Photo by Cedric Pieterse

Every time I listen to Pink Floyd’s Shine on You Crazy Diamond, I think back to the Makgadi-kgadi Pans in Botswana. These pans cover 6 177.6 square miles, and from the middle, you can see the curvature of the Earth.

Once, I drove my Land Rover over the pans and decided to stop in the middle and sleep under the stars. Pink Floyd played on the CD player and it made the whole experience surreal.

When I listen to Joan Baez I’m taken back to a surfing trip and a remote beach down the East Coast of Africa. I can smell the freshly caught crayfish crackling over the coals and hear the waves whooshing in the dark.

Music reminds us of our travels, just as much as it inspires us to travel. It urges us to unfold the maps, pack the backpack and hit the road.

Here are 8 reasons we love music on the journey:

1. Music is a universal language

Local music breaks down the barriers of language and ethnicity. Music is a universal language, which uplifts the spirit and helps to make friends.

People all over the world identify with music. The essence of ancient cultures lies in music, and if we are lucky, we can experience a bit of it.

I was one of very few Westerners to have been invited to a traditional Ghule-whankulu dance in Malawi. These dancers belong to a secret society, their true identities are known only by themselves, and no one in the village knows who is behind the masks.

Their energetic dancing accompanied by awe-inspiring drum rhythms will always be a part of my memories.

2. Music reminds you of the people

Music reminds you of the people you met along the journey. Like a little romance I had with the girl from Holland captured perfectly by Natalie Imbruglia while we were waiting for the bus. It was a bittersweet farewell.

She promised to phone me, lying naked on the floor. (It never happened…)

3. Music can make the world yours

Music shortens those long hot and smelly journeys in the back of a crowded bus. Music can drown out the noise of a big city. Listening to your favorite tracks can enhance the experience of seeing a natural or man-made wonder for the first time.

Make that “touristy” spot, a piece of your own travel memories without the camera-toting holidaymakers. For me it was Moby at Victoria Falls in Zambia.

4. Music can ignite your imagination

Photo by Cedric Pieterse

Recently, I boarded a plane at the start of a new journey. As the plane hurtled down the runway on take-off, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Free Bird was reminding me that I was free as a bird, and that I would never change.

Too many places to see. Music fueled the excitement. The promise of new adventure. It made the farewell to my family easier.

5. Music can enhance the present

Music makes the world a little more interesting. It helps your thoughts and imagination to be a little bit more creative.

I was sitting at the Stockholm train-station, and I was listening to Vaya Con Dios’s Don’t cry for Louie. I saw this shady guy with a trench coat and dark glasses, and he had two tarty looking women with him.

Pimp and prostitutes. I saw Louie. I had the urge to walk over to one of the women and ask her to sing for me, in that lovely low and sexy voice. The fear of a slap in the face, and possible arrest for public disturbance stopped me.

And Louie would have been pissed off.

6. Music can scar you

Sometimes, music can have a negative impact as well. Malawi has cured me of Peter Tosh and Bob Marley forever.

I was staying at a backpackers in Inkhatha Bayand, and couldn’t help but notice some other “beach boys” that spoke with overdone Jamaican accents. The local Rastas.

They were rolling joint after joint of “electric spinach” and listening to some shockingly bad, very loud distortions of Buffalo Soldier and Redemption Song. Over and fucking over.

7. Music can be a useful

I have once used music as a weapon. I arrived at this nice little campsite at the Drakensberg in South Africa, on the Lesotho border.

I set up camp away from the rest of the crowd when a noisy family decided to come and disturb my peace. They settled right next to me, and the kids proceeded to kick up a lot of noise.

I put Tom Wait’s Bone Machine on at top volume and took a few sips of Rum straight out the bottle while I gave the mother the evil eye.

Needless to say, they packed up and left me in peace. I always reserve old Tom for warding off witchdoctors and noisy kids.

8. Music is travel

Mostly, I have fond memories of my travels when I am listening to music at home and working towards the next trip. It is like a form of traveling on its own. Traveling without moving.

How has music enhanced your journeys? Share your stories in the comments!

With a few precautions one can travel around the globe without having to pay bribes – or spend time in some rat-infested jail in the middle of nowhere. There are countless travel guides and books that tell you the do’s and dont’s of safe border crossing, and explain how to deal with authorities in general.

Most of the advice in these guides is good, and you should read them. But what if you do find yourself in a sticky situation at a border crossing? How do you get out of it?

First of all, let’s go over the things that can create a potentially bad situation.

Mocking Religion

Mocking any religion, no matter where you are, can lead to serious problems. Most wars around the globe are about religion.

Packing Drugs

Getting caught with drugs or an unlicensed firearm are obvious “mistakes.” In these cases you WILL spend time in jail, without anybody knowing that you are there.

In most cases, you will find that your embassy will be very reluctant to assist you. Diplomatic relations are far more important than a nice plate of food and a warm bed for someone who has broken the rules.

You will need a very good lawyer and a very big pile of cash, if and when you are allowed to make a phone call. Basically, if you are stupid enough to get into trouble with the aforementioned items, you will get little sympathy with what is coming to you.

Flaunting Luxury

Then there are seemingly innocent things that can attract unwanted attention: money, cameras, sunglasses, fancy clothes or a luxury car, and expensive electronics like laptop computers or iPods.

Make sure to pack these items out of sight, and only carry enough money for the things that you need to buy, like visas or bus tickets.

If you have a thick wad of cash in your wallet, the officials might be tempted to “create” a problem. The key is to stay as inconspicuous as possible.

Bribes And Fake Policemen – Oh My!

Now that you more or less know what gets you into trouble, how do you get out of it, without having to blow your travel budget?

The officials that you will be dealing with at border crossings in poor countries do not earn a lot of money. They are always looking for some extra cash, and if you have it, they will often try to get it.

I have spoken to a “policeman” who told me that he was actually renting the uniform from the real cop for the weekend!

He had a “radar” speed checking device, which actually turned out to be a hairdryer with a calculator glued to the back. I insisted to see his certificate of employment, which he did not have. I wanted to see the calibration certificate for the “radar gun” which was going to be a problem for him, but he still did not want to let me go.

He threatened me with going to court, and I took him up on it. When he realized that I’d called his bluff, we had a friendly chat about the whole situation. (He did ask me for a donation, and I politely said no).

Know When To Fold’em

Most of the time a tricky situation is just a bluff. The officials know that travelers are scared to go to jail, and that their uniform is a good intimidation tool. Stand your ground. If you did not break any obvious laws, then you do have rights.

Nine times out of ten, if you insist on sorting the matter out at the nearest police station, they will let you go. After all, they don’t want to get in to trouble with their boss; work is scarce in many impoverished areas.

Refuse with a Smile

Make jokes, have a friendly chat and be polite. Never shout at police, do not be rude, and do not insult them. If you belittle them in front of their peers, you will dig yourself a deep hole.

Learn a few words in their language, or ask them to teach you a few words. Doing so makes them feel important, makes them feel good about themselves. I know this sounds bad, but patronizing them works.

If all else isn’t working, play the time-game and wait it out. The day is only so long, and while you play for time, the officials are losing out on easier targets.

Any tips of your own in crossing borders and avoiding trouble? Share in the comments!

Cedric Pieterse was born and raised in South Africa, and always had a passion for traveling. He eventually got fed-up with climbing the corporate ladder and decided to pack his bags and hit the road. After four years of criss-crossing Africa, Cedric is currently living in Sweden.