In India, travel is a luxury very few can afford. It isn’t because there are fewer places of interest to visit, but because of several other factors. Time, for one is the biggest of them all none of us manages to squeeze out the time, we have very few leaves et all. The other factor is money. Yes, a big issue. Holidays are quite an expensive affair, thus restricting many people from taking a much-needed break.
However, the biggest factor of them all is gender. For men, safe travel is an easier, much feasible option than women. Even though every woman who sets out on travel isn’t raped or molested, the very fear of being a victim of sexual abuse either prevents them from venturing out alone, or for the ones who do make that bold move, the fear of being raped dampens the mood.
NewsMobile brings all the lovely ladies a list of best practices to make travel safer.
Carry a blade or swiss knife
Now, you might feel that I’m being stupid. Trust me, it works. Even though a blade or a swiss knife will not kill or do sufficient damage to anyone who tries to mess around with you, you’ll have a certain level of confidence that will keep these notorious people at bay. Being a journalist I’ve had to travel a lot within cities and trust me, even though I never used my swiss knife ever, the confidence it gave me was astounding.
Note vehicle numbers
Whenever you’re travelling by cab or auto, make sure you note down the vehicle number and text it to someone you know. If you happen to have a smartphone, switch on your GPS system so that you are in control of the route the driver is taking.
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Check for cameras
When it comes to halting somewhere, hotels can be an absolute nightmare. With many hotels now providing services exclusively for women, one big headache is taken care of, but even then if you don’t find yourself any such hotel, inspect the room thoroughly before you book it. Switch off all the lights and if you find a single red dot-like light anywhere, please be warned.
Train for the train journey
If you’re thinking of taking a train, then the best seat to opt for would be the upper seat, because then no one will be able to grope you and make you feel uncomfortable. Also, travel light and try to keep your bags on your seat itself so that you don’t have to be worried. Book your tickets in advance and travel only when you have a confirmed ticket.
Be alert
Be very careful when you travel alone. You might attract unwanted attention by going all blingy, so keep your attire simple and decent. Don’t talk too much with strangers and keep your phone fully charged and recharged. Keep someone updated about your last location too. Be careful about money and try and avoid too much gold jewellery. If someone’s following you, camp at some place for a while till your route is clear. Carry all the required documents and plan your journey well.
(NM REWIND – FROM ARCHIVES)