I’ve decided to begin a series of advisory blogs to celebrate 20 years on the road – across the planet: 1 > Travel advice 101 for backpacking in the Developing World, written here whilst in Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa: the first rules and probably the somewhat-fuckin’-obvious ones but one has to start somewhere, yeah? Okay.

> Get interested in a country or region, read, surf the web but don’t plan too intensely; better to have plenty of time and see what happens … be flexible; go with the flow. Plans change.

> Travel as light as possible: a heavy, bulky backpack will be your worse enemy … Besides: you can always buy cheaply and discard as you travel.

> BUT: bring all important items from home before you leave: EG: prescriptions/medicines, specialized camera / electronic items, guidebook, personal essentials …

> Buy quality footwear – hiking boots or x-country-sandals – if you want to get the miles without pain (but for about-the-town or beach then cheap jandals /thongs are okay). Likewise make sure your backpack is good – so zips or seams won’t bust within months.

> NEVER save money avoiding vaccinations – get all that are necessary. And travel insurance is good for piece of mind but not essential (if you are on a tight budget; take ya chances).

> Buying your flight via the internet is often the cheapest; but not always! Research.

> In most cases smile, wave, or say Hello / greet all people who meet your eye (unless avoiding touts or hustlers; or you’re a woman avoiding sexual harassment).

> Never carry the bulk of your money, credit card, passport in an obvious money-belt but rather one hidden beneath your clothes, and also use additional secret emergency stashes in a zipper-belt, in a shoe, or in a bag, etc. For dailytransactions rather than a wallet have small money in a plastic bag stuffed into a front pocket.

> Don’t wear a watch or expensive-looking bling; ethnic jewellery is okay.

> Best to avoid tap water unless purified or otherwise told its okay. Likewise salads washed in the same water – but peeled fruits are fine.

> Street food is cheap, yummy and essential to the experience – just chose carefully – busy means good, fresh, high turn-over; but all the same you may get a stomach upset simply from the change of diet.

> Rest assured you’re not alone: internet cafes are across the world – in most most major cities towns – and usually cheap with reasonable speeds.

> NEVER – no matter how convincing – get involved in get-rich-quick schemes or other great proposals – they are always scams.

> ALWAYS negotiate a price before using a taxi, rickshaw or motorcycle-taxi.

> It’s always good to learn at least Hello & Thank You in the local language.

> Don’t have fear about what might happen – unless it happens, which most-often, it doesn’t. Have confidence and fun, and get out there!