i felt unsafe driving there,

and i felt unsafe about STD, i didnt want sex if not in a long term relationship, so initiating a relation was almost a non starter

2 hours ago, bwanajohn said:

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.

 

 

I met quite a few of the dc3 guys who flew to Mexico once and awhile and a few of the DEA guys who was skydiving. They knew how to party. Never seen so much weed and coke on a table before, and acid punch. 

 

Two of them ended up behind bars, and a few others died in mysterious ways. I used to live on a few of Drop Zones back then. 

On 11/19/2025 at 8:52 AM, PJ71 said:

Are you Jason Bourne?

....or Jackie Chan🤣🤣🤣

 

 

Only a couple of times.......both due to potentially violent Brits sad to say.

On 11/19/2025 at 6:10 AM, georgegeorgia said:

There are several times I have felt unsafe in Thailand and even been nearly physically attacked 

 

But I must ask you guys especially you guys with families, are you cautious to take your family to crowded events say events in the isaan region if you live up that way because of drunken violence or you expats that live on Pattaya are you ok to go to the crowded fireworks festival with your family 

 

Are you cautious anywhere in Thailand regarding safety 

 

Have you ever been attacked in Thailand 

What about these morlam concerts in villages are they saw to go to on a weekend night ?

My biggest fear is being hit by a car or motor scooters, they mostly never stop for you and the scooters drive so close to you when you are walking on pathway or even a sol, one time I hit one with my cane and the bike went down and I was ready to fight the SOB, but he jumped up and rode out so fast we didn’t even have words. In our condo garage I have been almost hit by cars driving to fast. One time a taxi driver swiped my arm driving so fast in our condo parking lot that I kicked his door and put a sizable dent, he said he was sorry. But in Thailand the word Sorry is the most used word.

On 11/19/2025 at 8:46 AM, Hummin said:

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

Up in the hills around CM, many pit vipers, and they expect walkers to avoid them. They'll be sitting on the trail and strike at you as you walk past, I've had many narrow escapes. Here's one I didn't step on ... ..

 

And another in the brush I walked past ......

3 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Up in the hills around CM, many pit vipers, and they expect walkers to avoid them. They'll be sitting on the trail and strike at you as you walk past, I've had many narrow escapes. Here's one I didn't step on ... ..

 

And another in the brush I walked past ......

So-called land mines. Need proper shoes/boots out in the grass and jungle, and see where you put your fingers, and also where you pass branches. They can strike from ground to air 😉

Lived in Thailand for 20 years, only one incident, in 2007.  

As I walked home (sober) down (ill-lit) Soi Somkit in Bangkok at about 23.30hrs, a man jumped out from behind one of the large trees on the klong side of the road.  Metal rod in his hand, he aimed for my head.  Some martial arts training from decades earlier was triggered. and I was able to divert his arm with the weapon and kick his legs away. 

Then proceeded to run the short distance home.

Lucky me!

Nope,  but I am in bed by  9:00 PM

 

Trouble usually starts early hours of the morning anywhere in the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, and I've lived here for over 20 years - in Bangkok, Koh Samui, and now in the mountains near the city of Phetchabun.

18 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Grievous bodily harm.

There is no 250K fine and 3 years of house arrest for that.

Constantly from stray dogs but never from humans. Was bitten nearly two weeks ago and have a nice deep puncture wound on my shin.

 

I am even more wary/fearful than I was before.

No.

I never feel safe anywhere. The world has gone mad, and one should be on guard anywhere you go. I avoid large crowds, and when I walk through a sidewalk market or the occasional festival, I carry a cane to use as a weapon if needed. I am always somewhat fearful when driving because you never know when some nutjob is going to be offended if I give a short beep of the horn when I feel like his car is coming into my lane and he doesn't notice me. Never take it for granted that you are safe in Thailand, or anywhere else for that matter. 

Only by Thai drivers when I'm driving...

4 minutes ago, fittobethaied said:

I never feel safe anywhere. The world has gone mad, and one should be on guard anywhere you go. I avoid large crowds, and when I walk through a sidewalk market or the occasional festival, I carry a cane to use as a weapon if needed. I am always somewhat fearful when driving because you never know when some nutjob is going to be offended if I give a short beep of the horn when I feel like his car is coming into my lane and he doesn't notice me. Never take it for granted that you are safe in Thailand, or anywhere else for that matter. 

 

Never feel unsafe anywhere - yet carry a cane to use as a weapon ??

 

There's some nutjob's around alright !!!... 

 

 

The 'papping' the horn is a valid point - though, the short 'warning' pap is commonly accepted without issue - its the aggressive blast that triggers the 'unhinged mental male' we've seen on so many video-clips... 

 

 

4 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Never feel unsafe anywhere - yet carry a cane to use as a weapon ??

Oh don't be judgemental Dick..but your right ...he should be carrying a handbag just like me & you !

Luv ya Dickie ...luv ya posts darl 

On 11/23/2025 at 1:02 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

Never feel unsafe anywhere - yet carry a cane to use as a weapon ??

 

There's some nutjob's around alright !!!... 

 

 

The 'papping' the horn is a valid point - though, the short 'warning' pap is commonly accepted without issue - its the aggressive blast that triggers the 'unhinged mental male' we've seen on so many video-clips... 

 

 

 

I think you missed the point Sir Richard! I feel unsafe here and in the likelihood that I were attacked, I would have my cane with me to protect myself, so it's a weapon with which I could fight back. I also think that an assailant would be less likely to randomly attack anyone who is carrying something with which he could fight back and really hurt the attacker. You're talking with a guy who once walked out of a bar in the red-light district of Taipei and was the victim of an unprovoked attack by two men with cane poles. They both beat me in the back of my head and left me for dead in a pool of blood. Were it not for a kind bar manager who called an ambulance, I wouldn't be writing to you just now.  Your apology is already accepted!

On 11/23/2025 at 12:56 PM, fittobethaied said:

I never feel safe anywhere. The world has gone mad, and one should be on guard anywhere you go. I avoid large crowds, and when I walk through a sidewalk market or the occasional festival, I carry a cane to use as a weapon if needed. I am always somewhat fearful when driving because you never know when some nutjob is going to be offended if I give a short beep of the horn when I feel like his car is coming into my lane and he doesn't notice me. Never take it for granted that you are safe in Thailand, or anywhere else for that matter. 

 

You can seek help for your anxiety. Mental health is problematic, and for some the hardest part is to admit they have problems in the first place. 

 

It can improve your life quality 

On 11/19/2025 at 6:10 AM, georgegeorgia said:

There are several times I have felt unsafe in Thailand and even been nearly physically attacked 

 

But I must ask you guys especially you guys with families, are you cautious to take your family to crowded events say events in the isaan region if you live up that way because of drunken violence or you expats that live on Pattaya are you ok to go to the crowded fireworks festival with your family 

 

Are you cautious anywhere in Thailand regarding safety 

 

Have you ever been attacked in Thailand 

What about these morlam concerts in villages are they saw to go to on a weekend night ?