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.