Britons ‘complacent over malaria’

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Title – Britons ‘complacent over malaria’
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 15th May 2007

Malaria is one of the blights on the human populations of the world. Primarily a major cause of death in countries that can least afford to protect themselves, it is the responsibility of all of us that are afforded the luxury of modern medication and expensive equipment to ensure we do everything not to burden the health services of the countries we visit or our own when we return by protecting ourselves effectively. Not using the medication available to protect yourself from Malaria is not only socially irresponsible; it places you in danger of contracting a very serious disease. Some people believe that even if they contract Malaria, it is treatable on your return and generally results in death only in countries where primary medication is unavailable.

These myths place individuals at great risk, Malaria can certainly be treated, but it also kills up to 1 million people every year, so no one should take it for granted. If that is not enough of a warning then consider that people contracting Malaria even if they can be cured often remain chronic carriers and suffer from flares in the disease again in later life. Ask yourself the question if you decide to travel to an area of the world where Malaria is endemic; would you rather pop a pill once or twice a day for the period of your trip and up to one month afterwards or spend 3 months recovering from malaria, another 3 month rehabilitating yourself and spend the rest of your life worrying when you are going to suffer another bout and wipe out another year of your life.

We offer Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshops for anyone travelling for the first time or wishing to review their skills and gain the latest information about their destination. The workshop covers many of the major disease threats you might face on your travels and the best way to protect yourself. Prophylactic (anti-malaria medication) are just the first step in protection and not 100% effective, avoiding the bite in the first place and knowing what equipment to pack will help reduce the risk to a minimum and give you the peace of mind to travel in confidence.

Please visit our website at

www.safegapyear.com

Spiritual leap of faith

Title – Spiritual leap of faith
Source – Sport
Date – 13th April 2007

Some cultural events are still sacred, some you can join in with, others you may be barred from altogether; always see any inclusion as an honour and a privilege. Getting an insight into the traditional way of life is not always for the faint hearted, sometimes the events are bizarre, sometimes they are private; but many times travellers can get a feel for them and it would not be unique to see a traveller who has visited New Zealand returning with a small Maori tattoo, less likely however is for a traveller to come home with their face tattooed as might be tradition in many of the Pacific islands and is often related to a right of passage ceremony.

The same can be said for the land diving ceremonies of Vanuatu, incredible as they are and spectacular in their danger and sheer insanity, this is a right of passage reserved purely for the islanders and not something any traveller, tourist or visitor should in any way get involved with. The closest they should get is the other side of a camera lens.

There is not an insurance company in the world who will pay out a claim when you seriously injure yourself having climbed a bamboo structure 70 feet off the ground and tied a natural vine to your ankles (that has the elasticity of climbing rope) and thrown yourself off knowing that the nearest hospital is several hundred miles away on a different island…

But if your culture relies on this activity to demonstrate your standing in your community and the Yam harvest is counting on your actions, there might just be a good enough reason to get up there and throw yourself off. But this dangerous and brave activity should never be mocked, injuries and deaths are not uncommon, this is still a very important ritual on Pentecost island. Tourist are now invited to come and watch, but this is no spectacle put on for tourists and outsiders can watch but not take part.

If you want to get a real insight into this sensation, then when you are in Australia (the usual starting point for a visit to Vanuatu) head for one of the many modern day vine jumping locations, more commonly called Bungee Jumps. But even Bungee carries risks, so make sure your insurance covers you for these activities.

At Beyond The Blue we look at the questions you need to ask when looking for travel insurance, make sure that the area you are visiting is covered, as well as the activities you intend to take part in. Insurance choices should be based on much more then cost alone; the cheapest here is certainly not always the best. Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshop does not recommend specific insurance or companies, but helps you to make sure you ask all the right questions and get appropriate cover for your trip.


Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com

Tourists face ban from Galapagos Islands

Title – Tourists face ban from Galapagos Islands
Source – The Metro
Date – 12th April 2007

The Galapagos Islands are just one of the worlds top travel destinations. Whether you travel there for the amazing scenes above water on the islands that inspired Charles Darwin in much of his theorising on evolution or head for an under water world that is unmatched anywhere in the world, you will have in impact on the environment.

'Eco Tourism' is certainly an attractive marketing tool, but your own actions are going to determine exactly how much of an impact you actually have. Your research should go further then your tour operators website, look behind the glossy brochure and find out exactly how green they are.

You can already start to reduce the impact you have by following some simple rules, not only will you be helping to protect the planet, but you will also be helping the local populations you visit and setting and example that may help local populations help themselves.

During our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshop we examine ways you can reduce the environmental impact you have when you travel. Following these simple rules will help you ingratiate yourself with the local population and not be a burden to them. This in turn will earn you respect and by default provide you with more security.

At Beyond The Blue we believe that travel is a privilege and to visit another community should not be seen as a right, but rather as a generous invitation. If you treat your travel in this way, you will create a positive impact on locals that can outweigh the natural impact any kind of travel will have.

There are many organisations who share our beliefs and there are pressure groups emerging to help individuals make the right choices. One such group is Tourism Concern and we would urge you to visit their website; www.tourismconcern.org.uk

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com

Swiss man jailed for Thai insult

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Title – Swiss man jailed for Thai insult
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 28th March 2007

Walk along a road in London and deface a portrait or symbol of the Queen and the most punishment you are likely to face is a charge of criminal damage, usually resulting in no more then a caution or a fine. However in other countries the ridiculing of monarchs, politicians or religious figures can carry much more serious penalties.

An example in Thailand where the king is revered, left this man from Switzerland facing a gaol term of 10 years after spray painting posters depicting the king’s image. This sentence may seem unduly harsh, but in reality it was reduced from an original sentence of 20 year and could have been worse with up to 75 years term having been a possibility.

Very few people would find themselves in this situation, but this Swiss man will not be the first or the last to commit a 'stupid' crime when intoxicated after a night of drinking. But in Thailand even criticising the king can land you in very hot water. More importantly many of the Thai people will find it very insulting for you to make derogatory comments about their monarch and your input may be very unwelcome.

Generally it is a bad idea to talk about politics in foreign countries and certainly try and avoid starting these conversations yourself. One important factor is not to assume that the way of life back home is the right and only way for countries to be governed. Cultural difference across the world often dictate how countries are governed and work well in some countries and less well in others.

Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshop enables individuals to travel with the knowledge of how to behave in the countries they visit, to avoid causing offence leading potentially to further problems. During the workshop we examine cultural differences in the different destinations where your travels will take you.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com

Was hiker killed by her own rucksack?

Title – Was hiker killed by her own rucksack?
Source – Daily Mail
Date – 10th March 2007

This tragic accident left a young adult dead and a family in mourning and forever destroyed by the most devastating memories.

The suggestion is that the weight of her backpack was a contributing factor in this accident and that a desire to retrieve lost equipment started the sequence of events that resulted in the loss of a young life full of promise.

Although the events leading to this accident may not have been foreseeable, the causes are more common then you might expect. Poor choices of equipment and over packing as well as an emotional attachment to often cheap and unnecessary equipment that is about to be lost, does result in many injuries that could easily be avoided.

During our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshop we examine the equipment that is useful and what you should pack and those items manufacturers will try and force upon you that are a real waste of money and you can afford to leave behind. The everyday benefit is simply the inconvenience of an excessively heavy backpack that holds you back, as well as a better understanding of the actual value of your equipment and the problems that can result if you try and stop it being lost or stolen.

We offer these workshops to help travellers going anywhere in the world to prepare effectively for their adventure from the very basics to specific needs at your destination. We examine your equipment needs and how to avoid spending hundreds of pounds on equipment you will rarely or never use.

Accidents and tragedies can not always be avoided and sad stories such as this one will continue to be written, but the more people that inform themselves about potential risks the less families will have to come to terms with loosing a brother, sister, son or daughter.


Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com

Ethnic violence flares in Vanuatu

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Title – Ethnic violence flares in Vanuatu
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 8th March 2007

Vanuatu is a nation of small islands in the middle of the pacific ocean. Rarely visited except by intrepid travellers and experienced divers, it has a wealth of attractions just waiting for the experienced traveller; world class wreck diving, accessible active volcanoes, friendly dugongs, cargo cults, great beaches, blue holes, authentic south pacific culture and is the birth place of the Bungee Jump in the land (vine) jumpers of Pentecost island.

Vanuatu recently shot to fame coming top of the Happy Planet Index (www.happyplanetindex.org) a new way of looking at the ecological efficiency with which human well-being is being delivered. So is Vanuatu really the happiest place on earth?

Certainly it has traditionally been a typical south pacific island, with a pace of life equivalent to a turtle on land, a people that smile when they meet you and are happy to talk and find out about you and your life at every opportunity, the palm trees to finish off the perfect picture postcard. But ask some of the locals and they may have a different point of view, most are certainly happy, but they still like anyone want to improve themselves. Better health care, better education and better prospects for their children, the same ambitions that people all over the world work for. Your tourist dollar can make a difference and help local people, if you use local facilities.

But even in the happiest place on earth, trouble seems sometimes to be just below the surface and modern life creeps up and does the same damage that it has done for centuries in all corners of the world. Coming in search of work in the capital and in the main tourist hotspots, people from different ethnic groupings are forced to live together in conditions not fit for purpose; the negative elements seem to surface and the result is always the same, fighting and civil unrest. Even in paradise where the police carry no weapons, they have to draw on the worst of mankind’s inventions (the gun) to try and protect the happiness of the people.

Beyond The Blue provides details on your chosen destinations, examines the cultural experiences you need to be aware of and the risks you are likely to face when you reach your destination. During our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop, we examine whole hosts of subjects essential to having a positive travel experience.
Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com

Five Britons kidnapped in Ethiopia’s ‘land of death’

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Title – Five Britons kidnapped in Ethiopia’s ‘land of death’
Source – The Independent
Date – 3rd March 2007

As tourists and travellers seek out ever more remote and unvisited destinations they increasingly find themselves in areas where they simply don’t have the skills or information to guarantee their own safety, but you don’t have to go to the remote and bandit ridden north of Ethiopia to put your own safety in danger, common destinations have their own threats.

Travelling is and should remain one of your life’s best and most memorable experiences, every corner of the world has fascinating sights, sound, smells and spectacles, but increasingly people are pushing their own boundaries are realising that they are under prepared for what they face when they arrive.

We appreciates that the average person could be scared to death if they were presented with all the facts relating to their chosen destination, civil unrest, theft, kidnapping, disease, natural disasters, war, industrial accidents and every day accidents are just the tip of the iceberg. But we are not here to scare you we are here to present these fact and figures in context and show you that most of the world is as safe as your home town, if you approach it in the right manner and prepare effectively for your forthcoming adventure. We want everyone attending our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshop not only to leave feeling more confident, but to be excited about the adventure they are about to face. We want you to return home with just tales of fun and new experiences rather than horror stories.


Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com

Dengue sparks Paraguay emergency

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Title – Dengue sparks Paraguay emergency
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 2nd March 2007

Dengue is becoming an increasing problem in many parts of the world. In endemic countries it remains a constant threat but it is this type of outbreak that presents the biggest threat to travellers.

Having a good understanding of the dangers faced in the countries you are visiting and taking prevention measures is always sensible even when an outbreak has yet to be widely reported. Many simple measures can reduce the risks you face at your destination and keeping up to date with the latest information means you can avoid areas where the risks are unacceptable. In areas suffering an outbreak, local medical facilities will already be stretched with local casualties and don’t need the added burden of travellers adding to already difficult conditions.
Through our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop we offer individuals planning a trip to any part of the world advice and guidance on personal safety issues, as well as Travel Health and Destination Advice and information.

Please visit our website at http://www.safegapyear.com/

The Gap Year gone wrong

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Title – The Gap Year gone wrong
Source – www.ft.com
Date – 2nd March 2007

This story of every parent’s worst nightmare, fortunately turned out to have a happy ending; but it doesn’t take away from the horror of the experience that this whole family had to go through. It all started with one of the most common accidents that young travellers experience; the scooter or motorbike accident. This time the results were serious and devastating for all concerned, more commonly these accidents are minor, but they can still cost individuals a fortune and ruin the experience of a lifetime. However some accidents are serious and often this is a result of inexperience and over confidence and ignoring the basic safety rules that are enforced by law at home and flaunted by travellers to other countries.

Few people would ever consider getting on a motorbike in the UK without a motorbike license, insurance and most importantly a helmet. But too many people get to their holiday destination and ignore all three of these basic rules and speed around resorts without a care in the world. Add to these risks, the danger of many of the world’s roads being impossible to navigate safely without the experience of having grown up understanding that it is normal to negotiate 5 lanes of traffic when there are only 3 lanes marked on the road…

There are many dangers for the average traveller setting off on a Gap Year, some are unavoidable and need to be addressed by good planning. Others such as your transport options are entirely in your own hands, certainly accidents happen, traffic accidents happen in Sri Lanka as well as Swindon. We can help you reduce the risk, but only you can implement the precautions you need to put in place to eliminate the risk that are simply not worth taking.

Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshop will help anyone planning a trip to any part of the world to understand the risks and the way they can be reduced in all the areas of travel. As part of the workshop we examine Transport Options and personal safety issues.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com

Cargo cult lives on in South Pacific

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Title – Cargo cult lives on in South Pacific
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 17th February 2007

Having a good understanding of the environment you are visiting allows you to plan your trip and gives you a greater chance of it being successful in making it the experience of a lifetime, rather then a missed opportunity.

Tanna Island in Vanuatu is truly the other side of the world form almost everywhere you start and in every sense of the phrase. Active volcanoes, cargo cult tribes and a village culture and social higherachy that goes back thousands of years. Understanding your destination will help your to appreciate the significance of your impact on this fragile way of life and experience it without disturbing it.

It is easier then ever to travel and you can travel almost anywhere, but you’ll never understand everything. But if you consider it a great honour if you are even given the slightest of insights into the way that other people live in their home country, you can learn a great deal from your hosts. Travel in the knowledge that even the smallest insight makes you a very lucky person and not pushing your luck keeps you safe and often result in even more acceptance.

Arriving by accident in a village and seeing a village meeting taking place is not an invitation to get out you cameras and flash away. In Vanuatu it may be a very serious matter and village meetings solve problems from how to share a harvest to dealing with “crimes” and acting as court and sentencing processes for those involved. You wouldn’t walk into a court house at home and if you mistakenly did, you would make every effort to remove yourself without being noticed, the same should apply when you visit a new country.
Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshop concentrates on developing individual’s skills to allow them to travel well prepared, safely and with a sense of Cultural Awareness, allowing you to have a positive impact on your destination.

Please visit our website at http://www.safegapyear.com/