I got hustled within 60 seconds of being in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC, aka Saigon). Rule #1 of traveling is to pay attention to your money. That’s both in terms of watching out for pickpockets and in terms of getting hustled. I forgot rule #1. It took me about 15 minutes to realize that it may have happened and another 10 hours to confirm it, but yeah, it happened.
Category: Travel Misc
Talking To Locals
Before my trip to Italy, I spent a few months learning the basics of Italian. I wasn’t trying to get fluent, but I wanted to be able to say a few basic phrases and muddle my way through a conversation if I wanted to go to a restaurant or bar that wasn’t frequented by tourists. So I tried to learn the phrases that I thought I’d need most often. “Can I have a beer, please?” “Where is the bathroom?” “I’m sorry.” “Can I talk to a lawyer?” Stuff like that.
Buskers
Several years ago, I read an article about Joshua Bell, a world-class violinist who played at a DC Metro station in the guise of a street busker at a DC Metro station. (I can’t find the original Washington Post article, but I was able to find this and this) Over the course of 45 minutes, Bell played a $3.5 million dollar Stradivarius on a street corner. Commuters tipped him a total of $32. Two nights prior, Bell had performed at a sold out show where seats went for $100 or more.
Pickpockets
Having your pocket picked will ruin your day, ruin your trip, and potentially make you very jaded about the country that you’re visiting. While only a small percentage of the tourist population will fall prey to pickpockets and scammers, there are a few key things that will help you avoid being a victim.
The 99¢ Store
You never really think twice about the 99¢ Store when you’re home, do you? If you need something, and you happen to be near one, and what you need happens to be the kind of thing that they’d carry, and you happen to have time to kill, and you happen to find parking, and the stars are lined up, then you may go to the 99¢ Store. Otherwise, it’s not really something that you consider in the real world, and something you probably consider even less when you’re on vacation. But you’re wrong, and I’ll tell you why.
The smartest thing I’ve ever done
I don’t know if I read it somewhere or if it was a stroke of genius or a random thought that popped into my head after drinking, but I recently came up with the one thing you should do after landing. I dare say that this might be the smartest idea I’ve ever come up with (which leads me to think that I read it somewhere and that it’s not my original idea).
Don’t Use Expedia! Click here to find out why!
Sorry about the click-bait title. I just couldn’t think of anything better for this post. I actually don’t have any issues with Expedia or similar services; I use them all the time when I’m researching and planning a trip. But there are some significant downsides.
Unlimited Airport Wifi
It is a simple fact that, in today’s society, we need to be connected. We may travel to get away from work, but most of us will still check our email and Facebook, stream media, and use our smartphones or tablets while we travel. At the very least, it helps to be able to check in for flights or see when you’re going to be delayed. Not all airports have free wifi, but now there’s a possible solution.
Emergency Contact Information
This is one of those topics that nobody wants to think about until it’s too late: Emergencies. What happens if you’re traveling and something happens? In fact, what happens if you’re on your way to work in your own home town and something happens? Not all emergencies will wait until you’re safely out of the country. Do you have all of your medical information readily available? What about your emergency contact information? Sure, you may have it all safely stored in your head, but what if you’re unconscious? Who’s going to tell the paramedics that you’re allergic to penicillin?
Jet lag
Ask any traveler what they hate most about long flights and one of the most common answers isn’t the cramped seats or the crying baby two rows back, but jet lag. If you’re flying from North to South or just crossing one time zone or two, jet lag’s no big deal. But for long hauls, a bad case of jet lag can ruin the first few days of your trip. Some people can fly from Los Angeles to Spain without a hiccup in their sleep patterns, but most of us have to suffer with jet lag for at least a few days. In some cases, you’re just barely getting over jet lag when it’s time to return home! But here are a bunch of ideas, tips, and tricks that can help you avoid jet lag in the first place or recover from it faster.