Thanks for such a great comment. Ive already started with the Twinrix (hep a/b) vaccinations and will have that finished up before I leave NZ. Im planning on taking the typhoid vacc as well. I’m still unsure of malaria pills as I keep reading how they have awful side affects. I will be going to Chiang Mai and possible a little further north. While I’m not doing to do any trekking, I do plan to visit the Elephant Sanctuary which is out in the bush. I will def cover up though (I even saw clothing that was mossie repellent!) and get a bug net. I didnt think about the A/C being a deterrent, but I guess it makes sense. I’ll chat with the doctor about the malaria pills when I go for my final shot in February, see what their advice is.

Also thanks for the veggie suggestion. I think you are absolutely right, no matter how much I adore chicken or shrimp in my meals, its better to be safe than sorry. Ive been meaning to go veggie anyway :P

Are you still in Japan? Or have you moved back home? Thanks again!!

As for your vaccination questions, you’re certainly going the right way. The information we’ve found about Japanese E. is that unless you will be in an area that is endemic for some time, leave it alone. The side-effects for adults can be severe. The risk of catching the disease is equal to risk of serious side-effects. If that makes sense? It is transmitted by unvaccinated pigs (the vector is a mosquito), so stay clear of farms. In Japan you aren’t at risk because the pigs are vaccinated.

If you go further into Thailand, past Chiang-Mai you want to consider Malaria medication. Now if you don’t want to consider that you can wear clothes and use sprays to protect you and stay in an air-conditioned room during dusk and dawn. Using a mosquito net over your bed is very helpful. We travelled India with a mosi-net every night, long sleeves and long pants and natural insect spray and we were never sick. So many people, both travelers and locals that we met had some mosi-fever or another. But we stayed healthy.

Always eating vegetarian was another great way to stay healthy. Every time we ate meat in a developing country we got sick! I’m not kidding. Our friend who has a 2nd home in India says she will never let any other person no matter how trusted purchase her meat for her. She buys it and her chef cooks it! Be vegetarian in Thailand and India. South Korea is probably o.k. Japan is of course, totally safe. Although even our Japanese colleague got sick from eating the famous raw chicken in Japan.

Enjoy your journey

Hope you get all your dreams on your list!