Pack light
Bring as little as possible. This can't be overemphasized. Most guest houses will hook you up with a local laundry person who will take your clothes, beat the tar out of them, and return them clean as a whistle for a low price. So take few articles of clothing, and expect them to receive rough treatment. Carrying a flashlight and mosquito repellent (strong stuff) is also a good idea. Reading material is easy to find in second-hand book vendors in the major towns.Safety tip: bring a combination lock, a good one. Many of the cheaper hotels don't have locks on their doors, so you need your own. Combination locks are more difficult to jimmy than key locks.Don't ask me why I put this photo here: I simply couldn't find a more suitable one, so I thought this could be a pretty photo!!











