What is the most dangerous thing you have done while traveling?
May 26, 2012, 6:25 pm
#33
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Cypress Hills Research Center
Posts: 5,295
Most dangerous things I've done all involve situations where, other than perhaps a bad initial choice, I don't have direct control (or at least the appearance of it) over evolving events.
An example was one night when I had to get from Uthai Thani back to Bangkok quickly. Ended up getting a ride with a pickup truck driver who started driving VERY aggressively (even for Thais). Found out he was using ya-ba (meth) to stay awake. Scariest ride I've ever been on.
An example was one night when I had to get from Uthai Thani back to Bangkok quickly. Ended up getting a ride with a pickup truck driver who started driving VERY aggressively (even for Thais). Found out he was using ya-ba (meth) to stay awake. Scariest ride I've ever been on.
May 26, 2012, 6:41 pm
#34
Join Date: May 2009
Location: CID, MSN
Programs: UA, AA, Delta
Posts: 245
When I was young and inexperienced at traveling alone. I'm also female.
1. Let a lovely gentleman in London talk me in to having lunch with him. We went to the Hard Rock, which was nearby. A bell should have gone off when he had lost his billfold when it came time to pay. It didn't. He said he had no place to stay because he had a 200 pound phone bill at his hotel and they wouldn't let him back until it was paid. He gave me an address and promised he'd send me the money. He didn't and address was in Nigeria. Pre-internet days, but my only and costly Nigerian scam
2. Different trip. Took the Chunnel Tunnel to Paris. I speak next to no French. I was just there for the day. I was looking at the map trying to figure out how to get in to Paris to sightsee. I couldn't figure it out. I asked the customer service agent and she said No English. Some man said that he knew how to take the subway to town so off we went. I was surprised when he got off at my stop. We ate and he paid for mine. Told him I could fine my way back when it was time trying to ditch him. He said after a pastry by the Seine. My worst nightmare came almost came true. He bought pastries and we started walking. He knocked me in to a bush and started taking my clothes off. I was able to start screaming "Help I'm being raped" and some wonderful, wonderful American tourists came to my rescue.
My day was ruined. This was a family and they took me to a restaurant to come down and then to the subway station as all I wanted to do was go back to London where I knew my way around and kind of understood the language.
If I travel alone, I no longer speak to men--even if they appear to be nice and clean cut.
1. Let a lovely gentleman in London talk me in to having lunch with him. We went to the Hard Rock, which was nearby. A bell should have gone off when he had lost his billfold when it came time to pay. It didn't. He said he had no place to stay because he had a 200 pound phone bill at his hotel and they wouldn't let him back until it was paid. He gave me an address and promised he'd send me the money. He didn't and address was in Nigeria. Pre-internet days, but my only and costly Nigerian scam
2. Different trip. Took the Chunnel Tunnel to Paris. I speak next to no French. I was just there for the day. I was looking at the map trying to figure out how to get in to Paris to sightsee. I couldn't figure it out. I asked the customer service agent and she said No English. Some man said that he knew how to take the subway to town so off we went. I was surprised when he got off at my stop. We ate and he paid for mine. Told him I could fine my way back when it was time trying to ditch him. He said after a pastry by the Seine. My worst nightmare came almost came true. He bought pastries and we started walking. He knocked me in to a bush and started taking my clothes off. I was able to start screaming "Help I'm being raped" and some wonderful, wonderful American tourists came to my rescue.
My day was ruined. This was a family and they took me to a restaurant to come down and then to the subway station as all I wanted to do was go back to London where I knew my way around and kind of understood the language.
If I travel alone, I no longer speak to men--even if they appear to be nice and clean cut.
May 26, 2012, 6:51 pm
#35
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: トロント
Programs: IHG Gold
Posts: 4,820
Not me , but a coworker. He wolfed down a huge buffet lunch at an all inclusive resort with all kinds of mayo and seafood salads sitting in the non airconditioned dining room. Then checked out, bus to airport and then flight home...you can guess the results!
May 26, 2012, 8:53 pm
#36
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: ORD, DXB, ODS, SIN, BUR
Programs: UA1KMM, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, EY Gold, QR Gold
Posts: 302
Traveled in Iraq by car from Arbil to Mosul to Tikrit to Baghdad then back to Arbil via Kirkuk. I wa just in a Hyundai with one local Iraqi with no security. Only one problem at a security check point. I am a balding red haired ultra white guy so tried not to stand out.
Went back and drove again from Baghdad to Basra via Nasisira. All without security.
Went down highway of death. All no problems. Did get detained by Iraqi military and US rangers got me out on very last trip, but I was tols it was a misunderstanding. Who knows, but was treated nicely by them.
Went back and drove again from Baghdad to Basra via Nasisira. All without security.
Went down highway of death. All no problems. Did get detained by Iraqi military and US rangers got me out on very last trip, but I was tols it was a misunderstanding. Who knows, but was treated nicely by them.
May 26, 2012, 9:42 pm
#38
Join Date: May 2009
Location: LGA, JFK
Posts: 1,018
When I was a teenager with my family including annoying sisters, staying at a lodge near Iquitos, Peru, on stilts over the water 1/2 mile from the Amazon. Nothing to do, saw a rowboat, thought it would be fun to take it out. Only one oar. Paddled out to the Amazon, tried to paddle upriver, very lucky I didn't get washed past the lodge entrance. Then paddled back, got stuck on some log under the boat. Getting dark, started realizing no one knew where I was. Crocodiles and piranhas in the area, didn't see them that day luckily though.
Couple local indians paddled by, still too proud and embarrassed to admit I might be in trouble.
Rocked the boat off the log, paddled towards the lodge. Saw the search lights and heard the yelling, but snuck in and tied up the boat myself, "What's the problem?"
Second and third not bad either, but off topic.
Next day, took off my socks (had been barefoot), more bites than unbitten skin. Not real itchy though. Wierd.
Couple local indians paddled by, still too proud and embarrassed to admit I might be in trouble.
Rocked the boat off the log, paddled towards the lodge. Saw the search lights and heard the yelling, but snuck in and tied up the boat myself, "What's the problem?"
Second and third not bad either, but off topic.
Next day, took off my socks (had been barefoot), more bites than unbitten skin. Not real itchy though. Wierd.
Last edited by GaryD; May 26, 2012 at 9:43 pm Reason: follow up note
May 26, 2012, 10:18 pm
#39
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: No longer loyal "over-entitled" 1K
Posts: 3,822
Trying to drive on the back roads of Mt. Haruna in Japan Initial D style. 
For those not familiar with Initial D; it is a Japanese Manga/Animation series about street racing and drifting.
For those not familiar with Initial D; it is a Japanese Manga/Animation series about street racing and drifting.
May 27, 2012, 8:00 am
#41
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: SEA
Programs: AF Plat a vie, EK Gold, SQ PPS
Posts: 758
Me too. We decided the SSH-CAI flt was too expensive and decided to take a cab through the night. I don't understand how cabs with foreigners have to go in a caravan with police escort and flashing blue lights. Doesn't this highlight the tourists instead of protecting them?
May 27, 2012, 8:56 am
#42
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 68
I was in Legaspi, Philippines with a group of mates and we had gone on a hike up Mt Mayon with some friends who were locals. At the end of the hike we were making our way down the dirt track and a jeepney was coming from somewhere up the mountain and our local friends said let's stop it and get on to save walking all the way back down.
Well the jeepney was full up but our friends said no problem, just climb on top. There was a metal roof rack on top and you could "safely" sit in it. So all 7 of us climbed up whatever part of the jeepney we could and got on top. A dirt track with pot holes everywhere, low hanging branches from trees and a not so secure seat on top of a moving vehicle makes for a bit of a hairy ride down the mountain.
Would have kicked myself if we had decided not to do it though because it was an experience I have not forgotten.
Was interesting about two days later when the opportunity arose to do it again but this time we were without our local friends and we had a couple of females with us and the jeepney driver went nuts and was yelling "NO FOREIGNERS UP THERE! NO FOREIGNERS!" I think being with some local lads the first time, the driver either didn't care or thought we knew what we were doing.
Well the jeepney was full up but our friends said no problem, just climb on top. There was a metal roof rack on top and you could "safely" sit in it. So all 7 of us climbed up whatever part of the jeepney we could and got on top. A dirt track with pot holes everywhere, low hanging branches from trees and a not so secure seat on top of a moving vehicle makes for a bit of a hairy ride down the mountain.
Would have kicked myself if we had decided not to do it though because it was an experience I have not forgotten.
Was interesting about two days later when the opportunity arose to do it again but this time we were without our local friends and we had a couple of females with us and the jeepney driver went nuts and was yelling "NO FOREIGNERS UP THERE! NO FOREIGNERS!" I think being with some local lads the first time, the driver either didn't care or thought we knew what we were doing.
May 27, 2012, 10:38 am
#44
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: NAP
Programs: LH, BA, TK
Posts: 2,409
1. Hitch hiking in South Africa. Gasoline was over.
After just 5 minutes thumb up stopped a nice guy with a lady.
They took me to the nearest village, filled a tank,
and drove me back to my car. How much I love Africa!
2. Rio de Janeiro: Bondinho de Santa Teresa.
A popular tram in the older part of the city. August 2011, after 5 days of intense use, read on headlines that an overcrowded and speedy car crashed, killing 6 passengers and wounding the rest of them. Comparing newspapers photos with the ones I snapped on board, the car was the same.
And, even sadder, after few days of judicial stop, the service resumed unchanged.
After just 5 minutes thumb up stopped a nice guy with a lady.
They took me to the nearest village, filled a tank,
and drove me back to my car. How much I love Africa!
2. Rio de Janeiro: Bondinho de Santa Teresa.
A popular tram in the older part of the city. August 2011, after 5 days of intense use, read on headlines that an overcrowded and speedy car crashed, killing 6 passengers and wounding the rest of them. Comparing newspapers photos with the ones I snapped on board, the car was the same.
And, even sadder, after few days of judicial stop, the service resumed unchanged.
May 27, 2012, 10:47 am
#45
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: NAP
Programs: LH, BA, TK
Posts: 2,409
I s'pose by some measures (e.g., U.S. State Department travel warnings
) much of my leisure travel is a bit edgy. I always travel alone and by bicycle. I've been everywhere: Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, Djibouti, all of the former USSR and every 'stan known to man, everywhere in Asia, the whole of West Africa (Senegal through Mali and Burkina Faso to Niger, down into Nigeria, Benin and back up the coast). A lot of this took place 10-25 years ago, before cell phones, internet and the like.
) much of my leisure travel is a bit edgy. I always travel alone and by bicycle. I've been everywhere: Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, Djibouti, all of the former USSR and every 'stan known to man, everywhere in Asia, the whole of West Africa (Senegal through Mali and Burkina Faso to Niger, down into Nigeria, Benin and back up the coast). A lot of this took place 10-25 years ago, before cell phones, internet and the like.