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TRAVEL TIPS
[This column was written in October 2002 for a Polish aquarium hobby magazine -- Magazyn Akwarium]
Traveling in a tropical country can be quite an adventure. I prefer to
plan transportation and accommodations well ahead of time because
"winging it" in some countries can be difficult especially if your time
is limited and language barriers exist. I generally use a travel agent
who knows exotic "nature" travel well. A good way find such a
knowledgeable agent is to speak with people who have visited places you
are interested in seeing. You can also look on the internet -- though
it can be difficult the gauge the quality of an agent based on a web
site. Occasionally it may be possible to join a group of researchers
traveling/working in some far flung location. I have been lucky to work
at research stations in the Amazon, Borneo, Costa Rica, and Madagascar.
Do your research before you embark on a trip. Learn about local customs
and taboos and be respectful of cultural differences. It always helps
to learn some phrases in the language especially if you are going to be
working with a local guide. A good local guide can make or break a
trip. Guides are easy-to-find -- knowledgeable guides are not. Ask
fellow travelers, knowledgeable travel agents, and people who've made
the trip before for guide recommendations. Sometimes travel books can
offer insight on finding a good guide.
When traveling in a tropical country it is important to stay calm, cool,
and flexible in all situations. Always be aware of your surroundings
and avoid standing out (which makes you an easier target for crime).
Always be ready for the unexpected -- if something can go wrong it often
will. Be patient for the inevitable delays and hassles that are a part
of traveling in many countries. Remember that when dealing with customs
agents and bureaucrats that a smile and well placed "tip" can go a long
way in solving "problems."
Keep a positive attitude and an open mind, while remembering that
sometimes the best experiences on a trip are the unexpected. Most of
all, enjoy your travels.
Author throwing a net in Borneo.
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Recent news
Critically Endangered bluefin tuna receives no reprieve from CITES
(03/18/2010)
A proposal to totally ban the trade in the Critically Endangered Atlantic bluefin tuna failed at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), surprising many who saw positive signs leading up to the meeting of a successful ban.
Sharks lose out at UN meeting
(03/17/2010)
An effort to bolster conservation measures for plummeting shark populations was defeated yesterday at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), according to the AP. The nonbinding measure would have increased transparency in the shark trade and produced research on illegal fishing for sharks.
Falklands Dispute: Argentine Sovereignty Won’t Solve the Problem
(03/15/2010)
With Britain now moving to explore for oil and gas in the Falkland Islands, Argentina has cried foul. Buenos Aires claims that the Falklands, or the Malvinas as Argentines refer to the islands, represent a "colonial enclave" in the south Atlantic. The islands have been a British possession since 1833, and the local inhabitants consider themselves thoroughly British. Yet, Argentina claims the Malvinas as the country inherited them from the Spanish crown in the early 1800s. In 1982 Argentina seized the islands but was later expelled by a British naval force. The war was short but bloody, costing 650 Argentine and 250 British lives.
Sharks swim safe around the Maldives
(03/11/2010)
Sharks that dwell in the Maldives can breathe a sigh of relief: the island nation has declared 90,000 square kilometers of the Indian Ocean a safe-haven for sharks, banning shark fishing as well as any trade in shark fins.
Flower farms may be killing Kenya's Lake Naivasha
(03/10/2010)
Heavily polluted and shrinking, Lake Naivasha is in dire trouble. Environmentalists say the cause is clear: flower farms. Some 60 flower farms line the entire lakeside, growing cut flowers for export largely to the EU. While the flowers industry is Kenya's largest horticultural export (405.5 million last year) it may have also produced an environmental nightmare.
Octopus pretends to be flounder to avoid predators
(03/04/2010)
Marine researchers have discovered the Atlantic longarm octopus mimicking not only the color and appearance of the peacock flounder, but also its unique style of swimming in order to convince predators it's something it's not.
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