Comments & Tips
 

The following are travel tips sent into the site, which don't quite find anywhere or could not be included in already text heavy pages. Thank you for all those that sent in tips, many more are welcomed.

Re: Money, pick pocketing/carrying valuables

Cheers for the effort of maintaining the 'travelindependent'-page, great info on there! I wish I'd read it a couple of years ago when I first started travelling - would have saved me lugging a packsafe round the world, among other things... Anyhow, I was going to add something to the 'securing your money' section.

1. Shop around for an account that doesn't charge you for taking out money abroad: Nationwide do it in the UK, their Flex account is free, and there are no charges. Which means you can get out, say, 10 dollars for a last snack and some fags before you board a cross-border bus, without having to pay something between 2 and 8 dollars in charges. Also, it means you can get out money more often without being charged, thus obviating the need to carry around large amounts of cash.

2. I also "spread out" my cash on my body when travelling, especially if I've just taken out a sizeable amount. However, I have also found it to be a bit confusing when piecing it back together ("did I spend those rupees I had in my inside pocket, or did I use the ones from my back pocket"). Thus, I do this with very large amounts that I am unlikely to use. Then, I keep small change for quick buys like fags or a taxi fare in my shirt pocket, like you said. but I also carry a wallet for the money I am likely to spend on the day (plus a little extra), cause I just lose my money otherwise. Obviously, wallets are targets for pick-pockets, so I secure my wallet with a chain. Now, I realize this is also an advertisement for where my money is - however, as I wear shirts when travelling and do not tuck them into my trousers, potential pickpockets can't see how it is attached to my belt. Hence, I think anyone trying to steal it would need pliers to cut the chain in a sneaky moment. and if they want to mug me, well, then they want to mug me anyway. I've thought about what the chain signifies, as it kind of says: "hey, I'm keeping my money in check here, as you're all a bunch of shifty little crooks in this country". Which is not necessarily a very friendly message to send out to people. That said, I had my walled pinched by a Bulgarian pensioner on a bus once - when I wasn't wearing the chain. And the locals scolded me for not taking better care of it. So in the end, I just prefer to wear the wallet on a chain.

3. Carrying cameras. Keeping them in a daypack (yes, I do prefer them, as I normally have lots of water and some books in there) is not very helpful if you've just spotted a monkey stealing a t-shirt off a washing line, and want to capture the moment. That said, it's not even that convenient just carrying them in a shoulder bag: for those moments, it needs to be easily accessible. And easily accessible makes it easily 'stealable'. So what I do is carry it in the front pocket of my trousers or shorts (yes, also wear those, but with red hair and fair skin, I look like a tourist even in most parts of Europe). To secure it there, I sow one the receiving end of a clip (taken from an old ID pass you wear around your neck) into my front pocket, and attach the other end to the camera sling (could also be done in a shoulder bag). If they really want to steal it, a strong pull could perhaps rip it out. However, anyone trying to pickpocket will probably give up as soon as they notice resistance. I normally also have my hand on my camera, though, just for some added protection.

4. This is not connected to security, but to the cutlery issue: totally agree that a bowl an a knife and fork are a waste of space when travelling, e.g. in SE Asia. The only thing I do take is a spoon - I sometimes get fed up with the breakfasts on offer, and I like yogurt a lot. And it's kind of difficult to eat a yogurt without a spoon...

Just some ideas, and thanks again for maintaining the site - the effort is really appreciated! Cheers, Michael

My husband and I just finished up a 14 month RTW trip, and have some updates for your visa info in South America - as Americans, many countries are now adding a reciprocity tax - so Bolivia now charges $100US for US Citizens to get in- at land and air borders both. Chile (if you fly into Santiago) does the same with the $100 USD tax, but we did cross the land border 4 separate times into Chile, and were tax free. Brazil cost us $140 USD a piece, good only for 30 days and one entry - very different from 4 years ago when it was $60 for up to 90 days and multiple entries for 5 years... Bad deal for US Citizens now. Ecuador and Peru were easy, didn't need anything in advance, they processed it when we landed. - Laurel (www.dalama.net)

 

Re: Packing advice

A few of my recommendations are: 1) never buy clothes from the sort of fabric that makes you sweat instantly, cotton is king, 2) don't bring hiking boots unless you will absolutely need them, 3) don't take a wide brimmed hat; its unnecessary and a bugger to carry, a cap is both more practical and more stylish, 4) do bring a raincoat, if going to mild rainy climate, 5) always take a basic medical kit but only the basics as you can buy the rest (along with much stronger and much more interesting drugs) in most places, 6) don't take a water bottle, do take a Platapus water-bag-thingie, 7) a pillowcase stuffed with clothes makes an acceptable substitute for a pillow and also means you can keep your dirty clothes separate, 8) washbags are great for keeping electronics (and associated wires) and other nicknacks in 9) a travel chess set (with magnetic pieces) and a pack of cards are essential items, 10) water purification tablets are small and cheap; its really not worth not bringing them as they don't take up a lot of room and could save you many trips to the toilet - if in doubt, purify.

One thing you haven't included but which I highly recommend is a 'zanza-click' (http://www.tecnimed.it/zanza_click_e.html) within a few hours your bites will be gone and they last almost forever. It's tiny so take it where ever you go, even Europe; I've had worse mosquito bites in Rome than Malawi (tip: if used on the appropriate nerve points, such as the palm or wrist, they make you do some pretty cool muscle spasms (only minor ones though)). - Chris (Nottingham)

 

The small bag is a winner. What amazes me is that in six months we've met nobody with anything approaching the size of our packs. '"Travel light" is such cliched travel wisdom but I guess most people haven't read it's possible to fit everything into a 40 litre pack. I've managed fine with 34 litres; my girlfriend who feels the cold has a 45 litre to fit her sleeping bag.  Other than that, we seem to enjoy ourselves best when we stay put, meet local people and get local knowledge. Also the South American Explorers' Club trip reports and the New Zealand BBH guide have both been superb for really good recommendations. As we do a lot of hiking we took raincoats and we were glad of them. There's a quote from a reader on your site about 14 days rain in 1000 days travel or something to that effect: I think a bit of context on where they travelled might help, we've definitely exceeded their tally by far in 6 months. We've just had 3 days of solid rain in New Zealand summer! - Mark, Dublin

Re: Recommended Backpack

Just want to say that you have the best backpacking site around. Your suggestions for packing were spot on. I'm currently road testing them as we speak. I highly recommend the Berghaus Freeflow IV 35 + 8 as a backpack. I love it. The back part is curved and then there is a straight mesh which is contact with you back. This maximises breathability. It has a built in rain cover, a nice big lid pocket, and two expandable side pockets that come out like chipmunk cheeks. I'm proud to say that even when fully loaded I never had to put it on the roof of a bus while I was in India. It always fitted in the overhead racks. At the mo it's weighing in at 10kg. I really pity everybody else with there huge 70L bags. - Jonathan

Re: Insurance - World Nomads in USA

Re: Maximum item coverage. It turns out it is just the US policy. I still like World Nomads a lot and will buy my insurance through them. Their web site is easy to understand, they offer coverage for all the fun stuff we hope to do, and they are far cheaper than any other company we looked into. Michelle has been very helpful, kind and patient with my questions and concerns.

I was a little bit concerned about the information I was given from their US affiliate as she knew very little about the plan... not exactly what you want from an insurance provider but probably just a new employee or something....

You might just add that benefits vary depending on the country you buy their policy from. It's too bad they don't cover high priced items - when we read that we got really excited. An alternative people might look into for covering high priced items is through their renters/home insurance. We get renters insurance through SafeCo Insurance for just under $10 a month and they allow you to add valuable items to your coverage for an additional fee. They will cover my $1500 camera for $24 a year if I break it, loose it, or if it gets stolen - even while travelling. Of course you have to have insurance through them. So about $150 - kind of expensive but not too bad if you want renters insurance anyway or if you get it just while you are travelling.

Thanks for your reply. And your web site is really great. I hope it didn't come across that I was blaming you I am sure it is hard to keep up with all of the information on your web site and there is really no way to track everything. We have gotten a lot of information from Travel Independent and have found your web site the most comprehensive and easiest to navigate thus far. - Kind Regards, Michele

 

Re: Insurance

I have now spoken to probably every travel insurance company on the face of the planet.  There are a few things worth noting.

1. A great many companies won't touch you if you do not have a return ticket.  This is a problem if, like me, you are travelling overland and don't know exactly where you will be coming home from.
2. It is nigh on impossible to find adequate insurance for camera equipment. Insuring it on your house is one possibility, but this is usually limited to up to three months out of the country in any one trip.

The best compromise I have found is Endsleigh insurance (UK) who offer the most comprehensive travel insurance package I have found, including unlimited medical and repatriation costs, 5000 pounds of cancellation or curtailment, 1000 electronic goods, 2000 personal belongings and up to 1500 of cover for specific valuable items. This all comes at a cost, but if you want an all-singing all-dancing package this is the one to go for. - Al

 

Re: Bag snatching from bikes

In your security/how to avoid being robbed section, you might want to insert a paragraph about guarding your daypack while on a bicycle or motorcycle.  Particularly within Southeast Asia, there have been a lot of drive-by pack snatching's when folks put their daypack in the basket of the bicycle or motorbike.  It is usually two youths who sneak up from behind on a motorcycle, with the rider snatching the pack from the basket.  The best thing to do is to wear the pack on your back.  In Vientiane in late 2003, I made the mistake of tying my pack to the basket.  So, when the two guys on a motorbike tried to steal my pack, they didn't get it, but they did manage to knock me over, which hurt a bit for a few days.  Please forgive me if you've already mentioned this on your site, but I thought this info might help prevent someone from being ripped off.  Cheers - Mark.

 

Re: Bras

Tip for women - many bras have little pouches inside for putting in extra padding. A far better use for these is as a money belt substitute - while you can't really put your passport in there (or at least I can't - your bra may be a lot bigger than mine, though!) it's great for money and small documents and feels a little more glamorous than a hot belt round your waist!

 

Re: Immunizations and their costs within Canada

In regards to immunizations and their costs within Canada a lot depends upon which province the person is living in, the individuals drug plan, and whether they qualify for coverage ( if they are deemed high risk of exposure). Within Ontario, OHIP covers regular booster shots such as Tetanus/Diphtheria, Influenza, and sometimes Polio). As for Hepatitis A or B it is advised to see your family Doctor or Local Health unit with regards to prescriptions and immunizations. The Twinrix (Hep A&B) or the Havrix (Hep A) vaccines may be covered by certain health plans. The best advice is to make sure that you have your immunization record checked and updated with your family doctor, they should have a record of past immunizations and will gladly give you a copy.

 

Hey there... just a tip for ordering anti malarial tabs online.. difference was [for 36 tabs] - GBP115 in chemist, compared to GBP 80 online.. dunno, but I reckon probably worth a mention..?

Tip: Look for malarone online...it's MUCH cheaper [you will however be restricted by law, to ordering from pharmacies within your own country/region, but you should be able to find a least one or 2 suppliers].. Just go through the online ordering process, then send in your script ..ordering this way cuts down/out any associated administrative costs and can reduce the overall total by 25-30%. Although (in the UK) pharmacies are only licensed to provide Malarone for 28 days, they do not seem to have any issue with providing larger/longer doses. Certainly they document it has been used for periods up to 6 months without any issue. Recommended online pharmacy in UK is Stratford Pharmacy (www.stratford-pharmacy.co.uk)

 

Re: Tupperware

I found taking various sizes of plastic Tupperware-like or take-away boxes really handy – I used one for keeping my camera power charger and lead, plug adapter and MP3 etc. A smaller one for my compass, padlocks, batteries, post-it notes and other little things, and a third for my first-aid kit. These also doubled as useful containers for food when in hostels and when taking out a packed lunch - to save having to buy food when out for the day in a developed country, for example]. - Angie

Re: Water Pump Filters

I recently went on a 6 week trip to Africa. Egypt and Ghana. Fully agree with you on Ghana, they are the nicest people in the world.

If you are doing a longer trip I would recommend that you take a pump water filter. Obviously we would not drink the tap water and bottled water is the way to go but buying bottled water day and day out can get expensive. Here you can pump straight into your platypus and you have a good two litres to go and just use the shower water. - Kushan Fernando

Re: Keeper / Mooncup

Besides the obvious space advantages of carrying a 1" by 2" little cup for the few needed days of the month, this product is much healthier than tampons. Without going into to many details, because it is non-absorptive, it does not cause Toxic Shock Syndrome. Any woman who has travelled can attest to the fact that bus schedules and bathroom availability don't adhere maximum 8 hour wearing time of a tampon. The keeper, however, is not dangerous if left in those extra few hours until a reliable place is found to empty it. And there is no worry of disposal. Just another update there is another version called the "DivaCup", same thing but made out of silicone. - Sarah Feltmate

One other traveller e-mailed to comment that although this is a great product you really need 3-4 months practice with it before travelling. Her comments reflected that this is not the product to use for the first time when on the road.

Miranda shares: Re Menstrual keepers - http://www.mooncup.co.uk/ sells them. The store is super-friendly and the cup is great! I've used one for about 5 years now, travelling or not, and it's the best £18 you'll ever spend! Hygienic, safe, cheap and environmentally friendly - what more could you want? I know it's an icky topic, but it also reduces your chances of getting thrush while you're away (or indeed while you're at home), as tampons alter the pH balance of your body, encouraging the dreaded thrush to take over.

Angie shares: Re: Mooncup (this is what I used (you can buy them in larger branches of Boots now apparently)) and I think they're great – all women should use them whether travelling or not and tampons/sanitary towels should be banned… whoops, gone off on one there a bit, sorry!

 

Re: Click don't scratch

There is a new product out for insect bites ('Click don't Scratch' is one brand name) that I took travelling and would recommend: it's a little device that gives a micro electric shock. You click it around the bite and it stops it itching and swelling. I bought mine in Boots, but I've found them online here: UK /  USA - Angie - also see Re: packing advice above

 

Re: Sleeping Sacs

Link which would be useful is for buying silk liners (for sleeping). You know the ones that cost about €50 in Dublin's 'Great Outdoors'. Found a sites that sell them over the net- http://www.jagbags.co.nz/ Took the chance and bought two. Cost only €54 for the 2. Postage was free! Came within 5 days of ordering them from NZ. Quality is good. The ones we bought are basic undyed light silk. It's possible to buy heavy endura silk for a little extra-selection of colours to choose from. Highly recommend this site. - Gerry Maher

 

Re: Thrush

Something often over-looked when packing is thrush treatment. Thrush (aka yeast infection) is such a nuisance - just walking around becomes a hassle and it gets worse very quickly if not treated early.  Even if you think you will always be near a chemist, it's worth taking some medication along because, frankly, it's a bit embarrassing to purchase... especially if your lack of language skills means resorting to gestures (you get the picture).  Double strength thrush cream in tiny tubes are available or the oral pills (so it really doesn't take up any space!)

 

Re: Middle East

Hello! I absolutely love your website. I am an avid backpacker, and this is the best site I've seen. Much better than Lonely Planet's World guide. However, a few comments for you, on the Middle East:

1) There is more to Israel than just Jerusalem. You need to focus more on Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv is one of the most laid-back, best beach culture cities I've ever seen. Totally SECULAR, great parties and bars, hot women, great set of hostels, etc. Tel Aviv rivals Rio and Sydney in terms of beach culture. Please highlight Tel Aviv, as there really is more to Israel than just Jerusalem.
2) You sell Beirut short as well. Lebanon is incredible, it's not just a side-trip off of Syria. Beirut truly is the Paris of the Middle East: it's the most liberal, sophisticated, open-minded place in all of the Middle East (only place in MENA region with gay bars, that says a lot), with beautiful architecture, beautiful beaches, beautiful people, and great restaurants. Please speak a little more to that. And Byblos is an excellent, very cool side-trip from Beirut. You are correct that Ba'albeck is great (and Jerash is not, in comparison). Also some great vineyards in the Bakaa Valley, on the way to/from Ba'albeck.
3) Jordan: say something about Wadi Rum, it's outstanding.
4) Syria: the Old City of Damascus should be a “highlight.” I have been to 50+ countries, and it is by far the coolest, most “untouched” old city I've ever seen. It is stepping back into time. You should highlight that.

 

Re: Backpack Security - Cable Ties

Plastic Cable ties/tidies...about 50p/$.70 for 20. Ideal for fastening backpacks, securing backpacks to anything unmovable (good for sleeping on trains etc). Fasten zips, buckles, etc. Lock them up and then cut the ends off. Really not obvious but really hard to break with out a knife. Doesn't stop the hardened thief but excellent deterrent to the opportunist thief. And very light weight. - Cheers Ainz

This is absolutely brilliant idea for securing backpacks. Instead of padlocks (heavy, expensive), you can use this plastic straps used with electric cables (SWAT lately uses it for restraining suspects) - you pull it and then can't open, must cut. It's cheap and lightweight. You can secure this way fasteners of your back pack, zips or even attach the whole pack to radiator in a hotel or rail on the bus. If someone's so desperate going through your pack to cut this strap, he's also desperate enough to cut padded zip off or even cut a whole in a pack and pull everything out through it. It's no difference, then.  Cons: you must take eg. 50 of them, they are disposable - and a knife to cut them off. But still - it's lighter than a padlock or/and steel Expander string or so. - Tomasz Michniewicz

 

Re:  Volunteering Abroad

True Travellers Society (TTS) is a new Canadian not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing information that will assist independent travellers around the world get the most out of their experiences abroad.  We aim to connect people to global volunteer opportunities.  We do this primarily through our online community that allows individuals to share  valuable information with one another (www.truetravellers.org).  There is no charge to access any of the information on our website or to join as a member.

TTS was born after we continually struggled to find international volunteer experiences that were not accompanied by hefty fees.  Many civil society organizations offer volunteer opportunities and ask for only minimal financial help covering their basic expenses.  However, finding these organizations and opportunities is difficult.  Our goal is to create a central location where this information can be shared by travellers, civil society organizations and anyone else who is interested. We are trying to get our message out to people who may be interested in this information and may have some of their own to share.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Again, membership is free as is access to all the information on the site.  -  Andrew Wahba

Volunteer South America, is a non-profit site, created firstly to help backpackers/ independent travellers find FREE and low-cost volunteer work in South America, and secondly to promote some really worthwhile grass-roots volunteer programs in the region. - Steve McElhinney

 

Re: Pakistan

You mentioned that you would like to hear more about Pakistan if anyone has travelled there recently.

I am a 21 year old girl from Australia who travelled with family and friends to Pakistan from June to July 2005. We did a 15 day trek on the Baltoro Glacia to G2 base camp in the Karakoram. It is incredible! It is a very popular destination with trekkers and mountaineers and therefore has a large number of tourists passing through during the trekking season. It also has a number of very good tourist agencies. Two of the largest are Adventure Pakistan Tours and Nazir's Tours. I have been trekking in Nepal as well to the base-camp of Manasalu (one of the best treks in Nepal). Trekking in Pakistan is as beautiful and outstanding as Nepal. The K2, G2 trek is not too difficult and gradually ascends in altitude, in order to minimise the risk of AMS. As for safety, we did not encounter any situation where we felt threatened. There are many tourists travelling to that region during the trekking and mountaineering seasons.

I realise that not all of Pakistan is safe, but overall we felt very comfortable travelling there and feel that the media reports are generally exaggerated. The trek in the Karakoram encompasses some of the highest mountains in the world: K2, G1, G2, and Broad Peak. It is remote in terms of been an area where there is not any human habitation, however it is not off the beaten track tourist wise. If you are more interested in a trek which passes through villages (and perhaps has less tourists) then it is advisable to Trek in an area which is less of a tourist attraction. Specifically a trek from Hunza to the Hindukuish was highly recommended to us. I however found that the number of tourists was not a drawback at all, but it's a great opportunity to meet some really interesting groups of people.

The people in Pakistan were very kind. It is a place I definitely would like to return to. Don't be put off by the media, be wary and smart about where you decide to go. It's a great country, fascinating and I definitely recommend travelling there.

Re: New Zealand - west coast

I would like to convey to you though, my horror at finding the West Coast of New Zealand hurtfully placed in low points. I refer here to the South Island only. I've haven't been up the West Coast of the North Island enough to comment.

I MUST patriotically point out that the wild West Coast has some incredible scenery. There are two glaciers, the Franz Joseph and Fox Glaciers, both of which you can walk right up to the base of and touch the ice (you can even lick it if you feel so inclined) not to mention take scenic helicopter flights over or climb with experienced guides. There are amazing hikes in the native forest, whitebating in season, fishing safaris, gorgeous totally empty beaches, the Blue Pools (take bug repellent for that one), tea stained rivers, Christal clear snow melt rivers and gorges, the Punch Bowl Falls (ok the falls are inland but highly recommended), the Fox River Caves, the Pancake Rocks and blowholes of Punakaiki, black sand beaches, you can pan for your own real gold, buy a real possum fur (shhh possums are pests and their fur is so soft), you can whitewater raft, jet boat, kayak, go on quad bikes, walk over the Bulla swing bridge, go adventure caving, canoe on gorgeous rivers, go horse trekking, plus there are cafes, boutique museums and art galleries and you can buy amazing Jade carvings and jewellery.

Not to mention the all important famous Monteiths Brewery with tours available including tasting all the different kinds of beer. So you see you would have to agree the West Coast should definitely be on your highs list! I live in Christchurch and the West Coast is where I head to get away from the city. We always go camping in a tent too :) We do take a tarpaulin though, for when it rains, usually the weather blows through though and the days break out into brilliant sunshine.

Come and see it! - Nicola Leith

 

Re: Ecuador Comments

Thanks for making such a wonderful website! Having said that, however, I would like to offer another perspective to your commentary on Ecuador. Although I have far less experience travelling in Latin America (Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, and Puerto Rico), I feel like you did not do the country justice. I spent a month exclusively in the Oriente (Ecuadorian Amazon) and fell in love with the region and its culture. I will admit that the typical mainland tourist destinations are rather disappointing (Banos, Papallacta), but if you manage to find yourself off the beaten track, which is relatively easy and safe to do, you will not be sorry. Tena, a town that is about six hours from Quito by bus, is a good place to start. From there you can go on organized tours on the Rio Napo (whitewater rafting) or just head out on your own. Ask around town or try to find Peace Corps and other volunteers at internet cafes to get more travel advice. Pick a destination, grab a bus along with the local mestizo and indigenous population, and once outside town, ask the bus driver if you can ride on the roof. He will more than likely say yes, and you're in for a treat. Wander into a rural school if it looks inviting. They might ask you to come back and teach English. During breaks, children will ask you to play football and the bolder ones will run up to you, get a good luck, and run back to their friends. Wait for the bus or, if you know Spanish and it's daytime, hitch a ride in a truck bed. If you're really lucky you might be invited to spend the night in an indigenous community outside of town, only accessible by a long hike through the muddy rainforest, spotting squirrel monkeys and giant spiders along the way. Although I haven't done it, I know it's possible to hire a raft or outboard canoe and take the Rio Napo all the way to Peru, ending up in Iquitos. My experiences in this country affected me more than any others I have had. This is not the place for sightseers or travellers with a strict itinerary: give yourself time here, and maybe you'll love it as much as I do! Thanks - Caroline Bowker, Chicago, USA

 

Re: Country Comments

Continue to use your site, is brilliant, think we look for very similar things on a trip. I pretty much agree with all your comments on the countries I recently travelled to, just trying to expand a bit. Got back a couple of months ago from a 6 month trip so thought I would give some comments:

Philippines Palawan - Great diving mainly reefs, but the highlight are the huge wrecks in Coron. Getting around can be tricky, with roads getting washed way, early buses etc, but there are always alternatives e.g. Water taxis. Even in this rural area the problem of prostitution is apparent, disturbing and seemingly accepted. Underground river is a bit crowded but quite spectacular. Some enjoyable walks/climbs if you leave before the sun heats up. Manila - You initially hate it, but when you are there for a while you start to enjoy it a bit. Beer - Red horse contains some form of amphetamines (apparently!).
Laos
The newly opened crossing Northern crossing from Laos to Vietnam is spectacular, but transport is quite difficult. Friendly border staff, who still find westerners a novelty, sadly I am sure the banana pancakes will arrive soon! Than Hoa is border name, go via Sam Neua. Appears to get mixed reviews and does take a long time, but who's in a rush! Would be much better with your own transport. Vang Vieng is just plain weird. Struggled to find any form of local culture, eventually went a few miles away and got involved in a football game.
Vietnam
Disappointing in places. Easy Rider trips from Dalat, although expensive are really good fun and a great insight into the country. This is the only way I managed to get of the tourist trail. Best way to eat and drink is on the street, just look for child size chairs.
Cambodia
Sihanoukville - A bizarre little place. Just a line of beach bars all offering pretty much the same thing. The cleanliness of the water is very questionable, but is to tempting to resist. Location certainly isn't idyllic, but is fun to relax for a couple of days. Free accommodation can be found if you drink in there bar. Quite a lot of hassle when you are there
South Africa
Just awesome. If you like keeping yourself busy it is just great. After all the horror stories, I felt the place was very friendly. Even managed to hitch a few places. Diving in Sodwana bay is fantastic. Coffee bay is a great place to unwind and surf. Transkaii and Natal are just so beautiful. The standard of hostels is really good, but probably not ideal for non-drinking vegetarians.

- Matt (UK)

 

Re:Teva Jandals

I just wanted to make a comment about not sticking out, I have two Teva items one is a pair of Teva sandals, that make me look like an obvious tourist, and slightly stupid. I could walk anywhere but not fool anyone. The second item is much simpler and I stumbled upon their Flip Flops or Jandals (as we call them in NZ), that you mentioned, they also come in black and look very unassuming, I have done 15km hikes over canyons in the Australian desert and across step hills and jaggard rocks at low tide and have managed it with ease. They are amazing footware and give you a much less tourist appreance. And never a blister or sore between toes sensation that Thongs love to give. And i have done huge walks in them without any discomfort. Crazy I know. These not only give great ventilation but allow you to fit in where you might otherwise look like a target.

 

Thanking you in advance for your feedback / contribution - it's appreciated!