I'm heading off to China. I checked, as I always do before a journey abroad, the State Department's Web site, travel.state.gov, for advice on what a prudent traveler should be concerned about. The State Department has issued a Public Announcement, valid until December, of a Worldwide Caution updating information on "the continued threat of terrorist attacks, demonstrations and other violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests overseas." It doesn't get more in-your-face than that.

The caution goes on to state that "U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, be aware of local events, and take the appropriate steps to bolster their personal security."

Yes, folks, our world as we knew it has changed. First, we had the shocking wake-up call of 9/11. And now our nation is embroiled in foreign conflicts. Do we hunker down in fear or do we conduct our lives as normally as possible, including travel to domestic and foreign destinations? This is the ongoing conundrum that engages the attention, again and again, of thoughtful travelers.

The facts are these, according to the National Counterterrorism Center: In 2005, apart from Iraq, nine Americans died in terrorist attacks overseas. This means that the statistical chance of meeting your demise last year from a terror plot were about one in 33 million. Risk analysts would consider those odds to be extremely low, though with terrorism, one cannot completely predict the future.

In comparison, your chances are one in 6,500 of being killed in a car accident here in the United States; one in 38,000 of contracting skin cancer from sun exposure; and one in 53,000 of expiring from hepatitis.

When it comes to risk, one could conclude that anxieties are far out of proportion to the actual threat.

I believe the common denominator of our fear is that certain means of dying are much more frightening than others.

Many of us are comfortable with weighing the risks of familiar hazards — illness, street crime, traffic, work accidents, and the like — but we're much less confident in estimating the risk of something as horrifying, unthinkable and amorphous as terrorism.

Perhaps Americans confuse the high probability of a terrorist event with that of actually becoming the victim of an incident.

People would appear to be less frightened of risks over which they believe they can exercise some control, such as waterskiing, horseriding and driving a car, for instance. Yet vehicle accidents are the single greatest cause of mortality for Americans abroad.

It is suggested that our fear far exceeds the actual threat because the perceived dangers are launched by human beings. A spectacular, publicized event with multiple fatalities produces a much more powerful and negative emotional impact than do a greater number and frequency of occurrences involving a small number of deaths.

Natural disasters like shattering earthquakes and violent hurricanes do not tend to inspire the kind of fear engendered by the twisted machinations of men. Yet, some folks are so apprehensive of the unknown and unknowable that they propose to avoid travel all together. It might seem wiser, at first consideration, to remain in the United States rather than to travel overseas. However, most larger American cities are statistically far more dangerous, in terms of homicides and street crime, than popular tourist haunts abroad. And America's soil is the declared target of fanatical terrorist groups.

If you can agree with me that nearly all aspects of our lives involve some form of risk, how do you assess your personal risk quotient regarding travel? The first factor to contemplate is your perception of risk — your estimation or gut feeling about the true threat of a particular place or region.

Since your evaluation may have little connection with facts and more to do with emotion, it would help greatly to examine a globe and investigate any relevant reports and warnings posted at the U.S. State Department Web site, or toll free at (888) 407-4747, and at www.fco.gov.uk.

Two people will often react to the same set of circumstances in entirely different ways. For example, most travelers would visit without a qualm New York City, site of the greatest number of terrorist fatalities ever recorded. But many of these same travelers might deliberately avoid Bali or Madrid or London, where bomb attacks killed significantly fewer people. Risk perception varies widely in the eyes of each beholder.

The second factor to ponder is your personal risk tolerance. This is your individual threshold for danger, which influences the decisions you make about travel. Your emotional makeup will determine your risk tolerance. For folks whose internal comfort zone requires risk to remain way below the radar, then staying home, with no driving, may have to be your fallback position.

To cope with fear of the unknown, put the odds of being involved in a terrorist attack in perspective. It's a near-certainty that scary, deliberately savage acts of violence will be attempted against Americans on U.S. soil and overseas. But the likelihood of your being a victim is remote — statistically and in actuality.

What are the odds that you will accept a small risk in exchange for the immeasurable rewards of travel in this strange new world of ours?

China, here I come.

By Elissa Leibowitz Poma
Washington Post

Specialty travel clothes were confined a few decades ago to masculine-looking gear the color of Saharan dust. Today, you can find items that not only look like your "normal" clothes but are made of durable fabrics with special features. We tested two-dozen shirts geared toward the travel set and picked out our favorites. Note: We looked at women's shirts only, but most of these fabrics are also used for men's shirts and other tops, both long- and short-sleeved.

RAILRIDERS OASIS SHIRT

Best for: Sightseeing in sun-drenched cities where air conditioning isn't ubiquitous.

What we like: Talk about ventilation: The shirt has two long, breezy mesh panels that run from wrist to waist. The mesh is dyed to match the shirt perfectly, making the vents less obvious. The same mesh absorbs the heat around the collar, and the shirt has an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 30.

What we don't: While the shirt has well-ventilated panels, the 100 percent nylon fabric isn't all that breathable.

More info: (800) 437-3794, www.railriders.com; $59

COLUMBIA MESA RIDGE LITE LONG-SLEEVED SHIRT

Best for: Long tour-bus rides to locales where you're not sure what the temperature will be.

What we like: The shirt easily converts from long- to short-sleeved, with buttoned tabs that hold the sleeves in place. Also, the two breast pockets are handy for stashing small items such as loose change, lip balm and a hotel room key. Like many other shirts, this one pulls moisture away. Back vents lie flat. It has a UPF of 15.

What we don't: You must be comfortable with the crumpled look, because this shirt is a wrinkle-fest.

More info: (888) 226-7667, www.campmor.com; $39.99

Royal Robbins Kick Back crew shirt

Best for: Chilly mornings that call for several layers to be stripped off as the day warms up.

What we like: A great first layer, (a cotton and Coolmax polyester blend) makes this shirt feel like one of your favorite worn T-shirts. It's stretchy, yet retains its shape, and it wicks away moisture. After hand-washing, it dried in about five hours.

What we don't: Despite the wick-away quality, it still shows dreaded underarm wetness.

More info: (800) 587-9044, www.royalrobbins.com; $26

REX OFFICIO BUZZ OFF BAJA SHIRT

Best for: Trekkers hiking through a Costa Rican rain forest, or even Shenandoah National Park after a rainstorm.

What we like: Mosquitoes, chiggers and other nasty little biters are supposed to steer clear of anyone wearing this shirt, thanks to an odorless chemical applied to the fabric's fibers. The repellent stays good through 25 washings, the company says, and the shirt has a UPF of 30.

What we don't: The fabric is heavy. It may keep you from getting dengue fever, but you'll sweat buckets in the meantime.

More info: (800) 644-7303, www.exofficio.com; $84

MAGELLAN'S THREE-QUARTER-SLEEVE MODAL SHIRT

Best for: The style maven in a hurry, who packs by stuffing clothes into an already crammed suitcase.

What we like: It's hard to believe, but this sleek fabric is partially made from beechwood chips. Sound scratchy? It couldn't be softer, and a smidgen of Lycra keeps wrinkles away. It retained its shape after two spins in the washer and was equally cooperative during a hand wash. Its simple design allows an easy transition from daytime sightseeing to an evening out.

What we don't: The shirt is a little clingy.

More info: (800) 962-4943, www.magellans.com; $49

ROYAL ROBBINS COOL MAX EXPEDITION SHIRT

Best for: An overseas business trip, with a few vacation days tacked on.

What we like: This streamlined shirt could be considered business casual because of its fitted cut, subtle grid pattern and flap that hides the buttons. For a 100 percent polyester shirt, it's airy. Hidden mesh panels pull moisture away, and the shirt has a UPF of 40.

What we don't: Two zippered compartments on the back that are supposed to let breezes through weren't that effective.

More info: (800) 587-9044, www.royalrobbins.com; $50

Irene Croft Jr. of Kailua, Kona, is a travel writer and 40-year veteran globetrotter. Her column is published in this section every other week.