Making the Most of Your Trip Abroad.
Here are tips on how you can make the best of your trip abroad:
Safety
You need not be paranoid, but don't take stupid risks either. Never drive in unknown or unsafe neighborhoods solo or at awkward hours. Never drink and drive. Keep your belongings safe. If you left your leather jacket or camera in your car in most neighborhoods in your country of abode, chances are pretty high those items and/or even your car may get stolen. Never flaunt your finances in public either. Whatever you wouldn't take chances with in your country of residence, don't do abroad.
Electricity
Let your motto be "Be Prepared". Take your mini torchlight you never know you might just need it. You can always carry this about and it always come in handy. Always have sufficient working batteries for your torchlight though.
Water
Its not news that tap water in over half the world is not fit for direct consumption. You buy water in the U.S. and Canada, so there's nothing new about buying water or flavored water abroad. You can also boil or filter your drinking water.
Traffic
Before you start complaining remember the 405 freeway in California and some others in various states and cities abroad have worse (and I mean WORSE) traffic jams, so be prepared to exercise patience and endurance should you encounter traffic anywhere during rush hours. Besides, it's a chance to do your window shopping, give alms and be entertained. You can always listen to your own music or the radio, meditate, eat, and sleep (unless you're the driver).
Health
Make sure you're in good health and take all the necessary shots before your departure. Drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration. When visiting a tropical country, drinking tonic water can also help decrease the chances of Malaria should you be exposed to mosquitoes.
Diet
Eat and drink only what your stomach can handle. Give yourself time to adjust to the diet esp. if you haven't eaten a dish before. Be adventurous but don't rush to eat at (sidewalk restaurants) just because you want a taste of the local dishes, sudden changes in diets without adequate preparation can lead to running stomach and other ails.
Transportation
Make arrangements ahead of time and have sufficient funds for car hire and taxis if need be, so you won't run into disappointments, when your promised rides are delayed or don't show up. This way YOU can dictate your own itinerary.
Strangers
Be very cautious in giving too much personal information out and don't invite strangers to your hotel rooms. A visit in a public place and if really necessary, in your hotel's main lobby, is always safer. Be very DISCERNING and ASSERTIVE and remember you're not on familiar territory. Spending lavishly in the presence of questionable characters may attract them to you.
Visitors
Planning is the key. Don't encourage unexpected visitors, or else they'll end up dictating your schedule and you'll accomplish much less.
Be HONEST about your life abroad and never promise to put anyone up if and when they travel abroad UNLESS you actually CAN.
Appointments
Always allow ample time as you would in any other country, especially in the tropical ones. Government offices worldwide are the same, so plan ahead and take reading materials especially if you stop by unexpectedly.
Communication
Cyber cafes can always provide easy and affordable internet access; and cafes that offer internet-connection telephone calls worldwide could be a source of major savings especially when calling abroad. Don't run up bills on your cell calling abroad. If and when available, you can use GSM and other dual or multi-band cell phones which you can use with chargeable cards for your conveniences. Don't leave your cell phones around carelessly, as in any other country they just might disappear. In some countries you can use your MCI and Sprint rechargeable phone cards, which can be quite cheaper than collect calls, credit card or hotel placed calls.
Conveniences
Always take sufficient funds, batteries, rolls of films, extra camcorder tapes etc. as you would on any vacation. If you love music, then take Walkman, CD player and adaptor for the car lighter. Also, take international adaptors for voltage changes if you're taking your pluggable players, shaving gadgets, hair dryers, etc. Everything else (including film and batteries) you can always find available.
Fun
Whatever you consider fun will be fun, ONLY if you allow yourself to have fun. Never misbehave in public or get drunk and act wild, you just might get arrested. American citizens who get drunk and misbehave in Mexico usually get locked up in jail, you'll be lucky if the rules are less stiff in other foreign countries.
PLAN ahead for whatever you want to do. Depending on how long or short your vacation period is except you're there to mourn someone, and even then, always plan sufficient time to spend with your family, then dedicate the rest of your hols to running your errands and having ample fun. Go to the beaches, restaurants, clubs, weddings and other parties, and always TRY to visit at least one other town or state.
