1. Time at Mobal: I started working for Mobal in 2004.


2. Best Mobal World Phone tip: Always have your phone fully charged, save your mobal number in your phone book and make sure you have numbers marked ICE (In Case of Emergency)


3. Have you ever had a time when abroad when your cell phone has been invaluable?: I was in Amsterdam and I carried my Vodafone contract phone. I had warned my provider that i will be abroad and need roaming facilities. It was a complete waste of time as my phone constantly gave me problems, luckily Jim had his mobal phone and I really appreciated the reliability of our product. The Mobal SIM or phone works without unnecessary glitches


4. Your best holiday experience ever and why? : This is a tough one, my holidays range from pilgrims to leisure and i enjoy them all, but one that comes to mind from time to time, was my trip up to Nyika platue in the north of Malawi. It is up in the mountain, and the temperatures drop to as low as 0C. It is a preserved area untouched and diverse with wildlife. This was the place I came across an Iridium Satelite phone for the first time. The peace and quiet I experienced at this place gave me an impression that man needs to get out of his world and see nature in it raw form to appriciate life.



5. Your worst holiday experience and why? : Being African and raised in the city, I have a tribal heritage passed to me from my family and next of kin. My parents liked to take the family to our village in rural Malawi to see our extended family and tribes men. During one of the trips to my ancestral home, it rained heavily and most of the bridges were washed away. All i can say is that it wasn't pleasant!

6. Dream holiday destination: USA

7. Favourite travel tip or product: Do not feel like a stranger or you will be an easy target, and carry a communications device which is portable and can be concealed

8. If you could describe yourself as an animal, what would it be and why?: I see myself as hippopotamus, i believe i am shy when you first see me and you don't get the chance to see the real me. If you are patient enough you eventually see my true nature, just like a hippo when it comes out of the water.............RUN!

Looking to book your next trip and want to concentrate on the scenery rather than not getting your bags stolen?

Check out the top five safest countries as voted for by Mobal Members, and a few of the reasons why:


"The safest country to travel is Japan. This is the one of the most advanced country in the world and still very safe. People can have a nap during subway ride. People ( including young females) can walk back home from the train station even after midnight. If you lose your wallet in the street, there is a very high chance to be returned to you without damage. There are no guns on the street. I am from Japan originally, living in the US for more than 10 years, and travel all over the world. I truely think Japan is the safest country."

Tomoko

"The safest country I've visited is Japan. My brother left a briefcase on a train line in Tokyo, and it was still on the train when the train looped around Tokyo and back to the station where he left it. Taxi drivers will go out of their way to return anything you may have left in the taxi. You can walk late at night in many sections of Tokyo without worrying."

No name

"The safest country I have ever visited is Japan. My wife and I always knew that we had nothing to fear in walking down dark streets at night - something that I would not do in the States."

Tom

"Anywhere in Japan."

jK



"I have traveled professionally and privately as well as with with my family for more than forty years. The safest country I have come across was Iceland. Over 50% of Icelanders live in their capital Reykiavik. The entire country must have a population of some 500'000 souls. Reykiaviks Police force counts less than 30 man and they are unarmed. A travel guide enlightened us to the fact that the police is unarmed so they don't get hurt by shooting themselves accidently into their feet. Over a period of over 100 years not a single murder has taken place in Iceland. Iceland has many exiting natural wonders to see.It is called the Island of fire and ice with volcanos, geysers and glaciers. If you intend to take a dip in Reykiaviks public swimming pool please be aware that the water had to be cooled down as it comes from hot springs the same as most drinking water in the city. Iceland is safer than even the Vatican."

Peter Basler

Iceland I think is the safest. Even in summer it’s so windy and has such changeable weather that there are very few people out and about. So therefore hardly any who could potentially be thieves! And it is a very interesting (albeit small) country. Looks like the moon from the air….Next or equal would be Norway (where I lived for five years), more or less for the same reasons.

Paula

"It's Iceland, the safest, by far. Successful egalitarian socio-capitalism, very little immigration, people are pretty content. I was stationed there in the 1980s, I imagine it has changed little."

Lance Duchesneau

In Iceland, everybody knows everybody else. They leave babies outside alone in buggies on the sidewalks of Reykjavik to sunbathe.

No name


"Safety is made up of more than just freedom from crime. It also includes freedom from disease and from unhygienic conditions.

The safest country I have visited is Singapore, where you can wander the alleys and kampongs any hour of the day or night. You can even get lost in the jungles around the central reservoir overnight with little fear of attack by the venomous snakes or giant monitor lizards. You won't even catch a chill!

And the food! You can buy -- dirt cheap -- healthy and delicious Chinese, Indian, Malay and who-knows-what other cooking from warm and friendly hawkers. And then there is the fruits you will find -- delicious and healthful. Singapore is a gourmand's delight.

Singapore is not safe for only one activity -- drug use. But few would be stupid enough to test the Singaporean authorities on that issue."

Mark Clark

"The safest country I've visited is Singapore by a wide margin"

Gene Polhemus


"New Zealand is the safest country to visit. We were there for two weeks some years back with a tour, but we often went out for walks, jogs and bike rides on our own. The first evening we stood at a corner trying to figure out which way to go next, when a young couple drove up and asked if we needed help or a ride back to our hotel. That happened again during our stay there. The people of New Zealand are a delight and they like Americans."

Julia Stalins

"We haven't felt unsafe in most countries, but New Zealand was the safest. The people are friendly (we have lasting friends from our visit), the folks in the hospitality industry make every effort to take care of the visitor, and you never have a sense there is a crime problem.....like the US in the 50's."

Harlan Hobbs

1. How Making A Travel Scrapbook Will Save You Lots Of Time And Worry

I make a notebook containing the confirmation receipts for all flights, parking lots, rental cars, reservations, etc., as well as maps to my destinations (ie. how to get to Sea World from the Orlando airport). This keeps everything together in one travel book and saves lots of misplaced confirmations and wrong turns.

2. One Simple Item That You Should Never Leave To Chance When Traveling

When traveling in China (or anywhere abroad) be sure to take your own supply of toilet paper that you can carry in your daybag. Travel packs can be found in the sample section of Target or Walmart. You can't assume that you will find toilet paper when you need it!

Nancy Cook

3. Why You Should Always Inform Your Credit Card Company You're Traveling Abroad

Do not forget to inform your credit card co. about travel. My credit card was refused in Chile, because I did not inform them of my travel plans.

Jon Anthony

4. Travel With A Laptop? Cut Down The Amount Of Internet Usage You Pay For When Sending Emails

I like to take my small laptop to use on the ship. It saves a lot to be able to read mail and compose emails off line and use the paid time more efficiently. I bought a refurbished Dell business laptop that is very light and great for travel.

Donna J. Douglass

5. How To Best Organize Your Travel Medication

I have one more. The zip lock bags another person mentioned are very useful. The "snack" size are perfect for packing daily pills in. Each bag can be dated or name by the day of the week and the daily pills needed placed in each one. No more guess work or trying to remember if a pill has been taken or not.

Maitland Zendergraf