The US Dept. of State wants to help make sure your travel overseas is uneventful. Their website at TRAVEL.STATE.GOV is loaded with very useful information on how to be safe when traveling abroad. http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety
Tips include:
How to pack your suitcase
What not to carry (what to leave behind)
How to carry your meds.
How to keep your money and passport safe
What to learn before you go (information on the country, any alerts, health conditions…and more)
How to find the nearest embassy or consulate in the country you are visiting, especially if you have a problem
Things to arrange before you go (a contact who’ll have a copy of your itinerary and a copy of your passport, notification for the credit card company…)
Precautions to take when you’re in the country abroad (on the street, how to keep your passport and other valuables safe, safety tips for your hotel stay, how to be safe when driving or on public transportation)
How to keep your money safe
And a lot more information on avoiding know or unknown criminal offenses.
Some of this information has already been covered in my previous posts but the site is well worth visiting (happy to see that “Big Brother” and I are on the same page!
Do bring your camera on every trip. Capture those moments and scenes that can never be repeated. I mean those odd scenes or events that happen in a flash and serve to bring a smile when you reminisce later.
It could be that lone fisherman casting his net, a toddler fascinated by the butterfly that landed on his hand, a double rainbow in the rain, a humming bird with its long beak down the “throat” of a hibiscus flower, the reflection of the mountain in the lake beneath, or????
Think a Pig can be a “ham”? ( yes–it’s a bad pun but you’ll see what I mean). On a recent visit to some one’s small farm in the hills of Jamaica, as I walked through the spirals of vines from the yams planted beneath, I approached a walled-off area. Before I could ask what lay behind the walls, there was a squeal and a grunt and two pigs shot their heads up over the top (standing on their back legs). Watch the video– they seemed to be posing for me.
See what I mean? you never know when you’ll capture a moment like this!
Yes– when walking around a town, a camera strung around your neck is a dead give-away that you’re a tourist. Sometimes it’s better to use a smaller digital camera that can easily slip into your tote bag but it’s a trade-off in getting a better-focused shot.
Whatever you use, have fun. Be aware of your surroundings and make sure your valuables are close to your body in front of you– you’ll be distracted while taking your pictures.
Carry extra media cards and batteries. You may miss a good shot if your card is full and you don’t have a spare or your battery needs charging. Carry at least one 2gb and a 1gb — depending on the length of your trip. Don’t forget the adaptors to compensate for foreign voltage and electrical plug outlets.
