Country Quirks and Scams

Its always a good idea to know a little about a country before you go. Soooo here are some interesting oddities and important details on some we will visit:

Zambia:

Recently some Americans have been charged with drug trafficking offenses, had their passports confiscated, and been jailed for carrying Benadryl and other OTC drugs with diphenhydramine. The Zambian Drug Enforcement Commission considers this drug a controlled substance. Diphenhydramine, an antihistamine used to treat allergic reactions, that can produce sedative effects and if too much is taken can also cause hallucinations. Needless to say we will leave the Benadryl in Zimbabwe!

A scam that some have experienced in Zambia involves fake "fees" required by a Zambian official. It is recommended that the traveler ask for an official Government of Zambia receipt, which will often led to the fines disappearing.

Japan:

It is illegal to bring inhalers and allergy/sinus OTC medications that include stimulants like pseudoephedrine and codeine. Some of these drugs like Actifed, Sudafed, and Vicks inhalers can contain pseudoephedrine. Pseuoephedrine is a decongestant that can be broken down and mixed into methamphetamine. So if packing a decongestant look for one that contains phenylephrine instead of pseudoephedrine, like Sudafed PE.

Thailand:

Common sense would say don't buy cheap jewels from random sketchy taxi driver, but then again not everyone has sense. The Thai Authority of Thailand receives over 1,000 complaints a year from foreigners who have been "cheated" on gem purchases and lost a lot of money.

South Africa:

OR Tambo (Joburg) and Cape Town International airports has developed a "baggage pilferage problem." This occurrence is more commonly seen with smaller airlines or with travelers changing flights. It is recommended to use TSA locks and airport plastic wrapping when flying through either airport.

If driving a car in South Africa one should use caution at traffic lights, particularly at night in urban settings like Johannesburg. It is recommended to leave room between your car and the vehicle in front so you can maneuver around if a third car pulls in close behind you. This is a common way hijackers do jobs.
If you do not feel safe at a red traffic light, you may drive through it (illegally) after carefully checking for other vehicles with the right of way. If you receive a fine due to a traffic camera you can sometimes have it waived by writing a letter to the traffic department or court explaining that you crossed safely and on purpose, due to security reasons.

Cambodia:

On October 15th, 2008 gunfire was exchanged between the border of Cambodia and Thailand near Preah Vihear temple. Since this dispute has yet to be resolved, the U.S. Embassy recommends citizens to find a different route of travel.

India:

With the chaotic traffic patterns in India, it is a miracle that anyone makes it to their destination. With this being said, the U.S. Embassy states, "If a driver hits a pedestrian or cow, the vehicle and its occupants are at risk of being attacked by passersby. Such attacks pose significant risk of injury or death to the vehicle's occupants... It can thus be unsafe to remain at the scene of an accident and drivers may instead wish to seek out the nearest police station."

A scam preformed all over India, but most prominent around Dehli airport starts with your taxi driver stating he does not know where your destination is, that its full, or has been moved. The driver continues to offer another place or travel agent who can help. It is recommended to use the government-run "prepaid taxis" as the prices are set and the drivers are licensed. If taking a "pre-paid" taxi hold onto your travel voucher until you arrive at your destination, as they require this voucher for payment with their office.


Here are the 10 most popular scams from around the world.

50 Days and Counting.....

It's hard to believe that in 50 days we will be boarding our flight and leaving the world we know behind for 9 months. The time has gone by so fast and we can only image that it will go even faster. We've been thinking about our expectations for such a trip and the everyday differences we will become accustomed to. Below we have complied some of our thoughts into a list:

• Getting use to being lost....and accepting it!
• Appreciating "normal" toilets
• Experiencing some of the world's most beautiful sites
• Seeing each other 24/7, instead of a few hours a week
• Improving our level of patience
• Making new friends, awwww....
• Seeing a whale shark!
• Mastering the art of washing and packing clothes
• Deodorant...toiletry or new best friend?
  
• Learning new languages and improv hand signals
• Yummy food and some you just don't want to know
• Oh, not having to work for 9 months...couldn't resist

International Drivers License

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is a small pamplet that allows an individual to drive a private vehicle in another country when accompanied by a valid license from home . IDPs are honored in more than 150 countries outside the United States and functions as an official translation of a U.S. driver's license into ten foreign languages. The Department of State authorizes only two companies to issue the permits, AAA and National Auto club.

You must be 18 years old and possess a valid U.S.A drivers license. Permits may also not be issued till six months later. So you could apply in January and your permit may not be valid till June, don't know why, and the permit is good for one year. You just print the application online, included two passport photos, show them da money ($15) and leave with permits in hand.

We will be renting a car/campervan in South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Even though English is spoken in all three countries some rental companies still require an IDP. It was cheap so we got one just to save a headache later.

Passport Stuff

Passports are your lifeline into and out of a country, the magical little book that opens the doorway to foreign lands. However, applying or re-applying for one may not seem so magical as you search for that obnoxious government paperwork that has twenty different letters and numbers. This section will hopefully serve as a guide on passports through our experience. All official information can be found at the U.S. Department of State's Website.

*As of June 1st, 2009 U.S. travelers will be required to provide a passport for Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the countries of the Caribbean by land or sea. If arriving back in the U.S. before June 1st you may still use a birth certificate and drivers license. *


Adding Pages:
Considering we will be visiting 20+ countries we thought it wise to get extra pages added to our passport. Don't want to be locked up in a foreign prison with squatty potties and insect roommates; ok dramatic, yes, but you get the idea. So we printed and filled out the appropriate forms and mailed them off with our passports for no fee. We got them back a couple of weeks later with 23 additional visa pages. Tada!

Some countries, like South Africa, require at least two completely blank pages per entry so always check the country's entry and exit requirements. Most countries also require that you have at least 6 months left on your passport.

Passport Photos:
If applying for a passport you are required to send in two appropriately sized pics. You could go to your local corner store and fork out $8 a pop or you could do it yourself with proper guidelines and a little extra work. We already have our passports but needed extra pictures for visa applications. Here is how the State Department requires photos be taken. They also give tips on lighting setup, composition checklist, and photo quality.

After taking the pictures, we cropped them in Photoshop (2x2 inches) and measured out the appropriate ratio for our head size. Then we created a 4x6 card and placed 6 pictures on each, still in Photoshop. Once everything was right we went to Walmart and printed out five 4x6 pictures, giving us 30 visa pics each for only $2.40! Then all you have to do then is cut the 2x2 pictures out.

While Traveling:
Its a good idea to make 2 photocopies of your passport identification page, along with other important documents you are traveling with. Leave one of them with family or friends, and keep the second with you separate from the originals.

If your passport is lost or stolen while abroad, you should contact the local police and the closest U.S. Embassy. Once reported the consulate can usually provide a replacement within 24 hours. "To contact the Office of Overseas Citizens Services in the U.S. call 1-888-407-4747 (during business hours) or 202-647-5225 (after hours). Contact information for U.S. embassies, consulates, and consular agencies overseas may be found at http://www.state.gov/countries."

Travel Insurance

We purchased our first 6 months of travel insurance today through World Nomads....shark diving, Yes please! (Parental units - omit this last part!)

This company is recommended by Lonely Planet and was used by several other Round the World travelers, like TWINF. World Nomads "is designed for adventurous travelers with cover for overseas medical, evacuation, baggage and activities such as skiing and snowboarding." We thought this sounded like a pretty good fit for us, but researched a couple other international insurance agencies for comparison. We found, however, that World Nomads was the most affordable with the appropriate coverage for us.

The process doesn't get much simpler. First you select your home country, individual or family coverage, and the length of coverage from 1 week to 6 months. The cost of extending a policy would be the same as purchasing a new policy for the same duration, but less a 5% discount, is what we where told as we will have to extend for 3 more months. Then you receive a quote and a brief explanation on your policy coverage.

We will also renew our DAN (Diver Alert Network)
insurance, as our most extreme and frequented activity will be diving. We have been fortunate enough to not require DAN's services, and don't want to start anytime soon, so we will pay the $35 per person fee for a year of coverage.