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World Race Country Guides
World Race Country Guides Posts
Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Safety
U.S. State Department | Ethiopia
See above link for information on Safety and Security
Carry a copy of passport with you. Officials have been know to check foreigners and if there is not proper identification they will be taken to the police station until the proper documents are presented.
Safety in Ethiopia
What do other Racers need to know in order to be safe? Current safety protocols/precautions in place? Any relevant issues/concerns? Any precautionary suggestions?
People’s Opinions
- This month was really intense. It was not safe for my team to go out even in small groups. During the day, we were mostly safe as a team, but at nighttime, we had to have a local with us. The locals were aggressive(grabbing a bracelet off a wrist or trying to take our stuff) and inappropriate (man touching himself and then touching us). We stood out like crazy, and while many people were great, many weren’t. At the Addis Ababa airport, (Kenya Air) we were told to check our carry-on backpacks because “there’s no overhead room” and I left an extra iphone 5 and the team baby phone in my backpack, and it was stolen. I really didn’t expect someone to steal from my checked bag. In general, take every precaution.
Health
Health in Albania
Any special health concerns?
Sun Shine Clinic
House N. B 1-8-1
PO Box 70329
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
+251 11600092
Bethel Teaching General Hospital
Fikre Mariam Abatechan St.
PO Box 9011
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
+251 113495475
British Embassy Clinic
Fikre Mariam Abatechan St.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
+251 11157954
Hayat Hospital
Bole Sub City
Kebelel 03, PO Box 15836
+251 11620882
Myungsung Christian Medical Center (Korean Christian)
Kebele 11
PO Box 15478
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
+251 116295421
Noble Higher Clinic
PO Box 2380
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
+251 11125363
People’s Opinions
Visa Info
Visa Info in Ethiopia
Do you need one? Where did you get it? Cost? Resources/sources:
US citizens may obtain a visa at the airport for $70 as of 11/2014.
People’s Opinions
- We arrived into Ethiopia through the Addis Airport. The visa process was a breeze! Our squad was prepared with extra pictures, copies of passport, Yellow Fever vaccination, but only ended up really needing the name of our accommodation for the night (along with the phone number). They required us to pay in USD and don’t accept credit card without a chip.
Currency Info
Currency Info in Ethiopia
Name of currency? Where can you exchange money?
People’s Opinions
- The currency is called Birr. You can exchange USD to Birr at the airport when you get there or at any local bank.We experienced problems in changing money back to USD. They will try to tell you that they can’t exchange your money. So try to only take out as much Birr as you will use while you are there. Don’t take out more than that. We were finally able to exchange money back to USD at the airport, but it took a lot of work.
Communication
Communication in Ethiopia
Did you have cell reception / Internet service? Where? Carrier / Provider, where did you get phones / SIM cards, cost? Country code?
People’s Opinions
- Sim cards were 60 birr and you just purchase minutes via little cards. If you buy a 15 birr card, its 15 minutes. You don’t use minutes when someone calls you, and texts use minutes (not exactly sure how many but its less than one minute per text I belive).
- SIM cards cost 60 Birr per card.Our international sims didn’t work while we were there.
Transportation
Transportation in Ethiopia
What transportation did you use to enter the country? Where were you coming from? What transportation was used to move throughout the country? Be sure to include the cost per person in USD and contact info if applicable.
People’s Opinions
- My team had Ask The Lord, and we went from Addis Ababa to Awash (a town in the Afar region). We paid a LOT of money to get there and back. Without a local Ethiopian to help us navigate finding a ride, it would’ve been actually impossible.
Culture
Culture in Ethiopia
Anything Racers need to be aware/respectful of? Suggestions/Recommendations?
People’s Opinions
Shipping / Mailing
Shipping / Mailing in Ethopia
Company used and contact info? How did you get packages to them?
Tips
People’s Opinions
- Learn to say hello, and how are you in Amharic. The people love it when you greet them in their language and are more apt to be friendly that way. Smile, and speak to the beggars and the street kids because they are people too.
Additional Info
Be careful when communicating even when talking with people you think speak English just fine. When you ask a question 9 times out of 10 they will directly think you want the thing, and will immediately start trying to make it happen for you. For example, can we go to the National Park—they’ll immediately start trying to make plans and arrangements for you instead of just answering the question. If you ask, where can you buy bananas—they’ll feel that they need to take you to buy bananas. If you ask, would you like us to ____, they’re probably going to say yes. They want to please you and help you, and it could easily become a situation where we are taking up a lot of their time and efforts and stress them out, without ever intending to. Be careful about the questions you ask, because they’ll probably misunderstand.
Additional Info in Ethiopia
Anything we’ve left out? Any additional suggestions to make travel easier for others?
Estonia
Estonia
Safety
U.S. State Department | Estonia
Threats
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Estonia is quite dark during the winter months (roughly October through April), and Estonian law requires pedestrians to wear small reflectors, which people generally pin to their coats or handbags.
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The most common crime encountered by foreign tourists in Estonia is pick pocketing. Individuals and small groups of thieves working together often target tourists
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On occasion, U.S. citizens have reported that they were harassed for racial reasons or because they appeared or sounded “foreign.” These incidents have generally occurred outside of major tourist areas.
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Credit-card fraud is also an ongoing concern, as is Internet-based financial fraud and “Internet dating” fraud. If an incident occurs, you should report it promptly to the local police. The Estonian police agencies are modern, well-equipped law enforcement entities on a standard comparable to most Western European police.
Safety in Estonia
What do other Racers need to know in order to be safe? Current safety protocols/precautions in place? Any relevant issues/concerns? Any precautionary suggestions?
People’s Opinions
Health
Health in Estonia
Any special health concerns?
People’s Opinions
Visa Info
Visa Info in Estonia
Do you need one? Where did you get it? Cost? Resources/sources:
People’s Opinions
Currency Info
Currency Info in Estonia
Name of currency? Where can you exchange money?
People’s Opinions
Communication
Communication in Estonia
Did you have cell reception / Internet service? Where? Carrier / Provider, where did you get phones / SIM cards, cost? Country code?
People’s Opinions
Transportation
- From Latvia:
- From Romania:
- From Ukraine:
- etc
Transportation in Estonia
What transportation did you use to enter the country? Where were you coming from? What transportation was used to move throughout the country? Be sure to include the cost per person in USD and contact info if applicable.
People’s Opinions
Culture
- Estonians value their personal space. An arm’s length or more is the norm. This space may be less with friends and family.
- There is very little to no touching during conversations.
- Touching during conversation with the opposite sex is usually considered flirting, unless they’re good friends.
- Younger people are more open and a brush of shoulder/hand during conversations is okay. It is common to see women/girls walk hand in hand on the street, also young couples.
- Direct eye contact is acceptable, but people usually don’t look into the speaker’s eyes the whole the time.
- Avoiding the other person’s eyes completely is thought to be sly and show that one is hiding something.
- The most common practice is looking at the speaker’s face and occasionally directly to the eyes.
Culture in Estonia
Anything Racers need to be aware/respectful of? Suggestions/Recommendations?
People’s Opinions
Shipping / Mailing
Shipping / Mailing in Albania
Company used and contact info? How did you get packages to them?
Tips
People’s Opinions
- Use discretion when taking clothing to a laundry mat. Some of our team sent their clothes to a cleaners and had to pay $8 (USD) a person. (They had originally been told a lower price.) Some of their clothes also came back shrunk. It would probably be best to do laundry where your contact suggests and not to try to find a place on your own.
Additional Info
Emergency Contact Numbers
Ambulance – 112
Fire – 112
Police – 110
US Embassy Information
Embassy of the United States of America
Kentmanni 20
15099 Tallinn
Estonia
Embassy phone: (372) 668 8100
Fax: (372) 668 8134
e-mail: USASaatkond@state.gov
Canadian Embassy Information
Toom-Kooli 13
Tallinn 15186
Estonia
Tel.: (+372) 627-3311
(+372) 627-3310 (visa enquiries)
Fax: (+372) 627-3312
Email: tallinn@canada.ee
British Embassy Information
British Embassy
Wismari 6, Tallinn 10136
Tel: (372) 667-4700
Additional Info in Albania
Anything we’ve left out? Any additional suggestions to make travel easier for others?
El Salvador
El Salvador
Safety
Crime and Threats
- El Salvador has one of the highest crime rates in the world. Crime — including armed robbery, carjacking, burglary, home invasion, sexual assault, homicide and petty theft — runs rampant throughout the country. While criminals do not specifically target foreign citizens on the basis of their nationality, the high crime rate poses a significant risk to foreigners
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El Salvador also suffers from an especially high degree of gang activity. Street gangs, locally known as “maras,” are both heavily armed and ruthless.
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Ground transportation, both on major highways and less-frequented roads, poses significant security and safety risks throughout all areas of the country.
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Armed robberies of vehicles traveling on the Pan-American Highway, which runs between San Salvador and Santa Ana, have been reported during daylight hours.
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Armed robberies of vehicles traveling on the Pan-American Highway, which runs between San Salvador and Santa Ana, have been reported during daylight hours.
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There have been a growing number of attacks against public transportation buses conducted by gangs, especially in and near San Salvador.
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Teams should remain in groups and avoid remote or isolated locations in order to minimize their vulnerability.
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Teams should also avoid displaying or carrying valuables in public places. Passports and other important documents should not be left in private vehicles.
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Armed assaults and carjackings take place both in San Salvador and in the interior of the country, but are especially frequent on roads outside the capital where police patrols are scarce.
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Criminals have been known to follow travelers from the international airport to private residences or secluded stretches of road where they carry out assaults and robberies.
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Teams in El Salvador should exercise caution at all times and practice good personal security procedures throughout their stay.
Safety in El Salvador
What do other Racers need to know in order to be safe? Current safety protocols/precautions in place? Any relevant issues/concerns? Any precautionary suggestions?
People’s Opinions
- I was with a team in Kombinat, an area of the city of Tirana. We did have an incident of being harassed by a man who clearly did not like us Americans helping at the church we stayed at. Be aware at all times and watch out for pick-pocketers. Did have a few incidents of kids grabbing on and reaching for pockets and straps of backpacks.
Health
- Areas affected: Rural areas of Santa Ana, Ahuachapan, and La Union departments.
- Estimated risk: Low
- Recommended chemoprofylaxis: Atovaquone/ proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, mefloquine or primaquine
- Symptoms
- Fever
- Chills
- Sweats
- Headache
- Body Aches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue
*The medicines used to prevent malaria can be very effective when used properly, but none of them are 100% effective.
- Areas Affected: All of El Salvador
- Symptoms
- Principal
- High fever and at least two of the following
- Severe headache
- Severe eye pain (behind eyes)
- Join pain
- Muscle and/or bone pain
- Rash
- Mild bleeding manifestation (e.g., nose or gum bleed, or easy bruising)
- Low white cell count
- Severe warning signs (IMMEDIATELY go to an emergency room if the following appear)
- Severe abdominal pain or persistant vomiting
- Red spots or patches on the skin
- Bleeding from nose or gums
- Vomiting blood
- Black, tarry stools
- Drowsiness or irritability
- Pale, cold, or clammy skin
- Difficulty breathing
- Principal
Health in El Salvador
Any special health concerns?
People’s Opinions
- If you need to go to the doctor in Tirana there is a clinic that works a lot with missionaries and they speak great English. Cost of an appointment ranges from 7USD to 25USD.Address: ABC Health Foundation
Rruga “Qemal Stafa” Nr., TiraneClinic: +355(0)42234105
Mail: healthcenter@abchealth.org
Web: www.abchealth.org - My team was doing Unsung Heroes in the city of Pogradec when one of our team mates needed to go to the doctor. A contact connected us with a Christian doctor in the area who speaks great English. The cost up front was only 15 USD and there is a pharmacy around the corner where you can fill any prescriptions.Dr. Klajdi Vampa Clinic: +069 235 01 01
Address: Sheshi “Gjimnazi”
Pall. Reja
Prane Teatrit te Kukullave
Pogradec
Visa Info
Visa Info in El Salvador
Do you need one? Where did you get it? Cost? Resources/sources:
People’s Opinions
- US Citizens can enter Albania with no visa and can now stay for up to 12 months without a residence permit.
Currency Info
It’s possible to exchange money from other countries at the border or at any bank.
If you withdraw money from an ATM, Scotia Bank is a good option. Check to find the lowest rates.
Currency Info in El Salvador
Name of currency? Where can you exchange money?
People’s Opinions
- Comments
Communication
LOG Editor- 5/13/2013
Communication in El Salvador
Did you have cell reception / Internet service? Where? Carrier / Provider, where did you get phones / SIM cards, cost? Country code?
People’s Opinions
- Comments
Transportation
- From Honduras:
- From Guatemala:
- From Nicaragua:
- etc
Within the country, we usually just used the public bus. It was 20 cents to get anywhere in the city (San Salvador) Other buses might be a little more, but we always used the same one to take us into the city and then back home. The taxis are fine, too. They are more expensive ($5 per taxi for a ten minute drive), but it is worth it if it is night. Getting between Central American countries, we used Tica. It was more expensive ($30 from San Salvador to Managua, Nic), but it is absolutely worth it. There is a bathroom, they are clean and safe, and there is no hassle in crossing the borders.
Transportation in El Salvador
What transportation did you use to enter the country? Where were you coming from? What transportation was used to move throughout the country? Be sure to include the cost per person in USD and contact info if applicable.
People’s Opinions
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We used the TICA bus to get our squad from country to country within Central America. Generally cost around $25 USD per person. Really nice bus, similar to a Greyhound bus in the States. Easy to work with, just be prepared with everyone’s passport info when you go to make your reservation. If you offer to pay a little extra, they can take you exactly where you need to go – instead of just dropping you off at a port in the nearest city from where you need to go. WARNING: They will try to scam you sometimes. Stick to your guns. They last minute tried to get us to pay an extra “visa fee” at the border which they made up for themselves to make more profit off of us. As logistics, we just got of the bus and took care of the visas ourselves. They also set up an additional form of transportation for our squad to get to the actual city we needed to get to, and those people tried to scam us into giving them more money. Stick to the original amount you agreed to when the reservation was made.http://www.ticabus.com/esp/
Culture
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Communication: El Salvadorans are good conversers and very comprehensible with foreign people. You do not have to be worried about your Spanish; they will try to understand you one way or another, and a lot of people in the country can speak English due to the close relationship with the United States.
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Greeting: El Salvadorans enjoy speaking about everything but, particularly, about their job, family, and customs. If you do not begin the conversation, they will. It is possible that El Salvadorans would like to know more about Canada and its people. Do not be surprised by the spontaneity of the people. El Salvadorans feel proud about their beaches, typical foods and some other beautiful places in the country. As an initial recommendation, any of these topics can be a good beginning for a conversation and a future friendly relationship with a Salvadoran.
Culture in A El Salvador
Anything Racers need to be aware/respectful of? Suggestions/Recommendations?
People’s Opinions
- Comments
Shipping / Mailing
Shipping / Mailing in El Salvador
Company used and contact info? How did you get packages to them?
Tips
Be smart. Ask your contact about safety precautions that are necessary in your specific area. Know where you are going and just be aware of what’s around you. It’s a really Americanized country, and that might be frustrating, but be thankful for where the Lord has you and ask what He is trying to teach you through El Salvador. LOG Editor- 5/13/2013
People’s Opinions
- Comments
Additional Info
Embassy and Consulate Information
Additional Info in El Salvador
Anything we’ve left out? Any additional suggestions to make travel easier for others?
Egypt
Albania
Safety
Safety in Egypt
What do other Racers need to know in order to be safe? Current safety protocols/precautions in place? Any relevant issues/concerns? Any precautionary suggestions?
People’s Opinions
- comments
Health
Health in Egypt
Any special health concerns?
People’s Opinions
- comments
Visa Info
Visa Info in Egypt
Do you need one? Where did you get it? Cost? Resources/sources:
People’s Opinions
- Comments
Currency Info
Currency Info in Egypt
Name of currency? Where can you exchange money?
People’s Opinions
- Comments
Communication
Communication in Egypt
Did you have cell reception / Internet service? Where? Carrier / Provider, where did you get phones / SIM cards, cost? Country code?
People’s Opinions
- Comments
Transportation
Transportation in Egypt
What transportation did you use to enter the country? Where were you coming from? What transportation was used to move throughout the country? Be sure to include the cost per person in USD and contact info if applicable.
People’s Opinions
- Comments
Culture
Culture in Egypt
Anything Racers need to be aware/respectful of? Suggestions/Recommendations?
People’s Opinions
- Comments
Shipping / Mailing
Shipping / Mailing in Egypt
Company used and contact info? How did you get packages to them?
People’s Opinions
- Comments
Tips
People’s Opinions
- Comments
Additional Info
Additional Info in Egypt
Anything we’ve left out? Any additional suggestions to make travel easier for others?
People’s Opinions
- Comments