| In April of 2006 I set off on a 16 day | | | | Speaking of the water (from the hotel or |
| trip with a couple of friends to the | | | | restaurant plumbing). Don't drink it. Go |
| Mentawai Islands off the west coast of | | | | bottled. Period. End of topic. |
| Sumatra. Leading up to the trip I did | | | | For the start of your trip you may want |
| alot of research on how to prepare for | | | | to consider a sleep aid depending how |
| the unknown. The trip was virtually | | | | far you are traveling. I flew out of San |
| charter boat based with only a couple | | | | Diego stopping in Japan, Singapore and |
| days on land at the beginning and end of | | | | Central Sumatra before landing in |
| the trip. Granted, on-board | | | | Padang. It was just about 24 hours worth |
| accomodations were plush by local | | | | of flying over about a couple day |
| standards. Still, I wanted to be | | | | period. The flight was long and almost |
| prepared. | | | | unbareable toward the end. Consider |
| Some important things to pack are light | | | | taking along something such as Ambien or |
| cotton long sleeve shirts and pants, a | | | | go natural with Melatonin. Remember not |
| couple wide brim hats (the sun is | | | | to drink alcohol while taking a sleep |
| intense along the equator). Plenty of | | | | aid. Consult with your doctor. |
| waterproof sunblock; 50 spf would be | | | | So to recap on first aid supplies and |
| recommended. Take along reef booties, | | | | other suggestions keep the following on |
| the low cut, split toe kind work great. | | | | your list: |
| Powdered vitamin packets that dissolve | | | | Quality Cloth Medical Tape, Bandages & |
| in water, energy bars and sea sick aids | | | | Latex Band Aids, Second Skin, Sleeping |
| would be a good idea if you are prone to | | | | Pills, Betadine, Hydrogen Peroxide, |
| motion sickness. | | | | Lomotil or other Anti-Diarrhea, |
| Mosquito repellant with Deet! This is a | | | | Anti-Biotic Ointment, Anti-Fungal |
| must, especially if you will be on land | | | | Powder, Aspirin, Sun Block & Lip Block |
| in the evenings. The mosqitoes are | | | | and Sunburn Lotion. |
| relentless at dusk and dawn. The main | | | | When traveling to this region of the |
| concern is in populated areas where | | | | world along the equator, it is very |
| mosquitoes can easily feed from one | | | | important to research and prepare for |
| person to another possibly spreading | | | | the climate and local customs. Indonesia |
| malaria along the way. While on the boat | | | | has the largest Muslim population in the |
| you still need to be vigilant, wear your | | | | world and their religious customs run |
| long clothes and lather up with | | | | deep. You will most likely not run into |
| repellant, but you can relax a bit. Make | | | | fanitical Muslims who harbor great |
| sure you have some lights on to keep an | | | | resentment for Westerners. You may want |
| eye out for mosquitoes. The main ones to | | | | to avoid areas in Jakarta, Timor though. |
| watch out for have the 'tiger stripes" | | | | The Indonesian people are largely warm |
| on the wings. At dusk you will notice | | | | and welcoming; the epitome of happiness |
| campfire smoke wafting up through the | | | | and a great many of them are dirt poor! |
| trees along from the island villages. | | | | We could learn alot from them. |
| The locals do this to keep the "mozzies" | | | | When in public it is considered |
| at bay. Do some research on | | | | respectful to wear long pants as |
| anti-malarial drugs and consult your | | | | exposing alot of skin, even for men, is |
| doctor. | | | | considered somewhat inappropriate. If |
| Bring along a first aid kit. If you | | | | you are a surfer and want to wear shorts |
| travel with someone who works in the | | | | in the high, heat high humidity. Go |
| healthcare industry have them bring | | | | ahead, they will usually understand |
| sutures, anesthetic, etc... If not get | | | | however; do not enter into any religous |
| ahold of some if you can, there is bound | | | | site or otheriwise religously |
| to be someone on the boat who is | | | | significant location in your baggies. |
| experienced in stitching. Take butterfly | | | | I hope this has been of value, feel free |
| bandages to help close up any cuts from | | | | to contact me if you have any questions. |
| the reef while out of the water. | | | | |