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.


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Source – Metro
Date – 2nd June 2010

Missing backpacker is found alive / Gap-year teenager who was given up for dead walks out of the Bush

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Title – Missing backpacker is found alive / Gap-year teenager who was given up for dead walks out of the Bush
Source – www.bbc.co.uk / The Times
Date – 15th July 2009 / 16th July 2009

This story is set to run and run, the problem is which story it is which will run? A story of extraordinary survival; a story of doubt and mistrust; a story of great luck; a story of ignorance and stupidity; or a story of the heroics of the Australian teams who were out looking?

Everyone is going to take their angle and the media hype has already started; I watched a Sky News ‘Exclusive’ last night which was no doubt handsomely paid for.

I have to say I feel very uncomfortable with the whole situation; I am not suggesting that this was a hoax, how would I know? I am not suggesting that Jamie Neale is telling lies or spinning his own story and for me these are really not the important factors. However I wholly understand the local feeling, that profiting from the strong sits very uncomfortably when so many local resources went into the search, when searchers were themselves hurt and when goodwill shown is taken for granted.

There are many concerns that we should have:

The first is that unless any profit generated goes towards the costs until they are paid and maybe even beyond to show gratitude for the time and effort put into the search, much of the goodwill (and let’s not forget that many of those searching were volunteers putting their own safety at risk) will be lost. Local people will be much less enthusiastic in future to mount these sorts of operations.

The second is that a perception is given that this was not as perilous as it was and that other travellers think they can profit from such situations themselves. In an age of celebrity, too many people want their 15 minutes and this should not be seen as a way of getting that.

The third is that we don’t brush over the errors that Jamie made which led to him being in this situation in the first place. Watching a few episodes of Ray Mears (great as he is) or some of the other more ‘high octane’ survival specialists, in no way guarantees your survival. I’m not saying it will not help, but it is a little like using a plaster to fix a fracture…

There is talk of Jamie now going into all sorts of projects, no one will be surprised to see the book, dvd, magazine and TV appearances; there was even talk already of him holding talks on survival skills…. All a little premature I think, it took Ray more than ten days to learn his skills.

Spending two weeks lost in the Blue Mountains in winter is no joke, the Australian Search & Rescue crews know their stuff and if they were on the verge of giving up the hunt, then you can be sure the chances of survival are slim.

It is so important for travellers to realise that the UK and what they are used to at home is one of the safest environments in the world and that we have some of the best facilities for dealing with people in distress. We are a small country, dwarfed by somewhere like Australia, searching and finding people who are lost is made easier by our relative size. If you get lost in the outback or in a jungle being found or finding your way back is really not straight forward and often results in people never being found.

On a trip to

Madagascar in 2003 I went in search of the elusive Red Lemur, deep in the jungles in the north of the island. With two villagers as guides, I trekked for several hours along single tracks. I was acutely aware that these tracks while easily distinguishable while you were on them, effectively disappeared once you wandered more than 5 meters off them. When one of my guides finally found two red Lemurs high in the canopy, the chase to get a good view was on. Only being able to hear the second guide by his animal calls we scrambled off the track to catch up with him, fighting our way through the sometimes dense undergrowth, sliding down muddy banks and using jungle vines to climb up the other side. When we eventually caught up with him and looked up, there was the most magnificent sight of two Red Lemurs casually foraging.

Right there (as has happened on several trips) I realised I was 100% in the hands of other people. Had I lost my guides, there was no way for me to find the path or a way out of the jungle and had I hurt myself, help was a long way away. You can not always be 100% safe, sliding down a bank in the jungle of Madagascar is as likely to end in a twisted ankle as sliding down a slope in Dorset. It’s just that in Dorset my mobile phone calls for help which arrives like the cavalry; in Madagascar, my guides, my preparations and my kit go some way to helping protect me, but the cavalry is nowhere to be seen.

In the Blue Mountains there are systems in place to help protect hikers; simple steps all of which Jamie seems to have ignored, steps which would undoubtedly have speeded up his rescue. Registering his destination with his hostel, seeking advice from the National Parks and Wildlife Service and taking one of their free beacons, taking more appropriate equipment, understanding the environment and his own capabilities.… hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Independent Gap Year travellers are often referred to by the Foreign Office as the ‘Invincibles’ because they believe they can conquer the world almost without any forethought. Pride, peer pressure and boastability often get in the way of common sense. In a choice between luck and judgement, judgement is always the preferred option.

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 Ethical and Responsible Travel, Travel Health, 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.

Mother fits gap-year son with GPS device

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Title – Mother fits gap-year son with GPS device
Source – The Daily Telegraph
Date – 28th May 2009

It is not for me to dictate what individuals decide is suitable, appropriate and effective and if this ‘solution’ offers those left behind peace of mind then it has it’s advantages.

It is not something we would recommend during our workshops, not because we think it is a bad idea, but rather just that it feels like it would be a step too far for many people; I also think it could actually lead to more anxiety for some people. Ignorance was once said to be bliss and although we don’t advocate this, there is a case for finding a balance between keeping up with general plans and knowing which street someone is on when they travel to Thailand…

After all if the son does wander off down the wrong street, what can the parent actually do about it? Call them and direct them back? How does the parent know which part of town is safe and which not; and if they have done the research to find this out, why not just tell the child?

I am all for having detailed itineraries of planned travels and a ‘communication schedule’ when people travel, especially when travelling independently for the first time. During our workshop we look at effective ways of staying in touch, because much of the stress of travel is often ‘dumped’ on those we leave behind who have no choice in the matter.

When something does go wrong, knowing someone’s exact location is obviously an advantage; it that I can see some merit in this device. However wallet and person are likely to be one of the first things parted in these circumstances. Mobile phones are soon going to be trackable in a similar way which may negate the purpose of this device. The other consideration is that when similar devices were integrated into clothing for children in the UK, it was found that the actual units were targeted by thieves as their value made them ‘bounty’.

As I said at the beginning of this piece, the measures people take to ‘protect’ themselves or their children and to provide peace of mind is always an individual choice. However preparation is the key to safe travel and many of the risks faced on gap years can be significantly reduced through the risk management strategies which we demonstrate during our workshops. Technology plays an ever greater part in our daily lives and can add a layer of ‘safety’ unavailable in the past, it can also add a layer of false security which actually makes us more vulnerable.

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 Ethical and Responsible Travel, Travel Health, Travel Equipment, Travel Insurance, Destination Advice, Transport Options, Documentation, Travel Money and Insurance and more. During our workshop we examine the importance not only of considering the effect travel has on those left behind, but also of the establishment of a communication strategy to reassure family and friends and provide the safety net of letting people know where you are and where you are going.

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.

‘Bug’ could combat dengue fever

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Title – ‘Bug’ could combat dengue fever
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 2nd January 2009

Another step in the fight against Dengue Fever and serious outbreaks such as the 2008 outbreak in Paraguay (

Paraguay put on dengue alert) has been achieved in Australia.

Developments that provide even a partial solution to reducing the number of Dengue Fever ‘victims’ is something to be welcomed, not only by the local communities who suffer badly from this potent virus due to lack of health care facilities, but also by travellers who travel to those areas where it is so prevalent.

But as with every advancement in science, it still has a long way to go and even if it is eventually successful, will take time to implement and will take some time to be effective.

As with all insect borne diseases, prevention should be your primary defence. There is no prophylactic drug to protect you against Dengue Fever as there is with for example Malaria; so it is doubly important to take preventative measures.

To take these measures you first have to be aware of the nature of the carrier. Most people assume that it is at dusk and during the night that mosquitoes are at their most active and take measures to protect themselves at these times. Many travellers who catch Dengue took all reasonable steps at night time, but did nothing during the day. The female Aedes mosquito, which is the Dengue Fever carrier, is however most active during the day…. That is what catches most people out.

When you travel to the tropical region where these mosquitoes thrive you must take proactive preventative measures 24 hours a day. The people who tend to catch Dengue Fever are those who think ‘it won’t happen to me’ and ignore the risks. No one is immune to the risks, no one can claim they don’t get bitten and those who do are either ignorant of those risks or enjoy the ‘game’ of Russian Roulette’; They should take the time to speak with people who have caught Dengue, which although rarely fatal in travellers who have access to medical care, is excruciatingly painful, can be very expensive and has the ability to ruin your ‘once in a lifetime experience’.

At Beyond The Blue (Safe Gap Year) our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness Workshop (GYITSA) considers issues of Travel Health; what you need to do before you go, including what Travel Equipment you might consider; protective and preventative measures you can take on your travels; how to recognise the signs and symptoms of diseases so you can seek medical help as soon as possible and thus reduce the consequences to a minimum; and the level of Travel Insurance required.

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.

Make it a year to brag about

Title – Make it a year to brag about
Source – Metro
Date – 2nd September 2009

There is a lot to think about when planning a Gap Year and there are a lot of things to think about when you are on your Gap Year. Everyone has an opinion and there are challenges at every turn. You need to be made aware of the real issues you face rather than the thousands of things that could happen, but in reality are very unlikely to.

Most gapers do not need to consider courses which teach you how to avoid kidnap, because the chances of kidnap in at most destinations is low; but they do need to know which destinations carry an increased risk of kidnap.

Most gapers should however be aware of Travel Health issues that are real where ever you travel to.

We dispel the myths and provide straight forward honest advice to help you travel more safely where ever it is you intend to visit.

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 and the many more considerations you have before deciding where to travel to and what activities to undertake.

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.

Walking tall with no footprint

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Title – Walking tall with no footprintSource – The Guardian
Date – 16th August 2008

Responsible and ethical travel is an industry buzz word at the moment; but how different is a ‘buzz word’ from a ‘marketing tool’?

Environmental destruction and global warming are a reality even to the greatest sceptics and we all have to play our part in reducing carbon emissions and reducing our impact on our environments. This is even more important when we travel; what right do we have to damage the environment of the countries and communities we visit?

So on the assumption that we can not rely on all of the many commercialised gap year organisations (they prefer to call themselves organisations rather than companies, many even seem to portray themselves as charities…) to distinguish between the ‘green’ merits of their various voluntary projects; how do we make those choices?

The key as always is to do your own research and be very aware that these companies are employing the latest marketing tools to attract you, marketing tools that are expensive and have one purpose; to ‘recruit you’.

Don’t misunderstand me, they are not all bad or ‘money grabbing’ most do an excellent job and some are doing incredibly valuable work which benefits local communities, the environment and the volunteers. It is fighting through the crowd who try and blind you with clever ‘glossy’ marketing and to get through to these good companies, which is sometimes difficult.

Many urge you to talk to previous volunteers to ask about their experiences, be aware these are people who are either employed or hand-picked to pass on the company’s message.

But more than this if you do consider your impact on the environment to be important then think carefully about what you intend to do on your travels, where you intend to go and what you can do to reduce your impact. This article offers some solutions.

I am not one of those people who believe that we should look to wholesale changes to our way of life, for example I don’t believe we should all give up flying, but I do think we should alter our lifestyles where we can, think about changes that will not affect us badly but will positively affect our environment. I think also we must change attitudes so that wasteful activities are exposed for what they are. However calculating our impact is such a complicated process and until a simplified calculator is easily accessible, it will be difficult for us to realise out individual impact.

For example this weekend a popular newspaper gave away a free energy efficient bulb to every reader. On the surface a good thing. They did it for one reason, to increase circulation; increased circulation equals increased environmental impact. Add to this that to claim your light bulb you had to visit a branch of a national DIY chain; how many people jumped in their cars or took a detour to collect their bulb? Add all this together and it is possible that this offer actually had a very negative impact on the environment.

The same goes for some volunteering projects. If you are going to plant trees in China to help combat global warming for two weeks, would you not be leaving a large carbon footprint overall? Maybe you can plant trees closer to home? However equally importantly the trees which you plant may also be protecting biodiversity, soil erosion and the micro climate, add to this your personal experience working with local communities and it may be worthwhile after all. If the alternative is you taking a two week holiday on the beach in Thailand it makes the balance between your potential carbon footprints even more complicated. Ultimately it is only you who can decide and that decision can only be made if you research all the information available.

Be sensible and decide for yourself whether your trip or volunteering is worth it and what impact it will have, but if at first you feel it is not worth it, look again there are many many honest worthwhile organisations out there and you will find one that suits your needs, your interests and your motivation.

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 Equipment, Travel Health, Travel Insurance, Destination Advice and more. Taking a gap year, career break or volunteering can be the experience of a lifetime, it need not carry any guilt in fact it should make you very proud, choose wisely and you’ll have a positive impact on yourself, those you meet and your environment.

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.

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.

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.

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