Thai murder victim's final hours

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Title – Thai murder victim’s final hours
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 18th January 2007

Considering the number of people travelling independently every year these stories are still fortunately very rare and the dangers faced by the traveller is in many countries not significantly different to those faced by people in the UK. But every time a story like this hits our front page we note it and it adds to the impression we have that travel is inherently dangerous.

The tragedy of what happened to Katherine Horton who had travelled half way round the world in search of fun, excitement and adventure with her friend Ruth Adams, were widely reported in the press. The events that led to her death are horrific and those guilty were brought swiftly to justice, but the devastation of her family and friends can never be completely healed.

It is every parent’s worst nightmare and many people miss out on the potential experiences that travel can bring, because of situation like these.

One of the most frightening aspects for both the traveller and the parents is the huge distance they find themselves from their loved ones and the lack of understanding they have of local laws and the way local authorities deal with this type of incident. We expect serious incidents to be dealt with in the same manner as they are dealt with at home and that is not always the case. These stories may put some people off travelling and the local authorities know that they can represent a serious threat to the most valued “tourist dollar” and this source of foreign income is guarded jealously. As a result justice can sometimes be more about being seen to be doing something, than actually following specific procedures.

Ruth’s experience with the British Embassy is not necessarily a representative view, but equally it is not unheard of. The British representatives will try and help British citizens where they can, but British citizens are subject to local laws and ways of dealing with incidents. This can make the anxiety and fear substantially worse then the devastation of the incident in the first place.
Our Gap Years and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshops provide individuals and groups planning a trip to prepare their travel plans meticulously in advance. The workshop covers areas of personal safety, communication skills and managing violent and aggressive situations. Some situations are completely out of the control of the victims, but most can be dealt with in a positive manner with some basic skills and understanding of local cultures. We also examine Travel Equipment requirements, Travel Health and carry out country profiling looking at your specific destinations.

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

Indonesia's public transport perils

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Title – Indonesia’s public transport perils
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 18th January 2007

When travelling to far flung parts of the world the sometimes oppressive feeling we have of being out of our depth and comfort zone is often appeased when you board a plane or other form of transport. These are familiar environments for you and you feel you better understand them, then the world just outside their door.

But this can be a false sense of security. As this article highlights, transport systems in many developing countries across the world are not able to invest as much as we expect transport companies and governments in the UK to do. The strict regulation we see at home that is always the first point of investigation after any kind of accident, simply does not always exists as comprehensively in the developing world.

In Indonesia 'serious incidents' within the transport system occur almost every week, but we don’t always hear about them unless foreign tourists are involved. But their regularity is quite frightening. But taking some simple common sense measures can reduce the risk you face; the most straightforward is not to put sticking to your schedule ahead of your safety and research goes a long way.
By attending our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshop it allows you to have a better understanding of the culture of the country you are visiting, with this information you will travel with added confidence, reduce the culture shock and expand your comfort zones. We also examine personal safety issues and topics such as Travel Equipment requirements and Transport Options. Choosing where, when and who to travel with, reduces the risks you face significantly.

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.

Boss to swap city life for Africa

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Title – Boss to swap city life for Africa
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 11th January 2007

Gap years are traditionally taken either after finishing school or after finishing at University. The excuse has long been that it is at a turning point in life, that these experiences are most practical. But perceptions are changing, individuals are realising that life changes at so many different points and not just between the ages of 18 and 25.

Increasingly the world of Gap Years has opened its doors to people of all ages and from all backgrounds. Famously Alanis Morisette packed a backpack after her first hit album 'jagged little pill' and headed for India to regain her focus and enjoy new experiences. Career breaks are now accepted by farsighted employers as a way of retaining staff who they will loose if they don’t provide the facility for sabbaticals to be taken.

You don’t have to be a Managing Director or rock n’ roll superstar to be able to afford the experiences that can be gained from travel abroad. You don’t have to be a millionaire for developing countries to benefit from the help you can give while taking part in a volunteering project.
We can help you to prepare for the ultimate Gap Year or Independent Travel experience through our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop. We cover aspects including personal safety, Cultural Awareness and Travel Equipment needs as well as addressing the relevant issues related to your destination.

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.