After seeing a post about the shit hitting the fan in Everything Else and people getting a chance to jerk off to their Walking-Dead-murder-fantasies, I thought I'd take a chance to summarize what Robert Young Pelton, war journalist (read: conflict junkie) and sarcastic survivor of many an "oh fuck" situation across the globe, wrote regarding making it out alive from some of the worst hell holes on Earth.
I read his book "World's Most Dangerous Places" back in 2006 and it's helped me out quite a bit - from doing research with former guerrillas across Central America to getting accused of spying in China. I'd recommend it beyond all other books when it comes to traveling, but that's just me.
Surviving Revolutionary Places
Check in with the embassy or NGO’s when you arrive to facilitate your evacuation if needed. If no one knows you’re there, no one will go looking for you when you go missing.
Stay away from main squares, government buildings, embassies (yes, the same one you should check in at), radio stations, military installations, airports, harbors, banks, and shopping centers. All are key targets during coups and takeovers.
Don’t rely on ATMs, credit cards, or traveler’s checks.
Surviving Fundamentalist Places
Be careful of contact between sexes, behavior at religious sites, entering homes uninvited, or touching religious objects.
Don’t wear religious symbols, preach, or conduct religious functions without the permission of the local government. Don’t use expressions that mention god, allah, christ, etc…
Do read and understand other religions. Knowledge is power, use it well.
Don’t fake being a member of any religion, you will get tested.
Be clean and dress conservatively.
When in doubt, ask permission.
Surviving Mental Places
Book a tour with a local tourist company, then can intervene when you do something stupid.
Understand that the locals don’t see many tourists.
Be pleasant with the people who walk up to you and want to be your friend.
Don’t talk politics, sex, government, or religion. Talk about history, weather, geography, etc… Think “meeting your ltr’s grandma”.
Be careful pointing your camera. (I can personally attest to this one from my time in China.)
Surviving Brutal Dictatorships
Be nice when confronted by the people with guns. They’re running the show, regardless of who’s face is on the money.
Life is cruel. Unless you want to find out just how cruel it is, don’t stand up against the injustice until you’re home.
Most autocratic countries employ someone to keep track of foreigners. Look at the brightside, no one will rob you because you have new friends/guards watching your back!
Expect to have your luggage searched while you’re out. Those dudes you see at the restaurant today were the same ones at your hotel last night.
Any violation of the law (real or imaginary) will result in severe penalties. There is very little your consulate, lawyer, or senator can do to help you.
Surviving Corrupt Places
Understand that bribery is normal in a lot of countries. Being indignant will only cost you more.
Stay within well defined tourist routes.
Don’t overtly demand to know how much money they want. You won’t have any left if you do. Always offer your bribe as a gift to show your appreciation, to help out with the family, etc… And smile!
Surviving Poor Places
Accept that you’re rich and they aren’t. They make Nikes, you wear them.
Giving money doesn’t fix the problems you’re seeing. It does let everyone know you have money to hand out.
Surviving Terrorist Places
Know what’s going on in the world.
High traffic tourist areas in countries with poor security are ideal for attacks. If you’re Canadian or European, just remember that nobody is checking passports before blowing up a bus.
Don’t challenge the beliefs of your host.
Don’t misrepresent yourself. Keep your story straight. Remember that everyone has the internet and journalists will publish every detail of your life once your kidnapping makes CNN.
Don’t go too native until you’ve met the natives. No one likes having their culture mocked, even if it is with good intentions.
Learn or try to learn the local language, even if only to say “Thank you” and “Excuse me”. Learning “I love your beautiful country” can get you a lot further than, “What the hell are you trying to say to me?”
If confronted by someone who hates your first world self, ask them what they’d do if they were the president/prime minister of your home country. Ask for further explanations of your answer and say you’ll be sure to tell people that when you get home.
Remember that criminals and terrorists usually look for the biggest and loudest jerk they can find. (If you act like Little Dark in real life, you’ll get ban hammered in real life.)
I read his book "World's Most Dangerous Places" back in 2006 and it's helped me out quite a bit - from doing research with former guerrillas across Central America to getting accused of spying in China. I'd recommend it beyond all other books when it comes to traveling, but that's just me.
Surviving Revolutionary Places
Check in with the embassy or NGO’s when you arrive to facilitate your evacuation if needed. If no one knows you’re there, no one will go looking for you when you go missing.
Stay away from main squares, government buildings, embassies (yes, the same one you should check in at), radio stations, military installations, airports, harbors, banks, and shopping centers. All are key targets during coups and takeovers.
Don’t rely on ATMs, credit cards, or traveler’s checks.
Surviving Fundamentalist Places
Be careful of contact between sexes, behavior at religious sites, entering homes uninvited, or touching religious objects.
Don’t wear religious symbols, preach, or conduct religious functions without the permission of the local government. Don’t use expressions that mention god, allah, christ, etc…
Do read and understand other religions. Knowledge is power, use it well.
Don’t fake being a member of any religion, you will get tested.
Be clean and dress conservatively.
When in doubt, ask permission.
Surviving Mental Places
Book a tour with a local tourist company, then can intervene when you do something stupid.
Understand that the locals don’t see many tourists.
Be pleasant with the people who walk up to you and want to be your friend.
Don’t talk politics, sex, government, or religion. Talk about history, weather, geography, etc… Think “meeting your ltr’s grandma”.
Be careful pointing your camera. (I can personally attest to this one from my time in China.)
Surviving Brutal Dictatorships
Be nice when confronted by the people with guns. They’re running the show, regardless of who’s face is on the money.
Life is cruel. Unless you want to find out just how cruel it is, don’t stand up against the injustice until you’re home.
Most autocratic countries employ someone to keep track of foreigners. Look at the brightside, no one will rob you because you have new friends/guards watching your back!
Expect to have your luggage searched while you’re out. Those dudes you see at the restaurant today were the same ones at your hotel last night.
Any violation of the law (real or imaginary) will result in severe penalties. There is very little your consulate, lawyer, or senator can do to help you.
Surviving Corrupt Places
Understand that bribery is normal in a lot of countries. Being indignant will only cost you more.
Stay within well defined tourist routes.
Don’t overtly demand to know how much money they want. You won’t have any left if you do. Always offer your bribe as a gift to show your appreciation, to help out with the family, etc… And smile!
Surviving Poor Places
Accept that you’re rich and they aren’t. They make Nikes, you wear them.
Giving money doesn’t fix the problems you’re seeing. It does let everyone know you have money to hand out.
Surviving Terrorist Places
Know what’s going on in the world.
High traffic tourist areas in countries with poor security are ideal for attacks. If you’re Canadian or European, just remember that nobody is checking passports before blowing up a bus.
Surviving All These Places
Contact people who have been there recently. Don’t trust the official government/rebels representation.Don’t challenge the beliefs of your host.
Don’t misrepresent yourself. Keep your story straight. Remember that everyone has the internet and journalists will publish every detail of your life once your kidnapping makes CNN.
Don’t go too native until you’ve met the natives. No one likes having their culture mocked, even if it is with good intentions.
Learn or try to learn the local language, even if only to say “Thank you” and “Excuse me”. Learning “I love your beautiful country” can get you a lot further than, “What the hell are you trying to say to me?”
If confronted by someone who hates your first world self, ask them what they’d do if they were the president/prime minister of your home country. Ask for further explanations of your answer and say you’ll be sure to tell people that when you get home.
Remember that criminals and terrorists usually look for the biggest and loudest jerk they can find. (If you act like Little Dark in real life, you’ll get ban hammered in real life.)
If you are going to impose your will on the world, you must have control over what you believe.
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