Guest Author - Yvonne Russell

Did you know that Murphy has a bunch of travel laws too? That pesky Murphy of Murphy’s Law fame has just traveled with me in Asia, so I found out the hard way. I know him pretty well, but hey Murphy, wait until you're invited next time!

Murphy’s Travel Law of Medicine
Don’t give your prescription diarrohea medicine to a friend who lives in China, a week before you leave because you think you won’t need it. You will.

Murphy’s Travel Law of ATM’s
Don’t assume that just because a city has 9.8 million people, you will be able to find an ATM that accepts foreign cards.

Murphy’s Travel Law of Credit Cards
Don’t assume that if, after much trudging and angst, you do find the lone machine that accepts foreign cards, that it will accept your particular foreign card, even if it is a big name one. It won’t.

Murphy’s Travel Law of Visas
If your flight is due to leave the country the day your visa expires, your plane will be diverted to another city due to severe weather warnings, with no word on what time (or day) the flight will resume.

Murphy’s Travel Law of Delays
When you’re on board your grounded plane in an unknown place for an unknown length of time, your trusty Chinese phrase book will inevitably be in your checked luggage because you were leaving the country and thought you wouldn’t need it. You do.

Murphy’s Travel Law of Hunger
The lack of snacks you brought with you is directly proportionate to the length of the delay. Of course, that’s if you don’t count the vacuum sealed dried jellyfish you still have from the inflight lunch.

Murphy’s Travel Law of Weather
The ferocity of the storm when you finally arrive at your destination, will be directly proportionate to the amount of luggage you have, your lack of any mode of transport and a dearth of available rooms anywhere within $1000 of your price range.

I guess you’ll be relieved to know that on this occasion, I was traveling more for pleasure than business. Hear that Murphy… pleasure! Yes, I like pulling out my toenails too.

Don’t assume you can leave Murphy and his pesky laws, at the border. Murphy is truly an international traveler. In fact, I’m betting that he has pretty serious frequent flyer points racked up.

Even though he caught me out this time with a bunch of travel laws, I have to be fair. I've always found Murphy to be an excellent teacher and I'm a fast learner - getting faster all the time.

Murphy, just keep those pesky travel laws locked up in your briefcase. And when you see me traveling next trip, it's okay just to wave and move on. Don't feel you have to come travel with me.

You won’t get me again though, Murphy. Uh oh! Better not tempt fate!

At the very least, I’ll be sure to be better prepared next time and give myself more of a fighting chance when matching wits with you.