Aquamarine Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 All those events have had their parallels in lots of other countries, though, including the US. Tsunami/Katrina, for example. Gunmen opening fire in churches, schools (and one of the worst examples of that was in Scotland) . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternal light Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 All those events have had their parallels in lots of other countries, though, including the US. Tsunami/Katrina, for example. Gunmen opening fire in churches, schools (and one of the worst examples of that was in Scotland) . . . I'm trying to remember the last time protestors shut down an international airport in the United States for a month. In New Orleans, the mayor warned everyone to evacuate several hours in advance of Katrina's landfall, giving tourists a chance to leave early before the storm hit. As for gunmen opening fire in the church in Thailand, that is not an isolated incident and happened very recently. SAFETY AND SECURITY: The State Department is concerned that there is an increased risk of terrorism in Southeast Asia, including in Thailand. American citizens traveling to Thailand should therefore exercise caution, especially in locations where Westerners congregate, such as clubs, discos, bars, restaurants, hotels, places of worship, schools, outdoor recreation venues, tourist areas, beach resorts, and other places frequented by foreigners. They should remain vigilant with regard to their personal security and avoid crowds and demonstrations. For more information on terrorist threats against Americans worldwide, and steps that U.S. citizens should take as a result of these threats, please see the Worldwide Caution. From May – December 2008, political protests on the streets of Bangkok involving anti-government and pro-government demonstrators led to the death of 8 Thai citizens and injuries to over 700, including an American citizen who was injured by an exploding tear gas canister, and an additional death in Chiang Mai. Most of the casualties occurred around the Government House compound and the two Bangkok airports, Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Don Muang Airport, which were temporarily occupied by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). Thailand experienced similar demonstrations, primarily in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, during the political unrest that led to a military coup in September 2006. The Department of State advises all American citizens residing in or traveling to Bangkok to monitor events closely, to avoid any large public gatherings, and to exercise discretion when moving about Bangkok. All demonstrations are unpredictable, and any demonstration can turn violent without warning. For this reason, the Embassy encourages all Americans to monitor local media for announcements of possible demonstrations and to avoid the areas where demonstrations might occur. If a demonstration is expected to pass near U.S. Embassy facilities, Embassy entrances and functions may be restricted, depending on circumstances. The far south of Thailand has been experiencing almost daily incidents of criminally and politically motivated violence, including incidents attributed to armed local separatist groups. On March 15, 2008, two bombs exploded at the CS Pattani Hotel in Pattani Province in southern Thailand. Two people died and thirteen were injured. A car bomb exploded in Yala Province on the same day, killing the driver. Although the separatist groups have continued to focus primarily on Thai government interests in the southern provinces, some of the recent violence in the area has targeted public places, including areas where tourists may congregate. On September 17, 2006, a series of bombs detonated in a commercial district of Hat Yai, killing one American citizen and injuring another. In 2005 two American citizens were injured when a bomb detonated in the Hat Yai airport. Attacks in the area have increasingly been targeted against commercial areas where foreigners congregate. The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to defer non-emergency travel to the far south of Thailand: Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala, and parts of Songkhla provinces, including the town of Hat Yai. If U.S. citizens must travel to these areas, they should exercise special caution and remain vigilant with regard to their personal security. Travelers should be aware that Thai authorities have on occasion instituted special security measures in affected areas, such as curfews, military patrols, or random searches of train passengers. The U.S. Embassy recommends that American citizens defer travel along the Thai-Cambodian border in the area of the Preah Vihear temple because of a border dispute between the two countries. Thai and Cambodian soldiers have been stationed along the border in this area since July 2008 and exchanged gunfire on October 15, 2008. Until the situation has been resolved, American citizens should exercise extreme caution if they must travel to areas along the Thai-Cambodian border where troop activities are reported. From 2004 to 2006, seven Lao-American and Hmong-American citizens were murdered in northern and northeastern Thailand near the border with Laos. During the same period, a number of non-Americans with ties to Laos were also murdered in this region of Thailand. In addition, in March 2006 a Hmong-American disappeared from his residence in Chiang Mai along with seven other individuals. In most of these cases, no arrests have been made. If U.S. citizens, particularly Lao-Americans or Hmong-Americans, travel to these areas, they should exercise caution and remain vigilant with regard to their personal security. It is also recommended that persons wishing to travel to border areas check first with the Thai Police and the U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai or the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok or the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane. The Thai/Burma border is the site of on-going conflicts between the Burmese Army and armed opposition groups as well as clashes between Thai security forces and armed drug traffickers. Pirates, bandits and drug traffickers operate in these border areas. There remains a possibility of significant flare-ups of military activity on the Burmese side of the border that could spill over into immediately adjacent areas of northern Thailand. Visitors should travel off-road in undeveloped areas only with local guides who are familiar with the area. Border closings and re-openings occur frequently, and U.S. citizens considering traveling into Burma from Thailand should be aware that in the event of a border closure they may not be able to re-enter Thailand. In light of the continuing unsettled situation along Thailand border with Burma and the possibility of frequent closings to all traffic, the Department of State recommends that all Americans exercise caution when traveling in remote or rural areas immediately adjacent to the Burma border. Tourists should obtain information from Thai authorities about whether official border crossing points are open, and should cross into neighboring countries only at designated crossing points. Licensed guides can help ensure that trekkers do not cross inadvertently into a neighboring country. For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State's, Bureau of Consular Affairs' web site, where the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, as well as the Worldwide Caution, can be found. Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State's A Safe Trip Abroad. travel.state.gov Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninelives Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 I think proceeding with caution is wise anywhere you travel including people coming to the USA. But I've known plenty of people who have been to Thailand and had absolutely no issues. As I said before, crime and violence happen all over the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternal light Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Recently been to Thailand, like David Carradine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninelives Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Recently been to Thailand, like David Carradine? I've never been personally but I was referring to people I know who have. I'm not sure what you're getting at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evster2012 Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Recently been to Thailand, like David Carradine? Well, there are the 10 million people in Bangkok who did not die this week. Besides, if he wasn't murdered, what's the point of including him in a discussion about safe world travel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternal light Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 He may have been murdered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evster2012 Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 He may have been murdered. Obviously. I'm just saying it's a little early to cite him as an example of the dangers of visiting Thailand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evster2012 Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Anyway... The body was flown back today. The 2nd autopsy Keith demanded will not be available for a few weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternal light Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Thailand tops holiday hazard poll BBC, 10th July 2006 British tourists heading to Thailand face the highest risk of suffering traffic accidents, theft or food poisoning, a survey has said. Researchers found that tourists in South Africa, the 2010 World Cup hosts, were most likely to suffer violent robberies or lose luggage in transit. Austria was the country where tourists were most likely to suffer a skiing or snowboarding accident. The survey was compiled by Norwich Union Travel Insurance. Figures revealed the Czech Republic topped the poll for pickpockets, while those in the Caribbean faced the biggest risk from insect bites and stings. The safest place to holiday was Ireland followed by Belgium, Holland, Germany and France. The official website for tourism in Thailand advises tourists not to walk alone on quiet streets or deserted areas. Dawn McMullan, travel product manager at Norwich Union, said: "The purpose of our research is not to worry tourists looking forward to their summer holidays, just to make them aware of what can go wrong when they're away from home." She advised travellers to take the same precautions abroad as they did in the UK. Ms McMullan added: "Our research shows that you need to take a little extra care in certain countries and of course make sure you are adequately covered by travel insurance." The survey was based on more than 60,000 claims made to Norwich Union in 2005. thailandqa.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evster2012 Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 thailandqa.com This is hardly a "quiet street or deserted area". http://www.swissotel.com/EN/Destinations/T.../SubGallery.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evster2012 Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Im sure they know far more than they are letting out to the public. Cant blame them. Im sure the autopsy will give them some answers. Whether we will ever know is another question. Actually they do know much more than what's public. It's not what anyone thinks. It's not random, and has nothing to do with the dangers of travelling in certain places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternal light Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Don't move about alone, especially at night, keep your hotel room door and windows locked at all times, and don't open the door to someone you don't know well. Use only licensed taxis and never allow the driver to pick up another passenger on the way. professionaltravelguide.com/Destinations/Thailand/Safety/Risk-Assessment/Crime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evster2012 Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Eternal Light, you've made your point okay? Thailand's dangerous okay. Enough travel guide advice already. Start a dangers of travel thread or something. Then I won't have to read it. This is about David Carradine, a man whose family I am close to. It wasn't a random attack by local thugs fleecing tourists. So can you just let it go please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeplinger Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 What's your take on this? I heard maybe he was investigating "secret societies". http://copycateffect.blogspot.com/2009/06/carradine2.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knebby Posted June 10, 2009 Author Share Posted June 10, 2009 You couldn't pay me to go to one of those country's. You leave the good old USA and you are no longer safe and you have no power. You cant carry a weapon to defend yourself. Fuck that. I would never go there. Or Mexico either. Oh. My. God. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brspled Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 You couldn't pay me to go to one of those country's. You leave the good old USA and you are no longer safe and you have no power. You cant carry a weapon to defend yourself. Fuck that. I would never go there. Or Mexico either. If you think you can only be safe carrying a gun, well, you wouldn't be welcome in most countries in the world. But maybe you'd better stay with your loaded weapon at your own backyard. On a side note....I have been to Thailand, I spent 4 weeks there, and I felt absolutely safe travelling there. It's a beautiful country with lovely people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGDAN Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 Hi All, All this fuss about being safe, look at it this way for a minuite, The "Land" is just like the "Ocean", where you have "People" that will do you harm on "Land" in the "Ocean" you have "Sharks". Now when you enter the "Ocean" you make sure there are no dangerous "Sharks" about, in other words you take precautions to be safe, if you know dangerous "Sharks" are about you keep away. The "Land" is no different, you must keep your wits about you, respect the people that tell you where too or not too go, use common sense if you have it, and remember that there are many places where you think you are safe but you are not. In any area, anywhere in the world, You can be safe some of the time. You can be safe none of the time. But you cannot be safe all of the time. Its a matter of being in the wrong place at either the right or wrong time, you just have to either "Know" "Smell" or "See" where Danger is and avoid it, never let your guard down, never walk the streets either Drunk or Drugged, look after yourself or fall pray to the "Sharks" The most dangerous time and place for you is where and when you feel the most safe, remember the film "The Warriors"? Regards, Danny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggie29 Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 Hi All, All this fuss about being safe, look at it this way for a minuite, The "Land" is just like the "Ocean", where you have "People" that will do you harm on "Land" in the "Ocean" you have "Sharks". Now when you enter the "Ocean" you make sure there are no dangerous "Sharks" about, in other words you take precautions to be safe, if you know dangerous "Sharks" are about you keep away. The "Land" is no different, you must keep your wits about you, respect the people that tell you where too or not too go, use common sense if you have it, and remember that there are many places where you think you are safe but you are not. In any area, anywhere in the world, You can be safe some of the time. You can be safe none of the time. But you cannot be safe all of the time. Its a matter of being in the wrong place at either the right or wrong time, you just have to either "Know" "Smell" or "See" where Danger is and avoid it, never let your guard down, never walk the streets either Drunk or Drugged, look after yourself or fall pray to the "Sharks" The most dangerous time and place for you is where and when you feel the most safe, remember the film "The Warriors"? Regards, Danny Onya Dan. "I'm havin' a good time!" Seriously, there isn't a place on Earth where it's 100% safe. Unfortunately there are nutters everywhere most are infatuated by some weapon or another and feel compelled to use them. A bloke named Ivan Milat kidnapped and murdered foreign backpackers here in Oz some years ago about 3 hours from where I live. Then there are wild animals and sharks in the ocean and nature, tsunamis and earthquakes etc that can hit at any moment. Just a while ago two tourists stumbled across the border from China into North Korea and were gaoled for 12 years. The reality is that no matter where you go there is some kind of danger lurking around the corner. The only thing we can do is be careful and still that's no guarantee that nothing will happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGDAN Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 Onya Dan. "I'm havin' a good time!" Seriously, there isn't a place on Earth where it's 100% safe. Unfortunately there are nutters everywhere most are infatuated by some weapon or another and feel compelled to use them. A bloke named Ivan Milat kidnapped and murdered foreign backpackers here in Oz some years ago about 3 hours from where I live. Then there are wild animals and sharks in the ocean and nature, tsunamis and earthquakes etc that can hit at any moment. Just a while ago two tourists stumbled across the border from China into North Korea and were gaoled for 12 years. The reality is that no matter where you go there is some kind of danger lurking around the corner. The only thing we can do is be careful and still that's no guarantee that nothing will happen. G'day Geggie29, You aint wrong there cobba, i think you just about agreed with everything i said without giving me any credit at all, a true Zeppelin fan if i ever saw one. Have a tinny mate. Do you know what the only "Bad thing about Australian's is? There aint enough of them over here, and thats a fact. Anyone who gets off on traveling to the Chineese-North Korean border deserves to be locked up for 20 years in a Mental Hospital, what were they thinking? Its just like a Cockney going to Scotland, dumb. The World will never be safe untill it only Speaks English, Drinks copious amounts of Beer and has outside BarBQs everywhere and follows the doctorine of Monty Python, "Noooo Bloddy Pooftas-now stop that, you cant say that on an open forum-unless no one is listening" Kind Regards, Danny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternal light Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 Hi All, All this fuss about being safe, look at it this way for a minuite, The "Land" is just like the "Ocean", where you have "People" that will do you harm on "Land" in the "Ocean" you have "Sharks". Now when you enter the "Ocean" you make sure there are no dangerous "Sharks" about, in other words you take precautions to be safe, if you know dangerous "Sharks" are about you keep away. The "Land" is no different, you must keep your wits about you, respect the people that tell you where too or not too go, use common sense if you have it, and remember that there are many places where you think you are safe but you are not. In any area, anywhere in the world, You can be safe some of the time. You can be safe none of the time. But you cannot be safe all of the time. Its a matter of being in the wrong place at either the right or wrong time, you just have to either "Know" "Smell" or "See" where Danger is and avoid it, never let your guard down, never walk the streets either Drunk or Drugged, look after yourself or fall pray to the "Sharks" The most dangerous time and place for you is where and when you feel the most safe, remember the film "The Warriors"? Regards, Danny Good point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternal light Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 Onya Dan. "I'm havin' a good time!" Seriously, there isn't a place on Earth where it's 100% safe. Unfortunately there are nutters everywhere most are infatuated by some weapon or another and feel compelled to use them. A bloke named Ivan Milat kidnapped and murdered foreign backpackers here in Oz some years ago about 3 hours from where I live. Then there are wild animals and sharks in the ocean and nature, tsunamis and earthquakes etc that can hit at any moment. Just a while ago two tourists stumbled across the border from China into North Korea and were gaoled for 12 years. The reality is that no matter where you go there is some kind of danger lurking around the corner. The only thing we can do is be careful and still that's no guarantee that nothing will happen. SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea convicted two American journalists and sentenced them Monday to 12 years of hard labor for crossing into its territory, intensifying the reclusive nation's confrontation with the United States. The Obama administration said it would pursue "all possible channels" to win the release of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, reporters for former Vice President Al Gore's San Francisco-based Current TV media venture. There are fears Pyongyang is using the women as bargaining chips as the U.N. debates a new resolution to punish the country for its defiant May 25 atomic test and as North Korea seeks to draw Washington into direct negotiations. Washington's former U.N. Ambassador Bill Richardson called the sentencing part of "a high-stakes poker game" being played by North Korea. He said on NBC's Today show that he thinks negotiations for their "humanitarian release" can begin now that the legal process has been completed. Other South Korean analysts also said they expect the two to be freed following negotiations. The journalists were found guilty of committing a "grave crime" against North Korea and of illegally entering the country, North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency said. North Korean guards arrested Ling and Lee near the China-North Korean border on March 17. The two were reporting about the trafficking of North Korean women at the time of their arrest, and it's unclear if they strayed into the North or were grabbed by aggressive border guards who crossed into China. A cameraman and their local guide escaped. The Central Court in Pyongyang sentenced each to 12 years of "reform through labor" in a North Korean prison after a five-day trial, KCNA said in a terse, two-line report that provided no further details. A Korean-language version said they were convicted of "hostility toward the Korean people." The ruling — nearly three months after their arrest on March 17 — comes amid soaring tensions fueled by North Korea's nuclear test last month and signs it is preparing for a long-range missile test. On Monday, North Korea warned fishing boats to stay away from the east coast, Japan's coast guard said, raising concerns more missile tests are being planned. news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090608/ap_on_re_as/as_nkorea_journalists_held_24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swede Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 You couldn't pay me to go to one of those country's. You leave the good old USA and you are no longer safe and you have no power. You cant carry a weapon to defend yourself. Fuck that. I would never go there. Or Mexico either. WTF? Do you know how many tourists that visit Thailand every year? Everyone I have spoken to say there are the most friendly people there. Good ole USA, yeah right, I wonder what the murder rates are there in compare to Thailand... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swede Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 Don't move about alone, especially at night, keep your hotel room door and windows locked at all times, and don't open the door to someone you don't know well. Use only licensed taxis and never allow the driver to pick up another passenger on the way. professionaltravelguide.com/Destinations/Thailand/Safety/Risk-Assessment/Crime Travel guide to L.A., Washington or what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternal light Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 Travel guide to L.A., Washington or what? Thailand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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