Forget the degree go for the Gap Year / Most degrees ‘only good for coffee shops’

There is certainly an argument surrounding the number of people attending University, the courses they are undertaking, the value of the respective degrees they obtain and the cost of the process.


My personal point of view is that encouraging half the population to go to University is a bit of a one dimensional education policy; University education is just not a system which suits everyone.


However I am also of opinion is that the degree is only part of what students gain from the University experience and we should not underestimate the benefits gained by young people in simply attending these institutions.


I do have some concerns about the concept that having too many over-qualified people in the country is somehow a bad thing. Education is a privilege we take for granted in the UK and one which breeds more than just candidates to apply for the ‘top jobs’ with the ‘top companies’.


Small businesses spring up everyday fronted by entrepreneurs who have enjoyed the benefit of a University education and experience; besides why should the person working in Starbucks not enjoy the advantages which University education provides?


The arguments for and against 50% of the population attending University are varied and complex and are usually misrepresented, as few people have a 360 degree view of (or interest in) the pros and cons.


Our interest in this article is in the highlighted value of the Gap Year and the acknowledgement that despite the argument on whether University should be attended or not, a Gap Year benefits everyone.


As much as I will argue the case for Universities being more than lectures, seminars and exams and the experience of attending University being an important part in the development of those attending; there can be no doubt that taking a ‘constructive’ Gap Year adds an altogether different set of skills and knowledge. Skills gained on a gap year are highly valued by employers in many sectors; including most blue-chip companies.


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, Travel Insurance, 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 – Evening Standard
Date – 10th March 2010

Life raft girl: We sang to keep spirits up

We always tell participants on our Independent Travel Safety & Cultural Awareness workshops that travel presents challenges; very few people go on a Gap Year or a 3 month trip without having to face one or two along the way.


The important thing is to avoid as many as possible through effective planning. Of equal importance is how you deal with and overcome those challenges which will inevitably be encountered along the way.


What impresses me about this story is how incredibly frightening this experience must have been for all involved and yet how they faced the ultimate adversity and supported each other to get through it.


Traumatic situations like this one tend to have one of two consequences; either it knocks the confidence to such a degree that people choose to avoid any further experiences which could have similar negative outcomes or it makes people stronger. Those who manage to use the experience in a positive manner in their lives also gain a conversation piece they can trade on over dinner for years to come…


The old adage ‘when you fall of the horse, you have to get straight back on’ applies. By planning a backpacking trip Sarah Calascione has demonstrated amazing resilience and I have no doubt that it will only add to her character.


Even in the worst possible situations a positive attitude to the challenges faced goes a long way. Adrift in a life raft in the middle of the Atlantic ocean (an ocean which has already claimed your main vessel), would terrify even the most hardened adventurer. This is a situation which is so unexpected it is almost impossible to plan for, but the attitude adopted to the challenge is important and it is clear that by singing to provide comfort to each other, those caught up in this nightmare scenario helped significantly reduce the impact of the incident.


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, Travel Insurance, 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 – Evening Standard
Date – 23rd February 2010

Passengers banned from the roof of ‘super crush’ trains

Travel in India is synonymous with its railway network and the romantic imagery of trains trundling along with passengers perched on the roof either to avoid the crowded carriages or in order to benefit from the ‘air-conditioning’ is one familiar to many.


But times change and the romance is not quite so pronounced in India’s burgeoning cities, where the railway journies can make the ‘London commute’ seem like a treat.


Travel in India is dangerous and poses a serious risk to travellers. With an estimated 250 fatalities on India’s roads every day, the figure of 17 fatalities on the railways each day actually seems quite small by comparison.


But as always we need to put some perspective on these figures. India is a very large and densely populated country, the Indian state railway network is vast and is the second largest employer in the world (only surpassed by the Chinese ‘Red’ Army); the number of fatalities on the road is exasperated by the standard of the vehicles and lack of safety features which we take for granted in the UK (including the failure to wear seatbelts).


So although there are inherent dangers in the transport network there are ways to reduce this risk and it should not put people off visiting India, but rather alter their behaviour in-country.


On the rail network it should be acknowledged that climbing onto the roof is inherently dangerous; even to locals who may be familiar with the process, several fall off every day some of which end in fatalities. The clumsy traveller (sorry but let’s be honest, travellers are never as agile or surefooted as locals; that’s just the way it is…) increases these risks considerably.


My personal point of view; I love train travel, I think it is one of the most satisfying forms of travel when distance is involved, especially on ‘slow’ trains. It allows you to view the country you are in and the change in the scenery as you go from one area to another, to watch the people going about their daily business from the heart of the city through to those tending their fields out in the country.


One of the most rewarding aspects of train travel though is that it is the form of travel taken by locals. This allows the traveller to immerse themselves in the real life of the country they are visiting and meet real local people, many of whom will be only too pleased to share conversation with you during your journey.


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, Travel Insurance, 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 – Times
Date – 18th February 2010

Restaurant bombing kills eight in tourist zone

Terrorism strikes again and it is another serious blow for India and it’s tourist industry, but it should not lead us to take India off the list of countries we visit just yet.


Undoubtedly the risk from terrorism is something we must take seriously when planning independent travel and we should implement strategies to reduce the risk from terrorism.


However it should also be noted that the threat from terrorism in the UK is itself not insignificant and it is the very randomness of strikes that makes it very difficult to eliminate the threat completely, in any part of the world.


If you visit the FCO’s travel advice by country website, you’ll find that without fail even the ‘safest’ countries carry a veiled warning that terrorism can strike anywhere and at any time. Undoubtedly there are countries / regions of higher risk and there are a number of places worth avoiding for now.


Your behaviour in-country can certainly help to reduce the risks, not announcing your nationality with flags on your pack or union jack t-shirts is a start, in countries like India ‘western’ targets have been favoured for the international impact they generate.


Many journalists going to high risk countries have taken to finding small local guest houses to stay in rather than staying in heavily fortified international hotels which present a ‘challenge’ to terrorists and where if they succeed they send a very strong message about their potential ‘reach’; a local guest house being destroyed does not generate the same press coverage, which is ultimately the aim of most ‘modern terrorists’.


Planning to avoid areas of terrorist activity should certainly be at the heart of destination choices for the independent traveller, but often it is a region which is best avoided rather than an entire country; this is certainly the case for India.


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, Travel Insurance, 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 – 14th February 2010

Mosquitoes are old sweats at detection

Mosquitoes bites are more than just an irritation when travelling, they carry everything from malaria to dengue and from yellow fever to Japanese encephalitis; well worth avoiding.


Protection against these diseases involves a combination of prophylactic drugs, vaccinations and bite avoidance. All of these measures must be taken together, as alone they are not 100% effective.


Bite avoidance is a very important part of this prevention strategy, as not getting bitten in the first place means you don’t have to rely on the pharmaceutical barriers to do their job.


During our workshop we provide a list of methods for avoiding bites, they add up to provide a high level of protection, each layer adding to the protection provided.


If mosquitoes are proven to be attracted to sweat, then taking an extra shower may be another way of reducing the risk; be careful though, mosquitoes are also attracted to the scents in some shampoos and deodorants, so you may be replacing one attractant with another…


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, Travel Insurance, 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.


Source – Evening Standard
Date – 4th February 2010

A prickly moment

To view the original article Click Here

Title – A prickly moment
Source – Metro
Date – 3rd February 2010


Sometimes I see images which I think are worth sharing.


Travel opens us up to the most amazing places the world has to offer and allows us to experience ‘you had to be there’ moments; these can sometimes be shared by photographs.


Biting off more than you can chew is a good analogy for a lot of what we teach on day 1 of our Independent Travel Safety and Cultural Awareness Workshop. Our aim is to teach participants how to avoid confrontation and put proactive measures into place resolve conflict when it is encountered.


As this young leopard found out, those we encounter on our travels may pose a threat we are not familiar with and unknown threats are better avoided than confronted.


At Safe Gap Year our Independent Travel Safety & Cultural Awareness Workshop considers issues of Travel Safety, alongside sessions on Cultural Awareness, 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.co.uk/.


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

Over 1000 Britons are jailed over drugs abroad

Title – Over 1000 Britons are jailed over drugs abroad – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 3rd February 2010


Title – British smuggler is told of his death sentence in final visit by his cousin – The Times
Date – 29th December 2010


It comes as no surprise that a high percentage of Britons locked up in foreign prisons are there for crimes relating to illegal drugs and I would suggest the number ‘passing through’ these facilities each year is even higher.


It is not just getting involved in drug dealing which lands people ‘inside’ many are imprisoned for drug use and drug possession and even for being associated with people using drugs.


It amazes us how misunderstood the situation relating to drug use is by some travellers. I have sat in hostels across the world and overheard conversations about how ‘authorities turn a blind-eye’ or how ‘drugs are effectively decriminalised’; this is simply not the case.


The ‘hippie’ destinations of the late 70’s are now destinations of mass tourism, with mass tourism comes money and with money comes the need to protect the investments which have been made. Tourism is the life blood of many countries and they realise that they have to protect their reputations and their local communities from the ravages of the drugs trade.


There are plenty of countries where the death penalty stands for drug dealing and where the judicial system is not what we might believe to be entirely free and fair. There are also many places where the police and the authorities have realised there is an additional ‘income’ to be made from enforcing drug laws to the letter and beyond.


Our message is simple, don’t fall for the ‘marketing strategies’ of the drug dealers who will tell you it is ‘safe’ and de-criminalised, they do not have your welfare at heart and when the police come knocking at your door, they will be long gone.


Travelling is a privilege and provides enough natural highs not to require chemical ones.


Avoid illegal drugs when you are travelling, steer clear of ‘friends’ who get themselves involved in drugs and walk away from anyone who talks about drug use during travel as ‘part of the experience’; it isn’t.


Drugs are illegal in every country in the world, the only difference is sentences are generally much more severe and foreign prisons are often more dangerous than the streets outside them; don’t become a statistic.


At Safe Gap Year our Independent Travel Safety & Cultural Awareness Workshop considers issues of Travel Safety, alongside sessions on Cultural Awareness, 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.uk/.

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

Tales of the hostage negotiators

The good news (if there is such a thing as good news when talking about kidnapping) is that the type of kidnapping discussed in this article concentrates on ‘high value’ targets.


‘High value targets’ are generally people travelling for business and linked to a company likely to pay a ransom or have an insurance policy which will pay out.


Kidnap for ‘demanded ransom’ of independent travellers is still relatively rare and avoiding the very high risk areas where kidnap for political reasons is carried out, reduces the risk considerably.


However there has been a significant increase of ‘express kidnapping’, especially in South America. The methodology here is to get the traveller to pay a ‘ransom’ themselves through theft of possessions and by emptying bank accounts and ‘maxing out’ credit cards.


Generally ‘express kidnapping’ targets couples, it allows the kidnappers to use the threat of harm against one member of the group to force the other(s) to concur with demands.


The advice we give to avoid express kidnapping involves understanding the way these groups operate. If you are unfortunate enough to become a victim then co-operation is your only option; don’t provide the kidnappers with an excuse to prove how serious they are about their threats.


Victims of express kidnapping are generally ‘chosen’ rather than an unlucky casualty of opportunists. Like much of our advice geared at avoiding crime, blending-in, being alert, not displaying signs of wealth and not disclosing your plans in detail to strangers, are all steps which reduce the risk.


We also like to idea mentioned in this article that taking the 2nd taxi in line avoids you getting in a vehicle which is targeting you directly; if this embarrasses you, then just wait a few minutes until someone else comes along and takes the first taxi in line or let the person behind you jump the queue.


Statistics can scare, but some are reassuring. Over 95% of kidnap victims are released and the figure is higher where the motivation is financial gain rather than political. So although kidnap is a traumatic and expensive experience, ‘getting home safe’ which is the ultimate goal, is normally achieved.


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, Travel Insurance, 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 – FT
Date – 21st January 2010

Dubai – Woman who reported rape is charged with ‘illegal sex’

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Title – Dubai – Woman who reported rape is charged with ‘illegal sex’
Source – The Times
Date – 11th January 2010

This incident shows the thinly veiled façade in which effective marketing has painted Dubai and UAE as ‘westernised’ destinations.

The very high profile nature of the expensive marketing campaigns used to attract tourists and expats alike seem to indicate that a paradise awaits; little or no mention is made of local laws and most people are unaware of them when they step off the plane in Dubai.

So are these campaigns a lie?

Not really, they show the country as it is on the face of it. They accurately represent the gleaming towers, the luxurious almost decadent nature of the facilities available, the modern infrastructure, the warm welcome given to the tourist dollar and foreign investment, the beautiful beaches and turquoise sea; all are there waiting for visitors.

The problem is more with the visitors themselves, taking marketing at face value and looking no further than that. Even those who do understand some of the laws of the country routinely dismiss them.

Ask an expat in Dubai or someone who has visited about the laws surrounding alcohol consumption, ‘nudity’, relationships outside of marriage and few will know exactly how strict the emirates are on these subjects; but almost without exception those who do will then use the phrases ‘they turn a blind eye to expats and foreigners’ or ‘it’s legal in foreign hotels’ or some other such line.

So is this true, do they turn a blind eye to foreigners?

There is undoubtedly a certain amount of acceptance that these activities happen in foreign hotels and in foreign compounds, but that does not make them legal. Even in hotels and bars where alcohol is licensed and can be consumed, it does not change the fact that as soon as you step out of the door to go home you are once again breaking the very strict laws of being ‘intoxicated outside of a licensed premises’.

The fact is not much has really changed in these countries since the influx of debt and expats built these cities on the sand. Whatever we think of the laws and rules in comparison to the laws we have in the UK, these are the laws of the country and must be obeyed when you are in-country, otherwise you should stay at home.

This disturbing case demonstrates exactly how far Dubai will go to protect its image and again shows that expats are subject to the laws of the country. This is an image which will no doubt be even more strictly guarded following the recent humiliation of the financial crisis and the subsequent bail-out which amongst other things forced a change of name upon the world’s new tallest building, the impressive Burj Dubai; it had to be renamed the Burj Khalifa in honour of Dubai’s benefactor.

This story about an attack on a foreigner does not fit into Dubai’s multi-million dollar marketing plan; this attack is not symptomatic of Dubai, in general it is a very safe country to visit. However as this case shows the authorities are never shy to use their laws to the full extent against foreigners, in this case clearly to detract from the original crime, no doubt in the hope the case will be dropped and disappear from the ‘media’s radar’.

In the same edition of this paper were two other Dubai stories, one featured prominently the base jump from the top of the Burj Khalifa; the other the acquittal of a member of the ruling family accused of torture. The acquittal suggested he had been ‘drugged and therefore had no idea what he was doing…’; the video of the alleged incident is I warn you very disturbing.

The point is not to have a go at Dubai, they are only acting the way they have acted for hundreds of years, their laws are different, their way of life is different and it’s not for me to say (in the context of travel safety) if it is right or wrong.

The point is, when we travel, like it or not, we must respect our hosts, their laws and their way of life. When you plan for safe travel don’t just accept the marketing campaigns and pretty pictures, understand the culture and look past the gloss. Always show respect for your hosts and don’t assume you can behave as you behave in the UK; in many countries some of the behaviour we ‘accept’ and ‘tolerate’ here is considered very disrespectful and even illegal.

At Safe Gap Year our Independent Travel Safety & Cultural Awareness Workshop considers issues of Travel Safety, alongside sessions on Cultural Awareness, 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.uk/.

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

You’ve no head for mixing drinks and skiing, Britons told

People who travel to the mountains in the winter generally do so for two reasons ski (yes I know… and snowboard) and après-ski. Inevitably the après-ski involves a degree of alcohol consumption, it is the level of this consumption which can lead to problems and the fact that increasingly British travellers are not observing the ‘après’ part of the concept but rather partaking in ‘pendant-ski’ (or during ski).

I’m not preaching about alcohol consumption, that is not our role; however we do feel that it is important to point out facts and to let people make sensible choices based on these facts.

At altitude alcohol does have more a pronounced affect and as a rule the measures alcohol is served abroad are significantly bigger than in the UK; a dangerous combination.

It is a myth that a shot of brandy is a good cure for cold or hypothermia, it may lessen the symptoms and therefore reassure the victim, but it can actually exasperate the causes; drawing warmth away from vital organs, where the body’s natural defences concentrate core body temperature. The picture of a Saint Bernard with a barrel of brandy round the neck comes from a tourist brochure…

With this in mind, people who are drunk not only don’t realise how cold they are getting, but their body will not react in the usual way to the cold and protect itself; this make drunk people much more susceptible to hypothermia.

Sadly every year too many people find out the hard way that, whereas in the UK falling asleep in a doorway on your way home is an embarrassing incident or at worst results in a night at the pleasure of her majesty, at altitude in winter the consequences can be much more severe.

Remember that being intoxicated can invalidate your insurance and an accident on the slopes for someone who is uninsured and requires repatriation to the UK, can cost in excess of £15,000.

Our advice; think about the first glass of wine with your lunch, reflect more carefully about your second and after your third take the chairlift down. Look after each other; don’t let people walk home alone at night; keep your mobile phone charged; carry a small torch and whistle to signal for help; tell people where you are going; and send a quick text message to tell someone you have got home safely.

Taking a little extra care does not have to be boring, look around and see how many French people get drunk on the slopes or for that matter in public. By all means enjoy a drink but don’t ruin it by getting drunk; after all the adrenaline rush should be saved for the slopes.

At Safe Gap Year our Independent Travel Safety & Cultural Awareness Workshop considers issues of Travel Safety, alongside sessions on Cultural Awareness, 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.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 – Times

Date – 10th December 2009