?  While you are getting adjusted, ask the advise of locals living in the area. 

When arriving at night cannot be avoided consider staying in the airport until morning.  It is usually a safer bet and a great way to meet other travellers in similar situations.

Auto Accidents

Auto injuries, while in the automobile or as a pedestrian, is the number one cause of accidents for travellers.  Consider the difficulties of adjusting to a different traffic flow of left sided drivers, such as the case in England.  Even after you have been in the country for a long period, when you feel safe/ comfortable and guard is down, that you forget to look for vehicles in opposite direction.   Travel standards (road conditions, car care) can also differ greatly; especially in developing countries where the fatality rate can be up to 10 times higher then here in Canada.

Months before going overseas, try to get yourself in the habit of looking both ways a second time.  If you can get adjusted to looking for on-coming traffic in both directions it will be one less thing to adjust to later.

Money Belts

A proper money belt (as opposed to a fanny pack or purse) is a good defense against pickpocketting.  A money belt only works as good as you use it.  If you are going to keep valuables in your money belt, then keep your belt hidden under a layer of clothes.  Do not open it up in public areas.  One should always keep spending money in a separate, convenient location.  If you do need to get money from your money belt, do so in a changing room or private place.  Remember that the money that you are carrying, in some parts of the world, can amount to more then families make in a year.  Showing off too much cash is not only dangerous but culturally insensitive.

the Fake Wallet

While travelling, consider using a "fake" wallet.  The fake wallet can contain a few dollars that you won't mind losing and other items (ie., the photo that the wallet came with, old, unusable convenience cards).  Should you be targeted for a pick pocketing, mugging, they will mistakenly thing that your wallet is where you keep valuables. To make it more realistic, in high crime areas you may want to place a few higher denomination bills up front to avoid suspicion. The wallet can even come in handy should you be overwhelmed with aggressive beggars, you can simply toss the wallet and make an easy escape!

To reduce the chance of being pick pocketed, carry your wallet in the front pocket of your trousers. Other suggestions range from inserting a comb in the bill fold so that the teeth rub against your leg when removed to wrapping elastic bands over the wallet, alerting you if the wallet is being removed.

Drug Use

Over 2,000 Canadians are broad are currently being detained in jails throughout the world-- the majority on drug charges. If caught the Canadian government will not be able to alter the punishment or the laws that govern you.  Even in counties, where drug use is tolerated may still be illegal and/ or dangerous for travellers.  While authorities may turn a blind eye on drug use for locals, you still may be arrested or bribed for using/ possessing.  And in areas where tourists may use drugs, remember that the potency may not be at all like you are accustomed to, hence dangerous. Similarly in some places you may be able to buy drugs but not in other areas.  Drugs in these areas also tend to be more dangerous.

Regardless of the legality, remember that drug use will effect your perspective and judgment.  This fact added to the newness of a region and cross cultural travel will impair your ability to travel safely.

Swimming

Swimming poses two hazards to a traveller. The first is the possibility of drowning. Swimming in areas unmarked and unmonitored is very dangerous. Many tourist drown while swimming in areas known (but unmarked) by locals as having strong undertow or other hazards. Swimming in fresh water, in less santiary areas, also posses the risk of infection. Consult the Centre for Disease Control for more informatin.

Sex and Dating

While travelling overseas, you may choose to date and engage in sexual activities. It is important to remember, however, that the etiquette and culture surrounding dating may vary significantly. Misunderstanding a cultural cue regarding dating at home, at worse, will cause embarrassment. In other cultures, it can put you at jeopardy or cause loss of face and harm to others. Be sure that your actions and theirs are not misidentified.

Remember that there is no international standard for the quality of condoms. If there is even the remotest chance that you will be sexually active, bring a condom.

STD's and HIV/AIDS

No one expects to get an STD or get AIDS. If you are sexually active, you run the chance of contracting an STD or HIV/AIDS. While HIV/ AIDS is more prevalent in certain countries of the world, practicing safe sex continues to drastically reduce your chances of acquiring it. HIV cannot be contracted through common contact; sharing water, drinking from the same glass, hugging a person infected, sneezing.

Jet Lag

Jet lag is a common phenomenon faced by travellers, usually resulting from travel that crosses over many time zones. It is a result of your body having to fight with its internal rythms of when to sleep and when to be awake. A change in your body's pattern, in addition to a long, uncomfortable flight, can cause significant stress and disorientation.

While there is no cure for jet lag, there are some steps that you may wish to take:

• Limit your alcohol and caffiene consumption.
• Don't accept all the food that the airlines feed you. The body tends not to be used to full meals every 3 hours.
• Stretch a number of times throughout the flight.
• When you reach your destination, try to blend in to the new time routine as quickly as possible but at the same time, don't push it. Try not to schedule any major items or decisions on your first night or two.
  

Accommodation/ Hotels

When considering accommodation thre are a number of things that you should consider;

• when possible choose a room that is not on the ground floor
• if it is clear that you are travelling alone, avoid letting people see your room number on your keys or having the concierge announce it loudly
• choose a hotel/ hostel that has fire exits, an emergency evacuation plan
• when alone, avoid taking the stairs, when in the elevator stand up against the buttons and in an emergency press against each floor button
• rather then use a portable lock provided by a hotel, use your own
• when signing into a hotel, use your first initial of your first name only

General Guides

Use your intuition.  When travelling, it is always important to use your intuition but also remember to adjust your safety standards.  To do so, you need time to acquaint yourself with your new host community to understand your own safety standards in the context of your new community. 

Know the local laws.  All travellers should be at least rudimentary familiar with local laws.  As a foreigner, you will still be subject to the local laws.  And ignorance of the law is never a defence.  Should you be arrested during your travels, your first contact should be with the Canadian Consulate.

Keeping in Touch

Phone:  Travellers will often want to keep in touch with friends or family back home.  When arriving in a new country, it is always a good idea to try out the phone.  This will help you familiarize yourself with it rather then later when you may need it.  Remember that not all phone companies have the same signals; often what we hear here as a busy signal is the sound of a ring elsewhere. 

In many countries around the world (though you may have to shop around at different phone kiosks to find one that offers the service).  To make a collect call through a Canadian operator contact Canada Direct.

Mail:  Mail can be pretty sent and received through out the world.  In some countries, however, have the Post Office directly stamp you package otherwise your letter may be stolen for its stamps right out of a mailbox.  Parcels have also been known to be tampered with and items removed. 

However, envelopes can be sent and held at most post offices.

Write clearly on the envelop, your name (Last in capitals), poste restante and post office address and that the item should be held:

LUFFMAN,Holly                                                
C/O POSTE RESTANTE--HOLD
33 ST. George ST.,
Toronto, ON
Canada

When checking for mail, ask the post office worker to check under last name, and first if there is no luck.  There may be a small charge for the service

Cyber mail:  Cyber mail has provided major improvements in a travellers ability to communicate with home.  All other the world (including in some remote locations) cyber kiosks are popping up.  If you will be near internet access then setting up an account may be useful.  Hotmail and Yahoo offer free web addresses.  Email is especially convenient in sending detailed messages when phone connections offer too much feedback and static.

Adjusting to a new culture

All travellers go through some sort of adjustment.  Normally this is felt in some form of culture shock.  While adjusting it is important to find out what other travellers are doing as well as the local people.  Following the customs and culture of the local people is a good way of avoiding offending people and potentially, keeping yourself from harm.  For example, it is recommended that you dress similarly to those around you.  If women cover there heads while entering a temple, so should you.  Even if you see other travellers not following the social norm, it will help your own and the reputation of future travellers to be respectful.

It is also important, at times, to use other travellers as a standard in how to behave.   Perhaps a location may be unsafe for foreigners if no others are present.  Eating at a restaurant frequented by other travellers may be a sign that the health standards are more similar to your own. 

Do your homework.  A good traveller will always research their destination prior to going overseas.  This will not only prepare you against making potentially dangerous blunders (ie., not abiding a religious custom on a high holy day) but socially you can make "touristy" gaffes (ie., tipping in Japan, not finishing your plate in Russia) that can offend.

Language.  Learn some.  Even if it is just the basics; please, thank you, people will appreciate the effort.  It can also be helpful to know a few obscenities.. if someone is using a word or two at you it is probably best to know.  If someone replies that they do not speak english, they still may know enough words to help you.  Speak simply and slowly.  Sometimes it is just a matter of finding the right word or pronunciation.  The worse travellers will speak louder to someone who is not understanding them.  Don't assume someone is deaf but rather you're the one that needs to find another way to communicate.

Remember that not all communication is verbal.  One of the most universal ways to communicate is through open posture and a warm smile. (Though even a smile in some cultures can be perceived negatively.) Often the most serious of offences can be pardoned if accidentally delivered with a look of sincerity.