Is Thailand that scary?

[Salandrin]

My parents are dragging me to Thailand for ungodly reasons, and from what I've heard, the place is extremely frightening. Gangsters roam the streets, terror attacks, rapes, and poisonous air.

This is what people I know tell me, but if any of you have been there, can you confirm?

[Skez]

Are you serious? You don't have anything to worry about.

“The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.”

I recommend you go there with a positive attitude, especially against the locals and their customs. Just because you think something they do is weird don't look down on them, do it yourself and you will connect much better and get a really positive experience. Let your fear go.

[Deleted]

Just don't fall in love with a ladyboy.

[Kanx]

Don't forget about the Lady-boys and venomous animals!

Kidding, sorta :P

I know loads of people who've been there on holiday or for an extended amount of time travelling, and came back to say how they've had the time of their life. I know what you mean about some of the horror stories; but i think that all depends on what you do/where you go when you're there. Don't go down any dark alleys, and no matter how attractive a local 'woman' might look, they probably have/had a penis!

[Kalis]

My parents are dragging me to Thailand for ungodly reasons...

Out of curiosity; what are they intending to do to you when you get there?

[drwelfare]

You get a trip somewhere different, really how bad can it be? Most places have their bad parts, just dont go into those.

[obdigore]

I would imagine it depends entirely on where in Thailand you go. For instance in NY, Philly, and Chicago (three large cities I have experience with) there are huge swaths of the city where you needn't fear muggings and killings. Then there are places you do.

[Windfury]

Thailand is great and Bangkok is a wonderful city, I can wander around it forever happily (and have never felt unsafe doing so on my own). I make it a point to stopover there whenever I'm flying elsewhere. While you're in the area see if you can talk them into Cambodia as well, it's very close and pretty amazing.

[Deleted]

what, thailand is awesome

just make sure you dont get fooled by the lady boys though

[Salandrin]

what, thailand is awesome

just make sure you dont get fooled by the lady boys though

Is that another way to describe a rapist?

[obdigore]

Is that another way to describe a rapist?

What? No its nearly a third gender in Thai Culture.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathoey

[Radio]

Is that another way to describe a rapist?

A ladyboy is a transexual, a man who either became a woman or has disguised themselves as a woman, fairly common over there. Generally your experiences with them will be consensual but heaps of people with beer goggles end up consenting to something they don't usually want to consent to.

[Zogarth]

Yes it is! You will get raped and shot, and forced to hire a hooker the second you go out of the airport!

... Seriously it is not that bad. And chances are that you will live in a very tourist friendly area.

[Salandrin]

A ladyboy is a transexual, a man who either became a woman or has disguised themselves as a woman, fairly common over there. Generally your experiences with them will be consensual but heaps of people with beer goggles end up consenting to something they don't usually want to consent to.

That is horrible

[Exorbitance]

Is that another way to describe a rapist?

Lady boy=chicks with dicks.
Nothing to fear in there except traffic. Treat ppl nice and they return the favor. I walked in Bangkok middle of the night alone even in more shady streets and never had a problem. You only get in trouble if you try to find some.

[Jiigeri]

Don't move around alone too much, keep your belongings safe (avoid keeping your wallet in a open pocket for example), hide your passport, stick to populated areas but avoid places with too much crowd. Don't let your eyes off of your drinks at any given time etc. DO NOT get involved in drugs. Police tends to be quite corrupt in Thailand, for example you might buy a bit of pot from someone who immediately after gives you over to a bribed officer. Getting drugged in a club isn't too rare either and it happens just as much to men as it does for women, main purpose seems to be easy robbery. As anywhere else, you don't want to carry / show off too much cash either, that's usually just going to get you in trouble.

I suggest you to search for an travellers guide to Thailand and find out the best tips for your destination.

Travelling in any foreign country can be risky if you don't use your common sense!

[Deleted]

dude get out of the preconception zone. Thailand is awesome, and if you know how to you can have the time of your life there. Granted, going with the parents isnt an amazing start but it can work. I cant wait to get back there, PATTAYAAAA !!!

[Tsuna]

Is that another way to describe a rapist?

Oh my god I think I may have ruptured something from laughing so hard.

In all seriousness though Thailand is not some kind of horrific den of evil, it's just somewhere you've never been to before. Exercise good judgement, don't eat things just "because they're there", and if you're on some kind of tour group remember there's almost always more safety in a group.

[Salandrin]

Don't move around alone too much, keep your belongings safe (avoid keeping your wallet in a open pocket for example), hide your passport, stick to populated areas but avoid places with too much crowd. Don't let your eyes off of your drinks at any given time etc. DO NOT get involved in drugs. Police tends to be quite corrupt in Thailand, for example you might buy a bit of pot from someone who immediately after gives you over to a bribed officer. Getting drugged in a club isn't too rare either and it happens just as much to men as it does for women, main purpose seems to be easy robbery. As anywhere else, you don't want to carry / show off too much cash either, that's usually just going to get you in trouble.

I suggest you to search for an travellers guide to Thailand and find out the best tips for your destination.

Travelling in any foreign country can be risky if you don't use your common sense!

Reading this, I doubt I will survive. I hope you guys will remember me.

[Deleted]

Most important thing is you cannot under any circumbstance drink their water, unless it's bottled.

When I was there like 5 years ago, I had a sallad, and noticed like 2 drops of water on it. I figured 2 drops couldn't harm, but I was stupid.

Later that day I puked and shat at the same time for 2 hours straight in the shower.