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I went on my first holiday to the tropics recently. I was afraid of catching disease, so I did a bit of research, and took some precautions. Here are some tips I found useful.

1. Get your shots.

I spent a short time in areas relatively free of mosquito-borne disease. The key word is ‘relatively’. A two week holiday in an urban area is probably alright. If you’re staying for months, or in an area flagged as dangerous, get your shots well in advance. Don’t leave it until the last minute, as by then it’ll be too late! The drugs need some time to ‘kick in’, and your doctor may have to order them in advance.

2. Get an insect repellent.

I made one for mosquitoes by mixing citronella with olive oil. Citronella is an essential oil (an essence). I rubbed the mixture on all exposed areas morning and night, and after washing. Seemed to do the trick. I put too much oil in, I think, so it smelled a bit. Better that, than being bitten, I say!

3. Wear long sleeved shirts and trousers.

I also wore socks in bed. Give pests no purchase! Mosquitoes are just doing what comes naturally; they need your blood to live. It’s just unfortunate that they can pass on parasites when they bite. Deny them a meal, and the only things you’ll bring back from your holiday are a silly hat and some souvenir photos. To wear long sleeved garments in bed, you’ll need a room with a fan and air conditioning. No need to set them to freezing; just cool, with a slight breeze.

4. Air conditioning.

Air conditioning and fans are supposed to deflect mosquitoes, which is good. Avoid ‘going native’, and thinking you’re as hardy as the locals. They get malaria and dengue as well, be sure of that.

5. Use mosquito nets.

Do what you can to keep them at bay. Paranoia is good!

6. Avoid ice and salads

Ice can have faecal coliforms. It depends on what water it’s been made from. Salads can be prepared by low-paid workers who’ve forgotten to wash their hands. In Muslim countries, they often don’t use toilet paper, just a hose, so if the staff haven’t been scrupulous about their personal hygiene …

You may feel self-conscious about refusing. Would you like your holiday to be spoiled by a spell in hospital, in a Third-world country, just for the sake of avoiding embarrassment? People like people who are forthright, so stick to your guns.

7. Don’t drink the water.

A country can have a veneer of modernity, but what separates the men from the boys is the sewage system. The tap water may not be filtered properly. Drink bottled water, or water you’ve boiled yourself. Get a kettle, and boil it up every day, then put the water in your water bottle in the morning. Easy.

8. Drink plenty of water.

A few sips every so often, rather than a litre in one go. You’ll save on trips to the lavatory!

9. Stay out of the sun.

There’s a reason the locals are laid back; it’s too hot to run around like you do at home. Sun tanning is actually skin damage. Due to ozone layer depletion, you may be getting more than a golden tan. Who cares if you don’t come back home bronzed? Ladies especially will appreciate this in later years, when their sisters have leathery skin from roasting on the beach. Nothing less ‘cool’ than a white man with sunstroke, either.

When travelling in the tropics, it’s best to be paranoid. I hope you can still enjoy your holiday!

T. O’ Donnell http://www.tigertom.com/chat_rooms.htm is an internet entrepreneur in London, UK. His latest project is an ebook on mortgages in the UK, available at http://www.tigertom.com/mortgages-uk.shtml

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Chile is renowned for its inspiring and romantic landscapes that vary so dramatically from Patagonia to the Atacama Desert. It is this beautiful wilderness of lakes, volcanoes, forests and deserts that lures most people who travel to Chile on holiday. But off the well travelled tour routes of Torres del Paine and San Pedro de Atacama, Chile is full of scarcely visited natural wonders and fascinating archaeological sites. A good example is that of the Chinchorro mummies of the Atacama, the oldest mummies in the world, predating their Egyptian counter parts by 2000 years!

The Chinchorro were a coastal dwelling people of northern Chile and southern Peru, who started mummifying their dead at least 7000 years ago. The mummification methods used by the Chinchorro changed over the millennia, becoming less complicated with time. The oldest mummies found, dating from 5000BC to 3000BC, were made with a method referred to as the black method.

The black method involved dismembering the deceased - the head, arms and legs were severed from the torso, then the skin was removed. The body was then dried, before the flesh and tissue were stripped from the bone, including the removal of the brain. The body would then be reassembled - the bones were strengthened with splints, the body was stuffed with materials including clay and feathers, then the limbs and head would be reattached to the torso. The whole body was then covered in an ash paste which was also used to patch up joins and damaged areas of the skin. In the last stage of this elaborate procedure a final layer of manganese was painted over the ash paste, giving the mummy the black colour characteristic of the process.

The leading authority on Chinchorro mummies, Bernardo Arriaza, says about 282 Chinchorro mummies have been discovered to date. An interesting fact about the Chinchorro is that not only are they the oldest mummies ever discovered, but that they didn’t reserve this ceremony for great leaders and kings. It seems that they mummified all their dead.

The best place to see and learn about the Chinchorro is the Archaeology Museum of San Miguel de Azapa at the University of Tarapac

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Torrevieja is situated in south Spain and chances are if you were a tourist you would be hiring a car from Alicante airport, Murcia airport or driving south from France.

The main road that serves all that area is the AP-7 and is linked to both airports, you can follow this road right up through Northeast Spain until you reach France.

Alicante airport is the largest in the area and is a major hub for all of North Europe and the world. Most tourists who arrive here get on to holiday busses and are whisked away up to Benidorm a major tourist destination. Alicante airport lies 40 minutes or so North of Torrevieja and because many visitors either own holiday homes here or are renting one out, chances are they will hire a car.

As you leave Alicante airport you will have 2 choices of which direction to go. Either follow the one way system around to meet the AP-7 or take the back road to meet up with the N-323. The AP-7 road is quicker in most cases, but if you are nervous driving in a foreign country you will be driving on a faster road. It is well signposted, but beware there is a dual carriageway that takes you to the AP-7, my first visit I actually though I already was on the AP-7. As you follow the AP-7 south look for the signs and turn left at the relevant slip road which will then take you straight into Torrevieja past Carrefore.

The second option using the N-323 is not so obvious as the signs at the rear of the airport are very small. There are also limited street lighting and road markings at night and if you don’t know where you re going can be a bit scary. Head for the coast to pick the N-332 and turn right. The benefits of using this road are that it will take you directly to Torrevieja without any detours. It is also ideal if you are going to a holiday home just south of Torrevieja, as this road continues straight on to these areas. But beware at night, lighting is poor and sometimes the Spanish drivers can’t get by because of single lines in the middle of the road and sharp bends.

Murcia Airport is situated 30 minutes or so south of Torrevieja and has a direct link to the AP-7. Because this is a small airport, it can be much easier getting out of the airport straight to the AP-7 and is my favourite option. Turn right on the AP-7 and follow this road north. However you will face tollbooths as you near the Torrevieja area. If you wish to avoid these, divert off the AP-7 on to the N323 going north this time, where the signs on the AP-7 say Campoamor beach. Again the N323 will take you straight to Torrevieja but going north.

Torrevieja is pretty much made up of narrow Spanish streets, many of them one way. If you wish to park, follow the roads down to the harbour where there is a car park right there. Most locals however try to park in the narrow streets; if you look around long enough you should find a parking space but I never find it worth the extra time and hassle from the habour car park.

The Spanish like to drive their cars fast, and hate to stop for anything. If driving past a slip road either speed up, slow down or move over, but find a place for that driver to fit in because he will not stop. Ironically though I find them far more polite with the horn and considerate to let you in when queuing. They don’t mind slower drivers as long as they can get past and on with their business and seem less likely to judgeyour driving than in other countries. In the are area around Torrevieja however there is a hugh North European population who have bought holiday homes there, so that Spanish driver may not be Spanish after all. Safe driving!

Mark is webmaster for European Breakdown Cover and Direct Line Insurance also RAC.

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