So the old travellers adage is to pack your bag and then unpack it again immediately. When you next re-pack, take half as many clothes and twice as much money. I'm not sure if that is really sound advice but it can certainly help in some cases. For morerealistic travel advice.....
Money belts, fanny packs, whatever you call them, don't rely upon them. I've seen people using these things as an extra pocket in broad daylight for all to see. Sure, they're safe from pickpockets but if someone wanted to forcibly take your money, they'll grab the moneybelt, run like hell and that little plastic clip is not going to save you. What do you keep in your moneybelt? Your money (obviously), your passport and your credit cards. Try to keep this 'holy trinity' - money, passport, credit cards - in separate pockets, preferably with zips. It's about damage limitation. If it goes wrong - it doesn't all go wrong.
Swot up on your medication. For many places this won't matter so much but if you're travelling anywhere remote or if you're on a hike then it'll take no space or weight in your bag to include a couple of gut-bug drugs and some Ibuprofen.
And the word 'Malaria' gets thrown about a lot like it's the plague. It's not but it still has to be respected in certain countries. Malarone seems to be the drug of choice unless you like your weird and wacky dreams and then you take Larium but the best prevention is not to get bitten at all. Always have in your pack one long sleeve shirt, even (and especially) in tropical climates.
Travel guide books. Ok, so they can get you out of a spot but if everyone takes the same sort of book then everyone is going to go to the same sort of places. That is all well and good if you're a newbie but if you feel brave enough, get off the backpacker route, even if it is only for a couple of days and find something for yourself. This is escapism - you're not ticking 'must see's' off a list. Besides; they weigh a ton, take up space in the bag and almost everybody has one so you don't need to carry one - just borrow theirs. Does this make you a bad person? perhaps but then again, you don't have to carry the bloody thing around.
Netbooks make great travelling tools but are also targeted by thieves so always back up your work. A small separate hard drive will secure all those photos and videos that you've taken on your travels. Keep it in a safe place away from your computer. Despite the risk of theft you should always back your computer up anyway.
One of the worst things that can happen is for a backpacker to lose all of their photos. For this reason I would at least remove the memory card if I was to leave the camera anywhere but on my person. It takes not time, takes up no space and could save all those memories.
RYFM - if you forget everything else about your tech, always remember RYFM - it means Read Your F***ing Manual! Principally this applies to all gadgetry but particularly digi-cameras. How else will you know about 'focus lock', 'fill-in flash' and what the 'P' button does (it means 'Program'. Probably the single most useful setting on the camera) and will ensure that you capture your perfect moments as best as you can.
TOUTS - they're everywhere and if you dn't want to buy some handicraft, go on a tour, take a taxi or a rickshaw or sign up for a three day safari then what you need are..... headphones. Not necessarily an MP3 player (although I can't imagine not having one!) but just headphones. The idea is that if a tout doesn't think that you can hear them then they won't waste their time trying to sell you something and instead find an easier target. It does work.
ALWAYS have an escape route. You may never need it but you'll be glad that it's there. Keep funds aside as a 'get out of jail free' card. No-one should feel anxious or scared or intimidated by your situation but it can happen. Also, when there are emergencies back home, you know that if you absolutely have to be there, you can be. Many airlines can sell you a refundable ticket to your home country from almost anywhere in the world. lets hope you never have to use it.
Money belts, fanny packs, whatever you call them, don't rely upon them. I've seen people using these things as an extra pocket in broad daylight for all to see. Sure, they're safe from pickpockets but if someone wanted to forcibly take your money, they'll grab the moneybelt, run like hell and that little plastic clip is not going to save you. What do you keep in your moneybelt? Your money (obviously), your passport and your credit cards. Try to keep this 'holy trinity' - money, passport, credit cards - in separate pockets, preferably with zips. It's about damage limitation. If it goes wrong - it doesn't all go wrong.
Swot up on your medication. For many places this won't matter so much but if you're travelling anywhere remote or if you're on a hike then it'll take no space or weight in your bag to include a couple of gut-bug drugs and some Ibuprofen.
And the word 'Malaria' gets thrown about a lot like it's the plague. It's not but it still has to be respected in certain countries. Malarone seems to be the drug of choice unless you like your weird and wacky dreams and then you take Larium but the best prevention is not to get bitten at all. Always have in your pack one long sleeve shirt, even (and especially) in tropical climates.
Travel guide books. Ok, so they can get you out of a spot but if everyone takes the same sort of book then everyone is going to go to the same sort of places. That is all well and good if you're a newbie but if you feel brave enough, get off the backpacker route, even if it is only for a couple of days and find something for yourself. This is escapism - you're not ticking 'must see's' off a list. Besides; they weigh a ton, take up space in the bag and almost everybody has one so you don't need to carry one - just borrow theirs. Does this make you a bad person? perhaps but then again, you don't have to carry the bloody thing around.
Netbooks make great travelling tools but are also targeted by thieves so always back up your work. A small separate hard drive will secure all those photos and videos that you've taken on your travels. Keep it in a safe place away from your computer. Despite the risk of theft you should always back your computer up anyway.
One of the worst things that can happen is for a backpacker to lose all of their photos. For this reason I would at least remove the memory card if I was to leave the camera anywhere but on my person. It takes not time, takes up no space and could save all those memories.
RYFM - if you forget everything else about your tech, always remember RYFM - it means Read Your F***ing Manual! Principally this applies to all gadgetry but particularly digi-cameras. How else will you know about 'focus lock', 'fill-in flash' and what the 'P' button does (it means 'Program'. Probably the single most useful setting on the camera) and will ensure that you capture your perfect moments as best as you can.
TOUTS - they're everywhere and if you dn't want to buy some handicraft, go on a tour, take a taxi or a rickshaw or sign up for a three day safari then what you need are..... headphones. Not necessarily an MP3 player (although I can't imagine not having one!) but just headphones. The idea is that if a tout doesn't think that you can hear them then they won't waste their time trying to sell you something and instead find an easier target. It does work.
ALWAYS have an escape route. You may never need it but you'll be glad that it's there. Keep funds aside as a 'get out of jail free' card. No-one should feel anxious or scared or intimidated by your situation but it can happen. Also, when there are emergencies back home, you know that if you absolutely have to be there, you can be. Many airlines can sell you a refundable ticket to your home country from almost anywhere in the world. lets hope you never have to use it.