Ask before photographing people or sacred sites. Many temples, shrines and government buildings prohibit photos; officials in some countries may confiscate cameras or impose fines. When in doubt, look for signs, present a polite request, or keep the camera in your bag. If someone declines, step back and offer a …

Book lodging that provides a confirmed wired Ethernet port, at least 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload, and a private lockable workspace; ask the host for router model, backup power source, and a recent speed-test screenshot before you arrive. Carry a compact network kit: USB-C to Ethernet adapter, dual-band …

Book lodgings and transfers only on platforms that list a verifiable business phone, a registration or tax ID, and multiple guest photos; confirm the exact street address with Google Street View and ask for a live video walkthrough before any deposit is taken. Pay with a credit card that supports …

Register with your embassy and check official incident logs from the last 30 days; if multiple recent reports exist, postpone or reroute. For urban sectors showing elevated incident counts, travel during daylight hours (06:30–18:30), stick to main arterials with active foot traffic, and avoid transit hubs after 21:00 unless traveling …

Prefer prebooked airport transfers or app-based licensed taxis; for street cabs insist on the meter, record the license plate, photograph the driver ID, and pay by card whenever possible. Typical petty losses commonly reported range from $20 to $150; card cloning and organized confidence tricks frequently produce single-incident losses above …

Immediate actions: File a police statement at the nearest station as soon as the incident is discovered; obtain a written report with a report number and the officer’s contact details. Call your country’s embassy or nearest consulate (most have a 24/7 emergency line) and email a scanned copy of the …

Ask for permission before photographing people or private property – a simple “May I?” in the local language or a pointing gesture prevents confrontations. Learn and use three local phrases: greeting, thank you, and apology. Use of these words reduces friction in brief encounters; aim to pronounce them correctly and …

Obtain written permits before capturing images of military installations, border checkpoints, airports, prisons and energy facilities; lack of authorization commonly leads to equipment seizure, monetary penalties (hundreds to several thousand dollars) and short-term detention in some jurisdictions. Subjects frequently restricted: military and security sites–bases, patrols and checkpoints; transport hubs–control towers, …

Raja Ampat, Indonesia: expect horizontal visibility typically between 20–30+ meters during the calm season (October–April), sea surface temperatures around 27–30°C. Access: fly to Sorong, then arrange a speedboat or liveaboard transfer (boat time 2–6 hours depending on island). Recommended gear: low-volume mask, 3–5 mm shorty if you get cold, snorkel …

Recommendation: Arrive 45 minutes before local solar set and remain 20 minutes after peak color; use tripod, remote shutter release and a graduated neutral density filter; capture RAW files. Set aperture to f/8–f/11, base ISO 100, and bracket exposures across five frames at 1 EV intervals for high dynamic range …