Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Maxboss]

What shots/medication did you get before traveling and where did you get them?

Do you know of any good Korean/English language websites for getting good deals on the flight tickets?

Thanks

[Faunaki]

I didn't take any meds for travelling in those countries. Some people were taking malaria pills but really most backpackers travel along the beaten path anyway so it's perfectly fine. The only problem I encountered was in Vietnam. I ate some street food and got instant diarrhea. But I was able to get pills for it no problem. Meds are cheap and easy to get.

But if you want to be super prepared diarrhea pills and sleeping pills are the most you need to bring.

[crazy_arcade]

I had a Japanese Encephilits (sp?) and a hepatitis shot.

[articulate_ink]

Before I went to Cambodia two years ago, I went to the International Clinic in Itaewon for jabs and pills: tetanus update (I couldn't remember when I'd had the last one), Japanese encephalitis, doxycyclene for malaria, and something else I'm forgetting now. It's a good thing, too: I looked the wrong way at the wrong time while I was walking down the street in Phnom Penh, ducked under a low branch, and when I stood up, I bashed my head on the corner of a hawker's cart. I'm glad I had the tetanus booster and was already on an antibiotic. Some people will say you don't need to bother but I'd rather get the meds and not need them than the other way around.

[definitely maybe]

if you're not up to date on stuff like the hep shots already, it's not a bad idea to do it regardless. i also had my tetanus and jap. encephalitis updated. beyond that i took lariam, which allegedly can have extreme side-effects. i was fine though, and only had to take it once a week.

as for those countries, laos seemed to pose the greatest risk for malaria. however, i did some traveling up north of luang prabang and down in the the southeast too. i guess trekking in western vietnam and northern cambodia are supposed to be bad too, but the mosquitoes seemed to be out in force in laos. an earlier poster was right though. if you're doing high-traffic stuff like vang vieng, luang prabang, siem reap, hoi an, . . . you get the picture, i wouldn't necessarily worry about malaria pills.

[Maxboss]

Thanks for the help.