Trip Planning - The Late Night Arrival

Since returning from my summer trip to Colorado I’ve been very busy working and taking care of things that need to be taken care of. At times I feel like I’ve been quite inefficient with getting things done but actually I’m pretty much on track. I leave for my 3 month odyssey through India and S.E Asia in 2 ½ weeks. I know it will pass quickly therefore I’m wrapping up work to allow time to focus on details as well as mentally prepare. My friend Deb, who has traveled India extensively says, “Get ready for sledge hammer culture shock!”…. I also want to catch up on rest before the exhausting flight over.

Initially I'll fly to Bangkok via Houston/Tokyo direct. With the use of air miles and numerous calls to Continental airlines I was lucky enough to work out a nice round trip to Bangkok. The r/t portion to Bangkok is only costing me $165 USD. Not bad. Bangkok will serve as a base for the entire trip. After first arriving there I’ll spend a couple of days shaking the jet lag before hopping another flight to India. I’ll fly into Delhi and a month later return to Bangkok via Mumbai (Bombay) unless I get hired by a Bollywood film to play a British colonial or something. Actually, I once met a traveler who did just that! The r/t ticket to India from Bangkok set me back $350 USD. Considering where I’ll be traveling I should be able to do fine on about $25 USD a day for everything. At times I’ll spend more and other times I’ll spend less. Naturally I’ll have a little extra on the side for special activities, emergencies, etc. The fact is you always spend more but in past trips I’ve managed to stay close to budget. I’ll also be purchasing travel insurance to cover any unforeseen costs due to illness or theft of belongings.

By taking care of various details before leaving, things should go a lot smoother. For example, I arrive in Bangkok after midnight. Whenever arriving at night it’s always best to already have a plan worked out. Especially if you have been traveling for 25 hours. For late night arrivals I like to have a place booked as well as a clear plan on how to get to the accommodation. Sometimes a hotel or guest house will actually meet you at the airport. That’s great when possible but usually your on your own with a taxi. Ok, 25 hours on a plane and in a taxi with someone who probably doesn’t speak English. The driver may or may not know where your hotel is. No problem. In situations like that it’s good to have your host accommodation send an email with specific directions and/or a map beforehand. Just hand the info to the driver and rattle off a couple of words in the local language. This is always good even if they don’t understand. You will likely have a better rapore with the driver for at least trying. Also, it’s good to know what the average taxi fare is. Either agree on the fare before you leave or make sure the driver uses the meter. For my initial arrival in Bangkok I’ve booked into a guest house that caters to travelers and is use to late night arrivals. The owners seem to communicate well with emails in English. A clean single room with air conditioning and bathroom down the hall will cost me around $18 USD… All said, It’s good to be prepared for things to not go as planned. That’s when you pull out the guide book and wing it…… If you arrive late in a sketchy place with no plan it may be best to just stay at the airport until the sun comes up.….

Between now and the time I leave I’ll post updates on the planning process for those who may be interested and are curios as to how the Backpacker traveler travels. I’m definitely a backpacker but I’m not adverse to spending a little more. I don’t plan to stay in total dumps or places where I don’t feel safe.. What I’m doing can actually be done for considerably less by hardcore budget travelers.…..

Preparing For Healthy Travel - India & S.E. Asia

Lately I have been reading up on how to stay healthy while traveling through India and S.E. Asia. I’ve gotten the necessary shots and have made a decision on how to protect myself from Malaria and mosquito borne illnesses. For Malaria protection I’ll opt for a low daily dose of Doxycycline which not only protects against the Malaria parasite but a number of bacterial bugs. The only real side affect is an increased sensitivity to sun with a possibility of getting burned easier. It wouldn’t be the best choice if I were desiring to lay on a beach all day but since I’m not fair skinned I should be fine. Along with Doxy I’ll outfit myself with insect shield clothing. It’s constructed of a fabric that’s been treated with permathrin. Once the fabric has been treated and set it offers enormous protection with no oder and no toxicity to humans. I’ll also be carrying a lightweight permathrin treated mosquito net for sleeping in accommodations where mosquito's may be present. During the first half of the trip it will still be the rainy season, for some of the areas I plan to visit, so it’s a good idea to take precautions.

The most likely potential cause of illness is usually related to food and water. For this trip I’ll pretty much be a vegetarian and will eat quite simply. Raw foods need to be peeled and or washed thoroughly with potable water. I’ll stick to local fare at reasonably nice busy places and will abstain from ordering dishes not common to the culture. For water I’ll select main brand bottled varieties and will be careful to check the seal. I’ll also carry a pocket size Steri Pen UV filter as a backup. It consists of small UV light that you simply swirl around the water for a minute or two and kills everything bacterially and virally harmful. It’s quite magical and hard to believe it actually works but it's fully approved, effective, and recommended by travel clinics everywhere.

Aside of food and water the other thing to be aware of is travel fatigue. When the body is worn down from culture shock and being on the move all the time it's important to take time to slow down and simply chill out. For short trips of 2 weeks or less it may make sense to do as much as you can and recover after the vacation. Many people do that. Especially Americans who usually only get 2 weeks a year vacation time. For those who are traveling longer it’s a good idea to take a few extra days here and there in places that are easy and relaxing in order to catch up on rest. Being run down just increases the potential for getting sick.

I find tropical and third world health to be fascinating. When reading up on all of the potential illnesses and bugs one can acquire while traveling in such places I sometimes question why I’d want to subject myself to the risk. Well, the reality is that many people live long healthy lives in most environments despite whatever health risks may exist. Perhaps there is added protection from generations who have adapted but still most everyone living in a certain region is just as vulnerable to getting ill as any traveler is. The key to staying healthy is to educate oneself and make good decisions while visiting countries where various health risks are present.

Once the trip begins it’s important not to worry. Will I eat at places I’d rather not? Very likely.. Will I eat or drink something and question what I just ate or drank? Probably. Will I get bit by mosquito's? Who doesn’t?…. A person can only control so much and take so many precautions. Anyone who thinks they are in control of everything in their life is certainly mistaken. Travel is all about letting go and letting it happen without worrying about it. You just do what you can and enjoy the ride. More than likely you come out the other side just fine. For me, right now, the rewards of foreign travel far outweigh the risks and the risks can definitely be minimized…..

Next Stop - Asia

It’s 95 degrees at 6 pm. To my left is a mineral water and to my right is Shiner Hefewiezen. Both bottles are dripping with sweat. I sit in the way of a stiff breeze created by a large fan. Protected by the shade of “Antidote” coffee shop, I type on my mini laptop….

The ticket is booked. In mid September I will satisfy my desire for more exotic travel. Full immersion. Backpacker style. Bus trips, trains, boats and the necessary flight across the ocean. Destinations to be visited include India, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. I’ll loosely prepare a loose itinerary and as usual, just let it happen. Not without a bit of fore thought though.

Today I visited a Travelers clinic. Just wanted to make sure I was up to date with the latest health and safety alerts, vaccines, etc. I am quite fascinated by tropical medicine but I certainly hope I do not contract a tropical disease. Knowing what to be aware of and preparing accordingly can greatly reduce the risk. Malaria can be dealt with quite reasonably but Japanese Encephalitis? Three very expensive shots of god knows what for protection that’s not a 100%. No, I think I’ll pass. Deet will be my friend as I’ll learn to like wearing long sleeves and pants in the tropics. The nurse at the clinic rattled off a couple of other mosquito born illnesses that there are no preventative methods for other than not getting bit. Hmmm, shouldn't I be worried. Mildly concerned yes, worried no….

Whenever I feel like I’m on the right track and am doing what I love to do I feel peaceful. Right now I’m feeling really good about my decision to travel to Asia. It feels like the right time. I have allotted 3 months for a reason.

I expect the first 2 weeks to be the most challenging as I let go and really fall into the flow. That’s when the magic happens. Sometimes it will be fun and other times it will be difficult but that’s what makes it an adventure. I’m not going on a vacation. I’m looking for an experience. The places I’ll be visiting and the way I’ll be going about it is so drastically different from what I experience in my day to day life in America. True culture shock is a given but I don’t know which will be more difficult. When I first arrive in New Delhi or when I arrive back in Houston 3 months later.

Currently I’m planning my departure by obtaining visa’s beforehand, getting necessary affairs in order, etc. I've found that getting visa’s beforehand can save yourself quite a bit of hassle and sometimes even a little money. Some place you arrive, fill out a form, pay your fee and your good to go. Other times you can get held up for days in a place you would rather not be. Despite anyone’s gripe about American bureaucracy it actually works splendidly compared to the rest of the world.

Aside of experiencing the culture, sights and sounds I intend to write regularly and to live up to my title as “World Traveler and Thinker” wholeheartedly…. In the meantime I’m busy working and getting it together.