5 "tourist" errors in Australia

 
Because of its remote location in Australia are not yet included in the list of countries that are popular among Russian tourists. Knowledge of the average Russian on the distant state based largely on stereotypes. When traveling to the Green continent this can lead to mistakes and disappointments.

1. Forward to seeing animals

Contrary to the myths, Australia - is not one big animal kingdom, peacefully coexisting with humans. Here koalas do not fall from the telegraph, kangaroos do not knock pedestrians and alligators do not click the teeth in each river. Although, in fairness, we should note that the people of Melbourne periodically kicked from under the hood of their cars opossums. However, to admire the typical representatives of the local fauna, need to go to the national parks.
 
2. Barefoot

Once in the park or the woods, avoid the temptation to walk barefoot on the lush grass: it can live snakes (in the park - not likely, but in the woods to find them quite probable), beetles, spiders, that the invasion of their territory may react quite sensitive bites.
3. Blithely refers to the Sun

Throughout Australia generously year round sunshine, which can not cause expose you desire most and sunbathe. But it is not recommended to anyone: the level of solar radiation in Australia is very high, and even short-term exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer later, not to mention the burns. Going for a walk around the city, cover your shoulders and back, and even better - his arms and legs completely, and be sure to wear something on your head.
 
4. Ignore the rules of customs

Australians have had a bad experience with imported from overseas plants: in the last century, prickly pear cactus has become a disaster for the country, filling a large number of pastures and thus making them partially unfit for grazing. Expansion of the plant was stopped, but since Australian Customs strictly inspect every tourist who bring fruit, vegetables, wood, plants and seeds. Leave wooden bracelets at home and not take it with apples!
5. Try all ethnic dishes
 
The beauty of typical local dishes can appreciate unless gourmets or extreme. For example, vedzhimayt, pasta made with yeast extract, which is then smeared on bread instead of butter or cream cheese is very salty and even bitter. A famous Australian meat pie mit shares might seem like a good variation of Tat with overly liquid filling. As for kenguryatiny, then in fact it and so tried every Russian. Domestic meat plants until recently imported it into an impressive scale for ordinary sausages, dumplings and sausages.

  The chase for the exotic: errors and opening
 
Ride without guides to exotic countries, observe something unusual, try the unusual dishes, to be in a precarious situation and see what you stand, and how quickly you can get out of it - about this way of life many dream. But to solve the dream a reality one. Redigo asked professional traveler Pyotr bath on how to choose the country for the first sortie, what are the challenges in finding the course of Ayurveda in India, what to expect in Zambia and the need to pay for independent travel around the world.

Education - Engineer. In 2002, was on a business trip to Japan and found myself on another planet. Realizing that a lot to lose by sitting at home, I lost to the profession. Since then travels around the country and continent.

Daunshifterom never wanted to be, because at one point sitting bored, and check out the influence of the "consumer society" and not without a voluntary exile. Prefers to watch the elephants in Zambia, study rituals on the Indonesian island, meet with ethnography and culture in Myanmar, to photograph nature in Yemen and Colombia. Also organize private trips to exotic destinations.

 Recently more and more people decide to independent travel. But with Europe very easy to understand, but with a trip to an exotic country difficult. Advise how to choose the direction of the first attacks?

- First of all, decide the purpose of the trip. What it is: with a tour of some of the cognitive interest, improving with massages and treatments, with alloys or adventure trekking, sightseeing with photographing animals. Special attention is paid to the political situation in the place you are going.
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
 
If you focus on the first point - you can look in the direction of South-East Asia. Here for the first visit can be recommended not only in Thailand but also Malaysia, Vietnam, and some islands of Indonesia. Although they are becoming more available to general tourists and it is difficult to name a truly exotic location.

Healing the body is engaged in India, Thailand. Best country for those who want to begin to master the mountain trekking - Nepal. On the one hand, it is quite exotic, the other - logistics and tracking the routes where there are more than a decade as experienced guides to help where possible and necessary resort. With a guide you will feel much safer, especially if you were the first time in this place. And the money can not be sorry for it.
Padaung tribe woman, Loikaw, Myanmar
 
To travel around the national parks, observe the animals, take pictures of them in natural conditions are ideal, Kenya and Tanzania. Kenya - cheap, Tanzania - a little more expensive.
Do not forget the first aid kit!

When it comes to traveling to South East Asia or Africa before the trip it is important to pay attention to preparations from insect bites. Where high population density, should be afraid of malaria mosquitoes. For example, on the coast of Tanzania and Kenya, malaria situation is difficult, but in the wild parts of the national park likely bite is greatly reduced, if not eliminated.

What about India?

- If you go there the first time, I recommend to start with the most popular route. See the so-called "Golden Triangle" - Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. It is equidistant from each other of the distance between them is overcome by car in about five hours. If someone is going to India for the first time - it will be the best choice.
Taj Mahal, Agra, India

But it must be borne in mind that the hotel with European comfort is more expensive in India than in Moscow. A conventional three-star hotels in the non-tourist areas are not even worth considering. In such places, the restaurant dishes can wait almost three hours, or being in a hotel with a monstrously dirty walls, which, however, will perform well all the plumbing.
 
About the lack of sanitation in India is legendary ...

- It's not the worst. More painful impression grinding poverty. I have spent in this country for three months and found that many of its inhabitants tourists are the only source of income.

To such a person today than it was dinner, he must necessarily "take away" the money from the tourist. To do this, the Indians use a variety of ways: press on pity, show the crowd of children, dressed in rags, come up with a fictional service tout. Such people in the country very much. We can say that in their background unfolds rest of life. To this we must be ready and would not succumb to the persuasion that will haunt you at almost every turn.

But in India, you can seek treatment in Ayurveda, so fashionable today. It attracts many. Where is it better to choose where and how?

- Ayurveda prevalent in Kerala. There's all the big hotel complexes offer treatments designed for 4, 7, 10 days. However, these programs there is some evil, because they are the only oil massage.
Ayurvedic massage
 
While the present Ayurveda - a comprehensive system of rehabilitation, which includes the addition of massage using certain herbal remedies and diet. This training course is available in these ayurvedic clinics, where they like to be treated themselves Hindus. The minimum term of the procedure is 2-3 weeks.

For example, I chose a course on weight stabilization, which lasted two weeks. In addition to massage, doctor prescribed a certain number of procedures, diet and meditation practices in a specialized restaurant at the clinic. At first it was very unusual. But after the first five days was used to complex vegetarian dishes and found that diet food can be varied, beautiful and delicious.

I've reached their goal. I only wish that we do not have those foods and spices that are used in India. And then I could go home.

 
Spices - part of Ayurvedic treatment

Those who gather to spend time and money on a long course of Ayurveda, is worth keeping in mind that the more precisely and clearly follows the rules of Ayurvedic clinic system, the less the usual tourist attributes. For example, in the rooms provided for accommodation, no air conditioning, as it is believed that during the course of Ayurvedic body should not be too cool. Restaurants are only vegetarian.

And remember, if you take seriously the course of Ayurveda and to follow the doctor's orders, will be faced with discipline, limitations, and probably at first even with discomfort.

How justified fears that in exotic countries because of unsafe hygiene, unusual food, severe local traditions?

- Should not be afraid. Just always respect local traditions and then difficulties will arise. Say, in one of my trips to Yemen, I met a Russian girl, who has come back from Moscow. She studied Arabic and to improve it, has gone one (!) On a trip to Yemen. Moreover, she moved from city to city by public transport, dressed in the local "fashion." So here it is claimed that no aggression locals she herself never experienced. On the contrary, she said, many people even surprised that she covered her face. "But we still see that you are not an Arab woman," - she said.
 
Generally during the many trips I have developed a strong belief: the less civilized country, the lower the threat comes from the locals (except, of course, political instability).
Yemen

Why?

- For one thing, that in places where there is little civilization, people have no temptation to rob tourists. The same camera is not for them no value. It can neither sell or trade it for anything. He is there simply is not needed.

And local residents are showing a polite interest. In the same impoverished Yemen, while you walk on some city, they serve tea almost every house. They do it simply because they consider it their duty to entertain guests with what they have. And would not take money.
Health insurance
 
In exotic countries there is a danger "catch" some tropical disease. So going on a trip to a non-standard country, check the information on recommended vaccinations and seriously consider health insurance, learn what it covers.

If you are going to walk in the mountains, scuba dive, or otherwise outdoor activities, be sure to take out insurance with the option of "sport."

You feel that you have to Yemen reverent attitude ...

- Yes, Yemen - a country where I am ready to come back again and again. I was in it for about a dozen times, I feel very comfortable there, and I do not get bored. There's absolutely fantastic nature, fantastic scenery. Sometimes it seems that it is this land was before her was a man. The residents of Yemen strongly change the representation of the Arabs that surround the world. Unfortunately, it is impossible to go there because of political problems.
Socotra, Yemen

In Yemen live some special Arabs?

- There is a general idea of the Arabs as people obsessions, roguish, whose main task is to cheat tourists or take it into submission. But there are Arabs who create the "face" of the country in Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh and there are others who live in countries rarely visited by tourists.

Say, you are unlikely to pass safely through a market in Egypt, especially if have something in your hands, look, laid back, and decided to move on. It would tie you to instantly and will argue that you should buy it. And in Yemen, I can calmly see what interested me, and go further.

In this country, people are very helpful. As an illustration tell you about one case. As we drove to the airport in a jeep, the driver had a sunstroke. To the airport, I could not drive the car, because along the way you had to drive more than one checkpoint and talk with the guard.
Sellers in the market in Yemen is very colorful
 
I brought the car to the nearest village, knocked at the first house, pointed at our driver and with gestures and English explained that our flight. Owner of the house gave the driver of cold water, and sat with us in the car, and helped to get to the bus station. When we arrived there, he walked to the bus driver and explained the situation. To our great surprise, the driver left the bus, packed with people who drove the car and drove us to the airport! Money that I tried to give him, he is not picked up.

Yemenis - a very simple, open, sincere people. In dealing with the tourists they want to show their best side. And this attitude is not difficult to assess.

The index case. The man who went to independent travel, to be ready for emergency situations.

- That's right! It is also important to understand that independent travel - is not the way to save. First of all - it's a lifestyle and a way of having fun. And for fun to pay. In this case - risk, uncertainty and the time it takes to prepare the trip. Especially if you are going to an exotic country.
 
Asia and Africa - is not America and Europe, where you can catch a cab, barely getting off the plane at any time. I remember when we first came to Zambia, someone from the friends lost luggage. While figured out and made out of paper, the lights went out at the airport and the employee said that all closed. Out on the street at 10 pm, we were in the dark. There was not a car! Agreed with the guard, he sent to his friend, who drove us to the hotel.

So that independent travel - is work. Expect in such a trip can only be yourself. So need some serious training.
Papua, West Papua, Indonesia

What is your impression of the last trip was the most striking, and why?

- I was "caught" in Indonesia, where I want to go for a long time now to learn the local customs.
 
An incredible impression on me area on the island of Sulawesi, where it is still inhabited by tribes professing Christianity and animism. That is, they believe in life after death, and still hold a pagan rites. People here believe that a dead person on the other light should be as rich as in life. And for this it is necessary to provide the bulls.
With the bull sacrifice ceremony, Fr. Sulawesi, Indonesia

Therefore, when a person dies, his body is not buried immediately, but embalm. From the moment of death until the funeral can take from one month to three years! And the whole family at this time concerned about the future funeral procession. For all the relatives and friends of the deceased delivery sacrificial bull at the funeral becomes a matter of honor.

Animals that are destined for slaughter are selected at birth. Their care and cherish, they never work. Number of bulls, which are killed, depending on caste, to which belonged to a man in life. The highest caste - gold. If the deceased was a member of her family members are required to sacrifice 24 bull.

Sacrificial ceremony lasts a few days and goes by strict rules. The first scoring of the best and most expensive bull. Its meat is for dinner all the guests of the ceremony. Then slaughtered the remaining bulls, whose meat is distributed to all those in need from the surrounding villages. That is, it is a social and humanitarian action.
With the bull sacrifice ceremony, Fr. Sulawesi, Indonesia

I also want to see how is whaling. Throughout the world, it is prohibited, but the only exception is for the tribes living on the island of Flores in eastern Indonesia. They are allowed to go on whale motorless boats with wooden harpoons. People accept this challenge, because it hunted their ancestors. And I'm very curious to know these courageous people.