Are you always alert and prepared for unexpected weather storms or political unrest during your vacation in caribbean or southeast Asia? For example, Emily had taken many vacationers by surprise that most were without water, food, decent shelter. Polical unrest in southern Thailand has reduce the number of tourists in the area. Do you bring along your survival kit along if you are cut off from airport and there is no electricity or food?

Since coming to Baghdad, I have built up a few different survival kits to keep with me at various times, as well as finding out what to do if the bubble pops. Naturally, wherever I go I find out where the nearest bunker is. That is an imperative, but you would be surprised how many people walk around without a clue where the nearest shelter is when the metal starts to rain down. I also learn which routes are the most protected so that I do not take unnecessary risks. I have two SRKs, but I've also made a couple of decent impalers out of 4 and 5 foot shovel handles.

As far as BOB and PSK goes, I carry everything I think might improve my chances. I have flashlights, knives, firestarters, pocket shelters, tape, nails, screws, water, more water, a little food, medications, first aid supplies, and an extra change of clothes in my BOB (oh yeah, a few hundred American dollars just in case). Similar but downsized in my shoulderbag, and various absolute essentials in my pockets. I also have special stashes at all the places I frequent, and have made mental notes about things that I might want to get my hands on if something bad starts here (like where a spare AK-47 might be located, where a good little hidey hole is that I might evade the enemy) I've also made some friends here that I think I can trust to a certain degree, and I've been generous with my gift giving to the local police and private security personnel. An Ex-pat simply cannot bug out of Baghdad on foot, there is 0 chance you will make it to any secure location if things go wrong here. The best you can hope for is to elude the insurgents and find a stronghold until the Apaches and the Abrams show up to sweep out the badguys.

The two weather issues to contend with here are heat and dust. I have a couple disposable face masks and one very good gas mask with a sealed combo cannister as part of my ppe gear. Dealing with the heat is a daily survival issue, so it is only a matter of finding water.

Were I somewhere else more hospitable in the world, I would likely be keeping the same BOB and shoulderbag set up as now. I might accouterize for a wetter or colder climate, but much of what I carry is more designed to survive terrorist activity. One thing that will always be a part of my survival kits is my new mindset. Always look for an out, be aware of where the threat is most likely to come from, recognize and avoid unnecessary risks. Become as transparent and inconspicuous as possible. I have passed through restricted gates flashing the wrong badge a number of times here just because I had the right body language and blended in with the crowd. That is hard to do when you're as big and white as I am. I've been here 5 months, and I have people who've been here two years asking me questions about what to do.

Ben: I'm curious, can you go into town and walk around like a person there?

According with benjammin I try to keep some supply stocked in the areas I frequently travel to or even I have to in futur times again. Making friends out there is important and not at least sometimes definitely the best "survival tool" that will perform successfully .
On the other hand I´ve to travel places I´ve never been before and will never be again. In such cases I try to send my mainsupply by courier or parcel service to my destination in order to avoid hassle with TSA or custom officers.
The things that can be stuffed in my daily baggage comes with me.
Finaly at destination I try to adjust for times might become a little sticky.
An other point is that I´m not willing to go to a public shelter because I would be forced to leave my dog behind.

Before went to anywere I update my CPOAF (yes I´m still using them in business and privat concerns today).
From my point of view the mindset and the knowledge about your surroundings are the key to stay happily alive.

As someone wrote here before: "The more you know the less you need."

Molf

Good post Ben. Take care and stay safe.

Recently I did some travel in the southern Philippines. Before I went I got the recommended vaccinations by the CDC and took malaria meds with me. Also, I packed a comprehensive medical kit, a water purifier and purifcation tablets, a Swiss army knife, a Jansport day pack, and picked up additional survival items in Davao City when I got there. Besides health issues, my concerns included crime in the city, the Abu Sayef (Muslim extremists in the south) and the New Peoples Army (PHRASECENSOREDPOSTERSHOULDKNOWBETTER. insurgents in the mountains). Also, I did some travel in the jungle and need to watch out for dangerous animals such as cobras and reticulated pythons. I did my homework ahead of time on staying safe and healthy, and closely followed my Philipino friends advice and guidance there. I had no problems and had a good trip.

"CPOAF" .... ?? <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
sorry....
I could not find this one on the Accronym Finder site..
What does it mean ?

TIA

If you send the kit ahead by courier, where do you pick it up?you mentioned that you went to phillipines. Do you pick up package at courier office at the airport?

Well, technically I am in the heart of Baghdad, but I am in the IZ, or international zone, where we're pretty much cordoned off from the rest of the capital. I can move more or less freely throughout the IZ, of course there are still plenty of risks even here where patrols are heavy, you might get sniped or mortared or some people have even been nabbed walking down the main street sidewalk at the wrong time. Outside of the IZ is called the Red zone, and there are a few places a big white boy like me can move around without a bullseye on his back, but for the most part, you don't go anywhere in the Red zone unless you are well camoflauged or have a security detail with you. The safest mode of travel here for me may be to drive an old toyota pickup all beat to hell with bailing wire holding the muffler on, doing about 40mph on the freeway max, belching oil smoke, with a goat tethered in the back of the rig. Of course I would have to wear the traditional red checkered head scarf and man dress, and shoe polish my pink irish face a little, but I might be able to pull it off. Lord help me if that toyota quits and I have to thumb a ride. It would be better to untie the goat and ride it back into town. My arabic still isn't too good.

Mostly, I just drive to wherever I need to go in the IZ, and take a security team if I leave the IZ for anything.

I live by this philosophy: Chance favors the prepared mind.

I take a full kit with me when I drive more then a 100 or so miles. I'd probibly need a few guys to carry all my stuff if I decided on taking a trip to an area I wasn't 90% or more sure of the stability. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />