my experience with foreign travel was luckily to a highly developed Japan, before moving southward to the Philippines, Thailand, and Taiwan... a couple of things I would recommend... try to use the local language, even if you expertise is poor, the locals will appreciate you not being an "ugly American (read the book)" flash cards with important phrases do work...be aware of important dates... May 1 1971, in downtown Fukuoka, Japan, I was viewing an approaching street parade... little old Japanese man, tugs on my arm, and says it would be best if I was not on the street... May Day parade....be aware of situational awareness.. couple of years later in Angeles City, Philippines, I was leaving an establishment that served adult beverages, and a Philippine Constabulary pointed a M16 at me, and requested "come with me please"... Marcos had declared martial law sometime after I had left main base...have a portable radio or TV to keep up the breaking news...be able to dress like the locals... a Thai shirt, baseball cap with an oriental logo, and a pair of khaki pants allowed me to blend in a couple of times... don't overlook something like the GI contraceptive glasses... be careful of your accessories...if you work for a corporation, a "blood chit" has merit in parts of the third world... it is a guarantee to pay, by a recognized source (Credit Suisse for example) that someone giving you aid will be handsomely rewarded (gold works), but only after you have safely returned home... if I were ever to go back, I'd stash a couple of these... 1/10oz should get you a ride to the US Embassy or Consulate, the nice Marine will most likely let you in with a US birth certificate