Travellers Medical / First Aid Kits

So what do I need to take in order to treat myself against bumps and bruises and various illnesses on the road?

 

The likelihood is that most places you visit will have medical supplies available.

 

The idea of packing some medical supplies and equipment is more so to have something close at hand that can get you through a certain situation or serve you before you seek out medical attention or medical supplies.

 

 

Medical Supplies

 

• Antidiarrheal
• Pain relief
• Paracetamol
• Disinfectant
• Wide-spectrum antibiotic (by prescription)
• Cream to treat burns
• High-protection sunscreen
• Eye Wash / Drops
• Antihistaminic
• Anti-inflammatory drug
• Antiemetic (motion sickness)
• Asthma Puffer etc
• Condoms
• Vitamins & Minerals 

 

 

Equipment

 

• Disinfectant wipes
• Sterile band-aids, adhesive plaster and bandage
• Safety pins and scissors
• Elastoplast
• Tweezers
• Insecticide

 

 

 

 

 

 

IPOD TOUCH NANO - The Greatest Ipod Yet

I have been using the New Apple Ipod Nano Touch for 3 months now and I have to say that it is by far the best Ipod yet. With its tiny size, useful full body clip & incredibly well designed multi-touch screen and 24hr battery life the 6th Generation Ipod Nano is a Winner.


For me an Ipod should be quite simply a compact MP3 Player for on-the-go. I don't see the need for fancy video & app capabilities or the need to be able to play games on an Mp3 device.


The Nano has 3 buttons up top: Volume Up, Volume Down & Sleep/Wake. But the main controls are all multi-touch: Swiping left and right and tapping to select functions - exactly like Iphone & Ipad operating systems.


The Ipod Nano also has built in FM Radio, Pedometer, Voice Over Control, Genius & a number of other cool features.


Being built on the premise of High Quality Audio, Portability and the latest in Multi-touch operating systems the Ipod Nano Touch is what On-the-go Media Playback is all about!

"Do yourself a favour and get one now!!!!!!"

How To Get Work WorldWide

Letting Go

First and foremost you need to let go of your conventional career plan and whatever expectations everyone else ever had of you.

Society is largely structured around the maintenance of a 9-5 lifestyle, so start to practice the art of non-conformity and look for opportunities outside the 9-5 realm.

Develop A Story

Take the time to develop a compelling story to tell when someone asks you why and how you are forging a new path for yourself.

Example:

I am taking up residence in the UK for the next couple of years in order to see the world afresh and ..............................

Record & Rank Your Skills

Make an Inventory of your Qualifications/Licenses & Skills that might bring you work and other opportunities. When you take the time to do this you will realize the skills & knowledge you already have and the potential worth of these as sources of income. If you can type, clean, garden, organize, take photos, instruct or serve drinks, write it down. Ask a trusted friend to help make a list with you.

Example:

• Primary School Teacher
• Fitness Evaluation
• Exercise Science
• Senior First Aide
• Drivers Licence C
• Motorcycle License
• Vehicle Salesperson License
• RSA Certificate
• OH&S
• Construction Blue Card
• Computing Skills
• Administration Skills

Fine Tune Your List

Once you've made an Inventory of your skills, review it and begin to narrow down your possibilities for work. Which of the skills are portable? Which of the skills are profitable?

Example:

1. Primary School Teacher
2. Fitness Instructor
3. Vehicle Salesperson
4. Administrator
5. Motorcycle License
6. Drivers License 
7. Bartender

Seek Out Work


Next thing to do with your list is to use it to create an internationally presentable Resume outlining your skills and all of your experience to date.
A good idea is to put your name/resume forward with worldwide job agencies; stating where you will be intending to be looking for work.
Personally I don't believe it is a good idea to take a job (even job sponsorship) before you arrive at your destination. Reasons being that you are usually committed to a yearlong contract, you may not even like the area where you have been posted, accommodation may be expensive or distant and the likelihood is your pay will be less then average (to cover sponsorship costs).

The Best Plan of attack is to Be Organized Before you Leave

know what jobs abroad will suit you & your skill set,

know where to start looking and most importantly

know how you will present yourself professionally

in order to land that job.

Egypt the Gateway to Africa CONTIKI

Part of the European Tour I am doing (Contiki Ultimate European) Involves a week long stopover in Egypt. My knowledge of Egypt is very limited;  'arrghhh it has that big river down the middle right' - so I have done a little research in order to better prepare myself for the experience.

Location: Northeast corner of Africa

Size: approximately 1,000,000  sq. km

Capital: Cairo

Official language (today): Arabic

Official language (ancient): combination Semitic and Hamitic

Religion: Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94%, Coptic Christian & Other 6%

Population: approximately 80 Million

Major river: The Nile (divides Egypt in half) see I was right!

Deserts: Libyan, Nubian, and Eastern. They were barriers of protection, shielding the people against invasion by surrounding civilizations

Topography: The highest lands are in the south and the land slopes gently toward the Mediterranean Sea. There are some mountains located on the southern Sinai peninsula. Some of these reach over 2600 meters (8530 feet high).

Climate: very dry; there is almost no rainfall on a regular basis. The people depend on the annual summer floods of the Nile River for water. The floods begin in June and end in October.

The world's oldest civilization rose on the banks of the Nile around 5000 years ago when the first dynasty of pharaohs came to power under Narmer.


Egypt is the cradle of civilization, the land of religions and the gateway to Africa, but above all, Egypt is the gift of the Nile.


For more than fifty centuries Egypt has witnessed the development of cultures and civilizations through the different Pharaonic, Christian and Islamic periods.


Egypt, the country where past and present coexist, inundated with the permanently warm climate, and full of  the ancient splendours of the Pharaohs, the early glories of Christianity and the masterpieces of Islam, and exploring its seas which are renowned to have the most beautiful seafloors in the world, as well as its deserts which have been isolated from the fertility of the Nile.


Egypt is also a modern developing country which is at the same time a seemingly imaginary one, so rich in its contrasts and contradictions. Just as centuries ago; today you can see camels and donkeys on the dusty roads lined with Beduin tents which sit in contrast to futuristic skyscrapers alongside the remains of stone walls from the Pharaonic period.


Most Recently: Protests begin on January 25, 2011; Mubarak resigns on February 11, 2011.

The CONTIKI ITINERARY

Day 1  CAIRO

• A visit to the iconic Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza. They are the only survivors of the 7 ancient wonders of the world and are on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
• A Visit to the Egyptian Museum; viewing an amazing collection that includes Tutankhamen’s treasure, royal mummies and jewels raided from their tombs.
• Overnight Train to Aswan - And I've heard we can get our drink on -on the way!

Day 2  ASWAN

• A boat ride on a white-sailed felucca with the group and drift out to the lush Botanical Gardens. Exploring the island’s 6.3 hectares, bursting with exotic plants, huge palm trees and birds.
• Back on the felucca, feast your eyes on the elegant tomb of Aga Khan, made of pink and white granite, set high upon the Nile’s West Bank.
• Tonight, there’s a chance to learn about Egyptian mythology in the dramatic setting of the Philae Temple under night lights.

Day 3  ASWAN

• Optional Excursion to Abu Simbel, UNESCO World Heritage site. Fly over the vast desert and one of the world’s biggest man-made lakes, Lake Nasser. Hear the story on Ramses II from the expert Local Guide.

Day 4  LUXOR

• Visit the Temple of Karnack – an enormous 2sq km site crammed full of remains, obelisks and sanctuaries, including the world’s largest religious structure, the Temple of Amun.
• Experience the afterlife and the city of the dead with an Optional Trip to the Valley of the Kings, where Tutankhamen is buried and where you’ll visit some of the 63 royal tombs with the specialist Local Guide.
• Retracing ancient trade routes, we travel across the Eastern Desert to the Red Sea Resort of Hurghada.

Day 5  RED SEA

• Chill out on white sandy beaches, swim or head out onto the Red Sea with an Optional Cruise.
• On the Cruise: discover the world-famous coral reefs just off the coast, and submerge yourself in the stunning underwater world.

Europe In Awe

Bridges

Bridges bring together divided societies and define mankind’s abilities. Certain bridges stand out as truly awe inspiring. Europe is full of such examples:

Tower Bridge, London

Pont du Gard,  France

Chapel Bridge, Lucerne

Buildings

Great buildings often strike us with a deep found respect for theirs designers and builders. Often an expression of their times or of the people that occupied them:

Eiffel Tower, Paris

Hagia Sofia, Istanbul

La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy

Hostels

The absolute best way to meet fellow travelers is in Hostels. Some Hostels in Europe are famous, awkward, beautiful, stylish or known for their great atmospheres:

Hostelboat Anna Maria II, Amsterdam

Generator Hostel, London

Travellers House Lisbon

Journeys

Journeys often signify a combination of multiple landmarks or a historical trek made by famous people.  Examples in Europe include:

Camino de Santiago

Blue Waves of the Danube

 

Mountains

Weather it be holy mountains or famous mountains that have separated societies
through the ages. Today mountains are seen as incredible landmarks or for the more adventurous as climbing challenges.

 

Mont Blanc, France

Ben Nevis, Scotland

Mount Etna, Italy

Jungfrau, Switzerland

Museums

From antiquities to modern art; museums more than any other, draw millions upon millions of visitors. Museums are the keepers of the legacy of mankind in its finest creative moments and its most destructive moments.

Louvre, Paris
British Museum, London
Prado, Madrid

Tate Museum, London

Vatican Museums, Vatican City

  

Rivers

Rivers form the backbone of the European continent, telling stories of
times been and times ahead.

 Danube, Central – Eastern Europe
Rhine, Central – Western Europe

Ruins

Ruins mark the achievements of ancient civilizations and the accomplishments of our ancestors. Even though many of these places have been abandoned for centuries they still inspire awe and admiration from people everywhere.

Parthenon, Greece

Colosseum, Rome

Stonehenge, England

Statues

Statues have been erected all over Europe for various reasons, and in all different sizes. Some have been placed for religious reasons, some to commemorate historical events and some to the glory of the ruler of the country.

 Angel of the North, UK

Marcus Aurelius, Rome

The Thinker, Paris

Venus de Milo, Paris

Manneken Pis, Belgium

David, Italy

Waterfalls

Waterfalls are something that inspires people around the world with their beauty and sheer force. Fine examples in Europe include:

Krimmler Waterfalls, Austria

Rhine Falls, Switzerland

Solo Travel Vs Group Travel

Whats your Travel Mode?

" I will Be Riding Solo"

Group Travel

If you have lots of friends and you can’t stand to be separated from them, then maybe group travel would suit you. One of the definite benefits of travelling in groups is splitting costs and now days a lot of tours & accommodations offer discounted group rates.

FOR:

• Splitting Costs
• Group Rates
• People to talk to

AGAINST:

• Organizing yourself is easy – imagine trying to organize 5 others
• People get sick, get moody get tired and get unbearable multiply by 5 – enough said.
• It is very unlikely everyone wants to do exactly the same thing at exactly the same time - so conflict will most likely arise.
• The travelling becomes overshadowed by the obligation to incorporate the wants & needs of everyone.

Partner Travel

Closely examine your relationship with your partner, honestly and critically analyze your travel compatibility. Can your partnership withstand the added pressures of traveling?  Travelling can definitely bring you and your partner closer but it can also drive you apart.

FOR:

• Splitting Costs
• Partner Rates
• Someone special to share experience with

AGAINST:

• Less likely to be outgoing and make new travel buddies
• Does one partner have more money than the other or more expensive taste then the other?
• Unlikely that your partner and you will always want to do the same thing at the same time - so chances of conflict arise.

Solo Travel

In my opinion the only way to go is Riding Solo- and if opportunities arise to travel with others along the way then you have the option to choose. You are at the wheel and you choose what you want to do, where you want to go and when you want to do it.

FOR:

• More time to enjoy experiences.
• No worry about others
• Freedom to pick & choose
• Openness to meet other fellow travelers and share extraordinary experiences.

Cheap Flights

Tips for Getting Cheap Flights

Start looking for flights as soon as you know when you want to travel (generally flights booked   

well in advance are the cheapest)

Use the Internet to check on-line agencies.  

If possible travel during the week on weekdays on early flights or late flights (these tend to be 

cheapest). 

Once you have decided on date (make sure this is flexible) try a couple of days before and after

to see if price differs. 

Be flexible – if you live near more than one airport compare prices of the two – same goes for

destination city: compare prices of flying to different airports (London Heathrow vs London Stansted).

If possible test to see if one destination city (Belfast vs London) is cheaper to travel to than

others.

ONLINE AGENCIES: 

                                            Cheapoair

                                            expedia.com.au

                                            wegolo

Flying to London

AIRASIA

AirAsia is the latest in budget airlines offering no thrills- cheap flights to various locations around the world. One of the ways AirAsia aims to cut costs is by having its customers only pay for what they will need; meals, in flight entertainment, excess baggage are all extras that are paid for on top of initial flight cost.

                                           

To give example (My Booking):

(Note: flight was booked 8 months in advance and was part promo flight)

Flight 1: Perth (PER)  -  Kuala Lumpur (KUL)  

Flight 2: Kuala Lumpur (KUL)  -  London (STN)

Flight                                         386.00 AUD

Airport Tax and Fees              72.00 AUD

Sub Total                                   458.00 AUD

Convenience Fee                    10.00 AUD

2 x D7 International Meal        14.00 AUD

2 x Baggage - up to 20kg       39.60 AUD

Sub Total                                   63.60 AUD

Total Amount                            521.60 AUD

            Note also that flight is to Stansted Airport

Coach Into Central London

EASYBUS

EasyBus is the leading low cost London airport transfers bus and coach service - probably the cheapest and most convenient way of getting to and from central London to Gatwick Airport, Stansted Airport & Luton Airport. 

From 2 GBP (book in advance)  to 10 GBP (at time of travel)

Buses leave every 20 minutes and the service runs 24 hrs a day.

To give example (My Booking):

STANSTED to Baker Street  - 2.99 GBP

Baker Street to Russell Square

UNDERGROUND TRAIN

1) From Baker Street take the Metropolitan Line
2) Change lines at Kings Cross St. Pancras to the Piccadilly Line
3) Leave the train at Russell Square

Journey: Baker Street → Great Portland Street → Euston Square → Kings Cross St. Pancras change lines Kings Cross St. Pancras → Russell Square

Estimated time: 18 minsFare zones: 1