david_quigley2

<p>Travelled through Guatemala in July last year. Seven hours on a Chicken Bus from El Estor to Cahabon was perhaps the most non "tourist track" part of the trip, with friendly locals all the way. And only the most basic Spanish language skills too!</p>

<p>I've travelled through more than a few places where it is impossible to look like anything other than a tourist, with a camera around my neck, without any problems. Cambodia, Laos, Guatemala, Mexico, Vietnam, Turkey, Honduras, Belize, and even Los Angeles!<br>

There is some excellent advice here already, my three favorites so far are;<br>

-Insurance- if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. Health insurance is the top priority, but a travel policy will cover your possesions too, taking some of the stress out of travelling.<br>

-Back-Up - it's one thing to have an expensive camera stolen. It can be replaced. But if you have ALL of your photos on the memory card inside the camera, then there was no point in bringing the camera in the first place!<br>

-Stay Aware - don't put bags down without your leg through one of the straps. Always have just a little suspicion that someone might take your stuff, even at home. Take the time to scan 360 degrees around you, as a photographer you are probably doing this already! Be alert (but not alarmed!).<br>

My own little piece of advice (which was passed to me from some very well travelled photographers) is to make your camera look like it is not worth stealing. How? Make it look like it is held together with gaffer-tape. Use the stuff with threads in it, it looks the trashiest! Obviously don't cover any of the dials or sensors, but lots of strips and pieces over the panels and grips looks bad- which is good! Pay particular attention to covering the brand name and lettering. Don't have a camera strap with logos - mine does, but it is covered over with embroidered cloth from Vietnam. Not only does it cover the brand name, but makes it look old and well travelled. And much more comfy on my neck too!<br>

When you are home, if you want to go back to being a "conspicuous consumer", peel all the tape off and clean up with a little "goo-remover" (make sure it is safe for plastics).<br>

The added bonus of the tape is that it will protect all your shiny new equipment, so when you get back from your trip you will have hundreds of fantastic photos and a camera that looks like it never left home.</p>