Safety First; Is Asia Safe?

When we think of Asia often we conjure up images of white sand beaches, clear blue water and idyllic islands. However for a lot of nervous first time travellers and their even more terrified parents, Asia can also be perceived as a dangerous and daunting place but I’m here to assure you how safe it is in reality, what to look out for to avoid any danger and some quick tips to stay safe.

Scams:

The people of Asia have to be some of the most incredibly welcoming and honest people I’ve ever met and by no means do I want to paint them all with the same brush but unfortunately there are those rare few with poor intentions. Where you’ll find a degree of poverty in the world and a high concentrate of tourists, you’ll find scams. They tend to be widespread in Asia whether its locals in Bali demanding extortionate prices to enter a waterfall, scooter rental companies demanding money for ‘repairs’ or people in the Philippines asking for money after helping you with your bags or giving you directions, its unfortunately seen across Asia (and the rest of the world) but they’re also easily avoided by educating yourself on what to look out for in each country.

Bike scam: One scam I’ve seen across Asia is motorbike rentals (sometimes in cahoots with the police) claiming tourists have damaged or broken a bike and demanding huge money for repairs, often they withhold your passport as a way to secure the money. To avoid this no matter what take clear and detailed photos of the bike before you take it, to show every dent or scratch previously on the bike. Also try find a trusted rental company, a quick read of Tripadvisor reviews could steer you off somewhere with a bad track record and whatever you do, don’t fucking crash…

Tour Guide Scam: This is one I encountered in the Philippines, often at waterfalls and tourist attractions you’ll find local ‘guides’ eager to tell you about the attraction or watch your stuff for you OR simply just walk you a few meters down to the attraction, after which they look for a ‘tip’. In most cases we enjoyed having a guide as they were funny, informative and honest but there were cases where it became annoying as we simply didn’t need a guide and felt paying a tip was a scam. To avoid this just firmly and politely say no to a guide or if a stranger offers to help you with your bags. Often they’ll move on once you say no but it’s also worth remembering a small bit of money could mean a lot to them so try not to get too annoyed.

'Its Closed' Scam: Another small scam tourists can fall prey to, is a local telling you that an attraction (or even your hotel) has closed and suggested instead to go to a different place run by their friend or family (no mention of the commission they make off the people they bring). I experienced this in Bali, when trying to visit a temple a ‘helpful’ local informed us it was closed and he’d bring us to something else, despite us actually being outside of the temple and it clearly being open *eye roll*. To avoid this just use your common sense, although often things CAN close for various reasons, if you’re unsure if someone is being honest just go check for yourself first, otherwise you might end up at a remote plantation having tea with some local’s granny.. HA!

Border Crossing Scams: A very frustrating and very real scams are the ones you can encounter while trying to cross borders by land, particularly the one from Thailand to Cambodia, which is infamous for being a never ending sweaty journey of people trying to rip you off. I should know as when I did the border crossing we not only stopped every half an hour to ‘refuel’ (i.e spend our money in the designated shops) but once we actually had to wake the driver up from his three hour power nap! Other scams along the way to watch out for is being told the visa has gone up in price (scam), there are no ATMS in Cambodia so you must transfer money at the station they bring you to (scam scam) and also the journey from the border to Siem reap will take a minimum of five hours UNLESS you take a fast private car they will offer you at the border (scam scam scam.. you’ll be in Siem reap regardless In under two hours) To avoid this whole ordeal just be so careful what method you use to get across, the easiest way is to fly but if you must go by land pay a little more and try to get a government run bus to avoid the scam ordeal or any company with a trusted track record. Don’t just go for the cheapest option, believe me when you’re sat in your own personal pool of ass sweat in a mini van so over packed you don’t know who’s leg you’re touching, that “you get what you pay for”.

Taxi Scams: Taxi’s are totally unregulated in much of Asia so its common place for taxi’s to completely overcharge tourists, especially in Bali! It can be hard to avoid at times when you need to get somewhere fast but always ask them to turn on the meter, if they refuse try another car or failing that agree to a price before leaving.

Drugs and Drink Spiking

Another threat that people worry about in Asia are situations involving drugs, there have been some shocking reports of tourists getting into trouble with drugs particularly in Thailand, around the full moon parties. Let’s face facts, drugs are everywhere in the world and if someone wants to find them, there will always be someone willing to sell them; this is no exception in Asia. Far from the images of ‘Banged Up Abroad’ you’ll openly see psychedelic things advertised from happy pizzas in Cambodia to mushroom shakes in Thailand, where it gets REALLY scary is carefree backpackers buying something thinking it’s one thing and it turns out to be something much much worse. This can all be avoided by staying well clear of any sort of drug or potentially dodgy situation. Drug laws are particularly strict in Asia so save your poor mum the heartbreak and say no to drugs!

One situation that can be harder to avoid is the terrifying prospect of drink spiking, its seen throughout the world of course, but in Asia I’ve heard reports of it happening mainly in the Philippines and Thailand, which is where it actually happened to me, despite being so careful! but sometimes the effects of alcohol can lower your sense of caution and it can end up being your downfall. I always encourage backpackers at the full moon to check the seal of the bottles they pour into the buckets to make sure they haven’t been tampered with and NEVER leave your drink unattended. Sometimes you can just be horrendously unlucky so it’s always important to remain with your friends on nights out and don’t wander off alone especially if you think you may have been spiked. Get the hell out of wherever you are and seek medical help.

Petty theft/ Pickpocketing:

Probably the most prevalent threat to travellers is the risk of having some of your stuff robbed! Happened to me and it happened to me in a spectacularly horrendous fashion where I was mugged in Vietnam, for my phone I had bought only twelve hours before. It was a hard lesson to learn but ultimately I made the mistake of talking on the phone while walking alone and became an easy target. Muggings like that are thankfully rare, but it’s always worth keeping your valuables well hidden especially in cities and on buses and trains.

Civil unrest/ Terrorism:

Without a doubt the biggest safety risk for any traveller is the terrifying presence of terrorism. I don’t believe in fear mongering but I do believe in being a responsible traveller and educating yourself on the situation before you go, areas in the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia have experienced terrorism treats so I always research thoroughly before I plan my trip itinerary but listen to me when I say DON’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ ONLINE, even government warnings, I don’t mean to ignore them completely but take them with a pinch of salt. They often make out a place is so dangerous you’ll be kidnapped as soon as you step off a plane and that just simply isn’t true. I’ve gone to ‘dangerous’ areas and found them to be incredibly safe, with some of the most warm and welcoming people I’ve ever met. However, always protect yourself and monitor both news reports and backpacker forums, which I believe to be the best source for accurate up-to-date information from people on the ground.

This same information must also be applied to any civil unrest a country may be experiencing, military coups are quite common in Asia and it’s important to know how it may affect you. Stay clear of any large political gatherings or protests and just be aware when any voting or election days are taking place where tensions might be high.

Additional safety tips:

• Buy a local sim card with data so you can remain contactable and also have quick access to the internet if needed.

• Sign up to a travel card so you can get access to money safely and securely.

• Avoiding walking alone at night if you’re unfamiliar with the location.

• Watch the quantity of alcohol you drink. (easier said than done haha)

• Avoid walking around with expensive jewellery, cameras or phones on show. Be discrete and keep your bag to the front of you and never leave valuables in your pockets.

• Listen to locals, most are honest and only want to help you. If a local advises not to go to a certain area or warns you about a potential dangerous situation, trust them! They know much more than you so their advice is valuable.

Despite all of my warnings, my main message is Asia is incredibly safe. As a young female solo backpacker who travelled throughout Asia, I have always felt safe, even despite a few unlucky situations.Whether it was being the only foreigner in a bus station with thousands of people in Myanmar or climbing temples alone before sunrise in Cambodia, I’ve never felt in danger and I've always trusted my gut. It’s the most important thing you’ll have while travelling, trust it no matter what and if something doesn’t feel right, get out of there. Be smart, stay informed and enjoy the adventure of a lifetime without worrying too much.