Traveller'S Travails

[ravip]

Today, more than ever before people are travelling extensively around the globe. It maybe for business or pleasure, but there is no doubt about it by looking at the busy airports, ports and roads.

I guess, the more a person travel the more risks he is exposed to - does not matter where he travels. It is only the magnitude of the risk that would differ according to his location.

But then, would one location offer the same magnitude of risk to every traveller? I guess not. It will once again depend on each individual isn't it? Sometimes I feel we 'target' or accuse certain areas of the globe been more riskier than others unfairly. Could it be that an individual himself 'attracts' more risks to him/herself?

Reading this article made me decide to write this post.

What is your opinion? Especially, that of the seasoned traveller.

(Mods; I hope this post is under the correct topic)

[isanbirder]

Painful Peregrinations? I'm currently reading a book called The True Journall..... of Rare Adventures and Painfull Peregrinations.... of William Lithgow, the missing bits being the usual 17th century verbiage. When he reached Venice, he just missed seeing a salacious friar burned at the stake "half the body fell off as I arrived", and later on was tortured by the Inquisition. Gripping stuff! Unfortunately the text I have been able to access is not very easy reading. It all makes modern traveller's tales look rather insipid.

[StreetCowboy]

Painful Peregrinations? I'm currently reading a book called The True Journall..... of Rare Adventures and Painfull Peregrinations.... of William Lithgow, the missing bits being the usual 17th century verbiage. When he reached Venice, he just missed seeing a salacious friar burned at the stake "half the body fell off as I arrived", and later on was tortured by the Inquisition. Gripping stuff! Unfortunately the text I have been able to access is not very easy reading. It all makes modern traveller's tales look rather insipid.

I file anything with the word 'True' in the title up there with the Adventures of Baron Munchausen

SC

[Rsquared]

Ravip........all I can say is that experience is the most valuable lesson you will acquire during your travels.

Sure, tourist guide books and websites pointing out the traps are a great warning. Heed their advice, but don't let it stop your yearning for adventure.........keep your eyes open and trust no-one.....but have fun.

I have been to places that the average person has never heard about, let alone been there.......and I just kept my wits about me, but still had fun.

You only live once........enjoy.

[draftvader]

I have travelled extensively all over the world and have learned some HARD lessons. I don't care how savvy a person is there is ALWAYS the first time you experience a rip-off or scam. You might spot 99% of them if you are savvy, but there is 1 in 100 that WILL get you.

Travelling is no different to life. You MUST learn from your mistakes.

I had travelled extensively on business in my previous life, but this doesn't prepare you for leaving your country with the bag on your back, your passport and money. We arrived in Moscow and had to cross the city to get to our chosen accommodation (something else you learn not to do too much, chosing accommodation seeing it first). We hailed a taxi, threw the bags in the boot and jumped in. Before we know it we are being charged £20 for a 5 minute journey. From that point on we ALWAYS had the conversation before we put a single foot or bag in the taxi. If there was ANY vagarity, mumbling or otherwise we would close the door and move on to the next taxi.

This is just an example of how you must learn from your mistake the first time.

As far as the article is concerned I can find 1,000s of articles across the internet on people being ripped off in their own homes by smiling salesmen, construction workers, charity workers, etc, etc. Most people reply to the 419s in their own home after all.

We got into a tight situation in Sao Paulo where we got out of a mugging (we literally had NO money). When I was 16 I was mugged, at knifepoint (the guy tried to stab me), about 5 miles from my home town on the outskirts of London (he served 8 years for it). I wrote off my car in a 70mph collision with a tree on my way to work one day. Things happen in normal life that put you at risk.

Basically, why not be scammed and put your life at risk whilst seeing the planet. This is it people, not the dress rehearsal, this is LIFE!

[isanbirder]

Painful Peregrinations? I'm currently reading a book called The True Journall..... of Rare Adventures and Painfull Peregrinations.... of William Lithgow, the missing bits being the usual 17th century verbiage. When he reached Venice, he just missed seeing a salacious friar burned at the stake "half the body fell off as I arrived", and later on was tortured by the Inquisition. Gripping stuff! Unfortunately the text I have been able to access is not very easy reading. It all makes modern traveller's tales look rather insipid.

I file anything with the word 'True' in the title up there with the Adventures of Baron Munchausen

SC

You may well be right, SC. Lithgow was a puritanical Scotsman of the early 1600s, who spent 19 years travelling independently throughout the Eastern Mediterranean... a sort of early backpacker. Great fun, but is it true?

[StreetCowboy]

Painful Peregrinations? I'm currently reading a book called The True Journall..... of Rare Adventures and Painfull Peregrinations.... of William Lithgow, the missing bits being the usual 17th century verbiage. When he reached Venice, he just missed seeing a salacious friar burned at the stake "half the body fell off as I arrived", and later on was tortured by the Inquisition. Gripping stuff! Unfortunately the text I have been able to access is not very easy reading. It all makes modern traveller's tales look rather insipid.

I file anything with the word 'True' in the title up there with the Adventures of Baron Munchausen

SC

You may well be right, SC. Lithgow was a puritanical Scotsman of the early 1600s, who spent 19 years travelling independently throughout the Eastern Mediterranean... a sort of early backpacker. Great fun, but is it true?

A man very much like myself, indeed, and, like my own stories, I am sure they are all well-founded on a solid basis of fact. A wise man build his house upon the rock, and then adds the overarching and ambitious spires and porticos and gazebos, and ornate gilding on robust foundations. But don't take my word for it, ask David48... ask him if he has ever said to me in private correspondence words to the effect of - "I did not know such places existed".

SC