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