Marcel’s personal travelling tips

 

Do’s

o       Be a good representative of your country, and allow your hosts to be a good representative of theirs.

o       Be an example in environmental stewardship.

o       Be humorous.

o       Be open-minded.

o       Broaden your horizon by learning something every day.

o       Give small denominations to beggars.

o       Go to places less spoiled by tar roads and TV than others.

o       Go to places where there is nothing to see and nothing to do. That’s where I saw and experienced the most.

o       If you can help with something, help.

o       If you like it somewhere, stay one more day. If you still like it the next day, stay another day.

o       If you promise something, keep it.

o       Include places not mentioned in any guidebook.

o       Learn at least 50 words of the local language, and use them every day.

o       Listen more than you speak.

o       Print a T-Shirt: “I am not a sex tourist”.

o       Print name cards with all your personal details, and be generous with them.

o       Respect the local religion.

o       Say “Thank you”.

o       Show them what you already know about their country.

o       Smile, even if they don’t smile.

o       Stay a very long time at one place.

o       Take as few things as possible with you. Take a little bit more money instead.

o       Thank God for the privilege of travelling.

o       Write a diary.

 

Don’t’s

o       Don’t be arrogant.

o       Don’t close your eyes if you see bad things.

o       Don’t confuse adventure with suicide.

o       Don’t encourage things that you consider bad at home.

o       Don’t go to places with a double pricing system for foreigners and locals.

o       Don’t go to where McDonald’s already is.

o       Don’t make plans or reservations. Read 2-3 historical, political and cultural books in advance.

o       Don’t pay any bribes.

o       Don’t show off your wealth.

o       Don’t talk about your salary back home without talking about the prices back home.

o       Don’t trust your fellow travellers.

 

And the most important thing

 

Expect nothing – enjoy everything