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Five tips for visiting developing countries
The brilliant economist Tyler Cowen, who was recently interviewed by Gadling, and Chris Blattman, a blogger and global development researcher, recently offered some bits of advice for anyone planning to visit a developing country. Here, in no particular order, are five of their best tips:1. Eat the street food. Though some travelers worry that street vendors don't maintain the health standards of your typical restaurant (whatever those are), street food is usually some of the freshest and cleanest around. Just use common sense and eat where the locals eat.
2. Ask people about the best local restaurants, writes Blattman. "In many places, the most authentic restaurant meal is lunch, mainly for workers. People will eat at home for dinner, where the best food is always found. If someone invites you home for dinner, go! "
3. Do not get drunk or patronize prostitutes. Engaging in either is asking for trouble, especially if you're unfamiliar with your surroundings. Tyler says, "If you want to do it, save it for a more familiar environment." Note that drinking with locals is often a great way to learn about them and their country. But there's a fine line...
4. Dress like everyone else, even if you still stick out. Blattman's advice: "If locals wear long pants/skirts, tuck in their shirts, and spurn sneakers, then think about doing the same (especially if you're working)." I'm looking at you, Andrew Zimmern!
5. Be careful with your health, but don't get carried away. Get the required shots well before you go and ask your doctor what you need to watch out for, but don't be intimidated by all the death and disease that supposedly lurks behind every corner of your destination. Listening to the nurse describe the various dangers involved in visiting Ecuador, the novelist Benjamin Kunkel once wrote, she "made it seem amazing that anyone who went there didn't pitch off a cliff in a bus while reeling from dengue fever and nibbling at some piece of hepatitis-soaked fruit as a scorpion crawled up his shorts."
Check out more tips for development researchers from Chris Blattman and some general travel tips from Tyler Cowen.
Filed under: Food and Drink, Budget Travel, Travel Health
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
BB Jun 3rd 2008 1:00PM
I can't image what evidence Tyler Cowen would give to support his statement that street food is "the freshest and cleanest around."
Street vendors usually have no source of refrigeration or sanitation. Bacterial counts of meat, fish and dairy products rise to truly dangerous levels at room temperature. And hand washing, the most fundamental and effective means of preventing spread of infection is usually non-existent for both vendor and customer.
Although street vendor food looks and smells tempting, is that few moments of enjoyment worth getting sick over?
Justin Glow Jun 3rd 2008 1:30PM
Yes.
MissEm0602 Jun 8th 2008 2:59AM
Street meat is the best - I've never gotten sick off of it!
bnhoshaw7 Jun 8th 2008 5:05AM
Oh my God, BB is obviously retarded. street meat doesn't have the refrigeration of restaraunts which would make sense why he called it the freshest! And also, he does say to use common sense, and go where the other people go. You aren't going to tell me that when visiting a foreign country, you would go eat at a place the locals wouldn't dare go. I am just happy knowing that people like BB, obviously don't make it out of the country much, because then he might actually realize, the world still works without refrigeration, and OSHA lurking around every corner. Sanitation is important. But BB was eating paint chips.
Alex0958 Jun 8th 2008 6:27AM
Possibly the author is (rightly) suggesting that we patrons tend to blindly trust the health safety standards of restaurants versus the more readily available observation of street vendor standards. While studying for a Microbiology degree at a major U.S. university, I worked as a chef's assistant in the swankiest restaurant in town. The manner in which my co-workers handled food, as they prepared $50 - $75 entrees, was appalling. I've since learned that a lack of cleanliness is quite common in the restaurant industry.
Ben Jun 4th 2008 8:31AM
I personally would not treat the warnings as lightly as mentioned here. As a matter of fact, we have gone to third world countries where:
- a relative contracted dengue
- a child was hospitalized for days
- even the locals we were with got sick (from food, etc)
- folks caught nasty infections
Bottom line: better to be safe than sorry. And I agree with the other post - DO NOT EAT food from street vendors.
It looks like the folks interviewed for this article are not even health care professionals, so they have no business giving this kind of advice. The editors should think about pulling this article.
Jamie Rhein Jun 4th 2008 10:47AM
I agree with the article. If the food is being cooked right in front of you and is taken off from a grill, it's okay. At least that's what I've found. The stuff to worry about is anything uncovered. Also, check the cleanliness of the vendor. You can tell the difference between someone with good hygiene and someone who doesn't.
Do not eat peeled fruit though. What you can do is have the vendor cut a new one for you. I'm thinking about pinapple, for example.
I'd also not drink homeade drinks. Anything that may not use a good clean water source.
The only times I have had food poisoning were from restaurant food. Once in Banjul, The Gambia at a reputable restaurant. I ate some sort of shrimp sandwich. The other time was in Singapore at a shopping mall stall. Another shrimp dish. I was SICK from the Singapore experience and almost non-functioning. The Gambia experience left me more quesy.
Also, some people just get sick more easily than others.
xoxo Jun 4th 2008 3:09PM
never eat burger king from mexico, nuff said.
Richard 1234 Jun 7th 2008 8:33PM
No doubt Tyler has not been outside the country when it was not part of a Club Med Experience... This guy is a total BS'er and we should ALL boycott his work till he is rightfully dismissed from his job. ..
Get rid of fakes and flakes
Pat Jun 7th 2008 8:50PM
I ate at one of the best restaurants in La Paz, Bolivia and spent that night throwing up so hard that it came out my nose. On the other hand, I ate at street vendors places in Bombay and was fine. Go figure.
Juliet Jun 12th 2008 12:21AM
Exactly. I went to India and had some of the best food of my (albiet short) 19 years last Spring, and I have had some of the worst in the best restaurant in Sao Paolo.
It's a matter of common sense. Street vendors make food that is authentic, and true to the people. And if the locals are eating it -- talk to them. See how often and why, and if they think this is the best place for it? Eat it. No excuses.
Michael in Orlando Jun 7th 2008 9:24PM
Every part of your trip should be an adventure. Traveling is a risk in and by itself, so why not live on the edge. There are thousands that die from starvation, but few from eating the local fare. Eat up and enjoy.
DANNY Jun 7th 2008 9:49PM
iVE eaten all over the world from the 2 weeks out of Manaus Amazonas Brazil ,,to Karachi Pakistan,,,I agree eating food from a street vendor YOU SEE COOKING is often safe,,usually what gets you is fruits or vegetables that were locally prepared,,like they say peel it (yourself)cook it or foget it,,I ve spent 8 years in Brazil in some of the remotest spots in the world and only got Montezumas revenge 2 times in 6 years...
also I suppose because I was so careful in third world countries I didnt get sick,,but the sickest Ive ever been was in Italy and Mobile Alabama
Debbie Jun 7th 2008 9:55PM
I have eaten street vendor food and at the market fondas all over Mexico for years and never gotten sick. I do agree with another comment, I once broke down and ate at Ihop in Gaudalajahara, it was awful. I could have broken windows with the pancakes
chuck Jun 7th 2008 10:03PM
i have eaten local food; street vendors, resturants, etc on three continents. never had a problem and made many friends from the locals. the only thing i could not handle was the half-hatched eggs. found many things that were really tasty and the locals were impressed with the effort.
fred c. dobbs Jun 7th 2008 10:28PM
why bother traveling at all. in other countries they'll slice your wallet and cook you if you give them half a chance. it's hard enough not getting killed off by food providers in our own country.
gayle Hi Jun 7th 2008 10:40PM
Its zimmerman... not zimmern. good idea to know who you're criticizing.
FlynDutchman Jun 8th 2008 12:24AM
NO....It's Zimmern.
Know who you are defending when someone is criticizing.
Daverco Jun 8th 2008 12:28AM
Jeez Gayle. You must be an engineer. I work with lots of sanctimonious idiots like you who think they are smart but have no clue (I work as one too). Look up the chef. Zimmern is correct. It was also pathetic of the original poster to apologize when he was correct in the first place. Have some cojones.
Eat the street food and drink with the locals. Use your common sense, take reasonable precautions and you will be fine. If you avoid the street food and don't drink with the locals you are a tourist and not a traveler.
gayle Hi Jun 7th 2008 10:42PM
... ignore that... my brain died