Traveling can cause all sorts of health-related issues, from jet lag to motion sickness, blisters, sunburn, to an upset stomach. Whether you are scuba diving in the Caribbean, hiking in Bali, or are even surrounded by the hustle and bustle of a city, you can get ill, catch a virus or get injured despite your best efforts to stay active and healthy because traveling can expose us to a variety of health-related risks that can comprise our systems and increase the likelihood of catching a disease.
However, there is one important imperative need that travelers and their guides forget to take seriously; healthcare. You can visit website and check out the cheapest airline tickets and get in touch with travel agencies or a professional, who are also always offering the best package deals, offers, and tips on choosing the best place to visit and in what season, the best time to book online flights and even hotel stays and sightseeing, but you know what is avoided? How to avoid getting sick or injured in a strange place. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NolMO1f33HcBBDA-txbGWdUgJVg6ecWrwoEXac5jrts/edit Healthcare Every year, millions of people catch a flight to traveling around the world, and as much as that number keeps on increasing, so are the diseases. People either carry with them to their destination or bring it back home and therefore, almost every traveler is exposed to nearly all infectious risks of the destination, and other health-related risk factors such as the change in the quality of water, temperature, humidity, which is the perfect host for infectious organisms. Now, some of these travel-related illnesses or injuries can be treated with either paracetamol, or instant painkillers and a first aid kit, but it is very essential to provide health care services to every traveler. Some of the most common health problems associated with traveling include respiratory tract infections, hepatitis, poliomyelitis, gonorrhea, cholera, prion diseases, meningococcal disease, yellow fever, and severe acute respiratory syndrome etc. These are some of the most common health issues you might face while traveling and what you do to avoid them. Rabies Rabies is the kind of disease you can catch even from your home in one of the most developing countries. Yes, it is that common and widely spread. The rabies virus is present in animals and it can easily be spread if bitten. Dogs are the most common source of rabies, followed by cats, monkeys, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, and bats. How would you know if you have caught the rabies virus? If you have persistent fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, agitation, anxiety, confusion, hyperactivity, difficulty swallowing, excessive salivation, fear of water, hallucinations, insomnia, and partial paralysis, don’t sit at home and let it get worse. It is a deadly virus and therefore, it is extremely necessary to receive a post-bite rabies vaccination. However, if you are traveling to a lesser developed country where they are higher chances of rabies, you can get the vaccination beforehand. Traveler's diarrhea Traveler's diarrhea is a very common digestive tract disorder that affects up to 80% of international travelers starts. How would you know if you have diarrhea? You will have the following symptoms: loose stools, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Avoid eating contaminated food or water, in short, just take care of hygiene especially if you are trying street food. Though the disease is not life-threatening, it can still cause a lot of distress and pain and serious vomiting can cause dehydration. Malaria Though you can catch Malaria anywhere in the world, the life-threatening disease is very common in African countries, undeveloped Asian countries and anywhere with tropical climates. Malaria is transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito that carries the Plasmodium parasite, which is then released in the bloodstream allowing it travels to the liver and reproduce or mature there. They start to affect red blood cells to the point where they can burst open. Common symptoms of malaria are high fever, profuse sweating, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, bloody stools, convulsions, and even coma. Dengue Fever Like Malaria, dengue is also a mosquito-transmitted disease that transfers through an Aedes mosquito infected with a dengue virus. Common symptoms are fever, pain behind the eyes, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting, skin rash that cause bleeding. The disease is often mistaken for flu in children. Influenza Commonly known as flu, influenza is a respiratory illness caused by a virus and an infected person can spread the virus by coughing and sneezing, or even by shaking hand. The common symptoms of flu are fever, aching joints and limbs, headache, sore throat, cough, and runny or blocked nose start to show 1-2 days after you’re infected with the virus, which means you can transfer the virus before you even start to show you’re infected. Schistosomiasis Commonly known as Swimmer’s regret, Schistosomiasis is caused by swimming or being exposed to contaminated freshwaters such as rivers, lakes, and ponds. Common symptoms include rash and itchy skin, fever, chills, cough, or muscle ache. What is the field of medicine doing for the healthcare of a traveler? Travelers plan trips to the farthest corners of the world, where to travel, how long to stay and what to do, but when it comes to healthcare, instead of planning to consult a doctor prior to the departure for an international trip, people read blogs online on how to prevent dengue by using an anti-repellent. Absurd, right? Have you ever heard of travel medicine? World Health Organization has had people who plan to travel need to contact a physician who has a specialization in travel medicine, and that too at least four to six weeks prior to departure. All European countries have these centers of diseases prevention that travelers can go to consult a travel medicine doctor. This way they can learn about the health hazards of the specific destination, precautionary steps they can take, and even vaccinations. The details of this field of medicine go as follows: it is not only concerned with the prevention of infectious diseases, epidemiology, tropical medicine, high altitude physiology, psychiatry, occupational medicine, military, and migration medicine that might affect you while traveling, but also with personal safety and prevention from environmental threats. A pre-travel consultation and evaluation, list of emergency steps during traveling and post-travel follow-up are the essential stages.
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Thailand is a culturally and geographically unique country in Far East Asia. Loaded with hundreds of serene beaches, lagoons, waterfalls, mountains, and culturally beautiful cities and towns, this place is a must visit for everyone.
Each year, millions of people fly to Thailand to enjoy their vacations by spending time in nature. But what if you try something different this time? What if you try a simple road trip across this beautiful country? This is indeed a unique idea which can provide you with a great chance to explore the hidden beauty of this heaven on earth. So we recommend our readers to take a road trip to Thailand which is too irresistible for anyone and see what no tourist has ever seen before. Ultimate road trip experience in Thailand Driving on a foreign road is not easy at all. You can face multiple issues and obstacles such as driving on the wrong side of the road, difficulty in reading road signs in local language, maps and much more. Thailand is one such country to take a road trip as it has infinite challenges. However, it is also one hell of an experience as the best way to explore this country is by road. So start your vehicles and get ready for the best road trips in Thailand that you simply cannot ignore. Our ultimate traveling tip to everyone Before you hit the road in the Kingdom of Thailand, you will need to reach it from your home first. Traveling can be very expensive, and especially when you do a 9 to 5 job. But there are always quite a lot of ways that can help you save your valuable money. We suggest you contact any travel agency to book the cheapest flights available to Thailand from your hometown, or anywhere near. Travel agencies have a lot of deals and offers. They can also help you find suitable accommodation in the most reasonable price, as well as all the traveling transfers, and transportations. Best Road Trips in Thailand Enjoy these following Thailand road trips and make the most of it. Chiang Mai from Ayutthaya This seven hours long drive is pure to amaze and excite all its travelers. When you visit the ancient city of Ayutthaya, you will take yourself to a serenity and calmness of soul. And after saying goodbye to the lively streets and leaving for the northern city of Chiang Mai, it will make you feel that part of your soul is left behind. The journey is easy and the roads will take you through a number of national parks, such as Wiang Kosai, Si Satchanalai, Doi Khun Tan and more. For this journey, it is imperative to carry an international driver’s license. Phetchabun from Bangkok This five-hour drive from the capital city offers out of the world views and experience of the landscape of Thailand. When you leave a busy city such as Bangkok, to visit a rural town with hills, farm, and a few people in between; it sends you in a place full of peaceful feelings. The journey is not that difficult or challenging, so anyone with a driver’s license can drive there. The scenery is beautiful with an amazing backdrop. There is a temple in Phetchabun made entirely from colorful mosaic tiles. Do try to visit it. Kanchanaburi from Bangkok A brief yet beautiful road trip, it is ideal for those who can spare a little time on the road. It takes only a few hours to reach Kanchanaburi from Bangkok, and the way is full of amazing sites. Kanchanaburi is also filled with amazing things to do. Multiple attractions include Yai River Bridge, Way Cemetery, Erawan National Park and some striking waterfalls. A car trip is ideal to visit this place completely. Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai A must for every visitor. This journey takes you to northern Thailand. Take a rental and enjoy the four-hour long journey in the mountainous region of the kingdom. You can stop at some of the best hot springs, refresh there and boil some eggs in the water. There is also a white temple which is perfect for spending some time and even a night. Explore the city completely and take some snaps of the picture perfect location. Pai from Chiang Mai Unlike all the other road travels in Thailand we have discussed so far in this article, this journey to Pai from Chiang Mai is the most difficult and technically challenging for all visitors. Although the drive is about four hours long, the roads are tortuous, windy loaded with turns all the way to the destination. For this reason, it is highly advised from our side to make this journey at daytime, so that you are comfortable to drive on narrow, bumpy and mountainous roads. But this adventure associated with Pai has made it attracted to all the visitors, and it has some wonderful things to do and eat. Mae Sot, Sukhothai, Phetchabun, Lopburi from Bangkok Start your journey from Bangkok and travel for seven hours to Mae Sot. You will find the least number of the crowd there as it is the least visited city in Thailand. The city is influenced by Burmese culture, with ample Burmese food and architecture to fill your stomach and eyes. You can enjoy waterfalls, hot springs and other exciting places in this city. Try to take your time and explore much of this city. Afterward, make a two-hour journey to Sukhothai and enjoy what this small city has to offer. From there after a brief stay, you can head to Phetchabun. There, you can visit multiple national parks including Thung Salaeng Luang, Pu Thap Boek, Si Thep Historical Park, and much more. From there, you can continue your road trip towards Lopburi, which is also known as the monkey city of Thailand. This city consists of wonderful ancient ruins of Wat Phra Sri Mahathat. You can also visit the palace of King Narai Lopburi. This place is just 2 hours away from the capital city, so it is the perfect last stop for a round trip around this beautiful country. Situated in the middle of Europe and Asia, the diversity of heritage in this country gives it a vast difference in culture and traditions from the west to east side. With a very rich history, this country had been under the rule of many different empires and their traditions and culture are still reflected in modern day Turkey. No matter where you are, exploring Turkey will still be an eye-opening experience for you.
My Turkish experience I wasn’t quite planning to visit Turkey but I chanced upon Affordable Flight Deals to Turkey and well, decided why not. I had visited a few Middle-Eastern countries before and didn’t expect anything too different. Suffice it to say, I was pleasantly surprised to see just how diverse the ethnic heritage is here. Society 1. Language The common language here is Turkish, spoken by at least 90% of the population. After that, there are a few minority languages like Kurdish, Arabic, Circassian and even Greek among a few others. I suppose the lack of English can cause serious language barriers so either learn some common phrases beforehand or get one of those handy translating apps. 2. Religion The most dominating religion here is Islam and you will see many mosques around each city, despite the state claiming to be secular. The rules of Islam are commonly practiced among Turks. Even though Friday is a holy day in Islam, Turkey doesn’t take part in it. Individual Muslims are free to pray in accordance with the Friday prayer if they wish. Due to the state being secular, there are other religions here as well giving the people freedom in religious matters. 3. Social traditions Being social and making friends is a part of Turkish culture. In fact, Turkish people love to meet new people so much that if you’re in a chatty mood they’ll have no problem talking to you, putting their own work aside. And if you’re a tourist then don’t worry if you forget the greeting phrase. The overall friendly atmosphere not only makes you feel great but it makes Turkey a great family holiday destination. 4. Women rights This one depends on where you visit. However, in most places the dress code for women is relaxed and they can wear whatever they wish but in the more Eastern part or places that aren’t commonly visited by outsiders, the dress code is quite strict. Other than this, women can go wherever they wish except for tea houses. As a woman, you should go to tea gardens or places where families are more common. Common etiquettes 5. Visiting a home Turks tend to invite anyone and everyone to their home and if you find yourself with an invitation, then keep in mind to be polite. The common response to “welcome” there is Hos bulduk, and usually, it is rude to take your shoes in the house so best to take them off and wear the house slippers they provide you. One thing to be wary of is that you should go on an empty stomach as dish after dish will be served to make a meal grand which will then be followed by fruits, nuts, tea or coffee. Believe me, Turkish folks don’t take no for an answer when it comes to food and it’s considered rude to not eat anything when you visit someone. 6. Tea Contrary to common belief, the national drink in Turkey isn’t Turkish coffee. While it is popular, the national drink is Turkish tea. Traditionally, it is served in tulip-shaped small glasses and sweetened according to the drinker’s preference. This tea is such a big part of the Turkish culture that there are proper tea houses, where men gather for tea and games. Basically, a great place to socialize if you’re a male. And if you’re a female then you can head to tea gardens that are quite crowded on weekends. Arts and culture 7. Rugs and carpets It’s a bit of a traditional thing here so if you visit any home, you’ll see beautiful rugs and carpets with intricate colorful designs sitting proudly on the floor. Due to their popularity, these handmade rugs make for a great souvenir. This tradition stems back from the nomadic tribes' era. Just be wary that a merchant isn’t scamming you by selling normal carpets at a high price saying they’re authentic handmade ones. 8. The evil eye You’ll see this common talisman everywhere. It’s colored a dark blue with a blue eye on it. This talisman is called a Nazar and is believed to ward off evil. It’s contrary to Islamic beliefs but it is so common here that you’ll see it everywhere you go, hence it makes for a popular souvenir. 9. Art Some people argue that the urbanization of Turkey is ruining the traditional art but I would have to disagree. The age-old traditions are also preserved nicely and the Turks tend to be quite patriotic so they’re very proud of the diversity of their culture. One of the most interesting art styles is Ebru Painting. This creative art style dates back to the Ottoman Empire. In the west, it’s more commonly known as Paper Marbling and is done by dropping paints slowly on the surface of a think liquid and then swirled around to make designs. Then a paper is gently placed on top which absorbs this design. In theory, this may sound easy but it takes a lot of practice. 10. Hammam Or commonly known as Turkish baths. This tradition comes from the Roman public bathhouses later modified by the Ottomans. It’s up to you to either enter the sauna-like bath wither in a swimsuit or naked. There are ladies only days as well. A relaxing massage afterward is optional as well. 11. Sufi culture A famous Sufi poet, Rumi, who resided in Konya once said “Love cannot be described. It must be tasted”. Even though he said these words at least 700 years ago, people still respect them. In fact, Konya is known for the Dervish culture. Lots of religious ceremonies take place there and the most iconic part are the Whirling Dervishes. They spin around on their left foot with a somber expression and arms slightly raised high. Plus their white billowy gown makes the whole ceremony quite mystical. For anyone interested in learning about spiritualism then Konya in Turkey is the place to be. |
AuthorAlex Mahone is a passionate traveler. ArchivesCategories |