Health and Security

In order that we don't find ourselves either down the Bristish Embassy, or the nearest A&E, we have taken the following precautions:
 

Vaccinations:

 
Our vaccinations were done at the local GP and a travel clinic nearby. They were all free, bar the yellow fever (£40) and rabies (£90 - argh!!).
 

With regard to malaria, due to such controversial opinion on Larium, and the locations we are going to, we have chosen to not take prophylactics (due to possible health implications). Instead we are:

  • Ensuring we cover up around dawn and dusk
  • Use LifeSystems DEET spray (50% and 100%) on ourselves and our clothes when at risk
  • Use mosquito nets whenever possible, impregnated with Permethrin
  • Take garlic tablets twice a day. These are reputed to repel mosquitos, are a healthy option, and apparently are quite palatable with no effect on breath!
  • Taking 24 Malarone tablets, which are enough to cure two bouts of malaria, should we both get it at the same time and are in the middle of nowhere.
 
We are also taking a first aid kit, with bandages, plasters, steristrip, an ankle/elbow support and a few pills and drugs to make various parts of our bodies work as they should and remove pain. This include a sterile needle kit, should we ever be admitted to a hospital that has rusty old bloodstained needles.
 
Security
Have you any idea how heavy a decent chain is? Exactly - What a pain. There is no way around it though. These bikes ARE our trip, and there will be many people that will be keen to adopt them for us. Thus a decent, strong chain a lock is going to offer the protection and peace of mind we need. We will hopefully be able to find a place low on the bike to store it, to try and minimise it's impact. The panniers have good locks on them, and are fitted securely to the bikes.
 
Both of us will have body wallets with our passports, cards and important docs in them - the loose type that go over your shoulder work well, as there's no belt or band, and it's not held tight to the skin, getting sweaty. We will stash spare dollars in the bike, we'll have fake wallets with expired cards and we'll store money in various pockets/rolls of fat. A copy of all our important documents will be by a fax machine in the UK.
 
Documents:

We're taking:

 

In the wallet

  • Switch Card
  • Credit Card
  • Dollars
  • Local currency
  • Blood group card