Hallo, everyone.. .. .

I will be traveling to Suriname, mostly by bus, next year and was wondering if anyone has any advice. I live near Lansing, Michigan at the moment and will be re-locating there. I wanted to experience the whole of Central America and then fly over Columbia, or pass it by boat, to get to Suriname. Greyhound can take me as far as Brownsville, Texas for $80.

Here are the things I've listed as to bring with me:

• birth bertificate, social security card, passports, drivers license, credit/debit cards
• travelers checks & purchase receipts
• shoulder or messenger bag
• money belt
• swiss army knife
• basic medic supplies, especially plasters
• plastic bags (zip-lock)
• strong, but thin rope
• clothes/toothbrush/touthpaste/floss/soap
• plastic cutlery (collapsable)
• sunnies/hat
• suncream/moisturizing Aloe Vera cream/chapstick
• tijm siroop
• compass
• toilet paper
• lithium batteries
• tweezers
• deodorant
• sheet
• insect repellent in pump-spray or aerosol form
• Chloroquine or Doxycycline (Anti-Malarial)
• Hydrocortisone cream/anti-histamine pills
• duct tape, elastic bands
• A small calculator (dual power not just solar)
• LED key ring lights/headlamp
• CDs
• 35 litre (~8 gallons) backpack with spare space (room to manoeuvre and to collect more stuff)
• note book with pens
• large clips for keeping together great big wads of low value notes/change purse.
• certificate of all vaccinations
• exchange rate charts
• 3 underwear/2 socks/2 shirts/spijkerjas/2 pants
• maps
• towel/swimming trunks
• calendar
• binoculars
• candle/matches
• waterbottle
• Nederlandse/Spaanse woordenboek
• hiking "shoe/boots"

If you see anything that should or shouldn't be on this list I'd appreciate any feedback.

The only thing that I am concerned about is money. I plan to have about $7,5-15.000 in my bank. I would like to use debit cards, so I can make a direct transaction, but I've heard that they aren't widely available. Furthermore, I have little experience with such things. I will be in Europe for 3 1/2 months in a few weeks, which will give me more time to see how things work, but any suggestions are welcome.

I will not be touring CA and SA, only passing through and taking in the natural beauty and some small towns. How much money should I count on spending each day for food and a place to sleep? And by food I mean something purchased from a small market like bread and fruit, or a local restaurant.

I am not worried about my safety. I have traveled before, although not alone, and am an expert martial artist. I know the areas to avoid, but trouble can occur anywhere in the world.

I think that that will be all, for now. Thank you for your time.

- Maarten Sebastiaan Franks Spijker