#1
Out of desperation (this was way before cell phones did anything more than phone calls and basic texts, I was still using a paper atlas) I stopped at a 7-Eleven. I was waiting in line to ask directions, and a guy went out of his way to ask me what I was doing there. That's how much I stood out. I told him that I was trying to get directions to get back onto the highway, and he told me that he was an undercover cop, things were about to go down right there, and I needed to leave. I told him that's what I was trying to do. He thought about it for a second, told me to get in my car follow him and try to keep up. He would get me to an on-ramp and then go back to the store.
He drove like a bat out of hell, and did get me to the freeway and then busted a u-turn and flew away.
I have no clue how bad my night would have continued to be if he hadn't been there and guided me out of there.
#2
#3
Unfortunately, nobody is immune to danger or bad luck, be it in a foreign country or their own home. But in both cases, the likelihood of something unfavorable happening can be minimized to some extent, at least.
When it comes to avoiding bad things happening abroad—whether in a moderately or very scary city—the first step should be doing your research.
“It is essential to do your research before traveling to your destinations,” said Dr. Frédéric Dimanche, Director of Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Toronto Metropolitan University. According to him, before the trip, you should learn, at minimum, the cultural norms and customs. “On-site, you need to learn about the local regulations that govern a site, be it a beach or a cultural attraction,” he added.
#4
#5
The expert continued to point out that risk management is essential before and during a trip to avoid disappointment and crises. “Ask for advice from travel counselors,” he suggested. “We now think that with the Internet we can do everything on our own: It's true, but we still lack the expertise of a travel specialist who knows the destination. A counselor may be a travel agent before you leave, but also a representative of the local tourist office or a concierge in your hotel. Ask for advice!”
#6
The entire country is impoverished and corrupt. At one point, I saw a police officer hold a child (like 7yrs old maybe) at gun point because the child was acting out and he thought it was funny. At another point, a person got hit by a car and a couple bystanders were doing everything they could while most kept on walking as if nothing was even happening. I was at a restaurant near there and it took over 30min for an ambulance to get there…I’m unsure if he made it. I can’t even tell you how many homeless children I saw begging for food/money with no parents anywhere to be found (I’ve been to other countries where this is a common “scam tactic” but this was totally different).
The reality is that when a country is that corrupt, public safety goes out the window. That is actually what scared me most about it.
#7
I, a white guy with my gf in the car, stopped there for gas and a cop pulled up behind me asking what I thought I was doing there.
I replied getting gas and he tells me that I'm not safe and told me he'd escort me to the highway and also not to stop at any red lights until we get to the exit.
Like, I could tell that was a sketchy gas station to stop at when I pulled in but didn't realize it was that bad.
#8
Discussing the safety measures that are important to take before setting off on a trip, Dr. Dimanche noted that the kind and extent of such measures are always related to one's willingness to assess and accept risk.
“All travelers should get involved in some form of risk evaluation procedure and determine: a) what bad things can happen? b) what is the probability of a bad thing happening? and c) what am I willing to lose? (Or, in other words, what are the consequences of something bad happening during my trip?),” the expert said.
“When we answer those questions, we should be able to make decisions about trip planning—where to go? How to travel? How long to travel? Do I want to travel alone or in a group? What activities to engage in?—and assess what safety measures are necessary: how much money to take; to carry a credit card to face emergencies; to contract insurance (health, liability, cancellation, and even repatriation); to note contact numbers in the destination (consulate; bank; insurance company); choose how to dress (for weather, but also for foreign culture); have necessary supply of your needed medicine if applicable; make sure to have (electronic) copies of your passport, plane tickets, bank and insurance information, and so on.”
#9
#10
I lived not too far from there 20some years ago. Drove a coworker home one night because she missed the last bus. She called some guy on her phone to tell him to let people know not to mess with the blue Focus about to come down the street.
I felt like I had a hall pass from danger.
#11
Discussing the most common risks or trouble people find themselves in while traveling, Dr. Dimanche noted that there’s an entire array to assess, depending on the destination and the activities you plan to take part in.
“For outdoor activities, you need to rely on a competent and qualified outfitter (for example, a scuba diving or hiking outfitter or guide). Failure to do so can lead to accidents,” the expert said.
He continued to emphasize that it’s important to know where you’re going, too. “You need to do some homework to avoid cultural or legal errors (for example, you can't drink a beer on the beach in Dubai; it's not recommended to go topless in Muslim countries, such as Indonesia or Malaysia). Also, pay attention to the neighborhoods of the cities you frequent (for instance, there are neighborhoods that hoteliers will advise you to avoid in their cities), so ask for local advice and expertise.
“People have a tendency to behave on vacations in ways that they would never dare to behave at home (for example, getting drunk or high in public areas, disrespecting residents, and so on),” Dr. Dimanche added, suggesting that, too, can lead to a risky situation.
#12
East St. Louis has gotta be the most dangerous feeling place I've ever been. Streetlights busted out at night, everything run down/abandoned, bullet holes in the stop signs, etc. We pulled up GPS and got the f**k out of there real quick lol.
#13
I saw a dead body on my way to the bus terminal, just laying on the sidewalk. There were people standing around him, smoking, drinking, and just having a good ol time while dude is just dead, like dead af, stiff, purple, and blue.
Wildest s**t I've ever seen. No one gave a single s**t.
#14
Honorable mention to the cab driver in Belgrade who sussed out I was American and took the scenic route to my hotel to show me all the buildings that were blown up by American bombs like it was my fault.
“Pay attention to what you eat. If your stomach is not used to a different cuisine or street food, it may be best to be very careful to avoid stomach infections. Also, there are countries where you should be careful not to drink tap water,” Dr. Dimanche continued, discussing the kinds of risks one might face while traveling.
“Tourists are often easy targets for pickpockets and other criminals. Protect your belongings and watch your behaviour not to attract too much attention,” he said, adding that accidents are also common, so it’s important to be aware when renting a motorbike, moped, or car.
#15
Every property surrounded by solid fences topped with razor wire, and if you can afford it, patrolled by armed guards and guard dogs. As a visitor, you should never use a local taxi, or walk outside your hotel compound at night.
#16
Ex pats live in compounds with massive walls topped with broken bottles.
Even my mother, who was a missionary who has lived in a variety of countries throughout SE Asia and the Pacific, couldn't live there for more than 3 weeks.
I had warned her not to go, having been there twice myself.
#17
I switched hotels to one more secure. Early on my last morning, I was going to the airport and my original hotel was on fire.
“It is essential to do your homework about local rules and regulations. An increasing number of tourists are getting arrested because they violate sacred sites, walk in heritage sites' restricted areas, or even bathe in public fountains. Many cities and tourist sites are increasingly suffering from ‘overtourism’ and local authorities are taking action to limit visitors and disruptive behaviors,” Dr. Dimanche noted during the interview.
“Also many travelers go without buying insurance and regret it when they get in trouble,” he added. “Again, travelers need to assess the probability of getting in trouble and the consequence of a bad event happening... Insurance is peace of mind.”
#18
#19
First off, it's a city of 500,000 but it's built for a population of 10 million. But it's not like those ghost cities out west where there never was anyone. It seemed like it was actually a big city, but everyone just left suddenly. The beaches were well maintained and empty. The buses ran frequently and were empty. The streets were lined with all the usual Chinese stuff and were empty.
We went into a breakfast restaurant, and the food was great but we were the only custom and the staff seemed surprised to see us. We asked for directions to the famous fish market. No one there could tell us where it was. It turned out to be about 750 meters away. It was massive and filled with vendors selling huge quantities of incredibly fresh fish. It was mostly empty.
Also, almost everything was open until the wee hours of the morning, if not 24 hours. This is unusual even in the biggest Chinese cities, let alone this abandoned town.
It was just an unsettling experience all around.
#20
