Whether you are a new travel enthusiasts or old pro, you can never stop learning better ways to enhance your experience. Following are some of the things I have learned over many trips.
1. Street Food Ah, who doesn’t love trying the mystery food on a stick? Well, the mystery can land you in bed or the bathroom for a few days. Be careful, particularly if you’ve also been trying the local alcoholic beverages.
2. Stupid Foreigner Tricks Locals sometimes like to have a joke at your expense. It usually has to do with food. Don’t eat strange stuff unless others are.
3. Traveler Fanny Packs Fanny packs are a very popular option for holding important documents such as money, passports and so on. They also stick out like a target to thieves and pickpockets. Don’t wear them.
4. Montezumas Revenge If you get diarrhea in a country, you need to focus on keeping hydrated. Try drinking one glass of carbonated water with a table spoon of sugar.
5. Backpacking in Russia Russia is a tremendous country to backpack. That being said, pick pockets abound in St. Petersburg and Moscow. Don’t wear the pack on your back. They will slice it and take off with the contents.
6. Wrinkle Free Pants Always take a pair of wrinkle free pants. You can roll them up to save space. You will need them to enter churches, museums and other places.
7. Yelling at Thais Thailand is the land of smiles, but it doesn’t mean everyone is happy. Culturally, raising your voice is a very bad move. Never yell at Thais. It will not help, but will hurt you.
8. Laptop Charging When traveling, it is vital you know what the ampage is in the country you are in. More than a few laptops have been zapped by being hooked up to a 220 outlet. Take a regulator to make sure this doesn’t happen.
9. Asian Airport Relaxation If you find yourself stuck in an airport in Asia for a bit, take a look around. Most have massage spas on the premises or just outside the front. It beats trying to sleep in uncomfortable seats.
10. Walking at Night One of the great things about traveling is experiencing the nightlife in a new location. When walking on the streets, keep in mind things may be different. In some countries, manholes are not always covered!
Travel is many things to many people. Some prefer luxury while others prefer to rough it. I have to admit I tend to fall in the rough it group, but a night of luxury isn’t too bad either!