Round The World Tips (Survival)

RTW Tips (Survival)

Whats the main thing that you're going to need to survive on this trip?

The answer is Food! (And water of course) You'd think this would be an easy one, but you're in for a surprise! In poorer countries finding a safe place to eat can be a real challenge. On our first day in Delhi my girlfriend and I got so hungry looking for food, we consumed an entire packet of airwaves to take our minds off of the starvation pangs.

Walking the searingly hot suburbs of the inner city we figured it wouldn't take long to find an eating establishment. We weren't wrong, street vendors line every available inch of land aside the main roads. But when we saw the child helpers washing the cooking utensils in an open sewer it was time to move on. So we were a little worried at this point, not to mention spaced out by a menthol and eucalyptus overload from the nasal clearing gum. We actually gave up on food for the day after a 2 hour search turned up no results.

So upon returning to our hotel, in desperation we turned to the reception desk of hotel Ajanta. It turned out that just metres from where we stood was a top quality restaurant that oozed pure hygiene. We ate well that eve...

This is my essential eating tip; almost every hotel will have a restaurant somewhere inside it. These places don't want their consumers to get sick, because they're staying right above them. This would not be good for business and provides you with an unwritten guarantee for piece of mind. Of course I'd be lying if i told you we didn't get violently sick during our travels through Asia. It's going to happen, accept it, but only once or twice before those anti bodies kick right in. Then you're pretty much set for the rest of the year.

Wait until after you've powered through the bursts of vomiting and loose stools before sampling the culinary delights from street vendors. Its here that you'll get a real taste of cheap local cuisine in its most basic format.

The 'Rough Guide' Travel books for whichever country or city you visit list detailed descriptions of hotels and restaurants in every area that you are likely to visit. These snippets of information even advise you on the price ranges of an average meal and cleanliness of the the establishment. Refer to the guide book often.

Personal Safety

Now this is a tricky subject for me: I'll explain. Obviously my primary concern for when we traveled the world was our personal safety. There's no denying there are thousands of dangerous influences on this planet. But at the same time you can't always follow the 'safest' path on your journey.

For example when you first arrive there will be scavengers just waiting to pick off the weak, scared individuals. Not for any sinister reasons as such, but to exploit their fear. I met quite a few people who took a guided Taxi tour across a third of the country, paying for the drivers food and accommodation throughout the trip just because they were scared to get on a train and explore themselves. These tours aren't cheap, but the people who sell them to you are very good at making you think they are.

In my opinion sometimes its the not knowing what will happen to you that fuels your desire to continue exploring. This doesn't mean you should follow adventure blindly, use your common sense, don't walk down a dark alleyway with all your valuables into a gambling ring of youth gang brethren! But don't be afraid to take calculated risks. Every time we checked out from our hotel with the intention of moving on, we never booked a room in the next destination. We'd jump on a train and deal with the problems that arose when we got there. However we always tried to arrive in the morning or during the day so we didn't have to search for accommodation amongst the people of the night.

Hitch Hiking

Hitch Hiking is something that i never done and never will do. Truck drivers across Asia are notoriously dodgy and powered by a lethal concoction of energy drinks and narcotics. They will most definitely stop for you, especially if you are Caucasian and female. But god knows how that story will end. Public transport is so cheap and available that i don't feel you will ever find a need to hitch hike. Avoid it at all costs.

If you are a lone female traveler try to latch on to other tourists whenever you can. Or book your guided tours through your hotel reception rather than finding them on the street. Try not to look lost even when you are, this will attract so much unwanted attention you won't believe it. Also dress respectfully, this will help you to avoid stepping on any toes or give out the wrong message. Dressing inappropriately can also restrict your access to certain tourist attractions.

As general rule the old tried and tested saying, 'There is safety in numbers' rings true for any traveler. The more man power you have the bigger calculated risks you can take. Just remember to use your common sense, it's not your country and you aren't invincible.

Summary

• Eating at hotel restaurants is a safe, hygienic option.
• Wait until after you have adjusted to the local cuisine before eating from street vendors.
• Check your 'Rough Guide' for tested places to eat out.
• Taking calculated risks can enrich your traveling experience.
• Use your common sense.
• Never Hitch Hike, it's not worth it.
• Individual travelers should befriend fellow travelers when possible.
• Booking tours through the hotel reception is safer than street tour guides.
• Lone females try not to look lost, you'll invite unwanted attention.
• Dress appropriately. Respect local culture.
• There's Safety in numbers.