Post: #1

I notice a lot of expat blogs mention wearing insect repellent like it's a normal part of everyday life. Where can you live without wearing it? Where is it a daily requirement?

I suspect that mountainous areas or breezy-beach areas with lots of American expats (Lake Chapala in Mexico, or the Central Valley in CR) will be OK with no repellent. Therefore, I would hypothesize that the presence of North Americans is probably an indicator for what I consider a decent climate. But maybe not a perfect indicator. There are lots of Westerners in Chiang Mai, for example, but I think that may still be an area where you better wear it? And then, not too many Americans live permanently in Medellin, yet it apparently has the world's perfect climate.

Why don't I just go to Medellin if it's so perfect? Well, I may. But nowhere is perfect in every way. Colombia is hard to get long-term visa for self and possible trailing family members unless you have formal local jobs or big bucks to invest; very hard to open a bank account if you're not locally employed; and high taxes on worldwide income if you live there more than a few months. Still going to visit! But I'd like to cast the net a little wider. Would Paraguay work (not the jungle part obviously)? What about Uruguay? What parts of Mexico? Any part of Southeast Asia?

Why didn't I just google it? On the web, the travel blogs, government websites and NGO malaria maps suggest insect repellent for almost everywhere I would consider (other than Japan). So this advice is useless. Kind of like the "beware, don't got there, they have crooks and short brown people there" stuff. So many cautions and "advisories" that they're useless. I'm not a big worrywart. If the PTB are advising to wear the stuff, but noone really bothers, that's te info I'm looking for.

Why post the question here on RVF? Because folks here are frequenting the same kinds of places I would consider for good women and a good life. Southeast Asia, North Asia, Latin America, Ethiopia, Ukraine... (Personally I'm not considering countries in NATO or EU, because I'm looking for a place with less PC culture.)

Background:
I'm a spoiled Southern Californian, leave windows open when I want, yet no bugs enter my house. But I did grow up in Northeast Georgia, sweaty and hot, lots of bugs, gnats in your face and ears in summer, but no insect repellent was necessary, unless going camping. Aircon was a necessity.

Post: #2

Why are you so concerned about Mosquitos?. I get savaged my Mossies almost everywhere I go, but I just make sure that I take sensible precautions; slap on the repellent after dusk(I have found non-deet products to be effective), stay awat from lakes/rivers. I also make sure to kill all Mossies in my room before I go to sleep.

Post: #3

(04-09-2012 08:19 AM)Deb Auchery Wrote:  Why are you so concerned about Mosquitos?. I get savaged my Mossies almost everywhere I go, but I just make sure that I take sensible precautions; slap on the repellent after dusk(I have found non-deet products to be effective), stay awat from lakes/rivers. I also make sure to kill all Mossies in my room before I go to sleep.

Check malaria status before going to insect-filled areas. I personally don't care about insects, but if I'm going to a malaria zone I'm going to take precautions.

Post: #4

(04-09-2012 08:23 AM)DareP Wrote:  I personally don't care about insects, but if I'm going to a malaria zone I'm going to take precautions.

Yes, exactly that's what I want to be aware of. I too can squash a bug. But I prefer not to go live in a place where I have to take chloroquine (whatever that is) or spray myself, for the rest of my life. Simple.

So where precisely are the malaria zones? The whole of Southeast Asia, South Asia, tropical L.A., and sub-Saharan Africa? Jakarta, Bali, Saigon, Cebu, Davao, Hoi An... Asuncion... Colombo... Sihanoukville... Do expats living in these places actually bother with DEET or chloroquine? Or just in the bush or jungle areas where one would normally not live long-term?

(04-09-2012 08:23 AM)DareP Wrote:  Check malaria status before going to insect-filled areas.

Umm yes thanks. That's exactly what I'm trying to do here. Internet basically says everywhere is dangerous, which is not useful info, and probably not true.

Post: #5

Op, not quite sure whether you are trying to avoid Insects or you are trying to avoid Malaria. There are plenty of mosquitos (for example) in Europe but you would be very unlikely to catch Malaria.

What is your concern?

Post: #6

(04-09-2012 09:40 AM)Deb Auchery Wrote:  Op, not quite sure whether you are trying to avoid Insects or you are trying to avoid Malaria. There are plenty of mosquitos (for example) in Europe but you would be very unlikely to catch Malaria.

What is your concern?

Thanks, guess it wasn't clear. What I want to avoid is chemicals. I want to lead a healthy lifestyle overseas. And if you're in an area with lots of dengue fever or malaria, I guess you have to use DEET or chloroquine.

If no malaria, then I'm sure your solutions above would work - the citrus/eucalyptus non-DEET stuff, swatting them, maybe even a mosquito net if sleeping with windows open.

Post: #7

(04-09-2012 10:09 AM)WhoZis Wrote:  

(04-09-2012 09:40 AM)Deb Auchery Wrote:  Op, not quite sure whether you are trying to avoid Insects or you are trying to avoid Malaria. There are plenty of mosquitos (for example) in Europe but you would be very unlikely to catch Malaria.

What is your concern?

Thanks, guess it wasn't clear. What I want to avoid is chemicals. I want to lead a healthy lifestyle overseas. And if you're in an area with lots of dengue fever or malaria, I guess you have to use DEET or chloroquine.

If no malaria, then I'm sure your solutions above would work - the citrus/eucalyptus non-DEET stuff, swatting them, maybe even a mosquito net if sleeping with windows open.

Ok, I generally only use non-deet based products and they have done the job so far in places like Thailand, Malaysia etc

Going to Belgrade soon, this city has some of the biggest, most aggressive Mossies I have encountered. I try and avoid going near the river in late afternoon/evening. I seem more susceptible to bites than most people

Post: #8

Some people claim ACV makes you naturally insect repellant.

I haven't tested myself as the mosquitoes have yet to come out up here, but apparently it works for some.

Post: #9

I have heard that rubbing your skin and clothes with a dryer sheet will keep mosquitos from coming to you...something about creating an electric force-field repellent although I cannot vouch for this. Anyone else heard/tried this?

Post: #10

Here's a mosquito trick that works:

Get a book of matches. Rip the tips off 3 or 4 of them. Then swallow the tips. This will significantly reduce the amount of mosquito bites you get.

It has something to do with the sulphur coming out in your sweat.

I've done this all over the world in places that have really bad mosquitoes like Philippines, Vietnam and Afghanistan. The worst I've ever seen though was in Louisiana right after hurricane Katrina. People were getting bit so bad their eyes would swell shut. You would seriously see what looked like black clouds, that were actually mosquitoes.

I ate the matches, and bugs wouldn't even land on me.

Aloha!

Post: #11

Good stuff. Exactly what I needed. Thanks all!