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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
Census of marine life opens with 122,000 species
(7/1/2008) Discovering a new species can be the highlight of a biologist's career. Yet once a species enters the formal literature, complications may develop. The systen has been especially problematic because for centuries biologists have lacked the tools to construct a full and flexible list of the world's innumerable species. Using the Internet and hundreds of scientists around the world, the Census of Marine Life is attempting to take on this monumental task.
Large shark populations fall 97% in the Mediterranean
(6/12/2008) Populations of some shark species in the Mediterranean have plunged by more than 97 percent over the past 200 years, report researchers writing in the journal Conservation Biology. Several species are at risk of extinction.
Dried-up Colorado takes toll on giant Mexican fish
(6/8/2008) The Colorado River vanishes before it reaches the Sea of Cortez in all but the wettest years. Companies in California and the southwestern U.S. have diverted its once-vibrant flow to quench their thirst for water and power. Now, a new study in the April 2008 issue of the journal Biological Conservation reports that the dwindling of this major artery has changed the way some marine fish in the Gulf of California grow and develop.
Diversity in streams may brace Chinook salmon for climate change
(6/3/2008) Chinook salmon face a one-two punch. They have disappeared from several rivers in the western U.S. largely because of human interventions and some populations are threatened or endangered. Numbers of Chinook in California's Central Valley have dwindled by 88 percent in the past five years, a loss that closed fisheries for 2008 and may cost California's economy $167 million, according to the state Department of Fish and Game. On top of all this looms a second impact: These salmon will be in hotter water still because of climate change.
Greenpeace ship attacked by Turkish tuna fishermen during protest
(5/30/2008) Members of a Turkish tuna fishing boat attacked the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise while the ship was engaged in a protest against overfishing. The incident occurred Friday in the Cypriot Channel and was reported to the Turkish Iskenderun Gulf Port Authorities.
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