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Rorie_Fantastico · 09-20-2005, 08:27 AM

Thanks everybody you'r help was great on my last question, now for another one! (are first time travellers annoying? haha) (plus this is kinda a few questions.....
1) I heard that a woman was not long ago arrested and put in jail for having neurofen in south east asia, are ther any medicines i should check or not take at all?

2) We arent going camping and plan to sped our time in hostels, does this mean we dont have to take a sleeping bag, only sleep sheets? (if so hurrah more space)

3) Being a gay couple we have checked the laws and know that it is punishable offence in fiji, singapore and malaysia (the latter two most serious) are gay couples a commodity in th backpacker world and will we face any difficulties in other places?

our route is Heathrow London -> JFK New your -> SFO inte san fran //travel over land to Los Angeles -> Nadi Fiji -> Auckland new zealand //travel overland to Christchurch -> Sydney australia // travel overland to cairns -> Singapore // travel overland through Malaysia to Thailand and fly from Bangkok -> Heathrow.

Thanks guys

**TimmyJames1976** · 09-20-2005, 08:50 AM

shoot man, i can't help ya but those are some darn good qustions...good luck

**pinion** · 09-20-2005, 10:25 AM

If you aren't planning on camping I would leave the sleeping bag behind. Many hostels won't even let you use them b/c they can transfer bed bugs.

I honestly don't think you'll get too much hassel from the backpacker community being a gay couple. The majority of us are open minded and very accepting people. Just a heads up though...thats just the majority of us which does leave some bad eggs out there. I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just enjoy your trip!

foofiter · 09-20-2005, 10:50 AM

Leave the sleeping bag at home and use a sleep sheet. That I can tell you for sure. It's bulky, heavy, and not needed since you aren't camping. And yes they do transfer bed bugs which isn't cool.

As for the laws of the specific countries you just have to be very careful. Just be smart about things and you should be fine.

Looks like an awesome trip by the way and I would love to hear how much that RTW airfare cost!

Foo

**omisan** · 09-20-2005, 11:24 AM

1) I'd check out various drug laws for the countries you're visiting, but the rule of thumb is to carry a copy of your prescription for any medications you're carrying, and for over-the-counter drugs, keep them in their original packaging. If they are illegal where you are, they'll typically just dump it rather than throw you in jail!

2) Don't worry 'bout the sleeping bags... I've only ever used mine if I was actually camping. Like in a tent. Never at a hostel - in fact, most won't allow you to use them for fear of bringing IN bed bugs and other nasties.

3) As much as it sucks, basically don't publicly be affectionate in the aforementioned countries. Anywhere else? No problem. I've run into gay backpackers everywhere I've been, and the stories they recounted never involved any sort of discrimination or violence, other than the typical stupid comments from some people. Check out an out-travel site or whatnot to see what the climate is in various countries if you're all that concerned.

Happy trails...

Rorie_Fantastico · 09-21-2005, 08:15 AM

thanx everyone, Foo, my RTW ticket cost 1100 inc tax with STA! good huh?!

**omisan** · 09-21-2005, 10:33 AM

Quote:

my RTW ticket cost 1100 inc tax with STA! good huh?!

Damn, that's amazing! Or are you talking Pounds? Still... damn...

Rorie_Fantastico · 09-22-2005, 09:46 AM

yeah I am a pounds boy sorry! it's ... erm ... about 2000 dollars US. God US dollars sound so much more expensive