Asia Travel Guide

Health and safety always come first when we are travelling, and many travel-specific health concerns arise on the road: you may be uncomfortable with local drugs and procedures, be prone to food poisoning, or have trouble explaining medical needs to others. The best advice is to bring what you need and find ways to communicate your health concerns to locals. Before you leave, make sure you have had all of the necessary inoculations and vaccinations. Strongly consider vaccinations that are recommended but may not be required. For example, in parts of Central and Eastern Europe, stray dogs run rampant, bites are common, and rabies shots are available in very few hospitals; especially for those traveling to regions outside capital cities, it is advisable to have a rabies shot before departing.

Be sure to bring enough prescription medicine to last your trip. Although foreign pharmacies sell medicines, it may be hard to find drugs you are comfortable with, so it’s best to pack any over-the-counter medicines you may need. You can buy most hygiene products such as soap and toothpaste on the road, but if you wear contact lenses, you’ll need an ample supply of contact lens solution, which is not available in all countries, to fend off eye-infection. A first-aid kit is always advisable and is a must when traveling to the wilderness or the developing world. In areas where hospitals are unsanitary, you’ll need to bring your own syringes and bandages.

If you have a medical condition, write down or learn how to express your needs in the language of the country you are visiting. If you have an allergy, you’ll need to bring your EpiPen, a note from your doctor, and a scrap of paper stating “I’m allergic to X.” If you have a food allergy, you’ll need to explain, “I will die if I eat X” every time you dine. Acclimating oneself to local bacteria prevents food poisoning. Tricks include eating locally produced yogurt and brushing teeth with local tap water. Beware of food sold on the street, as it can be a breeding ground for food poisoning. Check up on the quality of local water: if it is not drinkable, buy bottled water or bring a water purifier.

Many travelers experience food poisoning, infection, or injury because they are unaccustomed to local bacteria and engage in physical activities like hiking or extreme sports which they do much less frequently at home. While dining on local cuisine and ascending a breathtaking mountain can be the most rewarding parts of a trip, it is essential to keep in mind that health comes first.

I am sure you heard backpacking before. Backpacking is a great way to see the world on a budget. However, I sometimes feel that people have the wrong impression as to what backpacking is all about. Therefore, I’d like to provide my thoughts and advice on what backpacking IS and IS NOT.

Backpacking IS:

1. A budget travel strategy that stresses blending in, and living like the people to develop a better understanding of the culture.
2. A mobile and flexible way to travel, where the traveler is free to change plans as much as they like.
3. An activity that requires you to pack light and live on the essentials. A few changes of clothes, and whatever gadgets or daily essentials you have is enough. Like point 2 says, you have to be mobile, don’t weigh yourself down with a bunch of crap.
4. By definition an economic way to travel. The idea is that you travel on a budget so that you can extend your travels as far as your budget can take you.
5. Moving slow, and getting off the beaten track. You are one (or maybe two) people with no deadlines, responsibilities, etc. Take advantage of that.
6. Sometimes a stationary activity. If you find a place you really enjoy, stay there for a couple of weeks, months, years! Learn more about it, and have fun. Why not?
7. A learning experience. You can learn so much about yourself, others, the world, what’s really important, and a lot more. It’s very important to remain open and allow yourself this growth.
8. Whatever you want to make it.

Backpacking IS NOT:

1. An activity exclusively undertaken by hippies, hobos, or other people that don’t understand the importance of personal hygiene. You are free to bathe as much as you like.
2. An activity for large groups of friends. I would say it is best to either travel independently or with one friend. This allows you greater mobility, and a much better opportunity to blend in.
3. An activity that even requires a backpack. I know the word “backpacking” kind of implies that you have something strapped to your back, but personally I think those 100 gallon backpacks that you see people toting around the world kind of defeat the purpose. In my opinion, you don’t need all that stuff, it doesn’t all need to be carried on your back, it makes moving around extremely cumbersome, and it makes you stick out like a sore thumb.
4. All fun. It’s an adventure. It’s not uncommon to get robbed, lost, stuck out in the rain, pissed off, homesick, etc.
5. Just hitting all the major sites, then going home. DO NOT simply hop from site to site, it is an unnecessarily expensive and exhausting way to travel, that prevents you from being able to experience and enjoy each individual area.
6. Spending all day in the internet cafe.
7. A waste of time or a hole in your resume. I personally feel that traveling has helped me to learn about myself as a person, understand my strengths and weaknesses, develop a better understanding of the world and how it works, and even develop many applicable skills like fluency in foreign languages, ability to operate under adverse conditions, creative thinking, etc. In my experience most employers feel the same way.

Professional Backpacking

For some people, backpacking is a necessary and integral part of their job.
In the military a framed backpack is referred to as a “rucksack” or simply a “ruck”. Soldiers who serve in the militaries of most nation-states usually receive at least some rudimentary backpacking training while infantrymen are often trained to a more advanced backpacking skill level.

They share many common attributes with amateur backpackers: being self-contained, use of land-navigation skills and actively minimizing their environmental foot-print. Although there are also a few differences such as the need to carry an assault rifle, other weapons, ammunition and communication equipment as well as at times maintaining “noise and light discipline”, which means remaining silent and in darkness to avoid detection.

Other professional backpackers may be scientific and academic researchers, professional guides, photographers, park-rangers and “search & rescue” personnel.

Winter Backpacking

Although backpacking in the winter is rewarding, it can be dangerous and generally requires more gear. Backpackers may need skis or snowshoes to traverse deep snow, or crampons to cross ice. Cotton clothing, which absorbs moisture and chills the body, is particularly dangerous in cold weather, so backpackers stick to synthetic materials or materials that won’t hold moisture.

Special low-temperature sleeping bags and tents can be expensive, but will be more comfortable than many layers of warm clothing. However when hiking in cold weather it is always better to hike with varying layers of clothing so that as the body heats up layers can be taken off without causing the wearer to sweat or become very chilled.