I do the same with all my lenses:
Don´t use camera bags.
While traveling I never take camera bags or camera backpacks - those items are also very easily visible to pickpockets. My camera will go into a dirty, shabby looking backpack that nobody would recognize as something with a valuable content. Quite often I´ll use waterproof dry bags and foam inlays to protect my gear inside the backpack.
Don´t forget to take enough memory.
Don´t forget to think about taking enough memory with you. Nothing is more annoying than running out of gigabytes in the middle of the jungle. Your photographs are also more important than your gear. Cameras and lenses can be replaced and the right insurance will cover the costs. But the photos you take are not replaceable when your camera is lost. So backup regularly. Take external hard drives and backup your data in the next internet cafe, you don´t even have to take a laptop with you.
Stay close to the locals.
Traveling is not always easy and comfortable, especially while traveling alone. Sometimes it´s better to take a different turn or say no than to do everything everybody offers to you. Local people all over are very friendly and helpful, they will show different angles, secret spots, good places to eat and sleep.
You will not be able to really know a country and it´s people by sleeping in a multi star hotel, eating in expensive restaurants and swimming in a hotelpool.
Stay longer times and re-visit, that way you will be able to connect better. Locals will be more friendly and welcoming. You can have more “authentic” cultural experiences as people warm to you and share their knowledge and lifestyle with you, and also create much better photographs when people trust you.
And believe me, it´s so easy to find new good friends along the way, when you travel on your own.
