Comments on: How To Survive Dangerous Border Crossings http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/01/10/how-to-survive-third-world-border-crossings/ Online travel magazine dedicated to exploring travel in the 21st century. Offering travel news, compelling interviews, online travel tools, and more. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 11:07:09 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Bra artiklar vecka 2 | Travelaid.se http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/01/10/how-to-survive-third-world-border-crossings/comment-page-1/#comment-79272 Bra artiklar vecka 2 | Travelaid.se Sun, 21 Dec 2008 22:41:04 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/01/10/how-to-survive-third-world-border-crossings/#comment-79272 [...] Brave New Traveler: How To Survive Dangerous Border Crossings [...] [...] Brave New Traveler: How To Survive Dangerous Border Crossings [...]

(Report comment)

]]> By: Spiro Xavier http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/01/10/how-to-survive-third-world-border-crossings/comment-page-1/#comment-62518 Spiro Xavier Sun, 27 Apr 2008 05:41:38 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/01/10/how-to-survive-third-world-border-crossings/#comment-62518 Does anyone reading this silly little piece know anybody (personally I mean) that has actually gotten into any real trouble (beatings, rape, imprisonment, death) at an African border crossing... Probably not. Because all you need is Attitude, cool shades, and a bag full of Lincolns, and you'll be greated like the king of Rome... So if an in reality uneventful bordercrossing scares you, well maybe you should just have stayed at home sunny boy ;) Does anyone reading this silly little piece know anybody (personally I mean) that has actually gotten into any real trouble (beatings, rape, imprisonment, death) at an African border crossing… Probably not. Because all you need is Attitude, cool shades, and a bag full of Lincolns, and you’ll be greated like the king of Rome… So if an in reality uneventful bordercrossing scares you, well maybe you should just have stayed at home sunny boy ;)

(Report comment)

]]> By: Ekaterina Petrovna http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/01/10/how-to-survive-third-world-border-crossings/comment-page-1/#comment-45506 Ekaterina Petrovna Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:08:04 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/01/10/how-to-survive-third-world-border-crossings/#comment-45506 Nice article! And also funny:) Coming from Russia I had some funny experiences while crossing the border between Russia and Ukraine. Officials indeed don't earn a lot of money in these countries, and sometimes, very strict laws, are just a way to 'improve' the salary. Nice article! And also funny:) Coming from Russia I had some funny experiences while crossing the border between Russia and Ukraine. Officials indeed don’t earn a lot of money in these countries, and sometimes, very strict laws, are just a way to ‘improve’ the salary.

(Report comment)

]]> By: Kango Suz http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/01/10/how-to-survive-third-world-border-crossings/comment-page-1/#comment-45499 Kango Suz Sun, 13 Jan 2008 19:39:20 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/01/10/how-to-survive-third-world-border-crossings/#comment-45499 Jacob- great comment! Wonderful article. Your advice, while it may seem obvious, is priceless. I've been in and around Mexico during some very tumultous times and even though I pretty much failed all my Spanish classes, being respectful to authorities (although not a push-over) has enabled me to stay out of trouble, no matter how much I happened to be in... Jacob- great comment!

Wonderful article. Your advice, while it may seem obvious, is priceless. I’ve been in and around Mexico during some very tumultous times and even though I pretty much failed all my Spanish classes, being respectful to authorities (although not a push-over) has enabled me to stay out of trouble, no matter how much I happened to be in…

(Report comment)

]]> By: Haley January Eckels http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/01/10/how-to-survive-third-world-border-crossings/comment-page-1/#comment-44905 Haley January Eckels Fri, 11 Jan 2008 21:38:59 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/01/10/how-to-survive-third-world-border-crossings/#comment-44905 I think I'll pass on the Sudan to Chad experience. :) Very interesting read, and very well-written. Just like when you're at home, knowing how to speak politely is key to avoiding conflict. "Good morning", "please", "excuse me", and "thank you" go along way with authority figures, and I love the suggestion of having the offending officer teach you the terms if you don't already know them! I think I’ll pass on the Sudan to Chad experience. :)

Very interesting read, and very well-written. Just like when you’re at home, knowing how to speak politely is key to avoiding conflict. “Good morning”, “please”, “excuse me”, and “thank you” go along way with authority figures, and I love the suggestion of having the offending officer teach you the terms if you don’t already know them!

(Report comment)

]]> By: Cedric http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/01/10/how-to-survive-third-world-border-crossings/comment-page-1/#comment-44779 Cedric Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:10:42 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/01/10/how-to-survive-third-world-border-crossings/#comment-44779 Thanx for the comment Jacob! I suppose even border crossings through the airports of "civilized" countries has become a bane lately. Altough the usual "Take your shoes off, sir" is becoming more frequent nowadays, there is also all sorts of questions that one has to answer. One can attract less attention by not wearing sunglasses and hats. To argue with security is also a sure way to miss a flight. I have seen this happen a lot lately. One wonders what happens to these people in the security room... Maybe a full body search, including a uncomfortable latex covered finger where you do not want it. (for some of us:)) I suppose if you do end up in the security room, one should get very nervous if you feel both the examiner's hands on your shoulders, accompanied with hot and heavy breathing... Why do people wear sunglasses and hats inside buildings anyway? As for experiencing your own terrifying border-crossings, I can recommend South Africa-Lesotho as a beginner step, and then you can work your way up the scale with Malawi-Mozambique and when you really want to scare yourself the Sudan-Chad crossing is one you will never forget. I have also experienced an interesting crossing from Zambia in to DRC and out again, complete with RPG wielding, machine-gun-toting rebels! I got away with buying them beer! Happy travels! Thanx for the comment Jacob!
I suppose even border crossings through the airports of “civilized” countries has become a bane lately.
Altough the usual “Take your shoes off, sir” is becoming more frequent nowadays, there is also all sorts of questions that one has to answer.
One can attract less attention by not wearing sunglasses and hats. To argue with security is also a sure way to miss a flight. I have seen this happen a lot lately. One wonders what happens to these people in the security room…

Maybe a full body search, including a uncomfortable latex covered finger where you do not want it. (for some of us:))
I suppose if you do end up in the security room, one should get very nervous if you feel both the examiner’s hands on your shoulders, accompanied with hot and heavy breathing…

Why do people wear sunglasses and hats inside buildings anyway?

As for experiencing your own terrifying border-crossings, I can recommend South Africa-Lesotho as a beginner step, and then you can work your way up the scale with Malawi-Mozambique and when you really want to scare yourself the Sudan-Chad crossing is one you will never forget. I have also experienced an interesting crossing from Zambia in to DRC and out again, complete with RPG wielding, machine-gun-toting rebels! I got away with buying them beer!
Happy travels!

(Report comment)

]]> By: Best of Travel Blogs: Crossing Borders, Saving Whisky and Feeding Hippos : Kathika.com http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/01/10/how-to-survive-third-world-border-crossings/comment-page-1/#comment-44730 Best of Travel Blogs: Crossing Borders, Saving Whisky and Feeding Hippos : Kathika.com Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:09:57 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/01/10/how-to-survive-third-world-border-crossings/#comment-44730 [...] brave travelers at Brave New Traveler posted an interesting read on surviving dangerous border crossings with some helpful tips for any tricky passport control [...] [...] brave travelers at Brave New Traveler posted an interesting read on surviving dangerous border crossings with some helpful tips for any tricky passport control [...]

(Report comment)

]]> By: Jacob http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/01/10/how-to-survive-third-world-border-crossings/comment-page-1/#comment-44472 Jacob Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:30:57 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/01/10/how-to-survive-third-world-border-crossings/#comment-44472 This has little to do with border crossings, but with "respecting" authority. A friend once told me that when insulting a German police officer, the difference between getting beaten/arrested and walking away cleanly is all in the language. "I told him, 'Sie sind eine NAZI'," my friend tells me, "Whereas if I would've said 'Du bist ein NAZI' he would've had full authority, under German law, to arrest me" (side note: this is coming from a guy who had overstayed his Visa for about a year and a half) The two phrases (if you haven't figured it out) both say "You are a NAZI", but its not the "NAZI" part that's illegal. The first is formal German, while the second is colloquial and disrespectful German. Its only illegal to speak disrespectfully to an officer...even if you're calling him a NAZI. Great article! I can hardly wait to have my own, terrifying border-crossing experience. This has little to do with border crossings, but with “respecting” authority.

A friend once told me that when insulting a German police officer, the difference between getting beaten/arrested and walking away cleanly is all in the language.

“I told him, ‘Sie sind eine NAZI’,” my friend tells me, “Whereas if I would’ve said ‘Du bist ein NAZI’ he would’ve had full authority, under German law, to arrest me”

(side note: this is coming from a guy who had overstayed his Visa for about a year and a half)

The two phrases (if you haven’t figured it out) both say “You are a NAZI”, but its not the “NAZI” part that’s illegal. The first is formal German, while the second is colloquial and disrespectful German. Its only illegal to speak disrespectfully to an officer…even if you’re calling him a NAZI.

Great article! I can hardly wait to have my own, terrifying border-crossing experience.

(Report comment)

]]>