CARLA KING'S TIPS: - Carla has ridden motorcycles solo across Asia (China/India), Europe and America -- several times.
* Use your intuition, and never talk yourself out of acting on your feelings about it by convincing yourself to "work through your fear" because you're just being paranoid. We are animals by nature, and those hackles that rise up along the back of your neck are telling you something real.
* Slow down! When you're in a hurry you're distracted, you're not attentive to your surroundings, and your intuition and instincts don't have time to kick in. You are also likely to get careless, leaving things behind or misplacing items.
* People often ask me if I'm "packin'." The answer is no, because I might rely on a weapon instead of my intuition. Buy a cable lock with a motion sensor to secure your belongings. I like the Targus Defcon with retractable cable and audio alarm because you can also hang it on your hotel room door or attach it to the zipper on your tent. The alarm will sound if it's moved, and it's really loud!
* For God's sake, dress normally and not like a tourist just off the cruise ship. It's not difficult to attire yourself neatly and respectfully with today's wrinkle-free, quick-dry clothing. Learn and respect local customs. In some countries they could care less if you walk around topless, but showing your knees is verboten.
* Ask. People love helping others. They just don't have enough opportunity to do it. Enlist the help of a shopkeeper, restaurateur, or the nearest old lady if a man is bugging you. They'll give him hell, and that'll be that.
LISA ALPINE'S TIPS: Lisa visited112 countries, hitched rides in canoes solo through the tributaries of the Amazon.
* Before you go, learn at least some basic words in the native language. This will endear you to the locals -- even if your communications are garbled and childlike -- and can help you work your way out of a jam.
* Hire a local guide who isn't just a tourist hound but someone who can show you the insider places and who people know and respect.
* Scan your passport, airline tickets, traveler's checks, and other essential documents, and email them to yourself along with bank account and credit card account numbers. Also include international 800# contact information for all of the above and the local embassy contacts.
* Don't pull out large wads of cash when shopping or paying for hotels or meals. And don't reveal where your valuables are stashed on your body. Calculate what you will need for spending that day, and only have that amount readily accessible.
* Be respectful, and hence, get respect by following cultural mores while traveling. Learn the appropriate cultural behavior for females in the regions you are traveling in. Cover your arms and hair. Don't look men directly in the eyes. Speak in a soft voice. Use the local greeting ritual. Also learn what NOT to do.
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