http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb Recent News, political or military events, which may affect trip plans or routes. Personal and vehicle security, tips and questions. en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:19:25 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/travellers-advisories-safety-security-road/fco-locate-service-for-travellers-46541 Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:40:36 GMT It may have been posted before, apologies if so.

I recently registered at the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Locate service, which aims to be a little more proactive at getting their advice to you, having given them an idea of where you are heading.

A very nice lady in the Dakar Embassy just rang my mobile to see if I'd seen the email they had just sent to me, regarding their change of advice regarding Mali i.e. Timbuktu is no longer safe.

What you do with this advice is of course up to you, but having someone ring me out of the blue like that is I think something to be applauded :thumbup1: ]]> grizzly7 http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/travellers-advisories-safety-security-road/fco-locate-service-for-travellers-46541 http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/travellers-advisories-safety-security-road/turned-away-turkey-iran-iran-46444 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:54:43 GMT Currently in the midst of a tricky decision and was wondering if anyone had heard of people being turned away at the borders mentioned? The British FCO has advised me over the phone that foreigners are being occasionally turned away at both borders. I'm currently in Jordan and have only until the middle of February to complete my trip which was originally to Nepal, but am wondering whether turning south through Africa might be a safer bet. For me, getting refused at either of these crossings would ruin my trip, add to that the worsening situation in Pakistan and I'm in two minds! Any info much appreciated. ]]> matt_xt http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/travellers-advisories-safety-security-road/turned-away-turkey-iran-iran-46444 http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/travellers-advisories-safety-security-road/drug-induced-robbery-46429 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:16:16 GMT I came across the following articale and thought it may be of interest to international travelers. I can't personally validate it's authinticity, but it is interesting and seems possible:

This Incident has been confirmed by Snopes. In Katy , TX

As a woman was putting gas in her car, a man came over and offered his services as a painter, and had his business card in his hand. She said no, but accepted his card out of kindness and got in the car. The man then got into a car driven by another gentleman. As the lady left the service station, she saw the men following her out of the station at the same time. Almost immediately, she started to feel dizzy and could not catch her breath. She tried to open the window and realized that the odor was on her hand; the same hand which accepted the card from the gentleman at the gas station.

She then noticed the men were immediately behind her and she felt she needed to do something at that moment. She drove into the first driveway and began to honk her horn repeatedly to ask for help.. The men drove away but the lady still felt pretty bad for severalminutes after she could finally catch her breath. Apparently, there was a substance on the card that could have seriously injured her.

This drug is called 'BURUNDANGA ' and it is used by people who wish to incapacitate a victim in order to steal from or take advantage of them.

This drug is four times dangerous than the date rape drug and is transferable on simple cards.

So take heed and make sure you don ' t accept business cards at any given time alone or from someone on the streets. This applies to those making house calls and slipping you a card when they offer their services.
]]> Mr Steam Turbine http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/travellers-advisories-safety-security-road/drug-induced-robbery-46429 http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/travellers-advisories-safety-security-road/if-driving-to-cartegena-south-46428 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:15:55 GMT Do not take the secondary from Sincelejo via San Onofre.... I was stopped at least 8 times by gangs of street kids with chains across the road..... this road is not safe!!!! Date: Wed Nov 11 2009 Do not take the secondary from Sincelejo via San Onofre....
I was stopped at least 8 times by gangs of street kids with chains across the road..... this road is not safe!!!!

Date: Wed Nov 11 2009 ]]> omhughes http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/travellers-advisories-safety-security-road/if-driving-to-cartegena-south-46428 http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/travellers-advisories-safety-security-road/san-pedro-de-atacama-uyuni-46352 Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:12:37 GMT Hello We would like to go from San Pedro via Calama, Ollague to Uyuni. Has anybody updated information about the road? How long abot does it take? We travel on an old BMW GS80, 2 persons heavy loaded? We are currently staying in Salta and plan to go somewhen next week. Thanks for any information Chris Hello

We would like to go from San Pedro via Calama, Ollague to Uyuni. Has anybody updated information about the road? How long abot does it take?
We travel on an old BMW GS80, 2 persons heavy loaded?
We are currently staying in Salta and plan to go somewhen next week.
Thanks for any information
Chris ]]> LeuC http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/travellers-advisories-safety-security-road/san-pedro-de-atacama-uyuni-46352