khunsanuk Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Hi, The following post was made by Robaus. If anybody has other safety tips, feel free to post them in this thread. Sanuk! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I have been visiting Pattaya for some 15 -20 years, and have lived here for the last 8 years. Nothing very nasty has ever happened to me or my many ex pat mates in all that time, and we hit the bars and fleshpots 5 or 6 nights a week, 52 weeks a year. Just use your common sense, when you're here, as you would in your home city. Criminals are opportunists the world over. Try not to give them the opportunity. Maybe it's just local knowledge that has kept us out of harm's way, so here are a few local knowledge tips. Don't wander alone along dimly lit, thinly frequented parts of the beachside of Beach Rd late at night - take a taxi or motorbike. Don't wander alone along dimly lit, thinly frequented streets if your hotel is off the beaten track - take a taxi or motorbike. Don't be abusive to katoeys (ladyboys). If you see any approaching you, keep your hand on your wallet, smile, say "mai aow krab" (no want), and walk determinedly past them. A common trick they play is to grab you in a bear hug embrace, or grab you by the balls, while hands disappear into your wallet pocket. Watch out for pickpockets on baht taxis (happened to me once - half my own stupid fault). They operate as a team. If someone is sitting unusually close to you when there's lots of vacant space, then be alert. One of the team engages you in conversation "Mister, what time is it?" while the one on the other side (often with something covering their lap to hide their wandering hands) picks your pocket. Don't be distracted by pretty looks, conversation, sudden commotions - keep your hand on your wallet. I sit, if I can, next to the entrance, with only one side exposed to other passengers. I have a wallet with a light chain attached to a trouser loop (150 baht). Not cumbersome at all and peace of mind if I drink too much. Only take out as much as you need for the night. Leave credit cards, main funds, and passport in hotel safe. Have important passport pages reduced and laminated as a makeshift ID card. (Technically you're supposed to carry your passport, but the photocopy is better than getting the real one stolen.) Don't flash your money around, and don't wear heavy gold chains and bracelets. There's been a spate of snatchings lately. It's a sad fact of life, but to an impoverished local it's like wearing a necklace made up of 80 * 1,000 baht notes, just begging to be stolen. You wouldn't wander around New York, London or Sydney at night with $2,000 sticking out of your top pocket instead of a carnation for decoration would you? Try not to get into arguments with Thais and certainly not a physical argument - you'll probably come off worse if other Thais gang up on you. Even if you're in the right, just walk away and put it down to experience. Injured pride is better than injured head, hospital bills and the monkey house. Same goes for the anti-social drunken loud mouthed farang sitting near you. Pre-empt trouble. Move away unobtrusively to another seat. Or the drunken or yabaa crazed girl who calls you kiniaow (Cheap Charlie) because you won't buy her a drink. Don't show your anger or annoyance - that will only wind her up more. Count to 10, wait a few moments smile and say," Excuse me tilak, I go hong nam (toilet)." She no doubt will abandon you and go back dancing or pester another customer. No loss of face. I always negotiate a barfine in as polite a way as I can "beforehand", so that there are no arguments later. They're working girls after all. Don't be shy. Just ask nicely, "How much for pay bar?"[i already know the answer anyway, but it puts the girl in a lets do business mode, and you into a bargaining position while you still hold all the chips] then move onto, how much for lady short time? Some forum members will disagree. They prefer gallantly never to mention money upfront (because they already know the going rates, it spoils the GFE, and the girl may ruin the moment by asking a silly price - which means she probably doesn't like you anyway). All I can say is that in all my time in Pattaya I have "never" had any problems with the girls by fixing a price beforehand, but I've heard many stories of money disputes the morning after when prices have been left vaguely "Up to You". That's why I advise newbies to fix price before, until you know the lay of the land. Doing a runner in the morning for girls you hired for LT: she goes for a morning pee and emerges fully clothed with a litany of excuses to leave early. "Oh, my friend share room, only have one key" "Must go temple, must go Korat see mama, must go sick buffalo clinic blah blah!" She obviously doesn't like you. Let it go, don't kick up a huge fuss leading to a big row, pay up but no tip and no repeat performance. Some Thai girls have no business sense. They just think for the now, no long term plans. So move on. There'll be a pleasant surprise with the next barfine... she'll be turning naked cartwheels and hanging from the chandeliers. Don't sweat the small stuff! Don't argue with the taxi driver over 5 baht, and end up with a wheel wrench over your head! The fare is now 10 baht any journey between South and North Pattaya "provided that" the taxi is on its regular route and is moving when you flag it down. Regular routes are mainly Beach Rd, 2nd Road, Soi Bukhao, South Pattaya Rd, Central Rd. Price may increase this year. The fare has been the same for donkeys years, while oil has skyrocketed. If I have a particularly extended run (N Pattaya to Tutkom IT centre) with no other passengers to help the driver, I'll often give him 15-20 baht unsolicited (yeah, I know spoiling it for the rest of us, but I don't care: the driver has to make a living too). You can often indicate with your hand to confirm the direction he's headed before you board. Ring the buzzer when you want to get off, and have 10 baht handy. Sometimes they won't give change to farangs and speed off with your note. Sometimes the taxi will veer off route. If he's already taken me a reasonable distance, I pay him 10 baht. If you talk to and request a particular destination with a stationary taxi, then please "fix the price" beforehand to avoid arguments later. That sort of fare is NOT 10 baht; it's regarded by the driver as a private hire and is usually 50 - 100 baht or more! If you live close to a regular baht taxi route, or an inexpensive motorbike taxi ride away, and you don't want to explore outside of Pattaya, then don't hire a motorbike. You'll have trouble parking it, have the hassles of locks chains and helmets, the danger of other maniac drivers, and you can't drink and drive. Transport is so cheap in Pattaya. Let others have the worries. Don't loan money to the girls unless you're willing to treat it as a gift. Don't leap off tall buildings, if you break up with your girlfriend. Pattaya's the best place in the world to overcome the temporary madness of lurve. There are 9,999 willing replacements. Don't leap off tall buildings, if you run out of money. Most of us have passports that Thais would give their left tit or testicle to own. 6 months work and save in farangland, can pay for 12 mths sanuk in Pattaya. Stay away from drugs. You could end up on extended stay in the monkey house, or with delusions of ability to leap off tall buildings. Maybe Pattaya, Bangkok, Thailand and the whole world are becoming more dangerous places. A depressing thought, but such is life. If you want to live prophylactically, then try Smallville, Iowa or Useless Loop, Western Australia. Just think - you could be enjoying bingo sessions down at the Darby and Joan Club, with a chance of a legover with one of the blue rinse set! You may not live any longer. But it will just seem that way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCgringo Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Do not walk around like a "Japanese tourist" have a small camera in your pocket, a mobile phone that you can afford to lose and if you have an Ipod get any color earphones but white ! Do not look like a good target ! OC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Central Scrutinizer Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 All, A friend of mine was robbed recently of his mobile. He had his hands full of shopping, and his phone on a 'holster' on his hip. A quick bump and 'pick' and the phone was gone. 2 or 3 thou baht can get a decent phone for use as intended. Making calls/receiving calls. I always shake my head when I see the guys with the 20 or 30 thousand baht telephones hangin' on their hips. And the ones with the chunks of gold on their wrists and necks as well amaze me. Just asking for it really. It's like waving a flag over your head that says "Here I am. I have too mutt money." Why draw this sort of attention to yourself in these areas of prostitution and thievery where these sort of crimes are well known to occur? Hell, I don't even carry a wallet. Just baht in one front pocket (what is thought to be needed for the day/time out) and an ATM card *at times* not always, in the other front pocket of jeans usually. Much harder for the pickpocket to figure out where to strike. No telltale bulge (except in my crotch that is ). I just don't understand how guys go out in these areas without a bit of thought on how to make it harder for the quick and nimble fingered thieves to rob them, and the ones carrying absurd amounts of cash money on them for a few hours out on the town are just being foolish. Cent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian2 Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 Nice post Robaus. The pick-pocket bit in the buses, a favorite ploy is to drop change on the floor then his mate removes the contents of your rear pocket when you bend over to help pick it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dddave Posted May 17, 2006 Report Share Posted May 17, 2006 I'd add: Beware of anybody who initiates a casual conversation with you on the street or in a coffee shop,; anywhere really who try's to find out a little too much about you a little too quickly, maybe a little too friendly. Often an invitation to their home or business (Oh man, you're just the person we need to help us out---")is made. Too many scams to list here could possibly follow: rigged card games, jewelery scams or possibly, a lot worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaiLuk Posted May 19, 2006 Report Share Posted May 19, 2006 What about those swami guys with the head turbans? When I was a newbie one found me when i was shopping and said in perfect english "Excuse me sir. You have a very lucky face." The conversation did not get far because my body guard finished buying a shirt , saw this guy talkin at me, and she came over and screamed at the guy: "FUCK OFF!" No doubt he was leading up to an interesting scam any one know what it was? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buddha Posted May 20, 2006 Report Share Posted May 20, 2006 If your hotel has no travel safe carry what you need for the night in your secure chain wallet and keep your other valuables in a 'travel wallet' underneath your trousers. Get your money straight before you go out. Set aside the amount you need to pay for: drinking, food, barfine, and payment for services rendered. Do not use the ATM late at night. Spare your teeruk the embarassment of going to the ATM the next morning. I always keep 2000 - 3000 baht in my room to make sure I can accomodate payment without going to the ATM. Hide things in plain site: Grab a couple copies of the Bangkok post [sunday edition is great] and keep them stacked up on the table in the hotel, or in the corner of the room. Fold them up neatly and slip your laptop inside. Place your shoes on top. The maid will not disturb them with dirty falang shoes on top. Learn some thai. If you can correctly address people with sawadee Krap, Kop khun kop, Mai ow, you will be less of a target. If someone says kop khun kaa return it with an old school khrrrrrap phrom. This will almost always make people think you are not 'the n00b'. You don't have to understand thai fluently, but you should be able to address situations with correctly pronounced thai. Do not use thai with the police. Be courteous, but firm, anunciate, but speak quickly. Dressing nice and maintaining good hygene is important with any visit to ANY officials. This might sound obvious but all kinds of people go to the police station, immigration etc. looking like they just stepped off the beach. Totally uncool. Carry a drop wallet: I carry everything in one of those travel wallets under my pants. I carry my cash that I need for the night spread out in my two front pockets. Big bills on one side wrapped in a twenty baht note, small bils on the other side. I always try to know how much I have. In my back pocket I carry a cheap old wallet, full of all kinds of useless credit card looking things and business cards. I usually keep a couple small notes 20 baht, and some brand new american 1 dollar bills. If sombody steps to you pull out the drop wallet, open it long enough so that they can see the ca$h, and toss it a fair distance away opposite the direction you are going to run. Then run like hell. This has worked for me on a number of occaisions in cambodia and myanmar. I'm out a maximum of 200-300 baht and on my way to a safe place. I am able to stand and fight if need be, but it is a last resort. If you cannot run carry a cane and learn how to use it [kung fu]. These are all preventative measures if you are in a really bad spot give up your shit. This is where the original posters idea of keeping items in the travel safe comes into play. I don't because I usually stay in a shitty hotel that doesn't have a safe. In places like cambodia: If you have access to a lamination machine trace out on the plastic laminate a show insert. The place a small plasticine ziplock bag with say $500 american folded up in between and then laminate the fucker. When you travel stick the inserts in your suitcase. It is important to use a see through plastic bag and not a paper envelope so that if customs goes through your shit they can see exactly why you are doing this. An envelope will need to be ripped open to check for drugs/substances. Don't use thai notes as this will be considered offensive. Once in country put these laminates under your regular shoe inserts. You will not notice them while walking. Now you have $500 cash in case shit hits the fan. More than enough to get by on while you get new credit cards, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topcatta Posted May 20, 2006 Report Share Posted May 20, 2006 No telltale bulge (except in my crotch that is ). I am greatly relieved you explain the bulge problem otherwise you would have had board members all over you saying you are a Shemale.... One thing I would add is the gem scams. But telling ppl not to buy gems and why does not help. Have seen several cases where they go out to do exactly what you told them not to do and they got scammed for thousands of dollars. Little Me thinks some ppl prefer the drama included. Life must be boring for them... I used to live on Koh Phangan. One low season was particularly low (the CIA and Thai police raided the Full moon party to stop the body bags coming from ppl who wanted to swim to Koh Samui on mushrooms) and the Thai were very grumpy and pulling their hair out. At the same time Thai yabaa's were breaking in the bungalows big time. Easily done with locks never working. As a last result they also started to attack farang coming from the bar scene. I used to walk home with a big stick and my stiletto, discussing with my partner how to operate if we do get attacked. The worst ever happened was the dogs barking in the middle of the nite. After a total quiet walk thru the nature and expecting robbers and killers the barking of the dog families did my heart jump in my throat...I am alert at all times in LOS and yet I feel relaxed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coss Posted May 20, 2006 Report Share Posted May 20, 2006 One thing that is more behavioural on my part and tends to keep me out of trouble a bit, is the fact that where I come from it's 5 hrs ahead of LOS time. This means that 1 am in LOS is 6 am at home. As a result I can be thrashing the mattress quite happily at 10 or 11 pm LOS time and go to sleep knackered relatively early in LOS. This seems to keep me off the streets a bit in the late hrs in LOS. Cheers Coss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 20, 2006 Report Share Posted May 20, 2006 There is plenty of debate on how dangerous Thailand is on this board, but if anyone is curious they can directly access and compare homicides rates compiled by Thai and US government sources. The statistics on Thailand are here Royal Thai Police Stats and the statistics from the US are here US Dept of Justice Stats. Murder rates in places like Thailand are probably the best measure of violence since it is much harder to cover up a murder. When reviewing these statistics it is useful to keep in mind that Thailand?s official figures - which are much higher than US's figures - probably underreport the number of homocides in Thailand. The most prominent name in crime forensics in Thailand, Khunying Pornthip (the Khunying title was conferred by the King for her work), is scathing in her criticism of police forensics here. She contends the police are constantly covering up murders and making police killings look like suicides. For specific examples of this, peruse the news section here for a few days. You will see all sorts of stories about Farangs flying off condo balconies in Pattaya. Or you can review the discussion of the Kiwi who was murdered in a drive by killing, which you can find on the the general board here at Kiwi Murdered Thread, the long thread in the Nightlife Section about an American who was attacked near a sidewalk bar on the corner of Soi Asoke and Sukhumvit Road (ended up in ICU - not sure if he died) at 2am, which lead to a lengthy discussion about violence in Thailand American Attacked on Sukhumvit or the story entitled "Foreigner Stabbed to Death by Youth Gang" on the Planet Bangkok website here: Planet Bangkok Story And then draw your own conclusions about how dangerous Thailand really is and what sort of safety measures you think are appropriate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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