3 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

are you ex special forces? ( or indeed, still active? )

If he told you, he'd have to kill you!

14 minutes ago, Stocky said:

If he told you, he'd have to kill you!

I wonder what his weapon of choice would be, maybe a pencil, dead fish?

6 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

I wonder what his weapon of choice would be, maybe a pencil, dead fish?

Well, it won't be his yellow book, he will keep that safe.................😉

3 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

are you ex special forces? ( or indeed, still active? )

No - but I played competitive / tournament sports until 70.....

It was just a quick move....

I crossed a street at the corner....On the other side was a large advertising sign blocking off vision like a tunnel.....2 men were sitting at the curb I had to walk between them.... Another jumped ahead of me walking slowly and glanced back at the two guys at the curb who fell in behind me each with one hand in a pocket.....When we reached the most obscured area the guy in front of me stopped putting his arms out to block/stop me while the others closed in.....To my right was a retaining wall at about a 45' angle....I jumped around his extended arm & used the wall to bounce around him....When I was back in daylight I turned to see the 3 talking and looking at me....I smiled at them and kept walking.....If he had bumped back at  me to physically stop me he was going down, but that wasn't needed..... I'm a fairly big guy , so the agility probably surprised them......

I was already alert because someone had just tried to pick pocket me....

This was in Bacolad PI....

20 minutes ago, pgrahmm said:

No - but I played competitive / tournament sports until 70.....

It was just a quick move....

I crossed a street at the corner....On the other side was a large advertising sign blocking off vision like a tunnel.....2 men were sitting at the curb I had to walk between them.... Another jumped ahead of me walking slowly and glanced back at the two guys at the curb who fell in behind me each with one hand in a pocket.....When we reached the most obscured area the guy in front of me stopped putting his arms out to block/stop me while the others closed in.....To my right was a retaining wall at about a 45' angle....I jumped around his extended arm & used the wall to bounce around him....When I was back in daylight I turned to see the 3 talking and looking at me....I smiled at them and kept walking.....If he had bumped back at  me to physically stop me he was going down, but that wasn't needed..... I'm a fairly big guy , so the agility probably surprised them......

I was already alert because someone had just tried to pick pocket me....

This was in Bacolad PI....

the details of your recollection are outstanding, are you sure you're not Jason Bourne?

8 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

the details of your recollection are outstanding, are you sure you're not Jason Bourne?

Jason had no recall ...

1 hour ago, transam said:

Well, it won't be his yellow book, he will keep that safe.................😉

ok tranny, if you say so

Only when i inadvertently walked down Pattaya Soi 6/1 Ladyboy soi and muscular ones 

have had handguns pointed at me a few times (Thai don't do rage road too good) but other than that.. sweet as.

7 hours ago, Hummin said:

except attempted robbed in Cambodia and

Omg what happened 

5 hours ago, novacova said:

Yes, walk quite a bit in the boonies with eyes peeled, a big stick, deet and h1/h2 inhibitors among terrifying hornets, snakes & skeeters.

Up until now, only been attacked by skeeters and threatened by a couple snakes that are dead now.

No, not safe. It’s hazardous to the ears unless you’re equipped with earplugs.

I found the worst thing about isaan was the dogs in the street 

A few years ago I was in a village called Wan Non .....I decided to walk around the local cemetery to have a pack of wild dogs confront me 

Luckily a monk saved me 

 

 

56 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

Omg what happened 

Jumped in a local taxi heading for what Angkor wat, and after awhile he stops and two more come along and they tried to rob me, I stood my ground and told the driver to drive me back. And after awhile he did. That’s the first time in life I felt I lost it completely. Panic attack and no idea how long we had the stand off. 

 

In Brazil three guys come for me from front, side and back, but I turned my back to the wall, and lifted my arms, and smiled to each and one of them while smiling. They looked at each other and took off. Those two situations was two completely different experiences, where the first one was a complete inner break down, but managed to keep cool outside, and the second one, just accepted this is going down, 

Yes Cambodia can be lawless 

I remember African guys there in Phomn Penh walking at night too 

Oh don't be racist !!

Groups of dogs scare me. Maybe harmless but a friend was attacked leading to severe injury. 

Have been here 20 years and have never felt unsafe or threatened 

Never felt unsafe in Thailand 

Gave up visiting bars clubs years ago 

Okay visiting the local resteraunt on a Saturday night with family 

Enjoy a couple of beers plus good Thai food the staff very friendly 😋 

Never, but I'm a non drinker and don't frequent any bars, also I am never out after 11pm.

Safety, with or without family in tow can be evaulated from two perspectives: 

 

1) Risk of confrontational aggression / violence.

2) Risk of unsafe events.

 

Number 1 is not a factor at all - I've never felt unsafe or at risk of confrontational violence in Thailand because its easy to see situations escalate and evolved - its easy to extracate ourselves from those situations. 

 

Number 2 is a massive issue - taking a toddler for a walk down any city or town pavement places a parent on an extreme level of alert not experienced in developed nations - from risk of boiling fat, dogs, motorcycles, holes in drains, leaking electricity, falling objects, and thats before dangerous drivers are thrown into the mix.

 

 

On 11/19/2025 at 8:01 AM, Hummin said:

 

Driving motorcycles around Thailand for years, there is not one day, that I could had an accident if I didn’t pay attention or knew the pattern of most common drivers around Thailand. Especially truck drivers who just comes out at the same time they hit their turn signal, or steep hills where cars passing each other in both directions no matter there is a 90 curve or more with no sight at all. Red lights traffic from behind and also crossing at green light. Last but not least cars, trucks and motorbikes deciding for taking a U-turn in last minute crossing over to your lane

Did batter a guy and knocked him of his bike when I was much younger when he refused to stop on a green pedestrian light and there were children crossing the road. But that was in the UK. I would never do that in Thailand.

On 11/19/2025 at 4:52 AM, PJ71 said:

On 11/19/2025 at 4:11 AM, pgrahmm said:

 

Had 3 guys try to triangle me in a shaded area in PI

Are you Jason Bourne?

 

Sounds more like Bonnie Blue !

On 11/19/2025 at 10:55 AM, Hummin said:

Jumped in a local taxi heading for what Angkor wat, and after awhile he stops and two more come along and they tried to rob me, I stood my ground and told the driver to drive me back. And after awhile he did. That’s the first time in life I felt I lost it completely. Panic attack and no idea how long we had the stand off. 

 

In Brazil three guys come for me from front, side and back, but I turned my back to the wall, and lifted my arms, and smiled to each and one of them while smiling. They looked at each other and took off. Those two situations was two completely different experiences, where the first one was a complete inner break down, but managed to keep cool outside, and the second one, just accepted this is going down, 

 

Brazil is a different 'mode' all together.

 

Uni mates went off to Brazil with work, at the same time, the same company send me over to Asia.

 

When we caught up again the differences were stark. 

 

When they went out at night - they took of all jewelry (rings watches), dressed down, trainers jeans, t-shirt.

Took with them, only the cash they thought they needed for that night - regularly got robbed on the way home for whatever change they had remaining - not a violent confrontation - just stopped at knife point and told to empty pockets.

 

The contradiction in Thailand is that none of that entered our thought process - we could wear what we wanted and know we'd get home safety without any concern - the motorcycle taxi - lads would drop us off... (that was outside of BKK) - In BKK it was the same - no issues, just go out and enjoy ourselves - the only trouble that 'can be' found is for the few who decide to act like a tool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Brazil is a different 'mode' all together.

 

Uni mates went off to Brazil with work, at the same time, the same company send me over to Asia.

 

When we caught up again the differences were stark. 

 

When they went out at night - they took of all jewelry (rings watches), dressed down, trainers jeans, t-shirt.

Took with them, only the cash they thought they needed for that night - regularly got robbed on the way home for whatever change they had remaining - not a violent confrontation - just stopped at knife point and told to empty pockets.

 

The contradiction in Thailand is that none of that entered our thought process - we could wear what we wanted and know we'd get home safety without any concern - the motorcycle taxi - lads would drop us off... (that was outside of BKK) - In BKK it was the same - no issues, just go out and enjoy ourselves - the only trouble that 'can be' found is for the few who decide to act like a tool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agree, and in Brazil you could not leave your phone on the table anywhere. Guaranteed stolen

1 minute ago, Hummin said:

 

Agree, and in Brazil you could not leave your phone on the table anywhere. Guaranteed stolen

 

Not to forget the police violence I witnessed almost everytime I walked out the doors, even in so-called safe streets/blocks 

 

Never seen police violence in Thailand, but almost every other country I have visited. Even in Malaysia witnessed a motorbike robbery, but no police violence there, or in China either, and Police was great in Dubai. 

 

Spain, USA and Brazil, different. Nordic countries occasionally 

Every Wednesday driving to Makro on Sukhumvit three lane race track, motorway speed, bumper to bumper...   

Never felt unsafe with 55 years of being in and out of Thailand including 16 years in a row.  In Thailand now.

I've been here for 40 years.Have had 3 incidences of violence,none specifically directed at me.The first was in a upstairs bar in Patpong .Husband or boyfriend of one the ladies working there was beating on the woman.

I interfered and manage to redirect his anger and him towards the door and he went flying out and down the stairs.Immediately surrounded by worried staff who give me VIP membership card and basically told me I was and idiot and to be very careful when I left in case he was waiting for me armed with a knife or worse.

 2nd time was in Chiang Mai ,we we were stopped on a small road off loading Thai friends in front of their house .Beside the house was narrow lane running beside their house perpendicular to the road where were on.From behind,out of nowhere a Motorbike came screaming down the road swerved out and around our car and turned down the lane,immediately behind it was a car in hot pursuit.The car slammed on the brakes as they came around our vehicle ,two Thai guys leaped out and started shooting over our cars hood at the fleeing motorcycle.3 or 4 shots as the motorcycle was disappearing and then back in their car and gone.

The whole episode over in about 10 seconds and we were  left staring at each other going what **"* just happened.

The last one was in a bar in Chiang Mai

when two out of control American DEA guys decided they wanted my wife and I's  seats.Pulled my pony tail and started up the usual macho bull <deleted>.My wife managed to calm me and them down and we left .A couple days later my wife who left the bar last as we  filed out told me one of the guys give her a light slap on the face as she glared at them when we left.Wife is a clever women and knew the best thing was to not bring it to my attention.One of them was a  big guy.

  A few days later the two DEA guys got in another more serious altercation at the bar beer centre boxing place.And ultimately were removed from the country by the US consulate people.

Apparently they were posted to Thailand because of bad behaviour in Columbia.I know this cuz an American friend was one of the people involved at the boxing place and ended up having a representative from the consulate come to his house to apologize and try to smooth things over.

 

On 11/19/2025 at 6:54 AM, BritManToo said:

cost him 250,000bht and 3 years house arrest.

Doubt that.

Which law has that punishment?

I've felt unsafe in my Nordic home country, but never in Thailand. I frequemtly attend night clubs, beach parties and lerger concerts venues; I  never had any issues, Thais are in general (very) polite if one self can smile and also be polite...

On 11/19/2025 at 12:46 PM, Hummin said:

So how did these terrible snakes threatened you ? And what kind of snakes was it? 

Probablly a ladyboys Trouser snake.

2 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

Doubt that.

Which law has that punishment?

Grievous bodily harm.