Common sense: Don't leave home without it

Common sense: Don't leave home without it

By Dini S. Djalal

JAKARTA (JP): Ever gone on a beach holiday with four pairs of jeans and only one pair of shorts?

It's a common blunder. Even the most veteran traveler has toured burdened with excess luggage and without a single necessity. Traveling is as complicated as quantum physics. You can experiment a thousand times, but still not get it right.

Reading my guide won't solve your travel woes either, just as writing it won't solve mine. But traveling is about imperfections. As the saying goes: Getting to your destination -- with all its hassles, delays and chaos -- is half the fun. Travel's allure is its anonymity, how a journey can reinvent identities. When traveling, you can be as foolish as you want, and have no one to answer to.

But whether you're bungy-jumping in Bali or antique hunting in Sulawesi, there are precautions to take. Modern Indonesia is hardly untrodden jungle, but it is still not traveler-friendly. Beyond Jakarta's expensive toll roads lies a different world free from air-conditioned malls, credit cards and other urban conveniences.

Sure, some people travel to get away from conveniences. But remember, this is a holiday, not a self-torture test. Bring some necessities with you, and you can leave your worries behind.

First of all, carry the necessary documents. In Indonesia, your paper identity is more important than who you really are, so have your passport and visa handy. Bring along your drivers license if you are brave enough to face Indonesian drivers. If you're a student or under 26 years old, carry your International Student Identity Card (ISIC) or Youth Card, to get student discounts. Some airline officials are persnickety with red-tape, so bring along photocopies of university transcripts confirming your student identity.

Money matters are a trickier game. Ideally you should use Monopoly money, but unfortunately you need the real thing, and lots of it. Never underestimate your shopping potential while traveling. Make room in your budget for that special something you won't find elsewhere. Better yet, set aside some cash for some frivolous spending, like a five-course dinner or a night at a nice hotel. After one of those overnight bus or train rides, you'll welcome it.

How should the Hilton or the Hyatt be rewarded for its services? Again, try to be as safe as you can, and carry both cash, travelers cheques and credit cards. Indonesia is a particularly cash-oriented economy, so make sure you have lots of small bills with you. Giving out large bills only draws attention to yourself, and gives people an excuse to try to keep the change.

In Indonesia's transitional economy, giving away change is hotly debated. To tip or not to tip? Use your own discretion. Tipping is still new here, and service is often already included in the bill. Giving away Rp 500, will get you a wider smile, while throwing away Rp 5,000 will practically induce kowtowing. Always carry small notes with you to test the difference.

Where will you carry all this loose paper? The extra-cautious like to hide their valuables under or even in their pants, but reaching for the documents is often awkward and sometimes embarrassing. The popular money-belt is also over rated -- it's a bull's-eye for lazy thieves.

Give pickpockets a challenge. Sew a pocket inside your jacket or waistcoat, and put your valuables there. A simple pouch worn as a handbag or a necklace -- and with a lot of confidence -- is also helpful. Statistics claim that mugging-victims are often robbed several times, especially those who cling to their belongings. Carry your valuables without fear and leave the rest to fate.

Don't be as nonchalant with your health. Even in a tourist ghetto, a first-aid kit is indispensable, especially if you're too sick to even leave your hotel room.

And, in the tropics, there are many kinds of sickness. Sunburned and ridden with insect bites? Apply some Caladryl. Rightly afraid to drink the water? Drop some water sterilization tablets. Last night's dinner causing a minor Krakatoa eruption in your stomach? Sit in the bathroom with lots of Imodium and Oralit. Cut yourself on some broken beer bottles? Don't let it go septic and treat it with Betadine.

You should also bring some antibiotics, such as tetracycline. However, do not gulp these down at the slightest fever. Antibiotics should be a last alternative. You can bring down fever with paracetamol and lots of ice.

Accounting for the countless tropical ailments requires more space than allowed here. Although the likelihood of catching malaria, typhoid, cholera, dengue fever, hepatitis and dysentery should not be exaggerated, travelers should be aware of these health hazards. You can religiously avoid salads, unpeeled fruit and tap water, and still get sick. If you do break down with fever and your fever continues longer than a few days, see a doctor.

Try not to see a doctor for heat exhaustion, however. Do not underestimate the tropical sun. Drink lots of water. Don't spend too much time under the sun. When you do, apply lots of sunscreen and cover your head. Also increase your salt intake as incessant sweating dehydrates your salt level, and can bring on fatigue and muscle cramps.

You can also relieve heat exhaustion with common sense. Forego fashion and wear airy cotton clothes.

Unfortunately, I rarely apply my advice. Remember that old maxim, stack up what you want to bring and then bring only half? I never do. Whatever you bring, include a pair of trousers or a long skirt in your luggage. Regardless of prosperity, Indonesians keep a modest and tidy appearance.

If your budget is not limiting, however, you can buy simple clothes, like T-shirts, cheaply at your destination. You can also buy cheap but necessary accessories, such as a hat, sunglasses, sarong and a raincoat. Take note of persistent rains, however, and make sure your purchases dry quickly.

Ultimately, the best thing you can bring on your travels is not earplugs, an underwater camera, or the latest Judith Krantz novel, but common sense. Common sense will make you take malaria pills, and avoid unhygienic-looking food vendors. Common sense will also bring on good manners, such as not raising your voice in public and wearing modest clothes, making your trip more pleasant. With a little common sense, you can go a long way.