money belts: back about 40 years ago, I did a little traveling in SEA after the end of the air war.. the go to fashion statement was a Thai money belt of elephant hide...some crisp $20s, a set of orders with a TSCW notation, and a DIY microfiche
taken with some slide film of your US passport and GI ID card, and you could catch a ride on most space available aircraft, or more importantly get past the nice Marine at the gate of an embassy or legation...today, I think I'd stick a couple of 1/10oz gold coins in for good measure