British arrests soar 32% in Spain

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Title – British arrests soar 32% in Spain
Source – www.bbc.co.uk & The Independent
Date – 12th August 2008

That over 2000 people were arrested in Spain out of 17 million visitors is hardly a headline, if anything the headline should be how few people are arrested and how tolerant the Spanish authorities are towards us Brits…

Now I know this opinion is generalising a little and based on the extremes we seem to champion on our less subtle cable TV channels and ‘reality’ programmes, anyone who has spent any time in one of those Spanish resorts that attract the millions of visitors can surely be under no illusion that there are many more people that go unarrested who probably should count themselves lucky.

More importantly and less attractive as a press headline are some of the other statistics. Visitors to Indonesia have a 1 in 100 chance of having a serious incident, be that robbery, drugs related or accident; in Thailand we have long warned of the high incidence of traffic accidents involving Britons on motorbikes and scooters, these latest figures show the high degree of hospital admissions and deaths from such accidents; UAE we recently highlighted as a country where not understanding the local culture and law could land you in very hot water indeed and this again is reflected in these latest figures.

The warnings are there and plain to see. Take out comprehensive travel insurance and don’t take part in activities that would render this insurance invalid; research your destination and learn something of the culture and laws of the country you are visiting; have respect for your hosts and don’t think you you will be granted special dispensation because you are a foreigner, those days are over and if anything today foreigners are made an example of; seek comprehensive travel health advice at least 8 weeks before you leave; act responsibly.

We can help you in all of these areas. Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop helps to prepare you thoroughly for your planned travels where ever in the world they may take you. Day one covers aspects of conflict resolution which will give you the skills to avoid conflict in all its forms and personal safety techniques that enable you to free yourself from aggressive or violent situations without the need to use force. Day two covers all practical aspects of travel including Cultural Awareness, Destination Advice, Travel Health, Transport Options, Travel Equipment and Travel Insurance.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com or join us on Facebook. For a complete list of Blog entries visit our National Press Archive page.

Off into the unknown

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Title – Off into the unknown
Source – The Independent
Date – 11th August 2008

This is a very balanced article and one which echo’s much of what I write in this blog; there are many dangers out there but if you maintain perspective they are not as great as they may seem. One of the problems is that when a tragedy occurs especially to a young ‘gapper’, the stories are sensationalised and magnified because of the sadness felt, that someone (often a young adult) with such a spirit of adventure has been the unfortunate victim of crime or tragic accident.

But the article is right, statistically taking a Gap Year may not be much more dangerous than our every day lives, however the two points it omits are ones that anyone travelling should consider.

The first is that when travelling even minor situations are exaggerated because we are often so far away and in such unfamiliar locations, that situations we would handle almost as second nature at home are difficult for us to resolve. The second is that most travellers will take risks when travelling, which they simply would not take at home.

Let me give you some examples. In 2002 I travelled to

Mongolia, this vast and beautiful country is really only fully accessible on horseback. At home riding a horse is inherently dangerous, but helmets and other safety equipment is mandatory and we at least have good medical facilities to come to our assistance in the case of an accident. Back in Mongolia I never saw a helmet and the saddles and other equipment were very rudimentary. The horses themselves were semi-wild and certainly not familiar with the frame of a well fed European. But the thing which struck me most when I was 5 days into my adventure on horseback, was what would happen if I fell off and hurt myself? I am not even thinking of a serious accident, something as simple as a broken ankle which considering the mountain, swamp, river crossings etc. was not unimaginable. In itself not a life threatening injury, but when the nearest medical assistance is five days horse ride (on the assumption I could cover the same ground with a broken ankle as I could without) away, followed by a flight (twice weekly); what state would my ankle be in by the time I reached the modest medical facilities available even in the Mongolian capitol Ulaanbaatar?

The additional risks we seem willing to take when travelling are as a result of the euphoric effect of travel itself. We need to do what is possible to temper this over-confidence without taking anything away from the travel experience itself. Once we have assessed these risks we need to actively control them and manage them as effectively as possible; most of us would not even consider cycling in the UK without a helmet these days, yet we will happily drive a motorbike we have rented on some of the worlds most dangerous roads when we travel. It does not make a great deal of sense, yet the willingness to take additional risk, where that risk is exaggerated by our location, somehow seems overwhelming.

At Beyond The Blue (Safe Gap Year) our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness Workshop (GYITSA) considers issues of Travel Safety, we help you evaluate the risks, show you the consequences and allow you to travel with more confidence in yourself to make the right choices when it comes to managing the risk involved in your travel. We look at issues such as Travel Equipment, Travel Health, Travel Insurance, Destination Advice which you have to consider before you travel and when you travel. To make sure you can make the most of your Gap Year we will help you prepare for every eventuality so that you can not just benefit on your return but make the most of every experience while you travel.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com or join us on Facebook. For a complete list of Blog entries visit our National Press Archive page.

For more information on any of our services, please call us on 0845 602 55 95 or Contact Us.

Dynamic Gap Year students will always stand out from the rest of the A-list crowd.

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Title – Dynamic Gap Year students will always stand out from the rest of the A-list crowd.
Source – The Independent
Date – 11th August 2008

This interesting point of view is one with which I concur completely, there is much more value to a Gap Year than simply the enjoyment of travel itself.

In an ever more competitive job market attitudes towards gap years have changed dramatically. Whereas 15 years ago employers looked upon them as signifying a lack of dedication to a ‘career’; gap years are now considered an attribute by many employers, one that helps you stand out from the crowd.

The world of business is now truly globalised. Working in this world you have to have an understanding of other cultures, different work ethos and different attitudes to challenge your own values. In international business an understanding of these differences sets you out from the crowd and gives you a much better chance of being successful.

There has never been a more important time to gain a competitive advantage in the job market, to be able to achieve this while fulfilling lifelong dreams seems to be the ultimate ‘win-win’.

At

Beyond The Blue (Safe Gap Year) our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness Workshop (GYITSA) considers issues of Travel Safety, Travel Equipment, Travel Health, Travel Insurance, Destination Advice, Returning Home and the many more considerations before deciding where to travel to and what activities to undertake. To make sure you can make the most of your gap year we will help you prepare for every eventuality, so that you can not just benefit on your return, but make the most of every experience while you travel.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com or join us on Facebook. For a complete list of Blog entries visit our National Press Archive page.

For more information on any of our services, please call us on 0845 602 55 95 or Contact Us.

Robbery, then rape at gunpoint: a couple’s ordeal in Caribbean villa

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Title – Robbery, then rape at gunpoint: a couple’s ordeal in Caribbean villa
Source – The Times
Date – 4th August 2008

As is often the case success can be the reason for downfall, the Caribbean is a perfect example of this. The success of many of the Caribbean islands as tourist destinations have seen huge development a reduction in traditional economies and lifestyles and a widening of the wealth gap between rich and poor.

Add to this the influx of foreign companies that ‘import’ tourists and ‘export’ profits, the subsequent increase of direct flights to and from Europe and the USA, the proximity to South and Central America where the world production of Cocaine is concentrated and the scene was set for these beautiful and peaceful islands to become the perfect staging post for drugs to be smuggled. At one point statistics showed that one in every ten people on flights from the Caribbean were ‘drug mules’.

With this as a starting point, it is hardly surprising that the drug culture has infiltrated these societies and with that the development (or sometimes enhancement of existing) gangs seeking to control these lucrative drug routes. Add to this the proximity of one of the main producers of methamphetamines (Ice) in Mexico and yet another tragedy is in the making.

Where there is a serious drug problem coupled with gangs fighting for control of drug money, there are always consequences that go beyond the internal criminal and gang related violence. It always spills out as drug dependents seek ‘soft targets’ and criminals breed criminals who don’t simply rob and steal, but who have such distain for life itself that they kill as a matter of course.

With the very high profile murder of honeymoon couple Mr & Mrs Mullany the situation has hit the headlines. It is very sad to see this side of a society which does not reflect the average Caribbean islander who will welcome visitors with open arms and a friendly smile; but the underbelly is a violent and disillusioned society with a serious drug problem that has led to lawlessness and gangs that are better funded and better armed in many cases then law enforcement.

Many tourists visit the Caribbean islands without any sort of incident, but this very high profile double murder has highlighted that the innocence of the Caribbean that was lost a long time ago, has now been very publically shattered and as this second story to emerge from St Lucia demonstrates it was not an isolated incident. People must be aware when they travel not just that there is a very violent part of society on many of these islands, but that they are ruthless beyond what many people will believe to be possible.

This is not a new phenomenon; nearly 10 years ago a group of 8 friends of mine were visiting one of the Caribbean islands and were robbed at gunpoint in the middle of the night. They were ‘lucky’; by lying very still and complying with commands the perpetrators gave, they simply lost cash and valuables, this could easily have ended very differently.

Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshop provides candidates with personal safety skills and techniques to help you stay safe, as well as destination advice and practical advice on all aspects of independent travel to all corners of the world.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com or join us on Facebook. For a complete list of Blog entries visit our National Press Archive page.

Tourists attacked by the dogs brought in to save sheep from wolves

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Title – Tourists attacked by the dogs brought in to save sheep from wolves
Source – The Times
Date – 4th August 2008

We do have a tendency in the ‘developed world’ to be very patronising towards conservation efforts in other countries; we tend to blame them for the destruction of rainforest, habitats of rare endangered species and for not considering the impact on global warming. How short-sighted are the Indians for not protecting the tiger, the Africans for wanting to cull elephant, the South Americans for cutting down swaths of rainforest to grow crops or the Chinese for polluting their way to global domination.

What we tend to forget is that we did just that when we ‘developed’ our country. Look at the UK or much of Europe now and it bares little or no resemblance to its natural state. Most of the A1 predators are gone or so rare they have to be artificially sustained, our beautiful countryside is primarily the result of farming and can we really preach at the Chinese about pollution after our own industrial revolution? Not to mention how much we pollute to this day; look at the pollution generated per person in the UK and China and they look veritably ‘green’ by comparison.

This story demonstrates this clearly to me. Wolves are making a comeback in the Alps, much like some other A1 predators are in the rest of the world because of successful conservation projects. But when a village in Indonesia kills a tiger out of ‘self-defence’ or to defend their livestock we are appalled. We should be looking closer to home; the fuss being made about the reintroduction of beavers to Scotland or wolves in the Alps should make us think twice about criticising others.

For travellers they too should be aware that dangers with local wildlife exist not just in faraway places, but also much closer to home. If the wolves themselves are not yet a serious threat to humans, there is a real possibility that the day will come when their paths cross, but before that time there is the distinct possibility that the dogs we have ‘reintroduced’ to protect livestock against the wolves will turn on unfamiliar humans. Much like many of the fighting dogs we see in the UK that sadly regularly maim and kill because owners are either incapable or irresponsible in looking after them, the Pyrenean mountain dog was not bred as a pet, it was bred as a defender and can not be held to account for what we have done to make it such.

Having written all this, don’t think for a second that I don’t think we should do everything in our power to protect the tiger, the elephant or the rainforest and that we shouldn’t put great pressure on not just China but everyone to reduce carbon emissions; but remember we started many of these processes and we changed our environment beyond recognition and beyond return to ensure our own standard of living and prosperity, so we should try and help others learn from our mistakes not chastise them for following our lead.

Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshop looks at ways of reducing the impact we have on our environment and on the people and cultures of the countries we visit. We also examine how to travel more safely including ways of reducing the risks from the environments and fauna and flora of those countries we visit; be they wild or ‘domesticated’. These dangers are often hidden and for inexperienced travellers much of the danger is in the false belief that what is the norm at home is also the norm in the countries we visit, near and far. Many dogs in the UK are friendly and approachable; the Patou in the alps should not be confused with a domestic dog walking in the English countryside.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com or join us on Facebook. For a complete list of Blog entries visit our National Press Archive page.

Cambodia appeals over ‘imminent war’ on Thai border

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Title – Cambodia appeals over ‘imminent war’ on Thai border
Source – The Daily Telegraph
Date – 23rd July 2008

I’m not sure anyone really believes there is an ‘imminent war’ brewing between Thailand and Cambodia, but certainly this situation can not be ignored and it is worth keeping half an eye on.

It is the ability to read behind the headlines that provides us with the information to travel more safely and to make sound judgements on the countries and the regions of those countries we should visit. For now the area round the Preah Vihear temple should be out of bounds to travellers (effectively it is, as governments from both sides have restricted movement). But in Thailand it is the southern border region with Malaysia is substantially more dangerous at this time, yet it doesn’t hit the headlines quite like this.

So what is behind the headlines? Well the most simplistic explanation is an unfortunate coincidence of political manoeuvring taking place on both sides for wholly different reasons. Which side of the border this temple lies on has been in dispute for decades, but the people who live in the region on both sides have lived in relative harmony for almost as long, only ever disturbed by decisions made in far away capitol. Tourists rarely visit region and certainly not in the numbers seen elsewhere in these much visited countries.

But there is nothing like a symbol of national pride to galvanise public opinion when your political candidate or party needs a boost; not just in Asia but all over the world. In Cambodia the troop build up happened to coincide with an election and national pride in a country whose modern history is so tragic, is a very powerful tool; sending in troops to protect a 900 year old temple you have claimed as your own sends a strong message. In Thailand it was actually the opposite; the foreign minister cooperated with UNESCO to give the temple national heritage recognition, which was seen by political rivals as ceding ownership to the Cambodians. This was too easy a target for political opponents in a country still in some political turmoil following a bloodless coup in 2005; the sign of conceding without a fight too much for politicians to take and leading to the resignation of the foreign minister and assertion through the deployment of troops to their claim on the temple.

The outcome is troop movements from both sides towards a potential flash point. There is no political will to actually fight, but the concern is always that one little thing can set things off. History is littered with conflicts that started ‘by mistake’; politicians find it much easier to step-up than to back-down. What happens if patrolling soldiers surprise each other and shots are exchanged or worse someone is killed? When in an area still littered with landmines someone puts the wrong foot forward? Wherever there is a build up of troops from different countries there is the potential for rapid escalation.

For this reason it is really very important that travel planning includes keeping up-to-date not just with the news from the different destinations you visit, but what is behind the news; Thailand does not need to be avoided as a destination, but you need to know which parts of Thailand to avoid. Similar troop build ups happened on the Venezuelan, Colombian and Ecuadorian borders earlier this year and Africa is full of similar situations that have turned out very badly indeed. Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop examines the flashpoints in the world and at your specific destinations. We provide you with the tools and the appreciation of how and why you should maintain an interest in the political situation at your destination(s).

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com or join us on Facebook. For a complete list of Blog entries visit our National Press Archive page.

US imposes another obstacle on Britons crossing the Atlantic

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Title – US imposes another obstacle on Britons crossing the Atlantic
Source – The Independent
Date – 12th July 2008

I have commented on this story before in this Blog, but as the start date approaches we are keen to help publicise this change and encourage people to use the new system as soon as possible after the 1st August start date. That way more people become familiar with the idea of preregistering their details before they set off for the States.

We could add to the argument about how this new layer of bureaucracy is yet more of an imposition on traveller to the USA, one that we in the UK don’t demand from traveller from the USA; but that is for different people on a different blog to discuss.

As travel safety specialists and facilitators of travel advice our role in this case is simply to advise people on the changes to the system, so they are not caught out on their day of travel. This is also the responsibility of your travel agency or airline, but undoubtedly there will be times when the message does not get across. This is especially a concern for regular travellers to the USA who will be very familiar with the simple visa-waiver programme that allowed you to fill out a customs and entry card on your flight.

There are some advantages to this new system; you will no longer have to scramble for a pen half way through a flight when the person next to you is asleep and blocking your access to the overhead locker. More importantly we are told that an approved application will remain valid for two years, so regular visitors or anyone entering the country more than once in that period will not have to fill in the form each time they travel to the USA. There is the danger that from January 2011 some people will be caught out by forgetting to renew their registration once the initial 2 year period is over; but that is a warning or reminder for another day… or another year.

Just remember, you have to fill the form in at least three days before you travel, we strongly recommend you fill it in as soon as you buy your ticket. This will ensure it is not forgotten in the excitement leading up to your trip and in the scramble to get packed and sort out all those other last minute details.

Our Safe Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop provides candidates with travel and personal safety advice as well as all the information they will require to prepare and execute their trip successfully. This includes examining the documentation and visa requirements for the destination(s) they plan to visit.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com or join us on Facebook. For a complete list of Blog entries visit our National Press Archive page.

Cave warning on Uganda bat virus

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Title – Cave warning on Uganda bat virus
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 12th July 2008

Many people will not have heard of the ‘Marburg Virus’ and there is no particular reason they would have done.

Marburg is a very rare disease, even most travel clinics will look blankly at you if you ask after it, but then there really is no reason to ask; there is after all no known cure, no vaccine and this is the first case of a tourist being infected. However mention the closely related Ebola virus and it does invoke fear in people being known as a highly contagious disease with a very high mortality rate.

Travellers should not be worried, this is an isolated case and Marburg is not a disease encountered by travellers generally. For now simply follow the WHO’s recommendation and avoid caves in Uganda that are inhabited by bats; this seems to have been the most likely cause of the infection.

The difficulty with tropical diseases in general and with very rare diseases such as Marburg in particular, is in the diagnosis. Diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting could represent almost anything from food poisoning to Rabies and it is not until some of the truly unpleasant and later symptoms are displayed that the full extent of the more serious illnesses present themselves. The important thing to remember when you have been travelling and return home is that if you feel ill in anyway and have to visit your doctor, always inform them where you have just (anytime in the last year) visited. Some diseases have long incubation periods and your travels may seem like a lifetime ago by the time you visit your doctor, yet your travel could still be where you contracted your illness.

During our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop we examine the diseases that may affect your travels, how to recognise the symptoms and most importantly how to protect yourself from them in the first place. You should always seek the advice of your doctor or travel clinic with regard to the vaccinations and prophylactics you may require, however rarely will your doctor be able to spend as much time as they would like with you, to examine all the best ways of avoiding infection in the first place. During our workshop, we consider all the equipment required for your travel, how your behaviour (the activities you take part in) can expose you to insect bites that carry some of the most virulent diseases and what protection you should build into your travel plans to protect yourself and reduce the exposure to the various diseases out there awaiting your arrival.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com or join us on Facebook. For a complete list of Blog entries visit our National Press Archive page.

Briton faces jail for sex on Dubai beach

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Title – Briton faces jail for sex on Dubai beach
Source – The Independent
Date – 10th July 2008

Just a month ago we were warning that a number of people visiting UAE were unwittingly finding themselves facing stiff sentences for drugs offences; in one case simply because poppy seeds were found on their shirt after eating a roll for breakfast in the UK before travelling.

Here we are again with two Britons facing very serious charges and potentially long gaol terms for an offence which in the UK carries less severe punishment or a slap on the wrist and a healthy dose of embarrassment. In Dubai any sense of embarrassment has no doubt been forgotten with the threat of three years inside a Dubai gaol, loss of employment, deportation and an expansive legal battle, not to mention the effects on family and friends.

But the fact is they were not in the UK, they were in Dubai and they probably should have known better and informed themselves better; if nothing else they should have had more respect for their hosts. I’m not condoning the very stiff sentences some countries dish out for these offences, it is difficult for me to agree with them because of the culture I come from. However when I travel, I take time to learn about the culture of the country I am visiting and I appreciate that I should show respect to my hosts, because as a guest I am privileged to be there and I do not take the approach that the country is lucky to have me there.

Many countries have laws that we find at best ‘odd’ and worst ‘ridiculous’, but as I always tell people ‘if you don’t agree with the law in another country, don’t visit!’

UAE is not alone in having strict decency laws, the list of offences includes; sex outside of marriage; cohabitation; adultery; homosexual behaviour. In Laos for example it is illegal for a foreigner to have a sexual relationship with a Laos national. In other countries any sign of affection in public is considered illegal and activities such as holding hands and kissing in public can land you in hot water.

The key is to ‘know before you go’. That’s where we come in. Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshop provides candidates with the information they require to travel more safely. We teach conflict resolutions kills and personal safety techniques, but also examine aspect of Cultural Awareness that will affect you at your destination(s), reducing the instance of Culture Shock. We also examine the practical aspects of travel such as Travel Equipment, Visas, Travel Health, Travel Safety and Transport Options.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com or join us on Facebook. For a complete list of Blog entries visit our National Press Archive page.

Streets calm in riot-hit Mongolia

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Title – Streets calm in riot-hit Mongolia
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 3rd July 2008

Attend one of our workshops and ask us about Mongolia as a destination and you will be told what an amazing country it is and how for those people willing to endure a little hardship it is a destination almost unlike any other. Still today I can be heard regularly singing the praises of Mongolia and the people I met there, on our website you’ll note the number of images from Mongolia and I maintain my connection to the country through the excellent work of the Christina Nobel Children’s Foundation whose website (www.cncf.org) we always urge people to visit.

If I had to summarise the risks in visiting Mongolia they would generally be environmental. Conditions can be harsh at any time of year and in winter especially temperatures plummet, whenever you travel you have to have the right equipment. Infrastructure is poor or non-existent, medical facilities outside of Ulaan Baatar are minimal, roads outside the capital don’t really exist and you can find yourself a long way away from help. Rabies is not uncommon and even Bubonic (‘Black’) Plague is still endemic in the local marmot population, although you would have to be very unlucky, naïve or stupid to catch it. There is a not insignificant problem of alcoholism and drunk Mongolians are certainly worth avoiding, but this should not take away from the fact the Mongolian people are some of the most hospitable you will find anywhere in the world and are some of the most resourceful; they can make fire in the middle of the worst rain storm and fix any vehicle with no more than a spanner, hammer and a welding torch.

What I would not generally warn people of in Mongolia is a danger of civil unrest, it is just not something that you associate with that country. But unfortunately nowhere is completely immune from the odd riot, just some destinations are more prone to it than others. The riots in Mongolia lasted only a few days and were linked to the elections taking place there, a common reason for civil unrest in much of the world. The Mongolians soon got back to their normal routines; in a country where every day life is harsh and survival is often people’s sole goal, there is only so much time people can take away from scraping a living together. This poverty in a country that is just starting to reveal it potential mineral wealth, was part of the reason for the rioting in the first place.

Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop examines your destination(s) and what you can expect when you get there, the cultural differences you will experience and the steps you can take to reduce the risks you will face. Sometimes however no amount of preparation can warn you of impending civil unrest, but keeping informed of the political situation at your destination should certainly form part of your preparation. Elections are often a time of tension and certainly at many destinations additional care should be taken round election times and political ‘rallies’ are always best avoided.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com or join us on Facebook. For a complete list of Blog entries visit our National Press Archive page.