Fauxie said:

that kinda sucks man... but you've gotta do what you've gotta do

i don't know if you're worrying excessively.... i just say trust your instincts

ZombieKitten said:

They're only 22 year olds so I suppose still quite new and vulnerable to the entire world of travel do's and dont's. Some learn the hard way huh.

PanthaGirl said:

That's terrible. My wife's had stuff stolen before but we've never experienced anything like that. One time she got out of a taxi without her bag. As she was coming in the front door the taxi drove back past and the driver flung her bag out of the window, minus her phone and wallet. Shouldn't be drunk and getting in taxis if you're alone though. Also, she put her phone down in the hospital once to help her mother up and when she turned around it was gone.

Oh, I just remembered this other incident too. Not particularly relevant, but it was a bit scary. Coming down a narrow lane my friend's car and another clipped wing mirrors. My friend stopped and yelled abuse out of the window and the guy got out of his car and took a big rock from the boot. My friend was all ready to go at it (he was an old man, but still, he kept a big rock in his boot!) but my wife and I convinced him to drive on.

Yet Bangkok is supposed to be quite safe for a city of its size. Not sure I believe that though.

PanthaGirl said:

that explains it!

usedtobebliss said:

I'm going with the motorbike taxi solution for now. We've always been very careful around here about walking after dark, but that was more to avoid the odd group of drunks that sometimes gather in places like this, who drink whiskey and heckle but usually aren't physically threatening, but never thought we'd have to think about this in the day time. I think we're only really talking about this small street and the street out on to the main road where someone could be vulnerable, because it's so quiet. It's only about 500 metres too, but it's there where you get the motorbike taxis. We'll just have to call them and get them to come to the house. I worry about my mother in-law. I've told her she can't wear her gold around here.

ZombieKitten said:

It's amazing how many foreigners get roped into the classic scams though (gem sale set-ups, 10 baht tuk-tuk city tour that takes you to tailors etc.). You think surely they'd have heard about them, and would know better even if they hadn't.

Fauxie said:

don't the hotels say don't talk to anyone at the front?

Fauxie said:

Wow that is so shite you just never know when trouble is coming your way and this further proves that there is so much dishonesty in humanity huh. Whether it be Bangkok or LA it can happen anytime. Personally when I was in Bangkok I didn't witness any major violence or scams but did have a lot of sleaziness around me and it was unsettling.

I still don't understand why peeps take off with other peoples cell phones. Anytime I find a cell I call a number in that phone and have it returned to the owner, and the other week when I found a 16G Iphone I contacted the owner and personally returned it to the guy that lost it and he rewarded me. Do good you get good.

PanthaGirl said:

not everyone has scruples, desperate times call for desperate measures in many countries. My husband's relatives in Argentina have always got knifepoint or gunpoint stories for us one of them who is a shopowner has begged the youths to NOT do it in front of her shop every day, it's bad for her business

ZombieKitten said:

Wow that's a travesty and shocking that they live the way they do under those conditions. I've heard similiar stories from peeps who have been to Argentina, Brazil and South Africa...

PanthaGirl said:

I know visitors sometimes see it, but these are folks who live there and face it on a daily basis. Some of the desperate sell pens on the subway, or churros on the highway, but it isn't enough to feed a family.

Fauxie said:

UGH, I need more sleep!

Fauxie said:

"TONI&GUY Thailand reccomented to use Red &White for main products."

"TONI&GUY Thailand proudly to presents Special events for you. Please select event topic what you want ?"

Oh, and is reccommendted by Mistress please to stay safe , NICK ?

Fauxie said:

I hear yah but my friends did say that the tour guide had pamphlets, business cards and the transportation so they just didn't realise, like I said they were both vulnerable to the situation. There were no warnings set by the hotel management either.

Fauxie said:

Oi.

usedtobebliss said:

I can understand the feeling of wanting to fight but what if those young dudes had a gun, thats like playing with fire. you can always get more money but you can't get another life.

Fauxie said:

mate can i be blunt?.... get the fuck outta there,,, you deserve to live a peaceful life... so does your lady

usedtobebliss said:

I was about to say...you ever think about moving Fauxie?

Shawnt26 said:

All the time, but we live with the family and they kinda need us here. I mean, if we leave that's not going to help my mother in law if she's walking down the street and someone decides to mug her is it? We are looking at buying an apartment further into the city, about 10 mins from here, but may keep living here for a bit longer anyway.

It's weird. It's like a village here, so green and quiet. It's a shock to hear about muggings, and during the day time?

Fauxie said:

I see. If the police wont help you and you can't move, then I guess the only thing left is never traveling alone. Stay safe.

Shawnt26 said:

Thanks. We'll just have to be more careful and be more aware of our surroundings when we're out around here.

Fauxie said:

Walk tall and carry a big stick. This is real advice, the stick gives you a distance away from anyone with a knife. Not to mention if you know how to use it people will need a gun to mug you. Walking tall means walking with confidence, body language sometimes is used to choose victims.

Be safe...

organize a community patrol and beat the shit out of the thugs...go all koda kai on their asses..


[Edited 5/17/09 16:01pm]