Today we are fortunate enough to have a guest post from blogger, Teri Potts of TL Travel
About Teri
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| Photo: TaylorNorthey Photography |
As the Owner of Canadian travel company TL Travel, Teri
Potts organizes both large & small group trips to unique locations in
popular destinations, as well as luxury trips for the off-the-path adventurer.
Having visited almost 35 countries (& counting) she shares her knowledge
& passion for travel through her work at TL Travel and all of the
behind-the-scenes on her YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/tltravel.
Connect With Teri:
Online www.tltraveltrips.com
Email reservations @tltravel.ca
Twitter & Instagram @TLTRAVEL
YouTube www.youtube.com/tltravel
It is in my experience that the majority of travelers
find themselves in developing countries more times than not given that they are
typically cheaper, more cultural & frankly a little more exciting! Perfect
for a limited budget, there is nothing like setting out in a country where you
can live comfortably on fifty dollars a day & live like a king for the
price of an American motel, but what else should you be expecting when you
travel in a developing country?
Getting There Is Half The Fun
While road quality is slowly improving around the world,
road reliability & safety are still severely lacking which, paired with the
lack of personal boundaries in many countries, can make for an unpleasant ride.
Expect to be crowded & expect to arrive late, but don't forget to stay calm
& go with the flow of things (just like the locals do!)
If you absolutely need to be somewhere on time (to catch a
flight or start a trek for example) consider spending a few extra dollars on a
private taxi or transfer ... after all... you are here in the first place
because a little goes a long way.
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| Photo: @TLTRAVEL |
Don't Think, Just Eat
While it is still important to take the proper safety
precautions when it comes to eating local food (see Is Street Food Safe?) if you are eating like a local
you may also end up eating vegetables & meats that you may not necessarily
recognize. More times than not it will taste great & you won't think twice
after the first bite, however, if you are prone to food allergies or poor
reactions to new foods it is handy to either keep the proper medications on
hand or avoid the unknown until you know for sure what it's made of.
Eating like a local may also mean eating with your hands. The
etiquette here is typically to use your right hand for eating & your left only
for holding your bowl or glass. This is because in many cultures that left
hand is used for toilet duties ... so try to keep that tip in mind!
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| Photo: @TLTRAVEL |
Always Be Prepared!
Back home the street lights are on from the first sign of
darkness until the sun comes up, perhaps we leave the TV & air on all night
while we sleep & hot water is just a turn of a tap away, but preparing for
an inevitable lack of amenities while discovering a developing country is
absolutely essential. Many remote areas will have little or no
electricity & scarce amounts of running water (even some heavily-toured
areas may limit your usage.)
Charge your electronics while you have access to
electricity, pack a battery powered flashlight & be sure you are back at
your hotel or home-stay before the village turns its lights out.
Start your journey expecting the least & you will be pleasantly
surprised when you arrive to more.
Toilet Trouble
Squatters, squatters & more squatters. From India to
Tibet & Thailand to the Philippines, the squatter is the way of the world
& for good reason. While it may take some getting used to, squatters rid
you of the need to touch your bottom to anything & therefore lessen the
transfer of germs. One of the first things I do before I visit a country is
check in on the toilet situation & prepare accordingly... will my toilet be
a bowl? a hole? or will it sing me a lullaby? - one can never be too prepared
when opening up that washroom stall. And please ... throw your paper in the bin
& don't try to flush it unless it is posted that you can.
You Are Your Doctor
Sure, there are doctors & hospitals in developing
countries, and yes, you have travel medical insurance (I would hope!) but if
you are heading off-the-beaten-track then it is likely you will need to be your
own doctor & self-medicate every now & again. Now don't get me
wrong, self-medication is not always recommended, however, with most
common prescription medications (like antibiotics) available over the
counter, carrying a small supply in your first aid kit when traveling in a
rural area can be a life-saver in the case of an emergency.
You Will Get Ripped Off At Least Once
It is true, avoiding bribes & extra taxes/fees is dang
near impossible as an English-speaking Westerner (& clear target) but you
can still take some control over the amount that you pay & who you pay it
too. If you know that you are going to be crossing a border or taking part in a
tourist activity, try checking online forums first like TripAdvisor or ask
around on reddit to find out how much people pay & what the obvious scams
are that you will need to be wary of. There is no better feeling then being
able to tell a taxi driver that no, in fact that is NOT the price of a taxi to
the airport & YES you are certain.
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| Photo: @TLTRAVEL |
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