Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Weigookin74]

Where are the safest places to travel to? I've only been to Korea and Japan. I know China is large and have safe and unsafe places. I think Hong Kong and Taiwan are reasonably safe. I hear the Bangkok can be safe in spite of the weirdness. Singapore is safe. Heard of people getting robbed at gunpoint in Manila. So, can any experienced SE Asia travellers break it down for the rest of us? Where to go and where to avoid? I think this ability to go out at night in both Korea and Japan can lull one into a false sense of security when they go to other Asian countries.

[Modernist]

Sheesh, man. Asia in general has to be one of the safest regions in the world. How paranoid are you? Hong Kong is 'reasonably safe?' That's it? I mean, safe from what? If you're worried about being charged for tax evasion, then yeah, I guess. But are you talking violent crime? Robbery, assault, random street crime? In that case, you really don't need to worry. I can't imagine ANYWHERE in China where you, as a foreign tourist, would get mugged or something. That kind of thing just doesn't happen in China. You do know about their gun control, don't you? Outside of police or military it's nearly impossible to own a firearm in China. And other deadly weapons such as swords, combat knives and the like are strictly controlled.

As for SE Asia, really. You'd be more likely to get food poisoning than ever to be assaulted in any way, or kidnapped or something, in ANY country down there. Seriously. Cambodia and Laos are poor but still. They don't ROB people. I wandered around the biggest cities at all hours and didn't feel threatened in the least, ever. The damned annoying touts are the biggest 'threat' you'd find in Vietnam.

Bangkok, the 'threat' is to your wallet from the hookers and con artists. Nothing more, and you can always walk away. Malaysia is completely safe from my experience. I suppose Burma might be dodgy considering the whole junta thing, haven't been there.

If anything, the issues in Manila are the exception that proves the rule. It's the one Asian city I WOULD be worried about random street crime. Otherwise, chill out. You'll ruin your trip if you are constantly watching for bad guys on every corner. Life's too short.

[ttompatz]

[lemak]

Watch where you step off the beaten tourist trail in Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. Still millions of unaccounted for landmines and unexploded ordinance.

Always know where your wallet and cell phone are in most of the region - especially in crowds, or they can easily vanish and you won't even know about it until hours later.

Rich Khmer kids have armed drivers waiting in the car outside and can be spoiled, little snots. If you bump into one or vice versa in Phnom Penh, smile, apologize and carry on with your night. Don't make a scene or you may not like how things eventuate. Rare, but falls into the stupid people saying stupid things to other stupid people whilst stupidly drunk category.

Avoid offending the honor of local girls anywhere in the region, unless you like placating an enraged crowd of her 100 closest cousins. Also rare as long as you're smart.

Same goes for religion.

Asian guys don't follow Queensbury Rules. The concept of a one of one fight is rare. Know when (usually) it makes good sense to walk away.

Don't touch drugs of any kind no matter how safe anyone tells you it is. Loads of scams where the same guy selling to you doubles his profits by grassing you out to the cops and splitting the fine/bribe.

Avoid the local police unless absolutely necessary. They're underpaid and often glorified gangsters. In the case of Indonesia for example they usually have to pay bribes upwards of several thousand dollars to their superiors in order to get the job, and again more bribes to obtain promotions or more cushy jobs. On a two hundred dollar a month job often the only way to reimburse their expense is to take the corruption path.

All over Asia (bar Singapore and maybe Hong Kong) the traffic is *nasty*. Essentially GTA Asia. Until you're accustomed cross the road next to a local. Don't drive or ride a motorbike unless you REALLY are confident in your ability.

Take out travel insurance, stay away from the groups of dogs in the sois in Bangkok, watch the light switches in the bathroom, avoid spending hours in the tropical sun......

I dunno, man....the whole world is a dodgy pit for the most part. take your chances, be smart, and if in doubt ask a trustworthy local. Major problems are rare, but they do very occasionally happen. Four Australian tourists die a month just in Bali for example. Use your brains and you'll *likely* be fine.

[Drew345]

All of SE Asia is pretty safe by western standards. From my own experiences, I felt less safe in Vietnam and most safe in Myanmar.

[young_clinton]

In Bangkok you'll want to avoid Khao San Rd. and probably both Patpong Rds. Also when walking particularly around Sukhamvit Rd. carry cameras, computers and purses or any expensive looking articles by hand not strapped over your shoulder. There are motorcycle thieves all over the place looking for peoples handbags to take. Other than that Sukhamvit is pretty safe. If things are strapped around your neck you could get dragged and injured when they try to take whatever you have.

[Yaya]

I had a friend whose camera was stolen while he was riding a tuk tuk in Cambodia by a motorcycle thief who swiped the item while zooming in on his bike. That said, petty theft and scams will be the biggest problems for travelers in Asia.

I remember that in the 1990s, foreign teachers would complain of getting ripped off in Korea when it came to buying things or having their homes burglarized (though they had little or nothing in them). That has changed.

And yes, Manila is the big exception to this. A poster on this board was recently kidnapped and forced to withdraw 2 million won from an ATM in Manila by four Filipinos, two of them armed with guns. If you must visit that dump of a city, stay in Makati or Taguig and avoid most of the other areas in the metro area, esp. Malate, Ermita and Mabini.

[bbud656]

Also if you are a woman, there is a risk of sexual assault pretty much anywhere in the world including Korea and Japan. Filing a police report, getting justice, etc is going to be a lot more difficult than in a place like the US. As for men, the transgendered women in SE can be pretty heavy handed with their attempts at persuading you, so watch out.

[wishfullthinkng]

i've only felt endangered twice in SE asia and i've been to almost every country in the region.

once was in manila but that's pretty much a given, and the second was in phnom penh because i was leaving a bar early in the morning when it was still dark and there was some guy drunk off his rear waving a handgun around seemingly angry at his dog.

disclaimer: phnom penh is an amazing city full of some amazing people and that was the only time i ever even remotely felt unsafe there.

[young_clinton]

[young_clinton]

[alwaysbeclosing100]

colombo a few years ago was sketchy but i hear it has improved slightly. delhi around new delhi train station is a little shady with people selling hash in the backpacker ghetto. getting near any type of drugs in asia is a bad idea with very serious consequences. this is not amsterdam.

the golden rule is immediately avoid at all costs anyone who approaches you unsolicited. dont break this rule and you can avoid 95% of the problems.

[young_clinton]

People in south or south-eat asia have no interest in talking to you unless it's to get something (usually illicit) from you. There is nothing they can do but try to survive by getting money off of gullible westerners. Thier culture is too different anyway for them to try to relate or simply have a discussion with you.