We enlisted the help of three investment professionals who monitor and use investment trusts regularly, for their tips on what is hot and what is not.
To make it easier for you we have categorised them, so there are trusts for a cautious investor, trusts that should make decent core holdings and trusts that are speculative - where gains could be bumper, but so could the losses.
Here are the thoughts of Mick Gilligan of Killik & Co, Charles Cade of Numis Securities and Nick Sketch of Rensburg Sheppards.
Ruffer Investment Company
This is an absolute-return fund and one of the few long-only funds deserving of the label. Jonathan Ruffer and Steve Russell have done a brilliant job of preserving capital in bad markets and making money in good markets. They still have only 50pc in equities, and should materially outperform cash on deposit over the next five years, whether markets are "good" or "bad". What more does a cautious investor want?
BlackRock Hedge Selector
The fund has an absolute-return mandate and seeks to produce consistent returns with no formal risk or volatility target, although these have historically been low – since inception in April 2004 it produced an annualised return in excess of 17pc.
Perpetual Income & Growth
A mainstream UK equity fund with a cautious stance. Its attractions are based on excellent management, a decent dividend, lower charges than similar unit trusts and the ability to take "income" in a form that will be taxed as capital distributions.
Utilico Emerging Markets
This AIM-listed fund aims to provide long-term capital growth by investing predominantly in infrastructure, utilities and related sectors, mainly in the emerging markets. We like the resilient characteristics of the underlying portfolio earnings and the growth potential associated with emerging markets. We see this as an attractive entry point.
SVM Global
Invests in all the areas that make up small slices of most portfolios, or are ignored altogether – such as property, private equity, emerging markets, commodities and hedge funds. The management team is strong and highly incentivised by owning the stock themselves.
Aberforth Smaller Companies
The managers were positive at the start of 2009, introducing gearing of 10pc. Even so the fund has underperformed in the rally over the past 12 months as it avoided financially stressed companies with weak balance sheets. However, we believe it remains well placed to benefit from a pick up in merger and acquisition activity among smaller companies over the next year. The fund is currently trading on a discount of 14pc and pays an attractive yield of 3.7pc.
Eurovestech
For investors who fancy a punt this AIM-listed fund invests in a diverse range of internet and technology-related business across Europe. The holdings in the portfolio are relatively mature assets, having been held and developed by Eurovestech for almost 10 years. This raises the possibility of significant sales of assets and subsequent return of shareholder capital.
VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity
Vietnam has been growing strongly ever since the government adopted a policy of increased economic liberalisation in 1986. GDP growth has averaged 7.2pc per year over the past decade, driven by foreign investment and a low-cost entrepreneurial workforce.
Vietnam was one of the best performing global markets in 2006-07, but collapsed in 2008 and remains 55pc below its peak. As a result, there has been little interest from foreign investors who have focused instead on China. However, we believe that valuations in Vietnam now look attractive.
Friday, 26 March 2010
Best places to have a midlife crisis
If you're bored with your life and looking to shake things up, Lonely Planet has come up with 10 destinations where you can reinvent yourself and feel young again. The list is from Lonely Planet's 1000 Ultimate Experiences book.
1. DUBAI, UAE
It's time for a new outfit, which means an expedition to Dubai. Fashion is serious business in this shopping-mall heaven, where small and flashy togs can be stuffed into designer handbags. To finish the look, eye-punishing displays of glittering gold line the streets of Dubai's gold souq. Over 25 tons of the stuff are on display in the city's jewelry-shop windows. Choose from earrings, rings, necklaces or bracelets - the more ostentatious the better.
2. ROUTE 66, USA
Search for freedom on the open highway with a road trip across the USA. It requires a Harley or a classic convertible, and plenty of 'issues' to resolve. Take your pick from a multitude of interstate routes, but to travel in the footsteps of film, literary and music legends it has to be well-worn and iconic Route 66, from Chicago to Santa Monica. Do take a movie camera to record your trip. Don't forget to fill up with gas.
3. MONTE CARLO, MONACO
Dust off your tux and brush up on the slick one-liners as you join the jet set, Bond-style, in Monte Carlo. The beautiful people out-glamour each other from their million-euro yachts moored along the harbor, as international businesspeople monitor their investments from this secure tax haven. Visitors to the casino glint with gold, like the sun on the Med. The Monte Carlo Rally in January and the Monaco Grand Prix in May offer adrenalin-fueled breaks from spending cash.
4. RISHIKESH, INDIA
If your crisis is one of faith, take your pick of places in which to have a spiritual epiphany: St Peter's in Rome, Lhasa in Tibet or Mecca in Saudi Arabia could help you find your calling. But we reckon the ideal spot is Rishikesh, on the banks of the sacred Ganges in the foothills of the Himalaya. It's lined with ashrams, and holy men mingle with tourists and the odd celeb. This was the Beatles' favorite center of Hindu philosophy and learning, and it's nicknamed the yoga capital of the world.
5. LAS VEGAS, USA
You've realized what your first wedding was missing: an Elvis impersonator, matching polyester pantsuits and a partner you'd only just met. So it's time to take a gamble of a different sort with a second/third/seventh wedding in Vegas. It offers more than 30 places to say 'I do', and over 100,000 couples take their vows here each year, including more than a handful of celebs. The Little White Wedding Chapel is open 24 hours, so when your eyes meet over a crowded poker table, there's no need to bother waiting before tying the knot.
6. PHUKET, KUALA LUMPUR, MANILA, MUMBAI
Fed up of peering in the mirror, jiggling your wobbly bits and wishing everything was a little further north? Considering a little nip and tuck or two, but worried about showing your post-op bruises in public? Cheap prices coupled with recuperation in the sun is making surgery in Phuket, Kuala Lumpur or Manila increasingly popular. India is the daddy of them all. Today state-of the-art facilities make a facelift or a hip replacement a short inconvenience before relaxing by the beach.
7. MACAU, China
Cashing in the pension fund and remortgaging the house might just be enough to get you in the door of Crown Casino, Taipa Island, Macau. Boasting six stars and more than 200 gaming tables, the casino's not shy about the number of noughts involved. For those with pockets smaller than China, there are another 27 casinos to choose from. These include the grandly decked-out Emperor Palace Casino on the peninsula - featuring plenty of marble and as much gold on the brick floor as on the gamblers themselves - or the famous, lively Casino Lisboa.
8. SILVERSTONE, ENGLAND
It's not too late to fulfill that dream of being a racing driver, temporarily at least. Crowds have watched heroes like Senna, Prost and Stewart hurtle around the legendary Silverstone track, home of the British Grand Prix, since the 1950s, and you can recreate it with a power test drive. Imagine the cheers as you burn rubber in a Ferrari, slide into corners in an old single-seater or test a 4WD on something more taxing than the streets of Islington. Just don't try this on the school run.
9. PETRA, JORDAN
Petra, setting for much of 1989's Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, looks like it should only exist in films. A narrow canyon winds to its iconic entrance, carved from deep-rose colored sandstone. As you enter, you're greeted by the intricate facade of the famous Khazneh (Treasury), fictional home of the Holy Grail. The site contains plenty more to explore, including the Temple of the Winged Lions, still in the process of excavation. Today the only hazards are bumping shoulders with the other 3,000 visitors; poisoned arrows, rolling balls of rock and snake pits are usually avoidable.
10. SYDNEY & MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
For centuries humans have pitted themselves against beasts to prove their worth, from rather one-sided trophy hunting to careering down side streets at the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. Something a little more equal and up close is diving with sharks, and for that you should head to Australia. For those with no diving experience, tank dives in Melbourne's aquarium and Sydney's oceanarium give a chance to watch these predators glide past soundlessly, eyeing you up as a potential meal. Friends and family can watch your "bravery" via a glass viewing screen.
1. DUBAI, UAE
It's time for a new outfit, which means an expedition to Dubai. Fashion is serious business in this shopping-mall heaven, where small and flashy togs can be stuffed into designer handbags. To finish the look, eye-punishing displays of glittering gold line the streets of Dubai's gold souq. Over 25 tons of the stuff are on display in the city's jewelry-shop windows. Choose from earrings, rings, necklaces or bracelets - the more ostentatious the better.
2. ROUTE 66, USA
Search for freedom on the open highway with a road trip across the USA. It requires a Harley or a classic convertible, and plenty of 'issues' to resolve. Take your pick from a multitude of interstate routes, but to travel in the footsteps of film, literary and music legends it has to be well-worn and iconic Route 66, from Chicago to Santa Monica. Do take a movie camera to record your trip. Don't forget to fill up with gas.
3. MONTE CARLO, MONACO
Dust off your tux and brush up on the slick one-liners as you join the jet set, Bond-style, in Monte Carlo. The beautiful people out-glamour each other from their million-euro yachts moored along the harbor, as international businesspeople monitor their investments from this secure tax haven. Visitors to the casino glint with gold, like the sun on the Med. The Monte Carlo Rally in January and the Monaco Grand Prix in May offer adrenalin-fueled breaks from spending cash.
4. RISHIKESH, INDIA
If your crisis is one of faith, take your pick of places in which to have a spiritual epiphany: St Peter's in Rome, Lhasa in Tibet or Mecca in Saudi Arabia could help you find your calling. But we reckon the ideal spot is Rishikesh, on the banks of the sacred Ganges in the foothills of the Himalaya. It's lined with ashrams, and holy men mingle with tourists and the odd celeb. This was the Beatles' favorite center of Hindu philosophy and learning, and it's nicknamed the yoga capital of the world.
5. LAS VEGAS, USA
You've realized what your first wedding was missing: an Elvis impersonator, matching polyester pantsuits and a partner you'd only just met. So it's time to take a gamble of a different sort with a second/third/seventh wedding in Vegas. It offers more than 30 places to say 'I do', and over 100,000 couples take their vows here each year, including more than a handful of celebs. The Little White Wedding Chapel is open 24 hours, so when your eyes meet over a crowded poker table, there's no need to bother waiting before tying the knot.
6. PHUKET, KUALA LUMPUR, MANILA, MUMBAI
Fed up of peering in the mirror, jiggling your wobbly bits and wishing everything was a little further north? Considering a little nip and tuck or two, but worried about showing your post-op bruises in public? Cheap prices coupled with recuperation in the sun is making surgery in Phuket, Kuala Lumpur or Manila increasingly popular. India is the daddy of them all. Today state-of the-art facilities make a facelift or a hip replacement a short inconvenience before relaxing by the beach.
7. MACAU, China
Cashing in the pension fund and remortgaging the house might just be enough to get you in the door of Crown Casino, Taipa Island, Macau. Boasting six stars and more than 200 gaming tables, the casino's not shy about the number of noughts involved. For those with pockets smaller than China, there are another 27 casinos to choose from. These include the grandly decked-out Emperor Palace Casino on the peninsula - featuring plenty of marble and as much gold on the brick floor as on the gamblers themselves - or the famous, lively Casino Lisboa.
8. SILVERSTONE, ENGLAND
It's not too late to fulfill that dream of being a racing driver, temporarily at least. Crowds have watched heroes like Senna, Prost and Stewart hurtle around the legendary Silverstone track, home of the British Grand Prix, since the 1950s, and you can recreate it with a power test drive. Imagine the cheers as you burn rubber in a Ferrari, slide into corners in an old single-seater or test a 4WD on something more taxing than the streets of Islington. Just don't try this on the school run.
9. PETRA, JORDAN
Petra, setting for much of 1989's Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, looks like it should only exist in films. A narrow canyon winds to its iconic entrance, carved from deep-rose colored sandstone. As you enter, you're greeted by the intricate facade of the famous Khazneh (Treasury), fictional home of the Holy Grail. The site contains plenty more to explore, including the Temple of the Winged Lions, still in the process of excavation. Today the only hazards are bumping shoulders with the other 3,000 visitors; poisoned arrows, rolling balls of rock and snake pits are usually avoidable.
10. SYDNEY & MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
For centuries humans have pitted themselves against beasts to prove their worth, from rather one-sided trophy hunting to careering down side streets at the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. Something a little more equal and up close is diving with sharks, and for that you should head to Australia. For those with no diving experience, tank dives in Melbourne's aquarium and Sydney's oceanarium give a chance to watch these predators glide past soundlessly, eyeing you up as a potential meal. Friends and family can watch your "bravery" via a glass viewing screen.
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
Google ends censored search in China
Not even Sergey Brin, Google's co-founder and the man reportedly driving this tough new stance with China, is sure how this story will play out.
As he told the New York Times, after two rounds of "back and forth" with the Chinese authorities, Google is still unclear how the Chinese will react .
"There's a lot of lack of clarity," he said, "Our hope is that the newly begun Hong Kong service will continue to be available in mainland China." Before adding: "The story's not over yet."
At the time of writing – midday on March 23 in Beijing – Chinese internet users were still able to access the re-routed search service on the Hong Kong page which carried a note in Chinese saying "Welcome to Google Search in China's new home."
However, searches from within China for sensitive topics, such as "Tiananmen Square Incident" were still blocked to internet users in mainland China thanks to the Great Firewall.
The question now being asked is whether the Chinese government will move to further punish Google by blocking the re-routed Google.cn site, at the cost of highlighting the extent of internet censorship in China to its own public.
The initial reaction from China's State Council Information Office was hostile, describing the decision to halt censoring as "totally wrong", apparently rendering flimsy Mr Brin's hopes (disingenuous or otherwise) that the Hong Kong search would be allowed to continue unmolested.
While some analysts see the Hong Kong strategy as a potentially elegant compromise to an apparently intractable dispute, others like Dr Mathew McDougall, CEO of SinoTech Group, one of China's leading online advertising agencies see an inevitable new round of confrontation ahead.
"It looks to us as if Google has thumbed its nose at China with this Hong Kong strategy. They've tried to be clever by exploiting a legal loophole, but that's surely going to anger the authorities.
"We're already taking bets in the office as to how long the Hong Kong-routed Google.cn stays open. My take is that the Chinese will close it down by the end of the day."
In practice, that will mean blocking the Google.cn domain name in China, so that Chinese internet users will simply receive a 'page not available' message when they attempt to log on to Google.
However, as Rebecca MacKinnon, Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong's Journalism and Media Studies Centre points out in her blog, such a move would only highlight the extent censorship in China .
"If they [the Chinese government] are smart they will just leave the situation as is and stop drawing media attention to their censorship practices," she writes.
"The longer this high profile fracas goes on, the greater Chinese Internet users awareness will be about the lengths to which their government goes to blinker their knowledge of the world." If China was to take that course of action, users would then have to wait and see what impact it would have on other Google services such as Gmail, Google maps and music downloads.
Many analysts believe that China, which has a history of backing down in the face of angry internet users, would not risk the wrath of hundreds of thousands, possibly millions of users by blocking access to those services.
However at the moment nothing is impossible. The ball is now in China's court; as Sergey Brin so correctly observed, "The story's not over yet."
---By Peter Foster in Beijing
As he told the New York Times, after two rounds of "back and forth" with the Chinese authorities, Google is still unclear how the Chinese will react .
"There's a lot of lack of clarity," he said, "Our hope is that the newly begun Hong Kong service will continue to be available in mainland China." Before adding: "The story's not over yet."
At the time of writing – midday on March 23 in Beijing – Chinese internet users were still able to access the re-routed search service on the Hong Kong page which carried a note in Chinese saying "Welcome to Google Search in China's new home."
However, searches from within China for sensitive topics, such as "Tiananmen Square Incident" were still blocked to internet users in mainland China thanks to the Great Firewall.
The question now being asked is whether the Chinese government will move to further punish Google by blocking the re-routed Google.cn site, at the cost of highlighting the extent of internet censorship in China to its own public.
The initial reaction from China's State Council Information Office was hostile, describing the decision to halt censoring as "totally wrong", apparently rendering flimsy Mr Brin's hopes (disingenuous or otherwise) that the Hong Kong search would be allowed to continue unmolested.
While some analysts see the Hong Kong strategy as a potentially elegant compromise to an apparently intractable dispute, others like Dr Mathew McDougall, CEO of SinoTech Group, one of China's leading online advertising agencies see an inevitable new round of confrontation ahead.
"It looks to us as if Google has thumbed its nose at China with this Hong Kong strategy. They've tried to be clever by exploiting a legal loophole, but that's surely going to anger the authorities.
"We're already taking bets in the office as to how long the Hong Kong-routed Google.cn stays open. My take is that the Chinese will close it down by the end of the day."
In practice, that will mean blocking the Google.cn domain name in China, so that Chinese internet users will simply receive a 'page not available' message when they attempt to log on to Google.
However, as Rebecca MacKinnon, Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong's Journalism and Media Studies Centre points out in her blog, such a move would only highlight the extent censorship in China .
"If they [the Chinese government] are smart they will just leave the situation as is and stop drawing media attention to their censorship practices," she writes.
"The longer this high profile fracas goes on, the greater Chinese Internet users awareness will be about the lengths to which their government goes to blinker their knowledge of the world." If China was to take that course of action, users would then have to wait and see what impact it would have on other Google services such as Gmail, Google maps and music downloads.
Many analysts believe that China, which has a history of backing down in the face of angry internet users, would not risk the wrath of hundreds of thousands, possibly millions of users by blocking access to those services.
However at the moment nothing is impossible. The ball is now in China's court; as Sergey Brin so correctly observed, "The story's not over yet."
---By Peter Foster in Beijing
Facebook ousts Google in US popularity
Facebook has become the most visited website in the United States as millions of people turn to the social networking site to play online games.
The social networking site has seen phenomenal growth around the world and for the first time surpassed Google.com for a whole week in the US last week, according to the web analytics firm Hitwise.
The milestone indicates how important a gateway to the web social networks, in particular Facebook, are becoming.
Facebook has more than 400 million regular users worldwide, about half of whom visit the site every day to check their updates, post photos and, increasingly, play online social games.
The growing popularity of simple games such as FarmVille, which has more than 83 million players worldwide, has breathed added life into social networks and hold out the prospect of huge profits for Facebook and companies such as Zynga and Playfish as gamers use real money to buy virtual goods inside the games.
Google reacted to the threat of Facebook by launching its own social network within its Gmail service last month. But Google Buzz has got to a rocky start as users complained about privacy concerns.
Google's earlier attempt in 2004 at a social network called Orkut has only ever been really popular in Brazil.
Hitwise said that the market share of visits to Facebook.com increased 185 per cent last week as compared with the same week in 2009, while visits to Google.com increased 9 per cent during the same timeframe.
Facebook’s home page saw 7.07 per cent of traffic and Google’s 7.03 per cent. Together Facebook.com and Google.com accounted for 14 per cent of all US Internet visits last week, Hitwise said.
Facebook.com has been the most visited US website before: it reached the No 1 spot on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day as well as on the weekend of March 6 and 7. But last week is the most sustained lead it has attained.
In the UK, Facebook still lags some distance behind Google, partly because Google's market share of internet search is so much greater. Google.co.uk had 9.34 per cent of visits while Facebook had 6.01 per cent.
The Hitwise figures do not include searches carried out in a box in a browser toolbar and do not cover visits to other Google websites for services such as Gmail, YouTube, and Google Maps.
Taking all these Google properties into account, the internet search company is still way out in front, accounting for 11.03 per cent of US website visits last week with Yahoo! properties second.
The US accounts for only 30 per cent of Facebook's global users. The company is continuing its policy of expansion overseas and is opening its first office in India to help it to tap the increasing popularity of social networking in the country
The office will be located in the southern city of Hyderabad and work along similar lines to other operation centres in the United States and Ireland, with online advertising and support teams
Facebook's director of global online operations, Don Faul, wrote on the firm's blog: "In India alone, we've seen rapid growth and now have more than eight million people there actively connecting on Facebook."
The Top 5 games on Facebook
1: FarmVille
With over 83 million monthly users, the developer Zynga’s build your own farm simulation game is a genuine Facebook phenomenon. Players pay for seeds, animals and interior décor in both virtual and real currencies. Virtual currency is generated by trading crops with other players, while new additions can be purchased with real money or virtual currency.
2: Birthday Cards
Not strictly a game, but an application with 47 million users that organises all your friends’ birthdays, prompts you with reminders and allows you to send free or paid for cards, and gifts. Developed by RockYou!
3: Café World
Another world-building application from Zynga which, like FarmVille, puts you in charge of a business which you can expand or allow to go bankrupt. 30.6 million users per month.
4: Texas HoldEm Poker
Zynga again, with a traditional poker game where chips are purched for real money, though considerably less than in the real world. 26.8 million users.
5: Happy Aquarium
Yet another heavy-maintenance creature-associated game, this time with fish. Developed by CrowdStar, it has 26.1 million users per month.
Figures accurate as of end February 2010. Source: insidesocialgames.com
The social networking site has seen phenomenal growth around the world and for the first time surpassed Google.com for a whole week in the US last week, according to the web analytics firm Hitwise.
The milestone indicates how important a gateway to the web social networks, in particular Facebook, are becoming.
Facebook has more than 400 million regular users worldwide, about half of whom visit the site every day to check their updates, post photos and, increasingly, play online social games.
The growing popularity of simple games such as FarmVille, which has more than 83 million players worldwide, has breathed added life into social networks and hold out the prospect of huge profits for Facebook and companies such as Zynga and Playfish as gamers use real money to buy virtual goods inside the games.
Google reacted to the threat of Facebook by launching its own social network within its Gmail service last month. But Google Buzz has got to a rocky start as users complained about privacy concerns.
Google's earlier attempt in 2004 at a social network called Orkut has only ever been really popular in Brazil.
Hitwise said that the market share of visits to Facebook.com increased 185 per cent last week as compared with the same week in 2009, while visits to Google.com increased 9 per cent during the same timeframe.
Facebook’s home page saw 7.07 per cent of traffic and Google’s 7.03 per cent. Together Facebook.com and Google.com accounted for 14 per cent of all US Internet visits last week, Hitwise said.
Facebook.com has been the most visited US website before: it reached the No 1 spot on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day as well as on the weekend of March 6 and 7. But last week is the most sustained lead it has attained.
In the UK, Facebook still lags some distance behind Google, partly because Google's market share of internet search is so much greater. Google.co.uk had 9.34 per cent of visits while Facebook had 6.01 per cent.
The Hitwise figures do not include searches carried out in a box in a browser toolbar and do not cover visits to other Google websites for services such as Gmail, YouTube, and Google Maps.
Taking all these Google properties into account, the internet search company is still way out in front, accounting for 11.03 per cent of US website visits last week with Yahoo! properties second.
The US accounts for only 30 per cent of Facebook's global users. The company is continuing its policy of expansion overseas and is opening its first office in India to help it to tap the increasing popularity of social networking in the country
The office will be located in the southern city of Hyderabad and work along similar lines to other operation centres in the United States and Ireland, with online advertising and support teams
Facebook's director of global online operations, Don Faul, wrote on the firm's blog: "In India alone, we've seen rapid growth and now have more than eight million people there actively connecting on Facebook."
The Top 5 games on Facebook
1: FarmVille
With over 83 million monthly users, the developer Zynga’s build your own farm simulation game is a genuine Facebook phenomenon. Players pay for seeds, animals and interior décor in both virtual and real currencies. Virtual currency is generated by trading crops with other players, while new additions can be purchased with real money or virtual currency.
2: Birthday Cards
Not strictly a game, but an application with 47 million users that organises all your friends’ birthdays, prompts you with reminders and allows you to send free or paid for cards, and gifts. Developed by RockYou!
3: Café World
Another world-building application from Zynga which, like FarmVille, puts you in charge of a business which you can expand or allow to go bankrupt. 30.6 million users per month.
4: Texas HoldEm Poker
Zynga again, with a traditional poker game where chips are purched for real money, though considerably less than in the real world. 26.8 million users.
5: Happy Aquarium
Yet another heavy-maintenance creature-associated game, this time with fish. Developed by CrowdStar, it has 26.1 million users per month.
Figures accurate as of end February 2010. Source: insidesocialgames.com
Sunday, 21 March 2010
How to stay safe on a gap year
Peter Slowe, founder of Projects Abroad
“If you’re taking a trip on your own for the first time, it’s important to be aware. People are in danger of being mugged at tourist venues or being conned out of their money.
"My advice: always travel in a group (especially if you’re a younger gapper), always check your insurance (expensive insurance does not necessarily mean better insurance), and always make sure you do some research before you go – such as whether you need a mosquito net, what medicines you might need or the appropriate dress code for the country you’re visiting.”
Ian French, father of Georgia French who died in Peru, and founder of GapAid
“The most common dangers facing gap year travellers are usually quite minor – losing your passport, money, airline tickets, mobile phone or iPod. Then there are the more dangerous risks – of robbery, rape, or even kidnapping. You hear of people being marched to cash machines to empty their bank accounts.
"A gapper in a developing country is like a walking advert for ‘get rich quick’. You’ve got a watch, a mobile phone, a credit card and some money, and that is often more than some of the people in that country earn in a year. Secondly, it’s all about preparation.
"If you simply turn up somewhere you are going to have a problem. Do you know what language they speak? Do you know what the weather is going to be like? Have you sorted out accommodation? Checking these really basic things will make your trip a much better experience.”
Marcus Watts, founder of Gapforce
“As a gap year organisation we find some of the biggest problems are medical (for instance, going to a doctor where they are possibly using dodgy needles) but it’s also important that people are prepared for what they’re actually going to be doing. It’s amazing some of the complaints we get – we have actually had people complaining that the sun is too hot or the sand is too sandy!
"It’s all about getting people emotionally prepared for their trip. My main advice would be to treat wherever you are overseas as you would the UK. You wouldn’t get in a car with someone in the UK, so don’t do it there just because it’s a smiley chap from Fiji who lives on a desert island.
"And don’t leave your wallet on the bar just because it’s a nice little African place and everyone’s being friendly.”
Madeleine Wright, a student who recently spent three months in Ghana on a volunteer project
“My personal experience of getting ill while I was volunteering in Ghana made me realise how important caring for your health is when you’re living somewhere with a completely different climate and eating food you’re not used to.
"Always drink enough water (but never tap water unless you’re sure it is safe to do so) and don’t drink too much alcohol – you’re in unfamiliar territory and you need to be extra vigilant.
"From a safety perspective, always go out in groups and make sure you tell at least one person where you are headed.”
--By Katie Evans
“If you’re taking a trip on your own for the first time, it’s important to be aware. People are in danger of being mugged at tourist venues or being conned out of their money.
"My advice: always travel in a group (especially if you’re a younger gapper), always check your insurance (expensive insurance does not necessarily mean better insurance), and always make sure you do some research before you go – such as whether you need a mosquito net, what medicines you might need or the appropriate dress code for the country you’re visiting.”
Ian French, father of Georgia French who died in Peru, and founder of GapAid
“The most common dangers facing gap year travellers are usually quite minor – losing your passport, money, airline tickets, mobile phone or iPod. Then there are the more dangerous risks – of robbery, rape, or even kidnapping. You hear of people being marched to cash machines to empty their bank accounts.
"A gapper in a developing country is like a walking advert for ‘get rich quick’. You’ve got a watch, a mobile phone, a credit card and some money, and that is often more than some of the people in that country earn in a year. Secondly, it’s all about preparation.
"If you simply turn up somewhere you are going to have a problem. Do you know what language they speak? Do you know what the weather is going to be like? Have you sorted out accommodation? Checking these really basic things will make your trip a much better experience.”
Marcus Watts, founder of Gapforce
“As a gap year organisation we find some of the biggest problems are medical (for instance, going to a doctor where they are possibly using dodgy needles) but it’s also important that people are prepared for what they’re actually going to be doing. It’s amazing some of the complaints we get – we have actually had people complaining that the sun is too hot or the sand is too sandy!
"It’s all about getting people emotionally prepared for their trip. My main advice would be to treat wherever you are overseas as you would the UK. You wouldn’t get in a car with someone in the UK, so don’t do it there just because it’s a smiley chap from Fiji who lives on a desert island.
"And don’t leave your wallet on the bar just because it’s a nice little African place and everyone’s being friendly.”
Madeleine Wright, a student who recently spent three months in Ghana on a volunteer project
“My personal experience of getting ill while I was volunteering in Ghana made me realise how important caring for your health is when you’re living somewhere with a completely different climate and eating food you’re not used to.
"Always drink enough water (but never tap water unless you’re sure it is safe to do so) and don’t drink too much alcohol – you’re in unfamiliar territory and you need to be extra vigilant.
"From a safety perspective, always go out in groups and make sure you tell at least one person where you are headed.”
--By Katie Evans
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