Travel Tips for Nepal January 2014

Today is the first day of my month long holiday. I am heading to Kathmandu, Nepal and absolutely delighted to be heading out on an adventure.   Ashley, the daughter of a friend and Eola, a dear friend from my years at Women, Work & Community are currently living there so I have some great contacts upon my arrival. How exciting!  And thanks to Facebook and email they have already met up for a visit.

Wow it has been a long time since I have visited my blog. How wonderful to be back!  I thought I would start with some general travel tips that I have used for decades.  Feel free to comment and share other tips.  My dear friend Nathalie suggested I share tips for traveling alone as a woman.

I travelled as a kid with my folks to Canada and Florida in our station wagon. My overseas travel started just after college with a dear friend.  My passion began with my first exposure in the pubs of London where I met 20-somethings from all over the world including Ireland, Scotland, South Africa, New Zealand and South Africa.  For the past 25 years I have tried to visit a different country each year of my life.  And through many hair raising life experiences have some advice I am happy to share.

Here are some tips for travel off the top of my head:

1. Travel with a backpack. It is so much easier to get around by foot, by escalator, by train, metro, bus, plane, tour group and it is great exercise
Take a frisbee because if you do not speak the language it is a great game to play with kids and adults. You can use it as a cutting board, a plate, a bowl, and a weapon to throw at charging dogs as well.
2. Swiss army knife is a must with all of its' tools
3. wet wipes are perfect for washing hands, fruits and make a perfect shower for flights and long treks
4. memorize your passport number because it expedites the process of having a passport reissued when stolen if you are mugged and have no form of ID
5. Make copies of your passport and credit cards and important info and put it in a ziplock with a $50.00 at the bottom of your backpack. Why?  If you are mugged it is nice to have some cash in your large backpack if that has not been taken as well.
6. Make copies of  your itinerary and/or email it to a few different friends/family.
7. If you are traveling with a friend, give copies to each other
8.   Wear a sports bra and keep your important documents tucked inside your bra.  Do not use a passport holder with a cord that goes around your neck.  Why?  If it is visible it could be cut and taken.
9.  A few ziplock bags and plastic bags are handy for dirty laundry or  messy fun food or spilled toiletries
10.  Bring a pocket photo album of your life including photos of  your family, pets, house, hobbies, and highlights of where you live-industry, tourist attractions, unique features, wildlife, seasons etc.
11.  Try not to give out $ or candy. Instead give food, soap, toothbrushes, dental floss, postcards, pens, pencils, mirrors, magnets, clothes or pay for a service for someone
12. Always ask people permission before you take their photo.  While we are tourists we need to respect people and other cultures. If someone says no, please respect that.  Now, if they say yes and it is a great photo. Find out their mailing address and then print the photo, laminate it and send it to them.  Why laminate?  Areas with high humidity in particular eat away at photos and will disintegrate in just a few years.  
13.  As a single, woman traveler.  Cover up!  Regardless of the culture, cover up.  Definitely do your research and respect the culture whether it is head, shoulders, legs, waist, stomach, chest.
14. Travel guidebooks are helpful including:  Fodors Lonely Planet etc.
15. Couchsurfing.com is a great resource to visit a country but sleep on people's couches and get to know your hosts and communities through their eyes
16. TRUST YOUR INSTINCT
17. I carry mace but have never been smart or fast enough to use it when I needed it though I continue to take it with me