Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ginger7]

I am taking a big trip soon and I had wanted to go to both Bali and the Phillipines, but the warnings against both of those countries for Americans have me scared. I also plan on going to Israel, but I'll be visiting a friend there, not roaming around by myself.

How do you feel about travel warnings issued by your government?

[kat2]

I think you have to consider what you will be doing in the country. Parts of the phillipines in the South, are quite dangerous and there is a muslim led insurgency/freedom fight/semi-civil war. If yo uare going to Boracay, you'll be fine. If you are planning to backpack around the islands where the fighting is going on, I wouldn't suggest it.

Same goes for Bali. Don't go anywhere stupid and hopefully you will be fine.

[CentralCali]

I trust the travel warnings from the United States government. The State Department issues those based on information from its representatives (ambassadors, consuls, other diplomats, US military officials, etc.) in those countries. Not taking them seriously is playing with your life.

Bali, of course, isn't a country. It's part of Indonesia. The Department of State travel warning for Indonesia does mention the terrorist acts carried out in Bali.

The travel warning for the Philippines presents a pretty grim picture. There really is nowhere in the country safe from brazen attacks. The Philippine government is quite ineffective in many matters, and security is one rather glaring example of that.

The warning for Israel also is pretty grim. Although you're not an embassy or consulate employee, I'd think it advisable to follow the curfew hours mentioned for certain areas of the country.

[ajgeddes]

I usually read them, but I know that they are being overly cautious.