This is my much-acclaimed, albeit much-awaited and brand-new, 'Peripatetic's Preambular Guide to the Wild World' (aka PGW), exposing

the general and more often than not self-evident guidelines to safe travel. (Brace yourselves dudes, for I have an idiosyncratic sense of humour) First things first: Choose the DESTINATION, YEAY! ^_^ => I have no advice for this one. Whatever takes your fancy. Dreams can't wait. *** Do you need a Visa? Now, you need to lay your hands on a visa, unless you're a European citizen travelling in the SCHENGEN area, more or less a.k.a. Europe. Really more or less, but I don't want to debate this issue here. No visa needed for the UK if you are from the EU.

How long do you want/need to stay? => Be aware that some countries have their visa(s) start on the day they're issued, regardless of the actual dates of your trip. => Project visa is an excellent website full of up-to-date info on every country and their visa specifications. => Now that I'm at it, here is THE website with a self-explanatory title: http://embassy-finder.com (different languages available on the top right-hand corner *nudgenudge winkwink to the French*) Multiple-entry requirements in case of you want to visit the neighbouring countries Check the visa requirements of neighbouring countries => All ears everyone. My own experience allows me to say that once you're on the spot, things are concretely very (and sometimes cruelly) different from what the administration said they would be. So always arm yourselves with a bunch of: Pictures of your mug (the official kind, no smiling, no horsing around with a fake moustache or a rolled-up balaclava)

 Photocopies of your passport's first page and visa page Photocopies of your ID card => the which you won't keep with your passport, or in your wallet, but safely somewhere else. If you happen to know someone (to be trusted, of course), you can leave these documents in his or her possession. Should you lose your passport or should it be stolen, God forbid, the necessary, pain-inthe-neck procedures at your embassy would be much quicker. Money => Trust me, you will. Processing time => Many an embassy take whatever time they think necessary inspect your query. Brace yourself. Last-minute procedure available => Could cost you an arm and a leg, but hey, had you had a look at this guide beforehand, you wouldn't've needed this procedure, right? Next time, fail better. How much will all those visa thingamajigs cost you? *** Now, you might need specific equipment =D Are you going for the sea/sex/sun triad? Will you be diving in the big blue? Shall you confront the mountains? Goin' trekkin'? Embarking on a road trip? => Die-hard sunbathers, divers, climbers and trekkers: you know what to do. => First-timers: suncream for everyone, especially for sunbathers. A high index for those who're as tanned as an Irish (I'm only saying, I'm French and fairer than some of mo chairde na hireann -_-) => First-time divers: you can usually rent the gear you'll need at the diving spots. Best thing to do is to check the prices in two or three locations and then haggle (best thing ever, anywhere, haggling is. I just love it.) => First-timer trekkers and climbers: Never underestimate the coldness of nights, even in Summer time. Superposition of layers is better than one thick coat. Gloves, thick socks, woollen hats and scarves. => Invest in good hiking boots. Above the ankle. => And girls, please, a trekking path is not a catwalk. No one up there is going to hit on you. Don't bet on chance-meeting George Clooney or Jude Law. They don't trek our paths. If you still cling onto your fashionable outfit like a limpet onto its rock, pray your colourful attire doesn't catch the greedy eye of a bear or some less sociable animal. Ye be warned. => Specific clothes Seasonal phenomena => Need I explain this? Common sense should nevertheless draw your attention to phenomena such as 'monsoon', 'draft', 'blizzard' etc...Don't think you will be good 'n' dry if you're caught under monsoon rain. *** Guidebooks => Any decent guidebook is full of priceless info, of course. But it's necessarily behind time, there being a necessary span of time between the end of its redaction, its printing and, well, you buying it.

=> You might want to acquire a guide before going there, in order to plan ahead. => Specific city guidebooks are to be had, and some are really good, especially with the off-thebeaten-tracks sights. => I always value practicality over pictures. I'd rather have a reliable description of the place than a picture. Many guidebooks tend to leave a picture they haven't taken speak a thousand words, leaving out a few words that might save you a trip there (e.g. a sunset place that's great to ) Road maps => My advice is to take a general road map of the country, and then a more detailed one of the areas you have planned to visit. The maps in the guide are usually of better quality and are more useful when it comes to cities. If you have no specific destination in mind, then an atlas of the roads sounds a better deal to strike. *** Diseases/Vaccines => Man. Do NOT underestimate this one. NEVER. First because it could ruin your trip before even setting a foot in the country. Check with your GP (General Practitioner) the why and wherefores, the whereats and the howtos. => Regional hospitals usually have a service where they dispense vaccination services. *** Hygiene Aquatabs => These tabs clear the water of 99.9999999999999999999999% of its bacterias. Allow the tabs time to be effective (30 minutes before drinking). You can add a few drops of lemon juice to neutralise the bleachy taste. Water filters => I use paper filters for coffee and recycle them. I usually put purifying tabs in filtered water. You never know. Mosquito net => This one can be darn tricky to hang or set up. Some models are to be hanged from whatever is available thanks to strings, some others hold thanks to short, plastic posts (roughly 50 to 70 cm high). The clear advantage of the latter is that you can put it wherever you want, even on a bed. Its main drawback is that some people mightn't like the proximity to the net. Best thing is the try-it-athome-with-your-own-things test with a sheet hanging roughly at the same height (bear in mind that you can see quite clearly through a net) *** Recent potential threats (terrorist attacks, riots, religious upheavals etc.) => Some destinations might sound dodgy at first, but then if one observes some general rules and guidelines, safety should be ensured. Then again, I'm not saying that any and every destination is safe. A good friend of mine went to Iran and stayed in Sanaa (Capital city of Yemen) several times for a couple of months, on his own, and nothing ever happened to him. He was mugged in his hometown, though. *** Want to bring your pet along? Needs/Wants: you actually know better than me, poor pet-less person, what your

favourite companion needs/wants => Many countries impose a quarantine, lasting generally 6 months. => I know for sure that Ireland does impose such a quarantine, but pet owners can obtain what is called a pet-passport if they follow strict requirements (in brief, the 6 month thingy is done at hime), thus circumventing the quarantine. Having said this, please be aware that your pet may not travel with onboard with you, but probably in a cage with the cars/suitcases etc., with little or no possibility to relieve themselves. I read on many forums that the pet-owners drugged their comrade to sleep, and that all went well. *** Nice book related to the country => Travel book, famous author, action set there...the choice is as wide as nagging. Better step in a local library, you might even stumble on a bilingual edition (OK, I'm sure I'm the only one excited about this...) Sketchbook and/or travel-log => Even if you can't draw anything (I can't even draw something as simple as a dog or a cat, or a house. The kids I used to teach used to jest at me -___-'), it may help pass the time doodling during long hours waiting for/in trains or buses. First night(s) => Make a reservation if you ain't sure of where to stay the first few nights. Once on the spot, things usually get easier. => You can always leave this for when you'll actually be there, but beware of scams waiting for you at the airport or in touristy places. Money, money, money => You can always get the currency at home (check the latest exchange rate here, which your bank might overlook - also, enquire about the charges) => You can also withdraw in the country (yet again, check how much your bank charges per withdrawal/per week/per usage) => Keep some cash hidden somewhere, just in case. => Never take out a fat wad of cash when you pay on a marketplace, at a bar etc. => Bribe (aka baksheesh) can be necessary, at times. I've never had to give any, but I have seen people forced to do so. Camera => Be aware that some locals mightn't like you to take pictures of themselves or religious monuments. Ask nicely :) => Watch out for dust and thieves. One is more pernicious than the other...but they're both great deadeners of trips. => Always bring extra (charged) batteries and memory card(s). => Same advice than with money. Never show off your camera in the open, as you never should hang it on the back of your chair when you're eating or drinking out. Prefer a small, pocket-size camera for the evenings out. Mobile phones => Better check way the roaming settings of your contract with your service provider. You can activate this service but it can be pricey. => There's always the possibility to buying a SIM card, but do check if your phone is unlocked, and if, especially with newer phones, it can accommodate the card (I don't know about the rest, but the

Iphone 4's working with a mini SIM card...drat.)

I know I haven't covered half the stuff that's written in guidebooks blablabla, but hey I'm pretty decent in terms of clarity (ahem) and content (aheeeem). At least the little I covered will be useful to beginners, first-timers, people with memory-lapse syndroms...toddlers who want to perambulate this wild world, at the very least.