Transitions Abroad: Q & A

Transitions Abroad Q & A

Easing Jet Lag
Several times a year, I fly to Europe and America for business or holidays. On longer trips—two weeks or more—jet lag really isn’t an issue, since I have plenty of time to get over the long flight. However, on shorter trips abroad—lasting five to 10 days—I spend up to one-third of my stay adjusting to the time difference. I’ve tried changing to the local destination time before I leave home, and I’ve tried sleeping on planes—all without much luck. What can you recommend for dealing with jet lag? -Megan Chalmers Adelaide, Australia

Dear Megan,
Many people experience jet lag while traveling—in the form of headaches, insomnia or fatigue, as well as hunger pains at odd hours, strange sleeping patterns, or a decreased appetite. Certain factors can make the symptoms worse once you land, such as how tired you were before you left home, how many time zones you crossed (jet lag typically occurs three time zones from home), and how rigid your schedule was on either end. Each person reacts differently to air travel, but there are a few steps you can take to help ease the effects. Try to fly at night, if possible. When you get on board, let the flight attendants know not to disturb you for movies or meals. Then slip off your shoes, get comfortable, and sleep as long as you can. Limit the number of layovers, so your sleep patterns aren’t continually disrupted. It’s also best to avoid alcohol and caffeine (both diuretics), and heavy meals before or during your flight. Eat a high-protein breakfast and lunch to keep your energy level up during the day, and eat a high-carbohydrate dinner. This may help you sleep solidly the night of your flight. You can also take melatonin before boarding the plane for night flights or at bedtime once you reach your destination. Your body secretes this natural hormone into your bloodstream at night to help you sleep. Taken while traveling, melatonin fools your body into thinking it’s evening. It is now available over the counter at pharmacies and at health food stores. Lavender and geranium (in oils and body creams) might also help you sleep. If you need something to keep you energized and awake, try rosemary and eucalyptus oils. Shops specializing in aromatherapy products also offer mixed herbal blends designed to relax or reenergize. As you mentioned, switching to local time as soon as possible is a great tactic. If you arrive at your destination at 6 p.m. and it’s midnight by your home/body clock, take a stroll, have a coffee, visit a local site, and do anything to remain awake for a few more hours. Then make sure you’re up early the next day.

Diving Insurance
My husband and I are doing a 2-week volunteer work project in Tobago this fall. We’re planning an extra week on the island to explore and go scuba diving. We’ve found that a lot of insurance companies have waivers excluding scuba from their coverage plans. What type of insurance is available to divers?- Heather Wischmann Kirkland, WA

Dear Heather,
Many insurance companies don’t cover “high risk” sports, such as scuba diving, mountaineering, and whitewater rafting, not to mention skydiving and bungee jumping. It’s essential to read the fine print and ask an insurance representative exactly what is and isn’t included under each policy. Some plans offer add-on options to basic policies. Other companies, such as STA Travel (800-781-4040), include adventurous activities in their basic insurance plans. STA’s new travel insurance, overseen by BerkelyCare, offers reasonable coverage at rates ranging from $43 for eight days to $720 for 13 months. The Diver’s Alert Network (DAN) offers the most comprehensive dive insurance plans and services. DAN is a worldwide, nonprofit organization that provides members with emergency medical evacuation services, a Diving Emergency Hotline (available 24 hours a day, year-round), and a phone line staffed by medical information specialists who offer referrals to dive physicians in your local area or at your destination. If you join DAN ($29 per year for individuals; $39 for families), you automatically receive emergency evacuation assistance, access to the Dive Emergency Hotline, and a subscription to Alert Network, a bimonthly magazine that focuses on dive health, safety, and research. Once you’re a DAN member, you’re eligible for special dive accident insurance for an additional $25 to $75 per year, depending on the plan. The $75 “Preferred Plan” offers extensive coverage for dive- and non-dive-related accidents while traveling outside your home country, plus reimbursement for trip cancellation if you’re injured before your dive trip. If you’re planning to get certified, you may be eligible for free DAN membership (for the duration of your dive training class), which is available to entry-level scuba students of all ages. Contact DAN at: 800-446-2671, [www.diversalertnetwork.org].

Purifying Water
I’m going on a 12-day trek in Nepal and am uncertain whether my Portable Aqua tablets will adequately purify my drinking water. Will these tablets do the trick or should I invest in a water filter and purifier?
- David Sinkford Fairfield, CT

Dear David,
Your Potable Aqua tablets should work fine, as long as you follow the recommended doses. You can also treat water with iodine drops (four drops of tincture of iodine per liter of water). Tincture of iodine and eyedroppers are readily available from shops in Kathmandu and Pokhara, two of Nepal’s main trekking centers. Your other options are boiling water for several minutes (longer at high altitudes), drinking bottled water (make sure the cap is sealed and the water looks clean), or, as you mentioned, purchasing a water filter and purifier. I used a water purifier in India and iodine drops in Nepal and had no problem with either method. Water purifiers are now reasonably lightweight—11 oz. or less—and highly effective. They filter out and kill harmful bacteria and claim to be 99.9999 percent dependable and safe. Several of the best purifiers on the market for hikers and worldwide travelers are the Sweetwater Guardian & Water Purifier, PUR Voyageur Water Purifier, and PUR Explorer Water Purifier. In countries like Nepal, where tap water may be suspect, avoid drinks with ice cubes unless you’re sure they’re made from purified water. Also, use purified, boiled, treated, or bottled water to brush your teeth. Don’t forget to drink plenty of extra water at high altitudes—if possible, at least one liter per hour when trekking. Water is lost from the body through breathing and sweating, so if you’re hiking up high where the air is thin, dehydration can actually occur more quickly. It’s also a good idea to keep a few packets of oral rehydration salts in your first aid kit. These are useful if you get dehydrated while trekking or traveling, since they replace essential salts and minerals that the body needs.

Travel Down Under
This October, I’m leaving on a 4-month trip to Australia. I am trying to figure out the best way to get around the country. I’ll be traveling on my own for a majority of the trip and eventually meeting up with a friend. I want to travel overland as much as possible. Would it be better to rent or buy a car? Are buses practical for long-distance travel? What are my other options? - Melanie Powers Austin, TX

Dear Melanie,
Renting a car for a long period would be expensive, but it’s a great option for day trips or short, overnight excursions. It’s definitely possible to buy a car in Australia, although expensive gas prices makes it practical only if you’re traveling with at least one other person. Sydney has regular car auctions (in the Kings Cross section of the city), where you can buy cars and vans from other travelers. Make sure you have the car thoroughly checked by a mechanic before purchasing it; vehicles take a thrashing in Australia. If you travel into the outback by car, it’s essential to have good safety equipment—a radio beacon and plenty of water, food, and fuel supplies. Check with one of Australia’s automobile clubs, such as the NRMA [www.nrma.com.au] or RAC [www.rac.com.au] before driving. These groups provide great maps (free to AAA members), safety information, historical background on each region, and detailed descriptions on the tracks that cut through Australia’s Red Center. Alternatively, you can do a self-drive, cross-country tour in a 4WD Toyota Land Cruiser. Global Gypsies [www.globalgypsies.com.au] offers excellent trips across the outback, during which you drive your own vehicle accompanied by a professional tour guide/navigator/cook/etc. who handles all the logistics. Your best bet, especially if going solo, might be to travel by bus—especially by Oz Experience, a network of buses that travel continuously along fixed routes in the east, south, and central sections of mainland Australia. Unlike “traditional” coach companies, these buses take you off the main roads to notable sites along the way—historic towns, natural wonders and World Heritage parks—or on special side trips to ranches, cattle stations, and wineries. Buses range from large, 53-seater coaches to 4WD, 22-seater mini coaches that are able to wind along the outback’s dusty, unpaved tracks. You can jump off the bus whenever or wherever you like, for as long as you want. When you’re ready to move on, call a toll-free number and reserve a spot on the next bus coming through town. This system gives you the flexibility to follow your own interests, pace, and travel style. Plus, if you’re on your own, it’s a great way to meet other like-minded travelers. En route, the driver also acts a tour guide, offering history and information on each region you visit. Typically, you choose your lodging each night, then the driver books your accommodations, drops you off, and picks you up the next day. That is, unless you decide to stay longer. Grocery runs (and sometimes group meals) are also frequently arranged. Although Oz Experience draws mainly an early- to mid-20-year-old crowd, it’s available to—and used by—travelers of all ages. Bus passes are valid for just six months. Contact: Oz & Kiwi Experience, Shop 401, Kingsgate Shopping Center, Darlinghurst Rd., Kings Cross NSW 2011, Australia; [www.ozexperience.com].

Answers are supplied by Kari Bodnarchuk, a Boston-based freelance writer who has explored more than 30 countries in the past 10 years. She is author of Rwanda: Country Torn Apart and Kurdistan: Region Under Siege. Kari also runs travel classes for adult education centers. To submit questions to Transitions Abroad, send a card or email us at QandA@TransitionsAbroad.com. We regret that we cannot answer all submitted questions.

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