Hackers con gap year parents

Identity theft comes in many forms. Traditionally we think of it as people getting your personal details through theft of your passport or driving licence and this information being used to clone your identity in order to take out loans and credit cards in your name or to gain access to your bank account; but with the advent of social networking there is yet more risk…


It does sometimes feel like I write and talk about the drawbacks of social networking more than I praise its uses, but with our information being available to all (let’s face it, if your bank account can be hacked it’s not overly surprising that social networks can be…) there are too many opportunities for those who would use it for criminal purposes.


There are great advantages in social networking when travelling, it means you can keep people updated about your adventures as you go; one message reaches everyone in your network. The internet is now truly worldwide, with only a few corners where access is limited; so you can remain in constant ‘contact’.


But be careful not to rely too heavily on this form of communication alone. When we run courses which look at the effectiveness of different communication styles in the messages we ‘send’, social networking tends to rank just above texting...


Messages on social networks should not replace phone calls, if not for the benefit of the person travelling, then for the benefit of the people they leave behind. A phone call provides reassurance to both that everything is ok; a text message reading ‘All ok :) bungee 2morrow. gr8 ;)’ can have the opposite effect. It is worth remembering that independent travel can sometimes be more stressful for those left behind, than those travelling.


The scam highlighted in this article relies on the lack of communication between people travelling and those left behind.


The news article made much of the implied wealth of the Hogg family, however this would likely have had little or no influence on them being chosen as victims. I imagine had the perpetrators of this ‘scam’ realised they lived on a big country estate, their demands might actually have been much higher.


The sums of money they demanded (£265 for the bribe and $300 for the taxi ride out) is a significant amount in Colombia.


The criminals do not require your bank details or your passport for this one, they just need access to your social networking page and / or email account, both easily available if you use a terminal in an internet café which they have access to.


They will spend some time reading through your posts and emails until they know a little more about you and then contact your parents using your email account with the fake story of you being arrested and a bribe being required for your release (or a similar scenario).


Often they will also warn you not to contact the FCO or local police as ‘this may lead to the local authorities having to officially charge your son or daughter and the bribe no longer being a possible option’.


To most parents a few hundred pounds is a small price to pay for the release of their child and they will without hesitation pay up, through a wire transfer; why would you not?


The criminals will have all the information they need to impersonate the independent traveller, they will go so far as to write in the same style, using the same phrases, which they gauge from previous emails and messages. They will normally include several ‘convincers’, these are pieces of information which the receiver believes only the person they are impersonating would know and so they don’t question the origin / authenticity of the message; these too will be derived from the masses of information which people openly post on the internet through social networking sites. In the case of Gavin Hogg this was a reference to a new tattoo he had recently had on his back.


Like many such scams they play on the fear and emotion of loved-ones who feel utterly helpless when a close relative is ‘stranded’ far away from help.


Identity theft and this type of impersonation are on the increase in travellers. Independent travellers must be prepared for a world where our relative wealth in the UK, makes us targets across the rest of the world.


So what can you do to protect yourself against this scam?


The first thing is prepare effectively for your travel and decide who your ‘Trustee’ is going to be. Provide them with all the information they need to back you up if things go wrong.


Our ‘Trustee system’ involves you deciding on one main point of contact (usually a parent, relative or close friend) who you trust explicitly. During our workshops we provide a list of all the relevant documents and information they will require to assist you if it all goes wrong.


The ‘Trustee’ should be given a code word to use in an emergency; a simple innocuous phrase which would not seem out of place in a message, but which would if included confirm the authenticity of the message and related emergency.


If this phrase isn’t used it can alert the ‘trustee’ to the possibility of a scam or that the threat is not real; moreover if the code is used, it confirms the threat is real and can trigger an appropriate response.


The response should be to contact the FCO in the UK and the British Embassy in the country in question, rather than contacting the police in the country directly. If a warning has been given not to contact the FCO by the criminals, make sure that this information is passed on to the FCO, as it will allow them to act accordingly.


At Safe Gap Year our Independent Travel Safety and Cultural Awareness Workshop considers issues of Travel Safety, alongside sessions on Cultural Awareness, Travel Health, Ethical and Responsible Travel, Travel Equipment, Destination Advice, Transport Options, Documentation, Travel Money and Insurance and more.


Please visit our website at http://www.safegapyear.co.uk/.


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


To view the original article Click Here
To view the article on the Safe Gap Year website Click Here
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 23rd August 2010
Submitted by – Peter Mayhew

Peru declares emergency over cold weather

Peru has experienced a torrid year, which has negatively impacted on travel to the country and highlights the need for effective preparation for independent travel.


The current extreme cold spell has been devastating for local people up and down the country; 65% of the country has declared a state of emergency, in order to free up much needed emergency funding.


The extreme temperatures in the south of the country which have reached -24C are proportionately just as severe as the lows of 9C which have been experienced in the normally hot and humid Amazon region. The people who live in both these areas will experience similar consequences to these relative temperatures; with people living in the south being used to below zero temperatures, but not -24C and those from the Amazon basin being used to 20C - 30C but not single digits.


Travellers need to prepare effectively for the variance in temperatures which can be experienced across the country normally and these extremes, which in Peru, seem to be more and more frequent occurrences.


Due to its long coastline and reliance on the effect of the offshore currents for its climate, Peru is more susceptible to the effects of global warming than most. The country is still recovering from the devastating floods which closed its most popular tourist attraction earlier this year; Machu Picchu only re-opened in April.


To add to these ‘climate’ problems, Peru is also still suffering after the a devastating 2007 earthquake.


However travel to Peru should not be discounted, the country has too much to offer for that.


Effective planning is the key to safe independent travel and a significant part of this planning should involve understanding the conditions at your destination(s). This will help you to decide the best time of year to travel and the type of equipment you might require.


Your equipment choices need to be versatile, it is simply not possible to take more than one set of equipment, yet travellers to Peru will need to prepare for both extreme heat and extreme cold…. The key is to make sure your equipment is multi-purpose and works well when combined to meet all your requirements.


If you are going to visit southern Peru at this time of year (the southern hemisphere winter), you need to expect and prepare for cold in any year. This year your preparation needs to be even more effective, otherwise you could find yourself with inappropriate equipment in extreme cold.


At Safe Gap Year our Independent Travel Safety and Cultural Awareness Workshop considers issues of Travel Safety, alongside sessions on Cultural Awareness, Travel Health, Ethical and Responsible Travel, Travel Equipment, Destination Advice, Transport Options, Documentation, Travel Money and Insurance and more.


Please visit our website at http://www.safegapyear.co.uk/.


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


To view the original article Click Here
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 24th July 2010
Submitted by – Peter Mayhew

Deaths as dengue fever grips Caribbean

There is no vaccination for Dengue fever; the only option is prevention and treatment.


Fatalities from Dengue are rare in travellers because they are generally fortunate enough to have access to good healthcare if infected,. However it is a very debilitating disease and contracting a serious case of the fever will ruin most trips at the very least and can lead to further complications, especially if left untreated.


People I know who have had Dengue fever tell me it is an incredibly painful and frightening experience, symptoms include pain behind the eyes which can feel like you are going blind, skin rashes and extreme pain in the bones and joints; it can take weeks of hospitalisation to recover. It should also be noted that people who catch Dengue once are at far greater danger if they contract a different strain of the disease at a later date; contracting dengue fever may give you a level of immunity from the strain you caught, but makes you more vulnerable to the other strains which are out there.


So the key is in making sure your bite prevention methods are up to scratch. With no vaccine and no cure these are the only forms of protection. Don’t fall into the common misconception that mosquitoes bite at night and more in rural areas. The Aedes mosquito which carries the virus is active mainly during the day and are actually more common in urban areas.


Areas like the Caribbean where this latest outbreak has occurred are perfect locations for the mosquito and thus outbreaks of the disease, which seems to be on the increase across the world, are not uncommon. Due to the short life-cycles of these mosquitoes, even a short period of ideal conditions can lead to an explosion of the number of carriers.


The solution is bite avoidance day and night; cover up; insect repellent; insecticide; avoiding attractants like scents and scented soaps and even smelly feet & cheese; avoiding stagnant water, even small puddles can be breeding grounds; knowing the symptoms and seeking immediate medical care if any occur.


At Safe Gap Year our Independent Travel Safety and Cultural Awareness Workshop considers issues of Travel Safety, alongside sessions on Cultural Awareness, Travel Health, Ethical and Responsible Travel, Travel Equipment, Destination Advice, Transport Options, Documentation, Travel Money and Insurance and more.


Please visit our website at http://www.safegapyear.co.uk/.


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


To view the original article Click Here
Source – The Independent
Date – 18th July 2010
Submitted by – Peter Mayhew

One Hell of a Hole

Tropical Storm Agatha has caused havoc across Central America resulting in hundreds of deaths, devastating communities and reminding us of the massive destructive force of nature.


When travelling we have to factor in the climatic conditions, try and avoid those areas susceptible to hurricanes, cyclones and tropical storms (during the season).


These areas do not need to be boycotted completely, but as much as reducing risk, it’s also not much fun unless you happen to be a ‘storm chaser’.


An element of planning to avoid areas during the worst seasons is a start, but planning for the worst case scenario should factor in all travel plans.


When I visited Bikini Atoll (in the Marshall Islands) one of the most remote islands on earth, I felt reasonably safe from the worst weather patterns (despite having been diverted some 10,000 miles on my flight there thanks to a hurricane over Guam).


Bikini is generally considered to be too far north to be affected by tropical storms, although now from personal experience I can tell you this is not the case; even if the one we made it through was the first one anybody could remember.


In our case the eight people who were on the island at the time could not rely on anyone else to help us out and we were acutely aware that the destruction caused could well have isolated us for weeks; not an appealing prospect on an island where most of the natural resources are still too radioactive from the US Atomic Testing programme to be consumed…


The point is (and the appearance of this sinkhole in Guatemala proves it beyond any doubt), we can reduce risk from natural disasters to a point, but we can never eliminate them; some planning should be made to deal with the challenges of weather when they are encountered.


At Safe Gap Year our Independent Travel Safety and Cultural Awareness Workshop considers issues of Travel Safety, alongside sessions on Cultural Awareness, Travel Health, Ethical and Responsible Travel, Travel Equipment, Destination Advice, Transport Options, Documentation, Travel Money and Insurance and more.


Please visit our website at http://www.safegapyear.co.uk/.


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


To view the original article Click Here
Source – Metro
Date – 2nd June 2010

Coyote attack victim was rising folk star

To view the original article Click Here

Title – Coyote attack victim was rising folk star
Source – The Times
Date – 30th October 2009

This is very much a ‘freak’ occurrence, coyotes are not generally considered a particular threat to humans. This tragic incident shows that we must always be on our guard against a variety of dangers when out hiking in different parts of the world.

In North America, we would generally see Bears as the main threat to humans. However the reintroduction and dramatic increase in wolf numbers in some areas has elevated the threat from them and the danger from other animals including snakes and hoofed animals such a Bison, Moose (and even large Elk) cannot be ignored. Some parts of the USA also face dangers from smaller animals such as scorpions and the diseases transmitted by ticks and mosquitoes.

I sometimes think that this blog will make people paranoid, as we try and pick up on the wide variety of dangers people may face when visiting other parts of the world, which is not my purpose. We are not trying to scare people off travel, but rather make them aware of the many dangers so they can take often small measures which will offer protection against such incidents. After all you are statistically in substantially less danger from a fatal coyote attack in Canada then from a road traffic accident if you don’t travel and stay at home in the UK.

All I am saying is that we all know that getting in a car we fasten our seatbelts and obey the rules of the road we are taught during our driving test; how many of us know how to protect against animals when hiking in the Rockies? A little knowledge can go a long way…

At Beyond The Blue (Safe Gap Year) our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness Workshop (GYITSA) considers issues of Travel Safety, alongside sessions on Travel Health, Ethical and Responsible Travel, Travel Equipment, Travel Insurance, Destination Advice, Transport Options, Documentation, Travel Money and Insurance and more.

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

Tourists to plead guilty / Community work for fraud Britons / Gap-year fraudsters plead to come home

To view the original articles click on the links below

Title – Tourists to plead guilty /

Community work for fraud Britons / Gap-year fraudsters plead to come home
Source – The Independent / www.bbc.co.uk / The Times
Date – 6th August 2009 / 20th August 2009 / 20th August 2009

This is an update on our earlier blog entry:

· Brit pair ‘terrified’ in hellhole Rio jail

I always try and emphasise that I don’t write / post these entries to vilify those involved or to make suggestion on guilt or innocence, but rather as a warning to other independent travellers. These are warnings which could protect you from some of the potential pitfalls of your actions abroad.

The outcome of this court case has found these girls guilty of fraud and making a false report to the police, they were sentenced to 14 months imprisonment (they could have been sentenced to as much as 5 years) which was converted by the judge to community service and a fine. This is undoubtedly a lucky escape when you take into account the Brazilian jail they would have had to serve their sentence in.

However in sentencing them to two hours community service per day for 8 months, they will have to remain in Brazil for eight months as they serve their sentence. During this time they will have to fund themselves and as things currently stand be unable to return to the UK. Their appeal will no doubt try and address these factors.

Possibly just as bad or worse, both will have a criminal record which may well preclude them from certain career choices.

This will all seem very harsh when in reality it seems that these girls are far from ‘career criminals’ and the facts suggest they made a stupid mistake and an error of judgement. The fact that they were ‘robbed’ is not in question (a traumatic experience as it is for many travellers). It seems that sometime between that incident and reporting the crime against them, they made the decision to exaggerate their loss. Many people will say that this is hardly uncommon; the fact is, it is a crime.

What we emphasise to independent travellers and what we preach during our workshops over and over, is to remember when you are in another country you must abide by the laws of that country and are subject to the sanctions those laws impose. Being British does not entitle you to any special treatment, in fact it can often mean you are made an example of.

It is safe to say that were this crime committed in the UK, these girls would at worst be facing a fine and possibly some community service, so their situation is not wildly different; the problem is this has to be done over 8 months and in Brazil… it adds a rather different perspective to the punishment.

We must also always remember that insurance fraud is not a victimless crime; the insurance companies actually only lose in the short term, it is all travellers who lose in the long term, with higher premiums (premiums which rise every year, in no small part due to the number of claims received by the insurance companies).

At Beyond The Blue (Safe Gap Year) our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness Workshop (GYITSA) considers issues of Documentation, Travel Money and Insurance alongside sessions on, Travel Health, Travel Safety, Ethical and Responsible Travel, Travel Equipment, Travel Insurance, Destination Advice, Transport Options, and more.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com. 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.

China tries to contain plague after second death

To view the original article Click Here

Title – China tries to contain plague after second deathSource – The Independent
Date – 4th August 2009

Just the very mention of ‘plague’ fills people with horror and conjures up images of biblical times; not a modern world in 2009. In the 14th century the ‘black death’ (plague) killed a third of Europe’s population; some 25 million people perished.

However for the average traveller, plague need not be near the top of the list of concerns. There are no known incidences of plague in travellers returning to the UK since 1918. However ‘awareness’ is a useful tool in developing preventative strategies.

The main strategy for preventing the contraction of plague is to avoid endemic areas / outbreak areas and to be aware of those animals which act as a vector for the disease.

This particular outbreak should not affect travellers unless they are already in the area; which is very remote and rarely visited. The Chinese have become very effective at controlling outbreaks of infectious diseases by isolating infected people and infected areas; something made easier when the government has so much control over its people…

Outbreaks of plague are not as isolated as they may seem and not always confined to these remote parts of the world. Although Africa accounts for 80% of cases, central Asia is also high on the list of the endemic areas; some 2000 cases and 180 deaths reported annually (figures from 2003). Worldwide there are also occasional large outbreaks, such as the 5000 reported in India in 1994. There have also been isolated cases in rural

USA, Peru, Vietnam and Mongolia.

In Mongolia it is relatively well known that the Marmot, a common sight on the open steppe, can and do sometimes carry plague They are also hunted as a source of protein and for their skins by the local nomadic people. The Marmot is a representative of the type of animals which can carry plague, including rats, rabbits, prairie dogs, gerbils, guinea pigs and other rodents. Needless to say contact with these animals is not advisable in areas where plague is endemic.

At Beyond The Blue (Safe Gap Year) our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness Workshop (GYITSA) considers issues of Travel Health, alongside sessions on Travel Safety, Ethical and Responsible Travel, Travel Equipment, Travel Insurance, Destination Advice, Transport Options, Documentation, Travel Money and Insurance and more.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com. 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.

Brit pair ‘terrified’ in hellhole Rio jail / Brazil ‘fraud’ Britons bailed

Title – Brit pair ‘terrified’ in hellhole Rio jail / Brazil ‘fraud’ Britons bailed
Source – The London Paper / www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 30th July / 1st August 2009

Whatever the outcome of this particular case and I try always to apply the pretext that people are innocent until proven guilty, it highlights the potential for seemingly innocuous cases to turn into very serious ones.

There are many people who have defrauded their travel insurance company; they may not view it as ‘fraud’ and I have met some people who genuinely believe that it is ‘nothing serious’ and that ‘everyone does it’. Everyone doesn’t, I assure them.

There are also those people who have genuinely been robbed, pick pocketed, had bags stolen or been mugged who have taken the opportunity to embellish and exaggerate what was stolen to increase the insurance claim. This too is ‘fraud’ clear and simple. Let’s also remember these claims cost every traveller in increased premiums…

In the UK such ‘small scale’ fraud is rarely a police matter, it is usually dealt with by the insurance company themselves; even if the police do get involved the chances of spending more than a few hours in a cell awaiting interview are minimal.

We tell people time and time again, do not assume what goes at home, goes abroad. The law is different, the emphasis is different and the response is often very different. £1000 in the UK through significant to many people, is arguably not that significant to big insurance companies. £1000 in a developing country is very significant to everyone and much more likely to receive close attention. In many foreign countries there is also a dedicated police force tasked with protecting ‘tourists’, although I don’t think it is unfair to say they are really tasked with protecting ‘tourism’. Where tourism is a significant source of foreign exchange and GDP, the reputation of the tourist industry is fiercely guarded.

Most people realise that to be able to make an insurance claim when you return to the UK you need a police report from the country in which the crime took place. In this case that is what these girls seem to have done and on receiving the report the police seem to have investigated (something maybe we don’t always expect from police in the UK with ‘minor’ crimes) and discovered that there was some disparity between the report filed and the items missing.

£1000 is a lot of money in Brazil and probably a lot in comparison to the local police salary. It sounds strange but pride is a significant factor in many cases and I don’t imagine the local police and judiciary were over impressed by two young tourists trying to pull the wool over their eyes (if this is actually what happened). Travellers who get into trouble are always subject to local laws and local prison facilities. No one wants to find themselves in a Brazilian gaol, they really are dangerous places and two young English travellers are going to find this especially difficult.

I am sure that the truth will eventually come out and I hope even if they have been ‘stupid’ they are allowed home soon, because I would imagine what they have already had to face would be enough of a punishment for even a more serious crime.

There is a lesson here for everyone else.

At Beyond The Blue (Safe Gap Year) our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness Workshop (GYITSA) considers issues of Documentation, Travel Money and Insurance alongside sessions on, Travel Health, Travel Safety, Ethical and Responsible Travel, Travel Equipment, Travel Insurance, Destination Advice, Transport Options, and more.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com. 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.

A close-up snap

To view the original article Click Here

Title – A close-up snapSource – The Metro
Date – 30th July 2009

During our workshop we look at many different aspects of

Travel Safety and even touch on the issue of danger from wild animals.

With ever more exotic destination being chosen by travellers, encounters with unfamiliar wild animals are increasingly more likely. From the prolific hunters of Africa (a list topped by the hippopotamus), to the marmots of Mongolia (which still carry plague), every continent has its own contenders for the list of ‘dangerous animals’. The feral dogs which in many parts of the world infected with Rabies and the snakes, spiders, scorpions, jellyfish, sharks, bears, big cats, buffalo, piranha and many other species which have been labelled as dangerous, can awake deeply ingrained phobias in many people.

We really try and get one message across; never forget these animals are wild!

In the UK, television, zoos and safari parks have tended to desensitise us to the real dangers. Television especially has a tendency to require more and more sensationalism. Presenters regularly approach wild animals to get themselves in-shot. What they don’t show is the planning, expert knowledge and the ‘safety net’ in place; or the real perspective which often means they are not actually as close as they seem.

I have visited many places and heard stories of deadly encounters with wild animals; in South Africa, the Japanese tourists who climbed out of their car to have their photograph taken in front of a pride of lions ‘sleeping’ off the midday sun under a tree; in the Red Sea, the diver experiencing the ‘ultimate thrill’ of feeding sharks only to end up being bitten themselves; in the USA, the campers asleep in their tent mauled by a Grizzly, because they failed to clean up properly after dinner.

Wild animals should be respected and you should keep your distance. Remember when you leave the city / your hotel / the safety of your vehicle, you enter their environment, one which they have been adapting to for thousands of years.

At Beyond The Blue (Safe Gap Year) our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness Workshop (GYITSA) considers issues of Travel Safety, alongside sessions on, Documentation, Travel Money and Insurance, Travel Health, Ethical and Responsible Travel, Travel Equipment, Travel Insurance, Destination Advice, Transport Options, and more.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com. 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.

Free travel if you catch swine flu

To view the original article Click Here

Title – Free travel if you catch swine fluSource – The Sunday Times
Date – 17th May 2009

It is amazing how quickly we forget or rather get bored of news stories; swine flu has hardly disappeared, in fact the numbers continue to grow both in the UK and internationally. However the public fear of imminent pandemic have subsided somewhat and bargain hunters are starting to pounce on the desperation of a country that was abandoned by tourists.

But I have to say I have not heard of anything quite like this current promotion ‘free holidays for three years to anyone catching swine flu’…. There’s a gamble not worthy of the prize….

The imminent danger may be subsiding, but the scientists should not be completely ignored and the WHO have certainly not yet declared the threat anywhere near over. One hurdle to travel has however been lifted and that is the FCO’s recommendation against travel to Mexico; this at least no longer invalidates many travel insurance policies.

Maybe the next slogan they use should emphasis that they are so confident the threat from swine flu has passed that they will give you a free holiday if you catch it… but maybe we are not there yet.

At

Beyond The Blue (Safe Gap Year) our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness Workshop (GYITSA) considers issues of Travel Health alongside sessions on Ethical and Responsible Travel, Transport Options, Travel Equipment, Travel Insurance, Destination Advice, Travel Safety, Documentation, Travel Money and Insurance and more.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com. 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.

Mexico Swine Influenza - Update

Title – Was the first flu victim a modern Typhoid Mary? Click Here
Title – British Exodus from Mexico as battle against virus intensifies Click Here
Source – The Independent
Date – 29th April 2009

If ever there was a good example of what a difference a week makes then this is it. Just 5 days ago I commented on what was then an ‘inside page’ news story and since then you would be hard pressed to find a newspaper in the world, which was not carrying the ‘Swine Flu’ story on it’s front cover.

I don’t want to comment on the situation itself, because of it is changing day by day and even hour by hour; but the main reason I will not comment is because the internet is already crowded with information of which far too much is rumour and conjecture; one report today claimed that over 6 billion spam emails had been sent out offering ‘prescription drugs’ for sale to combat swine flu.

It is this type of activity and false reporting which leads to ‘irrational’ human responses; if ever there was a time for people to use common sense and rationality it is for these types of news stories. I have to say I trust the opinion of medical professionals over editors of newspapers and blogs every time.

In this case the best sources of advice for me are:
www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/
www.nathnac.org/travel
www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk

Because of the proximity of the USA to the outbreak, in this case I would certainly also check:www.cdc.gov/travel

The one big change since my last blog entry is the travel advice given. There is obviously now a recommendation from the FCO to avoid all travel to Mexico and for people in Mexico to take precautions against contracting the virus; while most are being repatriated by tour operators or are making their own way back.

I also want to put everything in some perspective. This virus undoubtedly should be taken serious and has the potential to turn into a pandemic; however it is not there yet and most medical professionals I have listened to are cautiously optimistic because to date those people who have contracted the virus outside of Mexico (where information is not exactly flowing openly yet) are showing ‘mild’ symptoms, which are responding to treatment well. Much as this virus seems to be a combination of human, bird and pig flu, it should not yet be confused with the deadly H5N1 strain of Avian Flu with its frightening 50% - 80% mortality rates.

By the time you read this story it will no doubt already be out of date, so if your travel plans are taking you anywhere near the affected regions, do your research even more carefully than usual and revisit those websites indicated above regularly.

At Beyond The Blue (Safe Gap Year) our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness Workshop (GYITSA) considers issues of Travel Health, alongside sessions on Travel Safety, Ethical and Responsible Travel, Travel Equipment, Travel Insurance, Destination Advice, Transport Options, Documentation, Travel Money and Insurance and more. Many parts of the world present travellers with consistent travel health challenges, which are well documented and understood. However new ‘developments’ and local outbreaks mean that conducting your own research and risk assessment prior to travel is as essential as consulting your GP or travel clinic.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com. 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.

Here come the hoards

To view the original article Click Here

Title – Here come the hoards
Source – The Independent
Date – 29th April 2009

I found this article very interesting and a good example of the difficulty I have sometimes within myself in deciding where to travel next. It made me examine my motivations and reminded me that every individual has unique criteria for the travel and how everyone has to make those choices which are right for them.

I struggle with my choices sometimes because I am naturally drawn to more remote locations, the less other travellers the better. It is a bit of a selfish approach, but I never begrudge other travellers I bump into when I’m there; why would I, after all they have just made the same choices I have, so they can’t be bad people….

Where I would feel guilt is if I ever reached the point where I tried to stop tourism for any but the best reasons, such as; the fragility of the environment, for justifiable political motives (such as Burma) or where the impact on the local communities are actually detrimental or unwelcome.

Where tourism has an unsustainable environmental impact, we have to protect those areas. Where possible this should be done through limiting sustainable numbers, a practise which normally results in higher costs to visitors, but one which must be accepted for the greater good. These practices can already be seen in places like Galapagos and Machu Picchu, although some might argue they don’t yet go far enough.

A similar principle can be seen where local people have chosen to limit tourism to avoid either harming their traditional way of life or eroding their society. Bhutan for example has limited the number of visitors through a quota system and charges a US$200 a day tax on visitors used to support this very resource poor / culture rich country. Other communities have shunned tourism completely and banned it from their shores, including some islands in the Indian Ocean or towns and villages within countries that have decided to keep themselves to themselves; I was lucky enough to be invited into one such village in Vanuatu and experienced a fascinating festival of music and dance.

The key point in all of this is that visitors should realise the privilege it is to visit another country, meet local people, to view the incredible natural and man-made sights. Even somewhere like Angkor Wat with it’s 2 million visitors; it is not our right to visit, it is our privilege to be invited to visit by the Cambodian people.

I will not pretend that I would not rather visit Angkor with only a handful of other visitors about, but I will never begrudge the Cambodian people the opportunity to generate an income to better their lives by encouraging as many people as possible to this most magnificent monument to human endeavour.

Too often I hear travellers from the UK complain that tourism is ruining local culture; people visiting Angkor and complaining of the crowds; visitors stating that money is making local people unhappy because they can’t continue with their traditional way of life; very very rarely do I hear these same people ask genuine locals those same questions. After all what if a visitor from Papua New Guinea to London complained about the crowds at the Tower of London and commented on how our way of life had been ruined by money, preventing us from living our ‘traditional way of life’ or their disappointment not to see Morris Dancing on every street corner…

The ‘traditional way of life’ we all strive to see on our travels is often very tough. We ‘dip’ in and out of it and think it quaint, but we would never accept poor health care, poor sanitation, lower life expectancy, toiling for 12 hours a day in basic subsistence farming which leaves you open to famine and flood or the lack of education and opportunity for the next generation; why should anyone else?

People often ask me where they should go and what they should see. Angkor is certainly one of those sights near the top of my list. The next question they ask is ‘has it not been ruined by the hoards of people visiting?’ I visited Angkor before the 2 million visitors of today, it was a much more serene place than today, there was more of an ‘Indiana Jones’ feeling to it and I loved that. Stories I tell of having to bribe soldiers and forestry officials in order to visit the ‘River of 1000 Lingas’ and uncovering whole ‘Reclining Buddha’ statues under banks of mud are among my favourites; these days I hear they do guided tours and many of the carvings have been damaged, stolen or removed. I may not be helping my own argument here….

My point is this; yes things change, maybe it is for the worse for some travellers, but it is for the better for many who may never have had the opportunity before (or known the right person to bribe…). It is better for local people who can now make an income from tourism, there are more jobs available for guides, wardens and the compulsory hawkers who I am sure now work that area as well.

Would it ruin it for me now visiting Angkor? Certainly not, if I were going for the first time, I can guarantee when I first laid eyes on Angkor I would still be speechless; it is the most magnificent of human achievements. It would be a different experience now, but experiences by their very nature are individual and today’s experience will be totally different from the one five or ten years from now. Not better or worse just different and individual. You haven’t missed the boat by not having visited before, you are just on a different type of boat.

It is very easy to get selfish when travelling, we all do it. Try and really think local, buy local and stay local; that way your travel fulfils your need for adventure and discovery, helps those places you visit meet their need for sustainability and helps to improve their lives the way they want.

At

Beyond The Blue (Safe Gap Year) our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness Workshop (GYITSA) considers issues of Ethical and Responsible Travel, alongside sessions on Travel Safety, Travel Health, Travel Equipment, Travel Insurance, Destination Advice, Transport Options, Documentation, Travel Money and Insurance and more. Travel is one of life’s great privileges and as with any privilege it should be appreciated and respected.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com. 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.

Experts probe deadly Mexico flu

To view the original article Click Here

Title – Experts probe deadly Mexico fluSource – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 24th April 2009

The news that has come out of Mexico over the last few years has not been universally good for tourism and this latest blow is set to hit them hard, especially with regard to the bulk of their tourist market which comes from the USA.

It has to be said that Mexico certainly has some challenges for the independent traveller. If it is not the increasing levels of violence between the drug cartels and the authorities, then it is corruption that is rife amongst the police; if it is not the high risk from muggings, then it the dramatic increase in kidnapping, especially ‘express kidnapping; and if there were not the usual travel health concerns, there is now very serious concern from this deadly strain of Swine Flu.

But let us not run for the hills just yet, Mexico is a very large country and the spate of infections and deaths do seem in the main to have taken place in densely populated areas such as Mexico City; and there are many other reasons not to spend much time in Mexico City…

The key is to be aware of the situation and take effective measures. Today you will see most people in Mexico City wearing masks, so in crowded areas do the same (or better still, go to less crowded areas), be more cautious on public transport and avoid contact with anyone who displays flu-like symptoms.

The other point we have to emphasise is that this is far from being a pandemic and is in the early stages, but the WHO is not taking any chances and is taking the situation seriously and so should travellers. Always seek professional and local advice before and during your travel and keep an eye out to see if the situation gets any worse.

We should also point out that at this stage the strain of swine flu that is affecting people does seem to be easily treated with existing medication including ‘Tamiflu’ (the very same medication that governments have been stockpiling to deal with a potential Bird Flu pandemic) works effectively. The key to treatment is to catch it early, preferably within 48 hours. The symptoms are very similar to regular flu; fever, lethargy, lack of appetite and coughing; some people have also have reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The key to treatment is that you inform your doctor as soon as possible if you have these symptoms and you have visited an affected area.

There are good reasons to be concerned about the risk from this virus; but if I were to travel to Mexico I would still have other concerns nearer to the top of my list at the moment. We recently heard the following story from a tourist in Mexico; which highlights the level of corruption there:

“When you rent the car the agent gives you a laminated card that was produced through an agreement between the mayor of Cancun and the rental car companies (and NOT the police). The card tells you that you are allowed by law two minor traffic infringements (red lights, speeding etc.) without the police being able to arrest you. Then it states very clearly that you should not give the police either money, your driving license, your passport or the laminated card if stopped.

We were stopped and a ‘policeman’ told us that we ran a red light (there were no traffic lights anywhere on the road). The police basically asked our friend who was driving for all the things that the card said they would ask for. My friend held firm and refused to hand over anything including the card. The card actually doubles up as an instant traffic fine also and so if you give them the card they charge you $50 as an instant traffic fine; all very complicated!! Basically you have to stand up to their intimidation and hope that they don't arrest you!”

At

Beyond The Blue (Safe Gap Year) our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness Workshop (GYITSA) considers issues of Travel Health, alongside sessions on Travel Safety, Ethical and Responsible Travel, Travel Equipment, Travel Insurance, Destination Advice, Transport Options, Documentation, Travel Money and Insurance and more. Many parts of the world present travellers with consistent travel health challenges, which are well documented and understood. However new ‘developments’ and local outbreaks mean that conducting your own research and risk assessment prior to travel is as essential as consulting your GP or travel clinic.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com. 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.

New limits to Antarctic tourism

To view the original article Click Here

Title – New limits to Antarctic tourismSource – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 18th April 2009

Antarctica is possibly one of the world’s last great frontiers in travel, with vast tracks of undiscovered and undiscoverable wilderness, it has over the last few years started to become accessible; if only in tiny fractions.

I am all for travel, it expands the mind and reminds us that our word is an exceptional and fascinating place with secrets yet to be revealed and places / people we can yet gain knowledge from; Antarctica is just such a place.

But there is always a balance to be found and with such a fragile ecosystem it needs protecting, so I welcome this move to limit numbers of people allowed to visit. Undoubtedly it will make the whole experience more expensive, but this is a price worth paying if it protects something so unique for future generations.

There other aspect I like about the proposal, is the limit of 100 people allowed ashore at any one time. Personally I can’t imagine anything worse than landing on Antarctica and being welcomed by crowds; it strikes me that emptiness is one of the attractions and one of the unique features of this continent, in an otherwise ever more crowded world.

I have yet to go to this magical place but some of our advisors have been and I feel like I have been given more time to visit now; let’s hope they follow through on their promises.

At Beyond The Blue (Safe Gap Year) our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness Workshop (GYITSA) considers issues of Ethical and Responsible Travel, alongside sessions on Travel Safety, Travel Health, Travel Equipment, Travel Insurance, Destination Advice, Transport Options, Documentation, Travel Money and Insurance and more. Travel is one of life’s great privileges and as with any privilege it should be appreciated and respected.

Please visit our website at www.safegapyear.com. 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.