Lost Wallet While Traveling
While traveling in Lisbon, Portugual, we were taking a cab ride to the Feira Da Ladra flea market. I was so excited to visit and purchase souveneirs at local prices. The market is only open on Tuesday and Saturday’s so we decided the night before to go. So we took the short taxi ride to the market, got out of the cab and I quickly noticed that Blake didn’t have his wallet. He immediately yelled “go after the cab” and I ran!! Unfortunately, the cab turned right and by the time I turned right, the cab was nowhere in sight. We returned to the hotel. The hotel stated that if the wallet was turned in, they would contact Blake. They never did. Blake immediately contacted American Express to wire monies to the Western Union which was a block from our hotel. 
In the meantime, he pulled out his flash drive which had all his credit cards customer service numbers and account numbers and canceled his cards. This took about 30 minutes. I was so upset because my ATM card would not work due to the magnetic strip haven been stripped and in Portugal, they do not accept “American cards” (American Express). Observing Blake handle all his cards and traveling with this information was impressive!! He finished and we walked to the Western Union and retrieved the money sent by American Express. I finally located an ATM that could read my ATM card so it all worked it. The worst happened and Blake was prepared. I would never have thought of having a password protected flash drive with this information. I highly suggest this!
Injury While Traveling
No one anticipates getting hurt or having an accident while traveling. While in Cairo, Egypt, we were walking back from a street restaurant, and I tripped in a bad spot on the sidewalk. I fell on my face. I remember asking Blake to let me lie there for a minute because I was not coherent. Within several minutes, two people grabbed an arm and lifted me up. My face felt like it was burning and possibly skin ribbed off. Blake and a barber (we were in front of a barber shop) lifted me up and the barber moved a chair outside for me. I sat and they both stared at my face while asking if I were okay. 
The barber brought out a damp cloth and dabbed my face and told me to hold the cloth on my face. I sat in a daze for what seemed forever. I assured them I was okay and we thanked the kind local and left. His face will always be remembered due to his spontaneous kindness. He didn’t speak English, but we all seemed to communicate with each other. My face was red and beginning to scab. While walking around Cairo, we were looking for a pharmacy. A woman who walked by us, gestured that we should follow her. She took us to a pharmacy where she worked. She pulled a tube of gel out of the glass case and indicated that we should purchase it. We did. My face immediately began to scab and with the gel, the scabs did not leave a scar. Regardless of where we are, I find people are people and genuinely want to help. My face did look bad! Pharmacies are in every town and items needed can be found. I typically purchase more face wipes (due to heat) in every city.
We have been fortunate to never have our luggage lost. We do typically back pack and do not check the back packs so it’s quicker for us and less likely the luggage is lost. We thought my backpack was lost in Quayquil, Ecuador for about 15 minutes. I didn’t have anything in it, except clothes. For a female backpacking, this is no big deal and a great excuse to go shopping. However, the luggage was brought to us about 15 minutes later. I was relieved and saddened at the same time. Our technology and important items, always stay with us in our carry ons.
Don’t Forget the Visa
We arrived at Ho Chin Ming, Vietnam airport and were extremely tired after a 20 hour flight. We followed the people to a long line and realized that the line was to show your visa. Well, Blake and I both somehow missed the fact that the visa was a preapproved letter from their government stating we had permission to enter the country. In fact, a representative from Delta Airlines told us no visa was needed at all. We were told there was nothing they could do. 
People around us, listening to the issue, were commenting how they couldn’t believe we didn’t know about the letter. Blake told the official that we would just go to Bangkok if there was nothing we could do and spend our money there. Another official then stepped in and stated that we could pay him $100 and he could get us a Visa as a package with a tourist group and bring us the Visa letter to the hotel the next day. Blake agreed on the condition that we stay in the hotel we already had confirmed reservations. He would not take a copy of our passport and insisted on the originals. We took the risk and gave him the passports and kept copies (in hindsight, I don’t recommend this). We were told not to leave the hotel since we did not have our passports. We arrived at the hotel and worried. We did walk around the area of the hotel, but stayed close. The official did arrive with our passports and Visa letter. Of course, we were relieved and learned a great lesson!
While traveling home from Vietnam and going through security in Bangkok, Blake took off his wedding ring and placed with his wallet and other personal items. We were close to our gate when he realized he left his ring. I of course, questioned why he had to take it off since I don’t take off my rings or watch and have never had a problem. He stated that it was probably already stolen and we should catch our flight. I strongly demanded that he at least try to locate the item and return to the security area and ask. He did and returned with the ring on his hand. He told me he had to walk about 2 miles to the other end of the very large airport to get to the lost and found department. He was given a special pass to do this and avoided going through the security again. We were both amazed that the Thai security was so honest. I have learned to never underestimate people when traveling. While in Vietnam, and all other places we have been, we have always been treated kindly. Here in Charleston, when I notice someone traveling to explore this area, I do try to repay the kindness that has been bestowed to us.
Know the Local Regulations
While in Costa Rica, we spent a fabulous day shell hunting. We were the only people on this local beach and it was a beautiful magnificent day. 
We spent the entire day shell hunting and enjoying the scenery. When leaving Costa Rica, I had placed all the unique shells in my carryon backpack. Unfortunately, I had no idea that we could not take shells out of Costa Rica. How did I miss this on the internet?? Lesson learned again – do more research about the laws of the areas. I will never forget how the Costa Rican security guard looked at me.
Unusual Security
While traveling in Nicargua, Blake heard of a fantastic surfer beach. We rode around for awhile with his rented surf board and finally found the infamous beach. Unfortunately, the beach was gated. We didn’t understand what the guard was telling us, although there was a sign in English stating the minimal cost of about $2 USD. We paid the guy and he then jumped into the back of our pickup truck. We didn’t understand and decided that we should not be worried and that he probably needed a ride to the beach. We kept going. It was like driving on a country road where no destination was in site. The dense area was nothing like we had ever seen. The roads in Nicaragua just disappear and then you are driving in a shallow stream and have to decide whether to continue or turn around. We decided the truck could handle the situation. About this time we noticed that the guy in the back of the truck had a machine gun hanging from his hip.
We did discuss how ridiculous it was that we were not fluent in Spanish and how we got into this situation and since we did, we just needed to stop worrying and go with it. After what seemed like miles in a dense wooded area, we arrived to a very open secluded oasis. The machine gun carrying guy jumped out of the back of the truck and entered an employee working area. We left the truck with Blakes rented surf board and walked to the beach bar for a cerveza. After the drive, we needed several. The bartender explained that the machine gun escort was for our own protection. It was a private beach, but locals do go into the dense forest and place trees on the road to stop the vechicles. Once a person leaves the vechicle to remove the tree from the road, the banditos would surprise the people and rob them. We were then thankful the guy rode with us. On the way from the beach, a guy with a machete rode with us. He did allow us to take a photo of him. This situation was probably the time we felt most unsafe during any of our travels. Although it is a reflection of unsafety, the scenery and memory of the experience and beach was well worth it.
Blake Burgess
January 3, 2013
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