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sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

While I agree that Thailand is a relatively safe place, it can suddenly chnage into a very dangerous one without much warning if you let your guard down, especially in any night-life areas.

This story from today's Nation is an example:

http://203.154.97.18/breaking/read.php?lang=en&newsid=111933

American tourist stabbed and injured by bar girl, boyfriend

Chon Buri - A 44-year-old American tourist was assaulted and stabbed on Pattaya beach by a bar girl and who appeared to be her boyfriend early Saturday morning, police said.

He suffered several knife wounds on his stomach, right side and right arm. He was also hit at his face.

Sirapop quoted a witness as saying that he saw the American walking hand-in-hand from Soi 7 across the road to the beach.

While the two were sitting on the beach, a Thai man arrived at the scene on a motorcycle. The woman and man were then seen as assaulting the American with fists and knife before fleeing the scene on the motorcycle.

There will probably be someone tempted to respond with comments containing phrases like "dumb yank" or the beloved 'septic' Laughing

and "sex tourist", but the point is that it can happen and it can happen to you, so keep your wits about you at all times even if you're just crossing the street. I knew a couple of locals killed by motorcycles when getting off the bus.

Another story I remember is the teacher, British I believe, who threw up in a taxi whilst returning home and who refused along with his mate to pay an extra 200 baht to the driver. A fight ensued and the driver stabbed him in the eye. Again, it is the sudden escalation that can put you in a dangerous situation.

Anyway, you might store the number for the tourist police on your mobile: 1155

maximmm · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 59

Very vague story.... though not unlike the one I posted.
It's odd that both the bar girl and her boyfriend stabbed the american. Wasn't the girl holding the american's hand a second before that? Love can turn sour very quickly I guess:)
Indeed... it's easy to say that this was probably a sex tourist...

tedkarma · Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 4:21 am Post subject:

Not that we haven't covered all this before - but just how safe would you feel in the "hooker bar" areas of your home town?

Yeah, I thought so . . .

Boy Wonder · Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 453 Location: Clacton on sea

Tedkarma.....
I have been to Phuket three times and seem to remember that almost every bar or disco my girlfriend and I went to was populated with hookers either on the prowl for new customers or just working on their new ATM farang 'boyfriend'.

Same same in Bangkok..whether it's the State Tower Rooftop bar, Hard Rock Cafe or backpacker bars on Khao San....!!!

I wonder what the ratio of non-hooker bars to hooker bars in Phuket and indeed in Thailand is...?

tedkarma · Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 2:01 pm Post subject:

Guess you weren't on MY part of Phuket. It is not ALL hooker bars and discos. There are also small towns, rural villages. Get out of the tourist areas to get a better feel for Thailand - and Phuket. (uh, not that those things aren't in the Thai areas . . . Cool

) But you know what I mean.

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

I think we all now see where "Boy Wonder" hangs out and spends his time when travelling and living abroad. Sad, isn't it? Basing his judgements and warnings on only a small (i.e., farang-oriented) portion of Thailand's entertainment spots is just a bit suspect. Wink

Boy Wonder · Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 453 Location: Clacton on sea

Cowell...just what are those ridiculous comments supposed to mean??????

You know where I hang out eh.......!!!!

How dare you......!!!

SAD.......ME....I suggest you take a good long hard look in the mirror.......because if anyone is sad it is you...!! Shocked

For your information I hang out in a non touristy area of Bangkok..where I live and work/eat/drink/shop etc.....

I am a not a Sukumvit based two week holiday single male tourist.....

For your information I spend my time exploring on holiday and seeing different cities/towns/areas etc

I do not hang out in bars or hooker areas on my holidays!!

I DO TAKE OFFENCE THAT YOU SEEM TO SUGGEST SO...!!!

For your information my judgements and warnings...(if you bothered to read them..and obviously you haven't) are not just based on tourist areas...!!

By the way.....Is it such a cultural faux-pas to go to bars populated by other farangs.....I mean do you consider it beneath you...because your sneering, snotty attitude seems to suggest so????????

Should I be only limiting myself to bars stuck out in the suburbs that I make sure are officially 'non-farang'......!!

The fact remains ......

Crime, especially against foriegners IS on the increase......!!

Just like London or New York....it is not a safe place for women to walk around alone after dark......muggings are common in Sathorn where i live and even the area Head of Police was called to the school last summer to assure the school hierachy that muggers caught attacking female teachers would be dealt with strongly.

I am basing my comments on personal experiences not the cuttings of the Pattaya mail or rumours that sweep around Patpong or Sukumvit.

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

Well, if "almost every" bar/disco YOU go to in Bangkok is a place populated with hookers (as you indicated with your "same same" comment), then I really do think you are hanging out in the wrong places!

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

I gotta side with Boy Wonder on this one. If you're in downtown Bangkok many restaurants/bars are going to have at least a few professionals and their customers.

I don't think it indicates hanging out at the 'wrong' places. Instead of trying to avoid certain places, I try to avoid judging others.

Boy Wonder · Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 453 Location: Clacton on sea

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

"boy":

I first went to Bangkok in 1971 and have worked there (including several periods of living there) ever since. My homes have been in Nonthaburi as well as just north of Chatuchak Park in Bangkok proper.

You indicate that you live in the "Sathorn" area. That's pretty close to some of the most touristy and horny-white-grandpa areas that you can find outside of Sukhumvit. I suggest you get out more and explore the non-farang areas.

You did indeed write in your post that "almost every bar or disco my girlfriend and I went to was populated with hookers either on the prowl for new customers or just working on their new ATM farang 'boyfriend' ... Same same in Bangkok..whether it's the State Tower Rooftop bar, Hard Rock Cafe or backpacker bars on Khao San .... '"

If the latter are the "non touristy" places where you hang out in Bangkok, it's no wonder you think that "almost every" Thai entertainment spot is so sleazy ... and dangerous.

If you're stuck in the centre of town and patronizing touristy places, of course you're going to run across some problems. Why is that so surprising? Those of us who don't hang out there simply wonder why you complain so much.

clock · Joined: 31 Oct 2005 Posts: 38 Location: Thailand

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

clock · Joined: 31 Oct 2005 Posts: 38 Location: Thailand

If you've been here since '71 you must be approaching grandpa-farang status yourself. I live in Sathorn and I would estimate less than 1% of the population are foreign.

The statements regarding the safety of Thailand are not alarmist, they're just a warning. I personally know of around eight or nine people (both men and women) who have either been brutally bashed (without provocation on both occasions) or mugged. This includes quiet sois around the Yannawa area, and on a beach on what I once considered a quiet and peaceful island in Southern Thailand.

In comparison, none of my friends were ever attacked or mugged at home.