tell me about travelling and safety

I plan on traveling to a lot of different countries in my lifetime. I know it's not exactly realistic to think I'm going to travel the world when I'm only a junior in high school and don't know where I'm going to be years from now, but I'm still planning on it. But every time I mention traveling, my dad immediately goes into his whole idea of how if I go to other countries I'm going to get kidnapped or something. He even wanted me to watch the movie "taken" to scare me out of my desire to see the world. I've been to Australia and New Zealand, but those were for school and I was with a big group the whole time, so there were no worries there. Clearly, in my dad's point of view, backpacking through any country, even in a fair-sized group (just saying if it ever happened) was about the most dangerous thing I could ever do :disconcerted:

I know it depends on the country, but how dangerous is it, really, to travel? There are a lot of things you can do to make it safer: what are some of them? Anyone have experience traveling or know people who do?

Research the places you would like to visit. If those areas are known to be at war, have problems with terrorists or tourism I would steer clear. I'd love to visit Israel, Iraq and Egypt but those areas tend to be high danger zones.
Also, travel with a mature group and let common sense rule you. Don't talk about private things publically or with strangers. Always let people know where you're going and when you plan on returning. If you're hiking, carry extra supplies in case you do get lost but try to familiarize yourself with the area before setting off.
And don't forget to have lots of fun and take plenty of pictures :)

I've traveled a lot and I completely agree with the guy who did all the "where in the world is matt" (if "matt" is his name.. i can't remember now) videos: "Traveling is a lot safer, and a lot cheaper than many of us think."

What countries exactly do you want to travel to?

You think it isn't realistic to think you're going to travel the world? Well let me tell ya: traveling the world isn't like being an astronaut. It's perfectly possible with the right funding.

I don't see any dangers at all traveling in industrialized nations. Does your father have any places that he specifically does not want you to visit, or is he just xenophobic that way?

I plan to travel everywhere except South America. I've been thinking about joining the Peace Corps so that they'll ship me off to a 3rd world country after college. I'd like to look into taking internships in foreign countries as well. I've been trying to think about where I want to live. So far I'm considering Holland and London.

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Originally Posted by Black_Eagle

I plan to travel everywhere except South America. I've been thinking about joining the Peace Corps so that they'll ship me off to a 3rd world country after college. I'd like to look into taking internships in foreign countries as well. I've been trying to think about where I want to live. So far I'm considering Holland and London.

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Don't do peace corps.

It used to be something amazing a decade or two ago, now it's crap.

Peace corps volunteers are amazing, selfless people, but the organization itself is horrible. They don't let you choose where to go, they drop you off with nothing in the middle of wherever, and they just leave you. And you just... DO... SOMEthing... SOMEhow. You are one person in probably some poverty stricken area, trying to make the world a better place, with no help from anyone. Never mind that they test women volunteers for a certain STD, but they don't test MEN, even though statistically men spread these things much much much easier than women (just because of the length of the urinary tract in a man's versus a woman's body). And if a woman has this, the organization denies her. :roll:

You are bound by a 2+ yrs contract. That's ridiculous.

Oh, and of course they pay you only enough to buy peas for dinner.

ANYWAY. If you wanna travel the world and do meaningful things, there are waaaay better ways to do it.

Don't do peace corps.

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Originally Posted by Mes Tarrant

I've traveled a lot and I completely agree with the guy who did all the "where in the world is matt" (if "matt" is his name.. i can't remember now) videos: "Traveling is a lot safer, and a lot cheaper than many of us think."

What countries exactly do you want to travel to?

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I've never heard of those videos. Maybe I should check it out.

Like I already mentioned, I'm still only in high school, so it's not like I have any concrete plans or anything. Just a huge list of countries I want to visit someday.

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Originally Posted by Black_Eagle

You think it isn't realistic to think you're going to travel the world? Well let me tell ya: traveling the world isn't like being an astronaut. It's perfectly possible with the right funding.

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yeah I guess you're right. I'm just kind of one of those "prepare for the worst, hope for the best" kind of people so even though I'll expect and plan on things to happen, I keep in mind that plans don't always work out.

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Originally Posted by Black_Eagle

I don't see any dangers at all traveling in industrialized nations. Does your father have any places that he specifically does not want you to visit, or is he just xenophobic that way?

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he's basically just xenophobic that way. I can see where he's coming from when his daughter says she wants to go to Egypt and backpacking through Europe, but he's still a little over-protective.

Something else you might want to look into if you're traveling into very different regions are some of the basic laws if you're unsure about something you may be carrying. I had a pellet rifle in the back seat of my car once when I went into Mexico (hated it there, by the way), and when I came back to have border agents check my car they told me that the Mexican police could have put me in jail for two months for possession. For a pellet gun. So, just in case. I don't think it's legal to carry knives in England either, but those are only examples. Checking out some basic facts about the no-no's with body language in another country might not hurt either. Thumbs up might be positive here, but somewhere else... You get it.

And how did you like New Zealand? I've only seen video of the country and ever time it makes my heart melt. I tell myself I want to live there, and I mean it, but of course I also wish to visit plenty before I make any final decision in that regard.

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Originally Posted by Mes Tarrant

Don't do peace corps.

It used to be something amazing a decade or two ago, now it's crap.

Peace corps volunteers are amazing, selfless people, but the organization itself is horrible. They don't let you choose where to go, they drop you off with nothing in the middle of wherever, and they just leave you. And you just... DO... SOMEthing... SOMEhow. You are one person in probably some poverty stricken area, trying to make the world a better place, with no help from anyone. Never mind that they test women volunteers for a certain STD, but they don't test MEN, even though statistically men spread these things much much much easier than women (just because of the length of the urinary tract in a man's versus a woman's body). And if a woman has this, the organization denies her. :roll:

You are bound by a 2+ yrs contract. That's ridiculous.

Oh, and of course they pay you only enough to buy peas for dinner.

ANYWAY. If you wanna travel the world and do meaningful things, there are waaaay better ways to do it.

Don't do peace corps.

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You don't even know how awesome that sounds to me. I'm a twisted person.

Do you know people who have joined up?

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Originally Posted by Black_Eagle

You don't even know how awesome that sounds to me. I'm a twisted person.

Do you know people who have joined up?

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It sounded awesome to me too, but then again lots of things sound awesome from the comforts of your own home. :D

Yeah I know some people who have done it. I did a lot of research because I was seriously considering it myself, so in all seriousness if you have any questions you can ask me and I'll try to help.

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Originally Posted by Mes Tarrant

ANYWAY. If you wanna travel the world and do meaningful things, there are waaaay better ways to do it.

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Name some please? :)

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Originally Posted by dajo

Name some please? :)

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You can look into tons of other volunteer organizations, you can do an internship abroad (ranging from an office job in Tokyo to washing laundry in New Zealand), you can work as an English teacher in TONS of awesome places (which is what I'm currently doing in South Korea), you can save up some money and just backpack/bike across a bunch of countries, you can study abroad through your school (I did that during college.. studied abroad in Ireland)... I mean, there are so many opportunities out there for someone who has the motivation to do something like this.

Hehe, I know know, there are tons of opportunities.
I just want to be aware of as many as possible, before I'll
decide what exactly I'm going to do (first..). :-)
So thank you. Teaching english also sounds interesting,
did you not need to meet any requirements?

@OP:

Travelling is really not as dangerous as often made out to be.
People in other countries are mostly incredibly nice and open.
It's not at all like presented in the news.. and stuff. That's more
of a 'fake world'. :)

A former friend of mine went on a van-trip for a few weeks through
the middle east recently. I haven't seen him in a while, but I am
really wondering how that worked out for him!
That wouldn't have been my first choice, I am more into Asia (want
to go to India, love Indonesia and some of the smaller countries).
And I'm planning on visiting South America, haven't been there.

My sister was doing a year volunteer work in Cambodia, my best friend
went backpacking in australia, a couple other friends just moved to
Iceland for a couple of years and now continued going to new zealand,
where they are living right now,.. and both of my parents are pretty
much travelling nuts - e.g. my mom just returned from china.

I would really like to,.. just leave right now and head south :-D

For teaching English it depends on the country, and on each particular school. Usually you need a BA and a teaching certificate.

thanks for the input guys :) on and Dajo, that's cool you're into asian culture. I think it's cool too, but I'm not really into anything in particular. I think just about any culture is interesting!

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Originally Posted by Invader

And how did you like New Zealand? I've only seen video of the country and ever time it makes my heart melt. I tell myself I want to live there, and I mean it, but of course I also wish to visit plenty before I make any final decision in that regard.

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I loved it. I still have random moments during school or something where I think "... I really miss New Zealand" I could easily live in Auckland.

Random travel safety tips (especially for those who will be staying in hostels, or going to some of the sketchier areas)

1) Get a travel belt for your passport and emergency money/cards

2) SAFETY PINS! Safety pin your pockets shut, if you're in an area that has lots of pickpockets. It won't prevent it, but might give you an extra warning.

3) Never get drunk in some bar. That stranger that's buying you all those drinks is not really your friend.

Wow, there is alot of good advice, but uh, carry a knife, and a watch.
Important to have a watch I read some wear if you are captured.
Oh carry a deck of cards, you can use them as weapons
http://www.amazon.com/Cards-As-Weapo.../dp/0446387568
I have the book, its amazing.

Yeah, dont trust people.
Alot of scam artist use physcology tricks to gain trust..
Rapport or whatever.
Dont fall for it, but pretend to fall for it. lol.
Just mess with them.
Better yet, dont mess with them, lol.