Keeping Yourself Safe In Thailand

[kendo]

Inspired from a few very sad threads of late, it's about time we had a thread on forum members top tips on how to keep yourself and family safe here in Thailand i know a lot of it is common sence, but if it can help newbie's and less experienced farangs then thats all good in my opinion.

Mods if this thread becomes popular and constuctive maybe it could become a sticky i really hope it doe's not become a slanging match.

I will start with......................

1.If you think a girl has any connection to drugs i.e Yabba, run a million km's from her.

2. Dont get involved with a girl that has police as best friends she will be untouchable.

3. Don't ride motor bikes especially after dusk.

4. Don't bump or only part pay thai's they will never loose face and get revenge.

5. If you have a disagreement or a fall out with thai walk away, they will never loose face and never forget.

6. Don't flash your cash to much or expensive possesions such as gold and in general don't show to much wealth as thai's are very direct in asking qestions a lot of this is harmless, just trying to work out your status in the food chain but exercise caution.

7. Don't stop at other road user's accidents seen loads quite offen they will try and blame a farang and say you were involved.

8. Don't stand on belcony's of high building's an alarming amount of people fall off them here ( or pushed ) get the drift

9. Never take more than one girl to your room for fun you stand a good chance of getting robbed, drugged or both.

10. Don't go drinking with thai's unless you know them really well.

11. Bag up, i have been told that a lot of girls will bare back just for some business as things are really slow in a business sence right now.

12. Becarefull of any girl you meet in a side soi, or the beach, not on a bar good chance have bad intent, if you take them to a room make sure they give up there I.D card to reception.

Just a start guy's i am sure there will be some really good stuff here.

Kendo.

[Johnnywastaken]

...you forgot.... gambling...

[richard]

Never use a Kamikaze mini bus to Bangkok and back

[aragon]

Don't leave cash lying around even in a locked room. I lost 11,000bt that I left on a side table in a locked villa when I went for breakfast, was only gone about 20 mins, but it had been lifted by the time I got back.

[kendo]

...you forgot.... gambling...

Ditto that, was having a new water pump fitted so slipped my mind, but just wanted to kick this off on our fine community' for the benefit of others, i really hope this does not turn into a load of P*ss taking.

Now my wife that lives in the UK, but coming over here 5 years ago, to build our house met this couple that were doing the same and only 5 km's apart one night his mrs done 14K GBP in the Chong Chom border casino.

I also now from a senior member on here that a 40K GBP Mercedes was lost in a card game and bought back by hubby in the UK.

So yeah buddy gambling is right up there thank you for you comment because it's bang on topic.

Kendo.

[hhfarang]

Watch out for ladyboys, especially in gangs and late at night.

Don't trust hotel mini safes.

Never accept open drinks from people you don't know well.

Never leave your open drink unattended.

Remember that a lot (from what I've heard, the majority) of development burglaries have turned out to involve staff, especially the security guards...

[Takiap]

If you regularly go for walks, make sure you carry a stick or something similar in order to persuade soi dogs that they are better off having a go at someone else.

Look out for this when riding a bicycle and/or motorbike as well. Most will only chase and bark if you're on a motorbike, but some are brave enough to actually bite.

[johnnyk]

Pay for your drinks as you receive them. Don't let the chits mount up in the bin until you're pissed and have no idea how much you drank.

[kendo]

Pay for your drinks as you receive them. Don't let the chits mount up in the bin until you're pissed and have no idea how much you drank.

Nice one Johnny so thats why my mrs makes me settle my bar bill 2 or 3 times a night.

Kendo.

[kendo]

Do not get involved in a thai problem let them deal with it in there own way.

Keep well away from thai karoke bars as scooter gangs have a habit of ride by shootings.

Kendo.

[margaretcarnes]

Beware of the 'brother' who always seems to be around.

Never ever disclose your PIN - sorry guys but not even to the wife - and change it regularly.

[kendo]

Beware of the 'brother' who always seems to be around.

Never ever disclose your PIN - sorry guys but not even to the wife - and change it regularly.

In some cases thai brother is really thai husband, and it's all a big scam to extract money from farang, some thai men are quite happy to let a farang shag there mrs if they will benefit from the proceeds.

Kendo.

[charlesh]

Don't eat som tam.
Don't wear a red shirt.
Don't say anything nasty about the monarchy.
Never get into discussions about politics or religion with Thais or for that matter anything as they know it all.

[crazy88]

Some good ones here. Most are basic common sense in pretty much any country.

Learn some, at least basic, Thai. Helps a lot to avoid or calm a situation if it occurs.

Don't go into the kind of areas you would not be comfortable with back home.

Smile a lot and be polite, even if you are angry and frustrated.

Don't play away from home Especially on your own doorstep. The coconut telegraph now has smartphones, twitter, facebook . If you think the face loss reaction is unique to here in the form of a violent spouse then watch a film called "Suburban Madness" I watched it with my partner and she did not think running the cheating husband over 3 times was at all excessive.

Do your homework before doing business.

Crazy 88

[H2ODunc]

I have travelled all over Thailand and never felt threatened or worried anywhere. Unlike where I used to stay in South London. never left the room there without my 1/2 inch scaffolding box spanner which was put to good use several times
Can't say I agree with number 3 as I feel far safer riding a bike here than anywhere back in the UK. here they expect lots of people to be riding bikes unlike the UK where they simply never see you.
Also 7. Does anybody actually know of an actual person this has happened to ? I have stopped at many a road traffic accident here on Samui and never once been accused of being involved. I have lost count of the number of T shirts I have given up to cover the bleeding or to support the victim.