Travel

by Joshua Piven

  7. Stay low if the plane is on fire.

  Follow the exit procedures described in the safety briefing. Illuminated floor lights should indicate the exits: the lights are red where exit rows exist.

  CHAPTER 2

  PEOPLE SKILLS

  HOW TO SURVIVE A RIOT

  1. Remain indoors if you learn about any nearby rioting or civil unrest.

  Avoid the windows. Listen for reports on radio or television. If you hear gunfire, try to find out where the shooting is located. Use the telephone if it is still functioning, or ask an official or your hotel manager for information.

  2. If you believe the crisis is unresolvable or seriously threatens your life, plan to leave the country quickly.

  3. Determine the best route to the airport or embassy, and leave the building through any safe exit.

  Make sure that the airport is operating before you travel there. If you cannot make it to your own country’s embassy, plan to head for the embassy of an allied nation.

  4. Wear clothing in muted tones.

  Put on a long-sleeve shirt, jacket, jeans, a hat, socks, and lightweight boots. (Although you may be in a tropical or warm part of the world, it gets quite cold on planes, and you may have to sleep in an airport or connect to a flight landing in a colder region.)

  5. Exit away from gunfire or mobs.

  Select a way out that is not easily observed. Exits include windows, vents, or even the roof.

  6. Leave as a group.

  Especially if you have to dash across an open area, such as the front of a building, a wide street, or a plaza, you are safer with company. Snipers or enemies will have multiple objects to focus on, not just one, and will not be as likely to make a move.

  7. Do not run.

  Unless your life is in imminent danger, walk. Walking is harder for the eye to detect: The human eye can quickly sight someone running. Running can also generate excitement—people may chase you.

  8. If you must travel by car, be prepared for evasive maneuvers.

  Drive on back streets, not main roads, and be prepared to abandon the car if the situation becomes critical. Watch out for checkpoints, roundabouts, major intersections, and military/police barracks. Do not stop for anything—remember the car can be a useful 2,000-pound weapon that even a mob cannot stop. If you cannot drive forward, drive in reverse.

  A reliable driver who knows the area will be able to navigate much better than you. If no driver or taxi is available, hire a local to drive your car for you. (You may need to promise to give your car in exchange.) Abandon the car outside the embassy or airport.

  If a Molotov cocktail (flammable liquid in a glass container with a lighted wick) hits your car, speed up—it may burn out as you gain speed.

  9. If you encounter unavoidable roadblocks, be prepared to bargain your way to safety.

  You might need to give up everything you are carrying in order to get away. Offer cash first, equipment (watches, cameras, jewelry) second.

  10. Get to an embassy or to the airport as soon as possible.

  Be Aware

  • If you are in a volatile region where there is a likelihood of civil disorder, be prepared for a rapid evacuation. Each person and family member should have an escape pack set aside near the front door. A good, small backpack is preferable to any type of luggage. It should contain the following:

  FLASHLIGHT. Pack a mini-flashlight with extra batteries. Affix a red or blue lens if you have one; red or blue light is difficult for observers (snipers, mobs) to see at night.

  SMALL COMPASS AND A DETAILED MAP OF THE CITY. Be sure to mark the embassy and helicopter landing zones on the map.

  KNIFE. Include a small pocketknife for cutting.

  FIRE-STARTING TOOL. Carry storm-safe matches or a lighter in a waterproof bag. Pack small baggies of dryer lint, which is light and highly flammable.

  BLACK GARBAGE BAGS. Use these for emergency shelter and camouflage.

  WATER AND FOOD. Carry at least two quarts of water per person. Bring only high-energy or instant foods. Do not eat unless you have water.

  • Conceal on your person, in a multi-pocket neck pouch, the following items:

  MONEY. Take $25 in single U.S. dollars and all of your local currency and divide it among your pouch and pockets. This will serve as bribe money for checkpoints. Dole it out in heaps until it appears you have no more. Do not offer your papers. Carry more money in your neck pouch, but keep the bulk of your cash in your socks, crotch, or ankle pouch.

  PASSPORT. Place a full photocopy of your passport in the main section of the pouch for easy access. Keep your original passport in a separate section. Show the copy to locals who demand it. Never give up the original.

  OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. Visas, phone numbers, proof of citizenship, birth certificates, and so on should be kept with your original passport.

  SOFT EARPLUGS. Helicopters are very noisy, and earplugs are useful when you want to sleep in a battle zone.

  HOW TO SURVIVE A HOSTAGE SITUATION

  Terrorists need to exercise power and control, and they do this by turning their victims into objects, which are easier to mistreat. Follow these tips to avoid mistreatment or worse.

  1. Stay calm.

  Help others around you to do the same—remember that the hostage takers are extremely nervous and scared. Do not do anything to make them more so. Do not speak to them unless they speak to you.

  2. If shots are fired, keep your head down and drop to the floor.

  If you can, get behind something, but do not move far—your captors may think that you are attempting to make an escape or an attack.

  3. Do not make any sudden or suspicious movements.

  Do not attempt to hide your wallet, passport, ticket, or belongings.

  4. Comply with all demands.

  Hesitation on your part may get you killed instantly, or may mark you for later retribution or execution. Remain alert and do not try to escape or be a hero. If you are told to put your hands over your head, to keep your head down, or to get into another body position, do it. It may be uncomfortable, but do not change your position on your own. Talk yourself into relaxing into the position—you may need to stay that way for some time. Prepare yourself both mentally and emotionally for a long ordeal.

  5. Never look at a terrorist directly or raise your head until you are directed to speak to him or her.

  Always raise your hand and address the hostage takers respectfully. When answering questions, be respectful but not submissive. Speak in a regulated tone of voice.

  6. Never challenge a hostage taker.

  They often look for potential execution victims, and if you act contrary in any way, they may select you.

  7. Carefully observe the characteristics and behavior of the terrorists.

  Give them nicknames in your mind so that you can identify them. Be prepared to describe them by remembering attire, accents, facial characteristics, or height—any aspect that might later help authorities.

  8. If you are the victim of a skyjacking, know where the plane’s closest emergency exits are located.

  Count the rows between you and the exit. In the event of an emergency rescue, smoke may obscure visibility, and you must know the fastest path out of the aircraft. Do not attempt escape unless it is clear that a massacre is imminent.

  9. If a rescue team enters, get down and stay still.

  Shots may be fired, and any sudden movements may draw terrorist or friendly fire.

  10. Upon resolution, be prepared to identify yourself and terrorists to the rescuers.

  Some terrorists may try to exit with you, posing as hostages.

  Be Aware

  • To avoid making yourself attractive to terrorists, try not to take out your passport in public places.

  • Be especially alert at airports, train stations, bus stations, in lobbies of expensive hotels, and in stores that cater to affluent tourists. While civil strife and guerrilla activity usually focus on nationals—thus tourists are
relatively safe—terrorists often choose targets that will get them the most attention.

  HOW TO PASS A BRIBE

  1. If you are hassled by an official, be friendly, but aloof.

  Do not show concern or act surly. Remain calm and good-natured. Try to determine if there is an actual problem or if the official is seeking some additional, unofficial compensation.

  2. Never blatantly offer a bribe.

  If you have misinterpreted the official’s intentions, you may get yourself in additional trouble by overtly offering a bribe.

  3. If you are accused of an infraction, ask to pay a fine on the spot.

  Say that you would rather not deal with the mail or go to another location, citing your fear that the payment will get lost. Mention that you want to make sure the money gets to the proper person.

  4. Try to speak to and deal with only one official.

  Speak to the person who acts as though he/she is in charge. If you offer money to a junior officer while a superior is present, the superior may demand more.

  5. Offer to make a “donation” to the official’s organization.

  Say that you would like to pay for gas, uniforms, car repairs, expenses, or other needs.

  6. If you do not have cash, be prepared to offer goods instead.

  Watches, cameras, and other electronics are often accepted as bribes. You might consider offering goods instead of cash even if you have the money, particularly if the “problem” concerns these goods. If, for example, a customs official tells you that you are transporting too many bottles of liquor, you might speed your trip and lighten your load by offering some of the items in dispute to the official.

  Be Aware

  • Carry only a small amount of money in your wallet and hide the rest. This will prevent an unscrupulous official from seeing your entire wad.

  HOW TO FOIL A SCAM ARTIST

  Con artists come in all shapes and sizes. In order to thwart them, you need to understand how they most commonly work. Here are a few of the most common scams, with instructions on how to avoid falling victim to them.

  LUGGAGE GRAB

  How the scam works

  This airport scam involves two people. Scam Artist #1 gets in front of you on the line for the metal detector. You place your bags on the X-ray machine’s conveyer belt. Scam Artist #2 abruptly cuts ahead of you in the line. Scam Artist #2 has lots of change and other metal objects in his pockets. You wait as he empties his pockets and goes through the metal detector several times until it stops beeping. Meanwhile, Scam Artist #1 grabs your bag as if it were his own and makes off with it. When you finally get through the metal detector, your bag is gone, and neither man is anywhere to be found.

  How to foil the scam

  1. Carry a bag that is distinctive and difficult to mistake for another.

  2. Know what to expect.

  Orderly lines may not be the norm in all countries. In some places, pushing and shoving are more accepted, which makes the scammers’ job easier.

  3. Never let valuables out of your sight.

  Angle your body so you are able to see the far end of the X-ray machine.

  4. Do not allow anyone to cut in front of you at the metal detector once you place your items on the conveyor belt.

  5. Watch your luggage and be assertive with security and customs officials.

  6. If you are traveling with one or more companions, do not go through the metal detector one after another.

  Space yourselves several people apart, and give the majority of your valuables to the last person passing through. The first person through can watch the X-ray machine until the bag with your valuables appears.

  PASSPORT AND CREDIT CARD COPY

  How the scam works

  When you present a traveler’s check to a merchant, the merchant asks to see your passport to make sure the signatures match. She says the signatures do not match, and asks to photocopy your passport and a credit card as proof of identification. She copies your information and uses it for unauthorized charges at a later date.

  How to foil the scam

  1. Always sign traveler’s checks in front of the merchant.

  She cannot claim the signature is forged if she watched you sign the check.

  2. Never allow your credit cards or passport to be photocopied.

  3. Pay cash, or leave the store immediately.

  CARDBOARD CHILDREN

  How the scam works

  Small bands of children (usually 6 to 10 of them) confront you for change. The children swarm you, beg loudly for money or candy, while at the same time pressing pieces of cardboard against your body. The shouting distracts you, while the cardboard desensitizes you to the small hands entering your pockets or bags. The scam takes just a few seconds at most. The children suddenly disperse in different directions, taking your valuables with them. Even if you were to realize you had been robbed, you would have no way of knowing which child to follow.

  How to foil the scam

  1. If you are alone and are approached by a group of begging children, get to a well-populated area.

  Walk into the nearest store or restaurant.

  2. If there is no place to hide, hold your wallet tightly in your hand so that it cannot be snatched.

  Even better, distribute your money in multiple pockets beforehand.

  3. Make as loud a scene as you can.

  Be Aware

  • A money belt or waist pouch, while better than a wallet for securing valuables, can be breached by experienced thieves. If you wear a waist pouch, always make sure it faces forward and is not worn as a “fanny” pack.

  • Keep your passport in a hotel safe and carry a photocopy. If you must travel with an original passport, secure it inside a pocket with a safety pin.

  HOW TO FOIL A UFO ABDUCTION

  1. Do not panic.

  The extraterrestrial biological entity (EBE) may sense your fear and act rashly.

  2. Control your thoughts.

  Do not think of anything violent or upsetting—the EBE may have the ability to read your mind. Try to avoid mental images of abduction (boarding the saucer, anal probes); such images may encourage them to take you.

  3. Resist verbally.

  Firmly tell the EBE to leave you alone.

  4. Resist mentally.

  Picture yourself enveloped in a protective shield of white light, or in a safe place. Telepathic EBEs may get the message.

  5. Resist physically.

  Physical resistance should be used only as a last resort. Go for the EBE’s eyes (if they have any)—you will not know what its other, more sensitive areas are.

  HOW TO REPORT A UFO SIGHTING

  1. Stay calm.

  If you become upset or excited, you are likely to forget important details.

  2. Accurately record the time at the start of the sighting, the time of any change of direction in the UFO’s flight pattern, and the time at the end of the sighting.

  If possible, use a mechanical stopwatch, since close proximity to a UFO may prevent electronic instruments from functioning correctly.

  3. Sketch a schematic of the UFO’s path in the ground.

  Mark your position in the ground at the start of the sighting, and draw a line in the direction of the object when first seen, for each direction change, and when last seen.

  4. Try to identify any horizon landmarks with regard to the UFO’s position.

  5. If you have a video or still camera, record the sighting.

  Neither video nor still images carry much weight on their own, so it is essential that the images include reference information such as a tree, a mountain, or a skyline.

  6. Report the sighting as soon as possible.

  Contact the UFO Reporting and Information Service (206-721-5035), the Mutual UFO Network (830-379-2166), or the National UFO Reporting Center (206-722-3000).

  Be Aware

  • Most sightings are in rural areas, away from bright lights, and near military installations. They oc
cur most frequently during the summer months, around 9:00 P.M., with a secondary peak at around 3:00 A.M.

  HOW TO SURVIVE A MUGGING

  1. Do not argue or fight with a mugger unless your life is clearly in danger.

  If all a mugger wants is your purse, wallet, or other belongings, surrender them. Your possessions are not worth your life.

  2. If you are certain that your attacker means to do you or a loved one harm, attack vital areas of your assailant’s body.

  Aim to disable him or her with the first blow by:

  • Thrusting your fingers into and above your attacker’s eyes.

  • Driving your knee in an upward direction into his groin (if mugger is male).

  • Grabbing and crushing the attacker’s testicles as if crushing a handful of grapes (if mugger is male).

  • Striking the front of his or her throat, using the area between your thumb and first finger, or the side of your hand, held straight and strong.

  • Slamming the tip of your elbow into the side of the mugger’s ribs.

  • Stomping down on the mugger’s instep.

  3. Use an object as a weapon.

  Many common objects can be effective weapons if they are aimed at vulnerable body parts. Pick up and use what is easily available:

  • A stick can jab at an attacker’s eyes or groin.

  • Keys held between your fingers can slash or punch.

  • A car antenna can jab or slash your attacker’s face and eyes.

  HOW TO TAIL A THIEF

  1. Before attempting to follow someone who you believe has stolen from you, try to alter your appearance.

  Remove your jacket, if you were wearing one; remove your shirt, if you are wearing a T-shirt underneath; put on or remove a hat or sunglasses. You do not want the thief to recognize you.

  2. Never stare directly at the person you are following.