Home security make your home safe

We will never stop house thieves. We all can't afford a big mansion with 24 hour security guards with
home security systems so what little we have we need to protect the best way we can.

We need to try and use the best home security methods and equipment that we can afford.

I thought I would share what I have learned about home security with you. Some gadgets can help but many of us can't always afford top of the range security cameras for our home or alarm systems.

So I will try advise the best I can and any links I add on gadgets etc will be the cheapest or best option I can find or one I recommend or use myself.




House lights

Many people leave lights on when they leave the house but many thieves are not stupid if they know a rough layout of your house they know a light on in a toilet is not going to be someone stood in the toilet for 2 hours they will know it was left on because your not home.


Light timers

Timers can be good for this reason you can set them to come on and off so anyone watching your house may think there is someone in if the lights come on at say 6pm and then go off at 8am

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Leaven the house

It can be good practice when you leave your house sometimes to act like you're saying bye to someone because any person over hearing may think someone else is still home and the house is not empty.

Alarm system

Alarm systems are good but can be expensive always make sure if your alarm goes off on false alarms
constantly to stop it as soon as possible.

Your neighbours may get sick of the noise of false alarms and then ignore it when your house is really being burgled thinking it's that false house alarm again.

CCTV

A good CCTV system is a must these days if you can afford to buy one.

I use a PTZ camera 
this means I can move it left and right, tilt it up and down and zoom in.

I have a DVR connected with a hard drive so it constantly records so I can go back on the recorded tape from weeks ago at any time.

Some of the newer models allow you to connect your CCTV to your mobile cell phone so 
you can see your house live on your phone if say you're at work etc. 

Many of them have inbuilt motion sensor alarms now and can be a great security assist to your home.

I have the front and back of my house covered with CCTV and there are no blind spots.

You can also buy a joystick which makes it easier to move the camera and zoom in and out but you don't have to use that.

You can either connect the CCTV to your home computer,laptop or mobile cell phone or just use a controller that comes with the DVR system.

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I will tell you why I invested in CCTV.


Why did I buy CCTV

Around 10 years ago I was in Turkey on holiday and my friend said he would look after my house while I was on holiday.

But he was going to the pub on Friday night but said he would go to my house after the pub.

At around 2am in the morning on Friday night 
a male walks into my front garden with a knife and cuts down a hanging basket that had flowers in it 
it was worth £1 from the local pound shop, no joke honest.

So the thief cuts the string it was held on with and then rides off on a pedal bike with the basket.

Around 30 mins later about 2.30am  my friend gets out of a taxi from the pub and never even notices the basket is gone. It was only in the morning when all the soil was all over he noticed and checked the video tape.

At that time I had a cheap £30 ebay camera and cheap dvr both low quality and could not really recognize anyone on the tape.

So when I got home I bought a proper HD CCTV night vision motion sensor camera the best for the price at the time with a joystick and good DVR.

I saved some money from my holiday and used that to buy a good camera.

The reason I did this was say for example that was me getting out of a taxi from the pub or my friend was a little early coming home.

What would that intruder have done if someone walked in the garden he was clearly armed with a knife would he have panicked and used it to escape.

The sad part is if he would have knocked on my door I would have given him the baskit it was worth £1 (0.50cents).

Good relations with neighbours

Having a good relationship with you neighbours can be important
they are your eyes and ears when your not home.

If they see people looking in your windows they can call you or the police or even ask them what they are doing in your garden.


Motion sensor

Motion sensors are good but can be sensitive to false alarms. I have one in my front garden when someone walks in it makes a ring noise at the plug socket. The problem with cheap models is that they can ring if it's windy so always buy a good one like the one below.

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Dog sticker

If you have a dog consider putting a sticker outside letting thieves know they will have to deal with dogs.

This is a tricky one though as a thief may be weary of a rottweiler or staffordshire bull but less worried about a poodle or a pug dog.



Washing line

Some thieves will scope out houses to see if  it will be worthwhile breaking in and if they may run into trouble are the owners physically strong looking? etc are there well built males,aggressive dogs,cctv, alarms etc.

Is it just a single mother in the house?.

If for example you have female clothes on a washing line and no male t-shirts, jeans etc
thieves will know no males live at the house. 

Now this method was often used in Northern Ireland during the troubles if I remember correctly by the special forces to know if hidden people were at locations before raids as there washing was on the washing lines so a thief could do the same.



Social media

We all use social media to a point but be careful what you say
I have repeatedly told friends about this one
many people put posts like these.

(Holiday in 5 days we are going to Benidorm for 2 weeks can't wait all inclusive.

(Food is great here just been out for meal
 got another week here in Malta)

Now all that first post is saying to every person in your area and all your followers is that your house is more than likely empty for 2 weeks as you're in Benidorm.

The 2rd post is telling people you're away on holiday so if you're away your house is more than likely empty.




A thief who knows you and has seen your facebook post now knows he can take his time having a root for money,gold etc in your home and not have to rush as your in Malta on holiday)

Now you may say well your followers are not thieves etc but what if they Like your facebook post or share it on facebook etc with there followers and someone they know is a house thief who just happens to live around the corner from you.

Many people don't think about these things when they post pictures on facebook,instagram etc with comments when on they are on holiday etc.

People in your area may look at your posts and say aren't they lucky 2 weeks in the sunny Spain.
Word soon gets around that your house is empty.

There was a story not long ago where some footballer if I remember correctly was on holiday and put it on social media and his house was robbed as they knew no one was home and it has happened in my area a few times.

The stupid part is the people that were robbed go on facebook and say someone read my FB post so knew I was on holiday and has robbed my house etc well it is public facebook so they are going to.

Taxi driver wait

If you have been out say on a night out and you get a taxi home.

Ask the taxi driver to wait until you get in your house before he drives off that way you can be a little bit more secure.

Knowing someone is watching your back it takes seconds for someone to creep up as you put your key in the front door to push you in your house.

The taxi driver could be a lifesaver. I am not trying to scare people here. I am looking at the best ways I can help you to avoid trouble. The world is a dangerous place.



Letterbox 

This is a common tactic thieves use a bamboo or other type of stick with a hook and then they stick it through letterboxes to grip house keys,car keys.

Many people when they get home have tables near to the front doors and put their keys down as soon as they get home from work or when going to bed at night.

Never store house,car keys near the front door.

keep them in the same place of course in case of fires emergencies etc.

But never next to the front door unless you're sure they are out of sight if someone opens the letterbox.
                                        
Letterbox takeaway menu

If you're away ask a neighbor or family member you trust to check on your house once a day or even every other day.

The reason I say this is because leaflet delivery men deliver things such as takeaway menus.

They have a habit of posting the menus but leaving them sticking out of your letter box so all this does is say to all the local thieves hey we are not home come break into my house.



Car keys signal

Thieves are now also using a machine to unlock your car from outside your house. This machine connects to your car keys in your house and unlocks your car.

So worried people have tried keeping keys wrapped in tin foil,in the fridge even in the microwave
in hope they won't fall victim

The best advice I would say is invest in an Iron Stripe Car Key Signal Blocker box
that will stop them being able to open your car by connecting to your keys.

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Wheelie bin not out?

As above, ask a neighbour to put your wheelie bins out an overflowing bin is a tell tale sign no one is home otherwise you would have emptied the bin if it was bin day the day before etc.

Current news area rumours

If there is a spate of robberies in your area don't think three houses have been broken into on my row surely they won't try mine they more than likely will. Just be a little more on guard if there are break ins happening in your area.


Gasman, salesman

Always be a little on guard of salesmen or people knocking on your door saying they are with the gas,electricity company and need to come in and check your gas meter if you're not due a check up etc.

Always ask for ID or close the door and call their company. (May have fake ID)

If the company says there is no work ongoing in the area or they don't work for them etc phone the police asap don't open the door again until police come.

If you're worried when you first open the door just say my husband is in the bath. He deals with all that can you come back tomorrow and close the door and then phone the company to see if they are legitimate?

Broken down, can I use phone?

If you ever get anyone knocking on your door saying they broke down can they use your phone to call for recovery just either say no or ask them for the number and you phone it dont allow them in your house to use your phone.

Spy hole intercom

Door spy holes are good to have so you can see who is there before you open the door.

Phone intercoms with a camera built in are good as well if you think someone at your front door looks creepy.

Go upstairs and open the window there and speak through the window don't open the door and have your mobile cell phone in your hand in case you need police assistance.

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Valuables

Keep all valuables hidden when you're not home. I don't recommend mini safes
yes it may be solid and the thief can't break into it in your house but what's stopping them from carrying it with them?

Hide valuables in hidden places 
You can buy fake plug sockets  that slot into walls they are good or fake food tins that you put in your food cupboard. A thief will know all the good hiding places such as under your bed or on top of wardrobes.

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Hidden keys

Don't hide keys in your garden under plant pots,under a rock or under the wheelie bin.

If you think that is a good place no one will ever guess your wrong.

Thieves break into houses for a living and many are good at it and will have a good idea where that hidden key is.

Leave keys with a neighbour you trust or with a relative who lives close by
or even hidden in your car as a last resort.

Doors

Doors of your house are like castle gates. It is pointless having good security if the front and back door of your house is weak and easy to break into.

It's important to have a good strong solid door and a decent 
well made mortice lock for when you're not home.

The harder your house is to break in and the more steps you take to slow a thief down the better chance they may give up and leave.

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Barrel door bolts

Also worth having some barrel door bolts for when you're at home they will help stop a kick to the lock from opening your door if you're in bed etc.



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Locked out

A neighbour of mine a few years ago locked himself out and said could I get into his house for him?.

So I said sure I could try to climb up to his bathroom window with some ladders and climb though his bathroom window that was slightly open.

But the gap was only small so he said can you kick the front door in?

I said but it will break the wood frame and maybe the lock as well he said its ok he could repair that. 

So I asked him a few times, are you sure? He said yes. I then kicked the door  2 times and it opened easily and that was a solid wood door.

The weakness was not the door but the small lock he had on the door.

Now if he would have been in the house and had the barrel bolts on the door there is no chance I would be able to kick that door in so my point is they are a good investment same as a decent lock when you're out.

Not a fan of glass doors all a thief has to do is smash the glass
to noisy you say? thieves have a way of smashing glass with not much noise.

Walking In

Don't leave your front door open in the day
don't think thieves won't walk in knowing your home. 

I know people this has happened to in last few months keep your door locked even if your home say for example watching TV or upstairs. 

The people I know this has happened to one said the thieves walked in and the owner chased after them. The other said they gripped the car keys of the table and stole their car.


If you do want to leave you door open consider buying a door alarm when the seal beam is broken the alarm starts beeping the same type when you walk in a shop and you hear that beep you can also use these on windows as well they are quite good for the money.

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Pets

Don't leave pets such as dogs alone in your garden where you can not see them 
main reason I say this is that dog theft is common.

They will steal your pets either to sell or for dog fighting.

They may also try to poison the dog if they plan on robbing your house in the future so never leave pets unwatched and be weary if you find food such as meat in your garden as it 
Could be poisoned. 

Also keep an eye out for slug pellets as these are commonly used to harm dogs.

Never leave pet food bowels out in your garden or allow any stranger to come to your gate and get friendly with you dog by stroking them and never tell strangers the dogs name just lie.

Lost my friend

The other reason I say keep watch on your pets

Someone may knock on your front door and leave the gate open and your dog gets out. Happened to me his name was Joey.

My sister let him out in the front garden for 5 mins with the gate locked. Someone opened the gate for some reason and he got out.

We never saw him again. I tried looking for him everywhere, put posters up all over, he was microchipped and had collier on with address phone number etc.

He was well looked after so I think maybe someone took him.

I still miss him to this day. About 10 years later I went into a corner shop to get a drink about 4 miles from my home.

There was a little old lady in the shop with an old dog. I walked in and this dog wagged his tail at me. The old lady said that is strange he is never friendly with anyone. 

I said how long you had him?

She found him a stray around 10 years ago she said. Someone let him out of a car and drove off near her home in the rain and she kept him since then he is so loyal she said.

I am sure the dog was Joey my old dog.
What could I do thou? 

I never told her I thought he was my old dog. She clearly found him and looked after him and loved him the same as me and I am grateful to her for that.

I gave him a hug. The lady looked at me puzzled and I just walked out the shop and said goodbye Joe.

Broke my heart still hurts to this day
I truly hope it was him and he had a good life with that little old lady. I do wish I could find out who took him.


GPS collar

Always get your pet microchipped so if they are stolen they can be traced.

You can buy colliers now with a GPS locator so you can see the location of your pet instantly and where they have traveled from.

Now I know a person who uses one of these for his cat and he says they are good. Apparently his cat walks about ten miles a day.

The only issue with these is you first buy the collar GPS tag but also have to pay a subscription service like a phone bill.

Some range from about £3.33 a month and the model below has a battery life of 2-5 days.


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Windows

Many people leave upstairs windows open thinking a thief can't get in wrong they can.

Let's say a thief dressed as a window cleaner with a ladder decides to try his luck getting in your window.

Do you think any person walking past is going to think he is a thief and not a friendly window cleaner? Lock all windows when not at home.

Window Sensor

You can buy window sensors so if a thief smashes the window or trys to force window open the alarms go off some are good and loud as well and not expensive.


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Glass film

You can buy a film that you put on the outside of your windows you can see out but people can not see in unless you turn a light on. This is good for privacy as well as stopping thieves looking in your windows.

I use this the only advice I would say is make sure you attach it properly if not you get air bubbles and have to do it all over again like I did.

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Strangers in the night

Always be wary of strangers in the area or random people just hanging around for no reason.

They may be scoping the houses out and peoples routine same with cars pulling up and sitting there then just driving off.

Write the licence plate down and date time etc then if you see it again you know its same car.

Some thieves will be patient and watch people to see routines 
for example, everyone leaves for work at 9am so that house is empty for 4,5 hours.

Just be on guard at people trying to get your routine the less they know the better.

Front/back garden

Never leave any tools in your garden that a thief could use to break in your house with
spades,rocks,hammers,ladders,screwdrivers.

This gos for garden sheds as well keep them locked.

A hammer or screwdriver in a back garden shed may help a thief get in your house.

The nice ladders you have could help a thief reach up to that back garden window and be in your house in minutes. You can also use the motion sensors in your shed aswell that I mentioned before.

Back fence

If you have a back fence make sure you make it hard for thieves to get over it now this is a tough one due to laws.

For example razor wire,barbed wire is a grey area with the law would it stop thieves probably is it lawful depends on your country's laws.


The police often advise against the use of such intruder prevention due to the risk of legal action.

Believe it or not you owe a duty of care to thieves,trespassers not to get injured breaking into your property.

Section 164 of the Highways Act 1980 
States that barbed wire (or Razor wire) on land adjoining a public highway must not cause a nuisance to humans or animals using the highway. Anything placed below 2.4 metres high will usually be deemed to be causing a nuisance and the local authority can issue a notice demanding its removal.


The Criminal Justice Act 2003
Provides some advice to householders.

If a trespasser suffers an injury during the course of a crime, for which they are subsequently convicted for, they will only be able to sue the occupier or landowner with the court’s permission.

If it can be shown that there were adequate warning signs and the deterrent was clearly visible this is unlikely to be given.

(Note)
Broken glass, or nails are not covered by the above
laws and you are almost guaranteed to be in trouble if you use either.

If you do use barbed wire etc.
  • Get planning permission, if required
  • Put signs up (warning barbed wire) 
  • Keep it high above 2.4 metres or higher if you can.

You can buy thorn bushes and wooden trails sticking these on a fence a thief may avoid them as it will create noise they are not usually strong enough to hold an intruder's weight so the snapping noise will get the home owner's attention so a thief may avoid it.

You can also buy plastic no harm wall spikes most shops sell these.

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Holidays christmas & halloween

Around holiday times thieves may be more active 
for example on halloween someone in a mask is not going to get much attention from other people standing near a front door the same as now with the pandemic people in masks are normal sites we see everyday.

Christmas times 

Thieves know around christmas time that people will have their trees out full with presents.

Many people will be at christmas work parties or christmas shopping or at the christmas markets.

Thevis know this is the perfect time to strike.

I see it in the paper every year how thieves steal some kids christmas presents from under the tree etc.


House and car keys

Never have your home address on your car keys or house keys 
you lose them and a thief finds them. They have a way into your house and your address.

USB memory stick

What if you lose keys?

I have a small USB memory stick on my keys
with a Microsoft word document
on it so when they plug it into a computer the person that finds the keys.

The document on USB

(Reads If you have found these keys please phone this number thank you)

If they do phone arrange to meet in a shopping centre or public place not at your home as they may not turn up or may have made copies so I would say changing locks may be worth doing that anyway if you can afford to.

Buy a metal USB so the plastic doesn't snap off your keys.

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Sat navs and phones

Never have your home address set on sat navs or mobile phones the map part I mean
if your car gets stolen and you have your address in sat nav the thief  may try his luck with your house.

Have a street nearby or a landmark near to your home set as home. That way the thief  has maybe an area of 2 miles to guess your home they won't bother then.
 
Law at the moment on home self defence
Different per country (UK Law)

Reasonable force can be used if an intruder is for example walking up your stairs in your home and you have no escape and you feel your life or loved ones are at risk.

If an intruder flees the scene, then at that moment they are not presenting a threat to you the householder any longer. 

This means that if you the householder then chase and attack the house thief on the street or in your front garden you could no longer be considered to be acting in self-defense and may be arrested. 

Reasonable force can still be used to recover property or make a citizen's arrest.

It would not be lawful for example keeping a cricket bat next to your bed to use if a thief broke into your house.

Where as if you played cricket every weekend and picked your bat up, if you felt your life was in danger then you would probably be within the law.

It's a tricky subject so as I am not a solicitor I am not going to comment too much.

I will just put what the law says below if you're unsure of your rights consider looking online or even asking the local police.

Reasonable Force

A person may use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances for the purposes of (in the alternative)
  • Self-defence;
  • Defence of another
  • Defence of property
  • Prevention of crime
  • Lawful arrest.

As stated this is my own guide I thought I would share.

It is not made to replace any professional law enforcement advice.
Hopefully the guide may help you. 

I must stress this again Don't try tackle house thieves they will more then likely be armed.

Knives,hammer,screwdrivers all number of  items that can cause you harm. .

Don't think if you go over the top beating up a house thief the law will be on your side they 
won't.

Phone the police that's what their job is for to protect you.

Myth or legend

This is a strange one. I was not going to add this but thought upto you to see what you think
I have heard of this in the past that some thieves leave codes for other thieves.

Apparently they have left  markings outside peoples houses.

These markings alert other thieves if the homeowners are: 
  • Single woman alone
  • Old people
  • Wealthy 
  • No males living at the house

Whether or not this is true I don't know.

But if you do see symbols in chalk etc randomly appear on your door,bins,walls just be a little on guard.

It could be harmless kids in the area just a little graffiti etc or it could be this so-called legend code.

Either way take a photo and contact the local police. They will have more knowledge of the symbols and meanings.

If you want to know more just google (Thieves' code – myth)

If you have any questions just comment if you think I need to add anything or you want to ask something let me know if this guide helped you?



at No comments:

Is Garlic a superfood and good for you?

What is origin and history of garlic

No one really knows the true origin; it is rumoured to be
West China, around Tien Shan Mountains to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, or even Siberia in Russia.

It has even been rumoured to be from space wait before you say it was aliens etc.

Apparently some scientists say garlic could  have come from space in the form of hitching a ride on a meteorite and then grown in the earth's soil but guess we'll never really know.



History

Garlic has been used many civilisations throughout history by:
  • The Vikings
  • The Romans
  • The Egyptians
  • The Ancient greeks
  • The Crusaders
  • The Mongols



Holy Bible

Garlic even has a mention in the holy bible
(number 11-5)
we remember the free fish we ate in egypt along with
the cucumber, onions,melon,leeks, and garlic.




Turkish Legend

There is an old legend that when satan stepped out of the garden of eden after the fall of man
Garlic sprang up from the spot where he placed his left foot and onion where his right foot touched.

Romans
Roman soldiers on long marches ate garlic daily to keep them healthy.

Soldiers would often eat garlic before a major battle as they believed it provided them courage
they also believed if you were to chew garlic no one could beat you in a foot race.

Egyptians

The builders of the pyramids in Egypt were given a daily ration of 3 cloves of garlic and bread to ward off illness and to increase stamina and strength.

The great King himself Tutankhamun
had garlic inside his tomb for his journey into the afterlife.

There is Egyptian writing dating back 1500 BC that says garlic was used for upto 22 aliments
from heart disease to tumours.

When I was on holiday in Egypt I went to the local market bought some garlic cloves
and I would try to have one a day before we did our days excursions etc.

I remember the stall owner said to me your tourist? you take garlic back home to England
I said no I can't take food back on the plane to England.

He looked at me puzzled I said it is my medicine he smiled and said
very wise my friend he clearly knew the benefits of eating garlic.




Ancient Greece
Garlic was given to athletes in ancient Greeks before the start of the games
athletes and soldiers would often eat garlic before entering the arena as they thought it gave them strength.

Greek midwives would hang garlic bulbs in rooms to prevent evil spirits entering the rooms where newborns were.

Greek physicians such as Hippocrates prescribed garlic for a variety of conditions.



Africa
Due to lack of medicine in the world in the 1950s a missionary called Dr Albert Schweitzer in Africa used garlic to treat cholera typhus and amoebic dysentery with success.





Penicillin of the poor

During world war 2
Garlic was used to treat the wounds of injured soldiers due to the lack of penicillin.
It was used to treat gangrene and prevent infection.

Garlic got the nickname penicillin and russian penicillin 
as they could not get a hold of the medicine penicillin so they had to combat illnesses and infection with the next best thing, garlic.



Why does it smell


Allicin. 

When the inside of garlic bulbs are exposed to air
a compound called allinn turns into allicin 
which then changes into sulfur compounds that give off that famous smell that some of us love and others hate.
Allyl methyl sulfide is released from garlic and onions when cut for food etc.

Garlic makes a powerful natural insect repellent many insects and bugs hate the smell
for example some people say it wards off mosquitoes and prevents ticks biting you.

Can it grow anywhere?

Garlic can grow pretty much anywhere from the cold climate of Russia Siberia to the warm sands of Egypt. It is a true survivor of this earth which has been on this earth with humans since the beginning.

Garlic has even been grown in martian soil from Mars with success
so one day we may be able to get martian garlic.




Does it really ward off diseases and illnesses

Garlic  has been known to:

  • Prevent Hair loss
  • Aid weight loss
  • Reduce UTI and kidney infections
  • Regulate blood sugar levels
  • Can reduce blood pressure
  • Gets rid of worms in the body
  • Prevents acne
  • Help with asthma
  • Protect against cell damage and ageing
  • Help fight and protect against some cancers
  • Helps boost immune system
  • Reduces heart disease risk
  • Thins the blood
  • Natural antibiotic
  • Lower blood cholesterol
  • Kills some strains of e-coli
  • Helps heal wounds 
  • May help prevent dementia

Superfood
A superfood is basically just a food that offers maximum benefits to your health
Nutritionally good and thus good for one's health.

Cancer
The national cancer institute has recognised Garlic as one of the vegetables with potential anti cancer properties that may help prevent and fight the disease.

Colds & Flu
Studies have shown garlic can help fight colds and flu
it also reduces your chance of catching colds and flu and also helps you recover faster if you were infected many people around the world use it for this reason including myself.




Alzheimer's disease 
Garlic may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer's studies have shown positive results.
Researchers found that aged garlic extract protects the neurons in the brain that are central to memory function and maybe even help reverse some effects of memory loss.





Heavy metal damage
At high doses the sulphur compounds have been shown to protect against organ damage from heavy toxicity such as cadmium.

Studies have been done on rats who had heavy metal poisoning in their body.
The studies showed when garlic was administered accumulation of heavy metals in the liver, kidneys, bone and testes of the rats were decreased.


What vitamins & minerals are in garlic?
  • Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6,
  • Folate, 
  • Vitamin C
  • Calcium
  • Iron
  • Magnesium
  • Copper
  • Manganese
  • Phosphorus
  • Potassium,
  • Sodium 
  • Zinc

Garlic contains many antioxidants that support the body's protective 
mechanism against oxidative damage.

One compound of garlic allicin attacks more than 23 different types of bacteria including Staphylococcus (staph) and salmonella.

Allicin is known to destroy viruses that cause herpes and upper respiratory infections.





Who grows the most

China Is the biggest grower of garlic in the world with around 26,573,001 metric tons grown in 2016.
Averaging at nearly 80% of world production.

China has been growing garlic since 2000 BCE.
It is also used in many Chinese traditional medicines. Most of the garlic grown in china comes from an area just southeast of Beijing.



Whats is black garlic?

Black garlic is mainly used in the east it has started to spill over to the west recently
as people like to try new foods.

It is mainly used in asian cuisine and is produced by heating whole bulbs over the course of around several weeks until the cloves turn black.

Black garlic is just normal garlic that has been fermented and turned the cloves into a jelly type sweet flavor bulb of cloves.

Some people say it tastes like licorice. 
I don't think there was much difference in taste; it reminded me of smoked garlic.

Varieties 

There are basically two different types of garlic,
Softneck Garlic and Hardneck Garlic.

Garlic is one of 700 species in the Allium or onion family.
The taste all depends where it is grown, the conditions etc.

For example I loved the garlic in Egypt but when I was in France I was not too keen on the taste. 

Some taste stronger or sweeter than others it all matters what suits your taste best. Try the different types to find one you prefer and many good vegetable suppliers will offer advice.

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Whats the vampire myth?


Vampires

In Europe in the dark ages it was thought vampiasisasim and becoming a vampire  
was caused by disease that you would catch from a bite. 

So garlic was often eaten and left on doors and even worn around necks to repel vampires and prevent the disease this is where the hollywood film myth comes from of the bite to the neck and garlic keeping away vampires. We all remember the scene in the hollywood film the Lost Boys with the garlic bath water and the vampire well now your know where the myth comes from.

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The Plague and garlic

Fleas from rats caused the plague. They would bite a human in search of a new host and then infect and pass the disease to humans.

Garlic merchants had the lowest number of deaths finally more people started to eat more garlic
as they realized the fleas hate the smell of garlic so won't bite you if you stink of garlic even rats hate the smell as it's that strong it blocks their sense of smell so they try to avoid it.

The great prophet Nostradamus even came up 
with the idea of wearing a coat soaked in garlic juice to ward off plague.




Pets and fleas
People have used garlic to get rid of fleas on their dogs and cats
but don't give your pets garlic as it can be highly toxic to animals and be fatal.

How much do I need to eat?

Most studies recommend 2,3 cloves a day to get the best benefits but it all depends on who you ask some experts say one clove a day others say three cloves a day. 

I myself try to have 3 cloves most days in stir frys. I try to avoid eating too much raw garlic but it all depends again on your taste.

Raw or crushed is the best way to eat it to get the best nutrients as cooking makes it less powerful
but cooking in say a stir fry would be your best choice for many cooked fast and for a short time keeping in all the goodness.

If you do eat raw garlic try eating the cloves with some bread rather than chewing and swallowing as on an empty stomach many people can have digestive problems eating raw garlic or burn their mouth if too much garlic is eaten raw.

Start off with half a clove in a stir fry etc if you don't really eat garlic and see how you adapt and get on with it and if you have any heartburn indigestion or other side effects stop eating always speak to your doctor before trying new foods for their expert advice.




Garlic tablets

If you really hate the taste and smell of garlic that much you can buy tablets.

From most vitamin shops and amazon even some supermarkets sell them so this is a good way to get the benefits without having to eat garlic.

Are the tablets as good as eating raw garlic? Some are good because they have added extra vitamins in them so they can be good if you have a busy life or don't have the time to eat garlic and some are high in garlic so they are a good choice for many people.

They are good if you can not stomach garlic as well which many can not due to the strong taste and smell.
I would definitely go for the tablets if you wanted the benefits without eating fresh garlic .

Affiliate link
Most potent odourless garlic extract on the market


Interviews and the vampire odour

Garlic can stay in your body for 2 days so if you have an up and coming job interview or a date etc.

Just bear this in mind I had been to a job interview in the past and the interviewer said to me are you avoiding vampires? I looked at her puzzled and said vampires?

She said you have had garlic recently so I was so embarrassed.

I said a little yes sorry about that she and she said no need to apologize. It's ok I have 3 cloves a day as well and love garlic. So as you can guess I was giving off the garlic odour .

From my stir fry the night before it must of have been that strong lol. 
(I got the job by the way if your wondering)





Conclusion

Garlic is good for us. It is proven to be good for our health and has been used for thousands of years.

I Hated garlic when I was young the smell and taste was horrible but when I was sick constantly you will see from my other post (Doing the toilet cleaning job)

I researched natural medicine, how our ancestors survived and one vegetable was always mentioned Garlic I have eaten it since.

I got into herbs and other good foods when I was constantly ill.

Do I think all herbs and spices work? No of course not I have used many herbs and spices over the years many of them did nothing.

I am the first to admit that but I continue to use the herbs that I know work and that do help me which is the reason I will talk about them on this blog. I will never recommend anything that I think is useless.

Whoever put garlic on this earth god or who ever created us did it for a reason and it benefits us so we would be fools not to take advantage of it.



Look at aloe vera its in all sunburn creams and after sun creams.
Now that was being used thousands of years ago by the ancient Greeks for the same reason and we are still using it now we have to learn from the past.


This information is solely for informational purposes as a guide. 
IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE.

This is just a guide on the health benefits of garlic and the history of its use all around the world garlic has been proven to have many health benefits.

But this doesn't mean you should stop taking any medications you currently take, always speak to your doctor, medical practitioner or hospital for advice on whether you should add garlic or any foods,vitamins to your diet.
at No comments:

How to stay safe aboard tips you must know

I will try to explain the things I have learned that may help you if you go abroad.

Each county has their own risks and scenarios differ for example you're not going to dehydrate much in say Berlin like you would in Egypt.

So I will base this advice on a warm climate 
middle east type country such as (Egypt) 




This is just a guide. It is not expecting you to be alert 24.7. 

At the end of day your on holiday to relax this post is just to make you think that's a good idea and it becomes common sense it may help I hope it does.

I will try to make you aware of some things you need to avoid.

Boost the immune system,

Always worth stocking up on vitamins in your body before you go abroad. If you do get ill at least your body will be ready to fight the illness better.

Probiotics
Probiotics such as yoghurt, can be a good way to boost gut health and help battle a bug aboard.

Research has shown that people can prevent and recover from food-borne illness with foods and supplements containing probiotics.


Fruit and veg
Eating some good nutrients and vitamin packed food like vegetables and fruit a few weeks before your holiday could be a wise choice.


Avoiding food poisoning
Simple one before you eat, wash hands now if you're in a restaurant  this is not really always possible so always carry hand sanitizer, few drops on your hands will be big help before you eat your meal.

You have to remember if you're handling money all day then decide to go for a meal.
Germs and bacteria will be all over your hands from the money and then you will use your hands to eat a meal so sanitizer is a good item to carry and use often.

Eating out at restaurants

Before you go out at night for a meal have a quick look on trip advisor or google
at the place you will be eating at for the reviews.


Walk past restaurant a few times, is it busy?

Walking past a restaurant a few times can be of help if you notice it is busy. 

You know more than likely they are using food up quickly and it's not festering 
on the kitchen side waiting for customers.




Avoid local tap water.
Always drink bottled water and check it is sealed yes some places are known to fill up bottles with tap water then try sell them to you had this happen to me once.

Brushing your teeth with bottled water is a must 
avoid using tap water as you may swallow it.

Save money

Rather than buying loads of small bottles 
go to a supermarket and buy a 6 litre for your hotel room.

You will save money doing this method and have plenty of water to drink in your hotel room at night etc most hotels charge a lot of money for small beverages even bottled water.







Keep your mouth closed in the shower.
Shower water could be pumped from local seawater etc
so try to avoid swallowing any as it might give you a stomach ache.




Ice
Most drinks come with ice which is more than likely local tap water.
so always ask if it is or ask for no ice with your drink.

Drinking water from a well

Don't drink water from wells or from unknown sources I know your thinking why would I.

Turkey trip

When I was in Turkey on an excursion our tour guide asked us all if we would mind if we went to his cousin's house. There were about 10 of us so I felt at ease a bit.

It is on the way back, he said so we all agreed so he took us to a small village in Northern Turkey and we went to his aunt's house.

They were nice people they gave us some honey,corn and used a well with a pump to pull up water for us to drink.

The water had a brown color. I just said no thanks
I have some water with me lucky enough I had a few litres in my backpack.

The other tourists

The others with our group drank the water
They must have not wanted to offend them by refusing the water rather them than me.




My point is there were more than likely parasites,worms,bacteria etc in that water that would make me ill. The locals will be immune and ust to it but I wouldn't.

So unless the water is boiled dont drink it and remember boiled water will not remove pollution and chemicals from the water such as lead and other heavy metals.




Salads 
Avoid salads they are more than likely washed in tap water
Most meals aboard always come with Salad so be sure to tell the waiter you want none with your meal



Meats and fish

Poultry, fish and seafood such as shellfish are the most likely causes of illness aboard more than other dishes so you could avoid all together if you wanted to lower your chance of getting ill.



Meat 
If you have meat etc chicken, Pork, Steak always make sure it is piping hot and cooked.
If you doubt something is cooked dont eat it and tell the waiter you want a fresh cooked meal
if they refuse leave and go elsewhere.




Getting all your vaccines

It is important to make sure you are covered 
As you can see below you may need one or more of these vaccines depending on the country you are visiting.

  • Yellow fever
  • Japanese encephalitis
  • Thyroid
  • Hepatitis A
  • Polio
  • Tick borne encephalitis
  • Cholera
  • Rabies
  • Meningitis
  • TB




Mosquitos
Always make sure you put on Mosquitos repellent the best type all contain DEET or eucalyptus
some people swear by garlic,lemon and vinegar apparently they hate the smell.

I had garlic nearly every day while in Egypt but did get the odd bite so stick with the products with Deet or eucalyptus in them you know it works then.

DEET
Deet comes in different strengths 30% lasts up to 6 hours and 50% lasts 12 hours etc
Some local people may help on this one while in Turkey a local said to me to use a product called sinkov.

So I bought some sinkov and did not get many bites when using this. Remember the locals are no fan of mosquitos either and may know what works to repel them.

Remember mosquitoes can carry some of the below diseases
so it is important to protect yourself from bites as much as you can.

  • Zika virus, 
  • West Nile virus, 
  • Chikungunya virus,
  • Dengue
  • Malaria

Ticks

As with mosquitos ticks are blood sucking parasites that can carry all numbers of diseases so if you find one on yourself use tweezers to remove it.

Avoid twisting or squeezing too hard as you may
snap part of the mouth part of the tick and it may stay in your skin and cause infection
wash the area the tick was on with soap and water.

Unlike the mosquito that bites you and flies away the tick bites you and will often stay around even for up to ten days attached to your skin.

Don't take any risks with these things if you think you have been bitten by one
try capture it in a jar and go to the local pharmacy or hospital doctor for advice and show them the jar with it in then they will be able to help.


A bite from a tick can cause you serious problems see link below

You can get the following from ticks

  • Lyme disease
  • Ehrlichiosis
  • Rocky Mountain spotted fever
  • tularemia.



Mugging Risk

Getting mugged abroad is common in all countries world wide
but there is ways you can avoid being a bigger target:

Don't stand in a street with a map,camera out you shout 
I am a tourist doing that to all the local thieves.

Be wary of people standing near ATM cash machines or money exchange shops. They might be waiting for prey the same way a lion waits for gazelle to attack.

Don't count your money in the street. Go in a restaurant or shop and count it if need be away from prying eyes.

Expensive Items
Don't wear expensive watches, Rolex or gold necklace bracelets etc or keep expensive cameras out put them in bags when not in use.

Poverty
You have to remember if you visit a country that has poverty.

Someone who has nothing and may be starving etc may see you walk down the street with a bracelet that could feed their family for months they may try to steal from you.

This is not saying everyone is a thief etc there are but a small number of people in all countries that
will see an opportunity to make some money by robbing jewelry from you.




Be wary of expensive phones as well getting them out in a public place bikers could ride past snatch it out of your hands happens a lot in London.

Carry only small notes in one pocket that way if you're in a shop buying something at a low price you won't have to pull big large notes out of your pocket letting everyone know you have large amount of money.

The Bedouin

I remember being in the desert talking to some of the local Bedouin in Egypt and one of them said to me in England you have big houses with many rooms, swimming pools and big TV like David Beckham.

I said I live in a 1 bed flat,house Beckham is rich and a footballer I
Have a small TV and no swimming pool.

My point is many people in other countries
Think people from the west are all wealthy and rich and have mansions so you have to think how would a mugger see you in that country.

The Answer: A rich tourist with plenty of money.




Being Followed

If your being followed cross over the road and see if they cross over look in shop windows and car wing mirrors to see behind you dont keep turning around and looking back at the people you think are following you.

Avoid dark alleyways and shortcuts they could be dead ends then you may be trapped
stay where it is busy and try to stay in well lit areas.

Go to a restaurant or shop and ask them to call the police don't try to confront people if you think they are following you. That could be their plan and then they produce a knife etc.




Getting mugged

A mugger will try to get your attention
By asking the time or if you have a cigarette or even ask you for directions
The key here is to not stop, get distance, don't stop, just keep walking and say no sorry or even ignore.

Now they could be genuine people asking for time etc but it's better to be ignorant then be a victim of a mugger don't risk it.

What if I do get mugged thou

If you do get mugged don't argue with them or try to fight
just hand cash over not worth a knife in the chest.

Money can be replaced, your life can not, your life is worth nothing to some people, don't expect them to have sympathy they won't.

Get in the car

Do not get in a car, van etc if the mugger tells you to there is clearly a reason they want you out of sight
and the reason won't be a good one it may be more than just a mugging?
 
Crime scene 1 and 2
Studies show that a victim’s chance of survival gos down once you get to a second crime scene
for example you're mugged  at Crime scene 1 in an alleyway then the mugger says get in the van car etc they are taking you to crime scene 2.

I would choose to fight back if a mugger told me to get in a car as they have other motives rather than a common mugging this is the time to fight like it means your in immediate danger of further harm because your more than likely are.




Fightback

This is not the movies I have been attempted mugged and I fought back
they ran off. I was lucky in the Uk I am not Steven Seagal they could have used
weapons on me and I Would not be here alive to tell you.

I was having a bad day that day 
and they clearly picked me at the wrong time and as far as I know they was unarmed.

Don't take risks aboard; they could be more aggressive or more desperate. Remember the country may not have CCTV or the local police may be underfunded. 

They are not gonna go Tommy Lee Jones fugitive style if you're mugged or badly wounded you would just be a story in the local paper tourist killed in street mugging.




Time to wake the lion

Only fight if they try to cause you physical harm or you think they are going
to.

Attack with all the anger you have shout as you fight back more noise may make the attacker run off. Always try to get away as soon it is safe to do so.

If it is a life and death situation fight with all your might think to yourself you may not see your family again if you fail at this you might not.



Go for the weak points of the human body

  • Eyes
  • Throat
  • Nose
  • Groin
  • Knees
  • Ankle


Eyes
If you have to go for the eyes poke with your fingers to their eyes to temporarily blind them dig your fingers in at the eyes.

Throat
Palm strike or a punch to the throat will stun the mugger.

Nose
Palm strike or an elbow to the nose will make their eyes water and maybe brake or bust there nose and stun them which would give you a chance to run off.

Groan
A good kick or knee to the groin will incapacitate any person for a few minutes giving you vital time to run to safety.

Knee caps
A kick to the side of the knee could injure the mugger that much that they can not stand up so could give you a chance to escape.

Ankle
Same as the knees a good kick to the ankle could snap it giving you the upper hand to escape.






Don't go overboard like standing on their head or kicking them once they are on the floor.

You could end up in trouble. Remember you're in their country they speak the language they could lie and say you attacked them to the local police.

Self defense items

Don't carry weapons aboard. You could end up in trouble
You may get away with carrying things such as a flashlight,torch,pens,pencils,umbrella or a personal alarm.

Torch
I carried a torch,flashlight while in Turkey as when walking back to our hotel at night it was along a dim lit path side of a canal with little escape routes and gangs of youths sometimes sat there on benches and walls. 

So the strong long solid steel metal torch I had was a handy light source if you get what I mean not a weapon .



I must stress only use these methods if your life is in danger
If you can run then run
and try to escape as soon as you have disabled the mugger.

Once your ordeal is over contact the local police as soon as possible or your local embassy for advice.

It is always worth investing in a good self defence book or going to a class to learn a few moves better to be prepared then not.

Good book I would recommend. 

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What if the mugger has a firearm?
This is a difficult one chances are they will have pistol type
small calibre 9mm weapon etc

If you have no choice but to escape, run in a zig zig motion it will be harder to hit you that way rather than running in a straight line, stay low and try to run behind cover a moving target is harder to hit to someone who has little experience with a weapon.

Wear a money belt

Wearing a money belt is a good idea if you do get mugged you can empty your pockets and say to the mugger that is all you have the chances are the thief will take that and go not all will think you have a money belt.

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If you don't have a money belt use a sock or shorts
Always worth having a few notes or 2 hidden in your sock or you can buy some shorts with hidden pockets always worth having some extra cash
for emergency taxis etc.

Photocopy Passports

Some countries require you to carry your passport with you at all times
many hotels often take them off you when you check in to store in the safe and you get them back on the day of departure.

Storing the original in the hotel safe can be a good idea carrying your passport 
could be risky if you lose it. You would have to contact the embassy to request a temporary passport for you on the day of departure.

Always worth having a few photocopies for example if you needed to go to the embassy or the local police, army ask you for ID you could show them the photocopies.



Strangers in the night

Don't give away too much info
Being friendly aboard is normal. We all want to enjoy ourselves and relax and talk to people we don't know but it comes with a warning.

Never tell strangers where you're staying ,hotel name,room number,who you're with or how much money you have brought or where you're going at a certain time.

You will see from my other post the man turning up at my hotel at 6am one morning.

Just because someone is friendly doesn't mean they are a nice person. They may have ulterior motives
this is not to say treat everyone as a thief or be paranoid; if someone is friendly, just be cautious about giving away too much information.




Lovers tiff and protesters

Lovers tiff
Don't get involved in arguments if you see two people arguing leave them to it do not engage same with advice about mugging could be a ploy to get you in close to them then they strike and mug you.

Or it could end up them both turning on you
It's just not worth the hassle if you're concerned get out of sight and call the local police.




Protesters
Always avoid protests if the local police,army decide to play whack a mole on protesters heads or fire rubber bullets tear gas etc don't think you will be safe being a tourist you won't.

You could get injured or even arrested for talking part in a protest.


Travel Insurance 

This is a must and you can get  travel insurance for low cost prices
if you have an accident you will have to pay for medical care in most countries
so if you were in a coma the costs can mount up so travel insurance is a must have.

If you die aboard your family will have to pay for your body to be brought back home to your country without travel insurance it is a lot of money.

Read the small print

It is important when getting travel insurance to read the small prints I have seen in the past
that some things make the policy invalid for example some sports skiing,skydiving,tennis,horse riding.
 
Even renting some things such as mopeds and quad bikes can cause you problems.
check your policy before you buy so you know you're covered.

Story
I seen a story a few years ago of a girl who had travel insurance but had been out drinking one night the next day she had an accident on quad bikes and the insurance company would not help her as she had a drink the night before and the alcohol was still in her system and the insurance company had asked the hospital if she had been drinking.

Insurance companies do not like claims that are made by people who have had alcohol or drugs. You would need to prove that alcohol wasn’t to blame for the accident or you insurance will be void.

Here is an example of a insurance company that would not payout because
( Riding a quad bike without a helmet were excluded from the persons policy)

Quad bike accident small print did not cover


Always have a printed out copy of your insurance policy in your suitcase, what it covers etc rather than having to get it up on your phone or email etc.


Excursions what should I take?

Always plan your excursions if you know you're going on a trip to the desert
pack supplies even if you think you don't need them you can't always rely on the exclusion provider.

Water
Carrying water in warm climates in a backpack will help prevent you getting dehydrated and always make sure you keep hydrated better to carry too much you could pour it away if you did not need it.

Signs of severe dehydration include:
  • dark yellow urine or non atall.
  • Very dry skin.
  • Feeling dizzy
  • headache 
  • Rapid heartbeat.
  • Heavy breathing.
  • Sunken eyes.
  • Sleepiness, lack of energy, confusion or irritability.
  • Fainting.



Suncream

Dont think its not that hot so I don't need any suncream on.
I landed in spain at 5pm was a dull day no sun out next morning I had really bad sunburn
was horrible.

Hat
A hat is a must in hot sunny countries to help cover your head and neck
it will help prevent heat stroke etc

Map
Maps can be good to plan your routes using a pen you can mark out places you intend to go your landmarks near your hotel so you know the way home when out and about.

don't write your hotel on the map or circle it just circle a building next to it etc that way no one who looks at your map if you have to ask directions will know where your staying.

Spare money
Always have some loose change for excursions there is always some hidden cost for example entry to say a zoo or waterpark and loose change is handy for tips etc

Local Help
Have the phone number of local police and ambulance service you never know if you may need them
knowing where the local police station or hospital is near to your hotel is wise as well.




Photography

Be very careful not to take photos of government buildings, military or police personnel
electricity stations, train stations and bridges, airports anything official, even military vehicles etc.

Many have been arrested taking photos of the above.

If you do take photos, always ask permission first.

Don’t use radio controlled helicopters or ‘drones’ to take photographs.

Avoid taking anything aboard with hidden cameras or microphones such as a watch with hidden camera.

The watch may be a harmless gadget you got off ebay but you can bet money on it they will assume your James Bond or Jason Bourne on a spying mission.

The reason I say this is you could be arrested for spying. 

Yes I know you're not James Bond
but some countries don't see it like that especially if they don't have friendly relations with your country And don't give them an excuse to make it political.



What's the issue
It's all about what country you go if you went to Germany you could probably take photos of their army on the street no problem.

If you did that in some middle east countries
You would be in handcuffs before you could say cheese. I have seen many stories of this happening.



Check suit cases before you
Always double check your case before you go abroad and check rules of the country you are going
some harmless items we use in the west could get you in trouble aboard in the middle east etc.

Always buy a good solid case When I went to Spain my case had rip right down the side of it once I got came off the airport conveyor belt it was one of them soft straw type cases.

I bought a lightweight hard shell case for my next holiday.

Get a decent case that is secure and easily for you to identify at the airport the last thing you want at the airport is someone else picking your case up by mistake.


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Check suitcase on departure
Always check your cases before you go to the airport to depart
to make sure no one has put anything in your case and make sure you keep it locked.

Never give a key to anyone and only you pack your own case never let any one pack your case including your friends.

You will be asked at the airport if you packed your own case. If you say no they will search your case guaranteed and anything found in your case is your responsibility even if you say well my friend packed it etc you're the one who will suffer the consequences if anything illegal is found.



Check out day
Sometimes hotels make you check out 10am and your flight could be 1am at night
They may say they will put your suitcase behind reception, ask if you can book a room just for the day for your suitcases and to have shower etc.

If not keep your suitcase with you or check your it again just before your coach,taxi arrives for departure to the airport better to be safe that no one has put anything in it.

It sounds paranoid but what if someone did put something in case how could you prove it wasn't you?

And it has happened as well many times.

Buy some mini case scales

Always worth weighing your case as well if overweight you could pay a lot of money.

I remember seeing a family who had their cases over weight at the airport in Turkey they ended up paying over $100 dollars as theIr cases were over a few kgs.

Most luggage suitcase weight these days is around 15kg to 20kg.
But after buying gifts aboard that soon mounts up.

It is better to save money and hassle with a little gadget case scale you can weigh your case the day before departure you know then that you have one less thing to worry about.

The scales are small and lightweight about the size of a small Tv controller.

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If you take medications aboard

Get a note from your doctor and ask your embassy for advice before you travel dont risk ignoring it.

Be very careful with this one you could be arrested if you take some medications into some countries
for example tramadol to egypt and codeine they may even charge you with drug smuggling even if they are legal in your country.

People have been arrested in the UAE for having poppy seeds that were on a bread roll
so be careful.

Japan could arrest you for taking in Vicks nose inhalers.
Japan's strict anti-stimulant drug laws prevent any drugs containing pseudoephedrine like Sudafed and the Vicks inhalers from entering  into the country.




Hotel

When you get to your hotel, always have a quick look where the fire escapes and fire extinguishers are 
always worth knowing rather than if there was a fire crawling in thick smoke not knowing where you're going.

Check your room has a smoke alarm and if the windows open sounds crazy I know.

When I was in Paris our windows were locked shut we were not allowed to open them even though we payed for a balcony as part of the room booking. The worst part was it was boiling hot in summer time in France.




Aircon
I asked the reception apparently it was a health and safety risk for people jumping out the window so they could not open any windows or balcony doors.

I said really well I am H&S advisor. Why is there used cigarettes then in an ashtray on the balcony and a blue flammable gas cylinder? what is that for? The sun is shining on that is that not a fire risk.

They told me I had an air con in the room but it was 6 euros a night. I told them it did not work so they sent a repairman to fix it. In the end they moved us to a new room and said the air con would be free for the week.


Embassy consulate 
This is not just for Brits each country has their own consulate in the country you're visiting.

Having the address,phone number,distance and directions to the your embassy is an important one.

Important if you get into any trouble aboard or need help the embassy,consulate is where you go for help advice etc.

You have to remember the embassy of your country is classed as the soil of your country 
so it is vital you know how to get there you will more than likely need to show your passport for entry .




Things you can check before you choose to travel

  • Check online at risks in your destination
  • Does certain groups operate there ? gangs, terrorists
  • Does your government advise against traveling there?
  • What's the human rights like there 
  • Is the crime rate high
  • Are there protests happening on certain dates?
  • Are there any strikes on
  • Is the country having problems with their neighbours 
  • What is relations like with your country?     
  • Check Tripadvisor on places to avoid, local scams etc 
  • What diseases are common there



Social Media
Avoid insulting the country or its government on social media
this one can get you in a lot of trouble in some countries.

I have heard some countries can now require access to your phone and social media 
before entry.



Permits
Always make sure you get permits when traveling around a country if you decide to just drive around a country you could end up in trouble without the proper documents.

For example when I was in Egypt we had to buy a permit at the airport to travel to the pyramids in Cairo
if you're unsure book all your trips etc through a proper tour guide and they will more than likely sort all permits for you.


Local customs and laws

Always worth checking some customs of the country 
you are visiting you may make a mistake while there.

Left Hand
In India and most middle eastern countries, try to avoid using your left hand
as many see this as the unclean hand so avoid eating,trying to shake hands and exchanging money in shops, always use your right hand.



Pointing with the thumb
In Malaysia and Indonesia, this gesture can be seen as incredibly insulting offensive
to people so avoid using.

Tipping and food on plate
In Japan tipping is considered an insult.
The Japanese also consider it rude to leave food on your plate.

Kissing
Many countries in the middle east do not allow 
cuddling and kissing or holding hands or being topless etc so be careful doing some of these could cause you a lot of trouble.




Touch and go

Don't touch anyone Sounds crazy you say? in Uk many of us pat people on the back etc to say thanks
don't touch anyone for any reason could get you in trouble
Again this is the law of that country don't blame the country you are a guest there.

Example of why I say this


Drinking alcohol
Some countries will arrest you for drinking alcohol in the street so always check the law don't risk it
you dont wait to be in a 6x6 prison cell with a cockroach called Bernard as your cellmate.

Don't use drugs

I shouldn't even have to put this one but if you do that in a foreign country your an idiot
you could be arrested and face the death penalty,torture for even a small amount don't take the risk.

As I say is it worth spending your life in a cramped up prison or facing a firing squad death penalty.

Watch the TV show banged up abroad
one mistake and some people are doing life in prison in rat infested hellholes.





Comments
Making political comments wearing T-shirts supporting other countries etc, or making comments about the government or security forces of a country can result in arrest.

You may be able to do things such as free speech in the UK,USA but if you did make some comments in other countries you're guaranteed to be the cellmate of Bernard the cockroach.

There laws there country you are the guest have respect

Remember it is not your country respect their laws even if you disagree with them. You are a guest there if you don't agree or have no intention of following there laws don't go to that country.

Don't talk about religion,politics,military,government
To any locals could get you arrested 
If they bring up question for example are you christian just get off the subject comment about food or the weather etc

I have tried to provide advice to the best of my knowledge and tried to research some updated laws.  

I know most of this stuff to memory as when I have been aboard I looked things up to make myself more aware of what not to do etc.

This advice is not meant to replace any government advice; it's just my own personal guide I wanted to share hoping it may help you.

If traveling aboard always check with your consulate,embassy if you are unsure of anything it is not worth ending up on an episode of  the tv show banged up abroad in a cell with Bernard the cockroach think smart be safe hope this helps.

I have provided some links to news sites to show you 
examples of why I say some of the above advice.


Any questions just ask I will try help best I can
also comment if you think I need to add anything or have any tips that will be useful.



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