2. When running on white sand, along the water, the sun will burn at a higher intensity.
3. When running at midday, any sunscreen applied will sweat off.
4. REMEMBER point 3, when doing point 2. Result is not cool. Not cool at all.
5. Have a 'Game Face'. Very important when trying to bargain. YOU CAN ALWAYS GET IT CHEAPER. Ensure at least one person in the travelling party has this 'Game Face' mastered.
6. Rice does burn when dropped on your foot. It burns badly if it is the spoonful from the boiling pot of rice. It will get infected. Further to this, don't let locals at the market in Singapore put a little plaster over the open puss-leaking part no matter how lovely, and how good their intentions are. Also, you cannot swim or go to the beach for over a week.
7. In Indonesia, there is a lot of swimming, snorkeling, playing in the sand and walking on the beach. Point 6 is highly inconvenient in this situation.
8. Sunscreen should be applied always and liberally even when those who live there claim that they never use it, and never get burnt. This situation will not apply to you when you have left the European winter, to then go to the start of the Southern Hemisphere winter. You. Will. Get. Burnt.
9. Choose appropriate clothing when going on a bike tour of over 20km. And do not feel embarrassed when all the other females are dressed all pretty with dresses, and necklaces and their hair flowing "carelessly" down their back. The temperature is 35 degrees, it will get hot and you will completely smoke all these girls on the bike, who even opt to take the car up the hill. They are girls in ever sense of the word. Biking with the boys is way more fun.
10. The Muslim Mosque has very loud speakers. Especially at 5am in the morning.
11. Choosing a fan room is definitely all that is needed. It is necessary to have it set on the highest setting throughout the night. Oh how it spins fast. Oh how it sounds like there is a small plane taking off over the bed.
12. Noting point 11 & 12 - earplugs are often needed.
