Listen To Your Spidey Senses When Traveling
First and foremost I want to make sure that people understand that in general most countries are safe and people are extremely friendly, welcoming, nice and caring. That saying about “the kindness of strangers” is so true when traveling and I’ve experienced it numerous of times and I can’t say enough about how lucky I was to have those strangers help me. However you can be in the safest country in the world and danger can find you. Being a solo traveler, tourist, caucasian, or female certainly makes you a target for scams and possible danger when traveling in many countries.
I don’t know anyone that has done extensive travel and not had something happen to them. Travel dangers come in all shapes and sizes. One country may be war-torn and full of desperate outlaws and pirates. Another may be known for it’s theft and street violence. They’re could be religious uprisings. Some dangers are indigenous in the land itself, with wildlife, terrain and even weather conditions that could prove hazardous. The problem is that some places are still worth visiting despite these dangers.Traveling is the most incredible experience for all the joyous and beautiful things you see and do as well the wonderful people you meet. However there is always times when you travel where things don’t go right but that also leads to learning experiences that later help you grow as an individual and provides great stories for your friends. In all my years of traveling I’ve had numerous things happen to me….my passport has been stolen, had a few motorbike accidents, been arrested by corrupt police officers, been fake arrested by fake police officers, been forced to hand over money in some sort of scam but what I’ve realized throughout all these incidences that my “spidey senses were tingling” and I didn’t listen to them!
For those that don’t know what I mean when I say “spidey senses” here’s the urban dictionary definition. Derived from the “Spidey sense” of the comic book superhero Spiderman, it is generally used to mean a vague but strong sense of something being wrong, dangerous or suspicious. So another example of your spidey senses tingling when overseas is when your in Bangkok, Thailand having a good night drinking with your friends and a bunch of thai girls sit down and start chatting you up. Well if something seems off then it probably is and it’s probably a good bet you’re not sitting with a girl.
I’ve discovered in life if you listen and trust your instincts you will never go wrong. Your instincts are always right!
Things you have to consider when traveling overseas and some seem obvious but if something seems to good to be true then it probably is! Try to keep some of your wits and not pound too many buckets or drink too much alcohol as most times you’ll find trouble will follow you. Try to always walk with someone or in a group at night and in well lit areas. Always read your Lonely Planet for dangers and annoyances in the city or country you’re traveling in. There is a reason they’ve printed those dangers as way too many tourists have unfortunately been hurt, had things stolen, been arrested or gotten themselves into trouble.
When I travel and in life I always look for the best in everyone and trust everyone until they give me reason not to. So indoubtedly give most people the benefit of their kindness and curiousity towards you as they are just being friendly but always listen to your spidey senses when they start tingling! Your instinct is the only thing that you should always trust as it will never lead you down the wrong path.
