Backpacker Tips

Pins represent backpackers who have come to David, Panama since 2004

Safety & Security Tips for Backpacker Travel

Do/Bring the Following before Travel

·         Bring 2 laminated photocopies of passport.

·         Electronically photocopy the following documents and leave with a trusted person back home: credit/debit cards, passport, driver’s license, health insurance card.

·         Have the international phone # of your bank (let your bank know when/where you are going or your bank will assume your card was stolen and cancel your account). Give bank permission to speak to your trusted person back home.

·         Always carry a small amount of US $ before getting to destination. Find a bank the first day to take out a modest amount of local currency (which should last you a week or two of travel time). Remember, there is a bank and ATM fee for international ATM withdrawals.  

·         Know the # to the embassy in the country(s) you are traveling through.

·         Sign up with the department of state so the embassy knows where you are. They will send you notices if any civil unrest is happening while you are traveling through the region.

·         Set up an emergency word with your family back home. The only time your family should wire money is when that person calling knows your emergency word and states it to your family (this way your family knows it is you calling for help and not a hoax).

During

·         Guard your pin at the ATM, never walk off with money still in your hands or in eyes view.

·         Stash your money in different places in your backpack and on you.

·         Stash photocopies of your passport in separate places.

·         Banks/ATM
’s are convenient in cities and large towns. However, If you travel to rural areas be sure to have enough $ that will get you through that time – likely there will not be ATMs there.

·         Always have enough $ on you for taxi/bus fare.

·         Use your padlock to lock your valuables in a safe at each hostel.

Tips for the Road

·         Don’t let venders rush you – take your time when buying so you don’t overpay. Count your returned change.  

·         When you arrive in a big city, take some time to walk around and be acquainted with where banks, bus stations, food markets, hospital/clinic, and police stations are in relevance to your hostel/hotel.

·         Be exceptionally friendly with hostel/hotel staff, local neighbors and other travelers. You would be surprised how quickly people start to watch out for you once they meet you.

·         Choose wisely when you take cameras and other expensive equipment out in public. Take your beautiful shot and put the camera back in your bag.

·         When you must hand off your backpack to be placed underneath a bus storage compartment, sit on the side of the bus where you can see what is coming in and out of the compartment. Watch to make sure they tightly secure your backpack to the top of the bus.

·         Be on time to your bus - when the driver says the bus is leaving, don’t expect them to wait for you to exit the bathroom or lunch line.

·         Know the customs of traveling at night with where you are – if the locals say it’s not safe unless in numbers, listen. If they say to avoid a certain way to walk home, listen.

·         Don’t be intoxicated and walk back to your hostel late at night – you’re likely to draw attention and your intuitions/instincts will be down (a side-effect from the alcohol).

·         Know if the water is fine to drink – if not, boil, use iodine tablets, or a water purifier to cleanse water. Please recycle if you decide to drink bottled water. Drink from glass bottles as opposed to plastic when you buy from a store (they recycle/reuse the bottles).

·         Respect the culture and customs. For example, in many countries uncovered shoulders in a church is considered disrespectful. Observe the locals, ask around and follow suit. You will likely draw attention to yourself with flashy or revealing clothing.

·         Never take an open drink when it is offered to you at a club or bar. Always watch the bartender make your drinks.

·         Don’t be a hero – hand over your valuables…chances are that’s all they want. If ever sexually attacked, know the word for “fire” and “rape” in the county’s native language and repeatedly scream those words as loud as you possibly can.

·         Steer clear of unknown and dark areas at night. Never go alone!

·         If you are in an emergency situation then get in touch with the local embassy. At the very least, they will be able to alert your family back home.

·         If a cop tries to bribe you out of tickets or such, say you need to call the embassy first to straighten things out. Remember though, if you break the law the embassy can do little to help. Serious jail time is likely for even minor defenses such as drug use.

·         Never carry your passport around town with you – keep it hidden in your backpack or in a locked unit. Carry around a copy of your passport instead.

·         Always be sure the taxi you get in is actually a certified taxi and not someone playing a hoax to get you in the vehicle, especially at night.

·         Buy a travel purse, one which has locks on the outside and a wire going through the main strap (always wear your purse around your body. Never wear a purse or backpack on your back in crowded areas. Or, buy a travel sac to keep your passport and money in during daytime travel (the kind that you can place underneath your shirt or pants).

·         Never place anything on the outside of your luggage during travel unless you don’t care if it falls out…Ex: water bottles.

·         Never whip out a load of cash on you when you’re handling purchases. Find the cash you need discreetly and hand it to the cashier.

·         Know where your exits are when in an enclosed space with lots of people…just in case of an emergency.

·         Always stay alert of your surroundings – the people, the land, the weather, the traffic, the potholes in the road, the animals – it’s all important and valuable information.

Your intuition and instincts will keep you safe when traveling so listen and be aware of what you are feeling. ;)

Quick and Cheap Backpacker Recipes

·         Pasta, tomato paste, tomatoes and other fresh veggies, spices

·         Chicken flavored soup with fresh vegetables, spices

·         Tortillas with refried beans and cheese, spices

·         Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (local bakery bread is the best)

·         Granola and yogurt  with fruit on top

·         Fruit salad

(don’t forget to re-hydrate – bring instant coffee and tea bags) J

*Needed Cooking Supplies (can-opener, spatula, large stirring spoon, fork, spoon, cutting knife, bottle and wine opener (for the party crew, of course) and a water purifier (most hostels have cups, bowls, plates, pots and pans for you to use)

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Nicaragua

La Mariposa

I had a wonderful experience at La Mariposa while I volunteered and took one-on-one Spanish classes. Paulette and the 3 interns, Ruth, Yuki and Sage, took me in as a "pre-intern", showing me all the projects that are fully running and others that are still in development. Here's a list of current projects:

• Santiago Town: grows organic veggies for La Mariposa and the community
• Ruben Dario: reading tutor program and library for community children
• Panama Escuela: funding and constructing new roof panels and broken down parts of school (due to sulfar from volcano Masaya); supply seeds to grow a farm on the property, building a playground and other projects that arise. 
• Study Center: developed from natural resources to house more La Mariposa students, planted 500 trees and garden so to attract butterflies. The horse farm is located here as well. 
• Community Center: if they find the owner of the abandoned building then La Mariposa will repair it (as per request of the locals) and will include "Casa Basica" (medical clinic, bakery, etc). 
• Santiago Reading Center: pays local tutors to go into homes and schools to read to children as an after-school program
• All Female/Locally Run Panaderia (Bakery): in the construction stages VIDEO
• Wildlife and Animal Rescue: rescued almost smuggled monkeys and birds on their way to the North. In Addition, La Mariposa and the farms are sheltering rescued dogs, cats, many species of birds, squirrels, rabbits, chickens, turkeys and horses. Shakira (the dog I spotted malnourished and starving at Panama Escuela) was rescued just recently.
• Local projects that pop up.

The faces of La Mariposa (I somehow managed to get in there too)

Every local in the communities near by La Mariposa know about the wonderful opportunities and projects that La Mariposa have done to support their community. The only persons who are paid at La Mariposa are locals (to work in the kitchen, transportation, housing students, construction, taking care of the animals, Spanish teachers, etc.). VIDEO 2 

I would like to personally thank Paulette for her dedication to the local communities of Nicaragua and to providing this opportunity for students from all over the world to come stay in an eco-friendly paradise to study Spanish. I want to thank the young professional interns, Ruth, Yuki and Sage, for their hard-work at La Mariposa - all three of them do an exceptionally fantastic job and have bright futures ahead! I also wish to thank my teacher, Marvin, for his amazing teaching skills, Gonzalo's family who took me in as their hija (daughter) and my pal, Oscar, who takes care of the animals at La Mariposa! It's hard work taking care of a small "zoo" but well worth every effort. Last but definitely not least, a huge thank you to my mentor and friend, Susan, for introducing me to La Mariposa! 

The day we rescued Shakira

My Family

Donate to Educate

For the Panama School, $55 went to school supplies (notebooks, paper, pencils, sharpeners and padlocks for classroom doors) and $117 went to repairing the school roof (4 roof panels, 40 screws, 2 quarts of sealant). In addition, $100 was donated to La Mariposa to help assist in their educational programs and wildlife rescue project. :)

Nicaraguan Spanish Slang Lesson

“No hay filla” (There are no problems)

“Vale la pena” (It is worth the pain)

Cultural Differences to bring into my Counseling Practice in the Future

·    -It is acceptable in some cultures for young children to sleep in the same bed with their parents (for safety and limited space purposes).

     -Some families find it acceptable to slap their children in public .

·    -Littering is still considered fine to do for some cultures.

I still find it quite difficult to have meaningful conversations in Spanish with others. I taught and practiced deep breathing with a man to help him with his recent episode of insomnia after his surgery. Then I had a conversation with a psychology student from Nica and I tried to explain possible family solutions for children with symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder...I failed at explaining because of my limited language abilities.

Saying “Gracias”

For all cultures that I have had the pleasure to live in and to explore – it is kosher to say “thank you / gracias” when someone gives or shares. No one is owed anything in life so appreciate others’ kindness when they show it (this goes for locals and travelers). Let’s all not forget our manners. :) 

Photos of Nicaragua Travel

Granada

Isla de Ometepe

Ojo de Agua

Cave bats in Isla de Solentiname

Isla de Solentiname

Free and delicious tamales

Saint holiday in San Juan de Oriente

Laguna de Apoyo

Playa Madera

San Juan del Sur

Salvadorian travel buddies

Travel Update

Almost 2 months on the road now. I love Central America so much that I’ve changed my plans to continue to explore its natural and cultural wonders. After this month of Costa Rica and Panama I'll head north to see places that were missed and others that have been recommended to me (including Honduras).   

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“I hope the world brings us together again one day...” Passing traveler.