Personal Safety

[joe552]

I must say I have always felt much safer wandering around Pattaya after a few drinks (ok then, drunk!) than I would in Dublin. I live in the city centre and would be reluctant to be out too late. But I've never felt that in Pattaya. What's your experience?

[Oliver2]

In twenty-five years, the first ten of which were as a single man- walking around Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai- no fears, no problems. Apart from irritating touts in Bangkok.

[Manforallseasons]

Frankly, the only thing you need concern yourself with are Arabs on motorcycles.

[neddy3]

You're correct. It feels safe here.
One of the many joys of Thailand.

[frequent]

Frankly, the only thing you need concern yourself with are Arabs on motorcycles.I've always thought the greatest adrenaline rush in Bangkok could be got crossing Silom Rd. Since the advent of the BTS however I've generally crossed over using the escalators at Sala Daeng. Latterly (in the past 12/18 months) I've noticed that many Thais are now crossing over on the pedestrian crossing near McDonald's just up from Convent Rd; incredibly the traffic sometimes stops when there are pedestrians crossing the road there. My long-term practice is to make sure there's a crowd of Thais between me and the on-coming traffic when using a pedestrian crossing

[cdnmatt]

In my 8+ years living in Thailand, I never once felt in danger that I can remember. I felt safer walking around at night in Thailand than I did in West Vancouver, and that's one of the safest areas of Canada.

I remember my neighbors would always freak out at both, myself and Kim because they would see me go to 7/11 at 2 or 3am to get some cigs or whatever. They would tell Kim to make sure I don't go out that late, becauuse it's very dangerious.

I always used to just shake my head and laugh. For fuck sakes, I used to live in Budapest... I think I can handle Khon Kaen.

[Chuai-Duai]

I had a video call from a Thai friend in Pattaya yesterday. He showed me the bruises and cuts around his neck where someone ripped his gold necklace off in the street.

Personally in the 30 years I’ve been visiting Thailand I’ve never felt unsafe.

[frequent]

I had a video call from a Thai friend in Pattaya yesterday. He showed me the bruises and cuts around his neck where someone ripped his gold necklace off in the street.

Personally in the 30 years I’ve been visiting Thailand I’ve never felt unsafe.There are signs everywhere in the Silom/Sathorn area in English warning of drive-by (presumably motorcycle) theft so it must be reasonably prevalent for such carpet-bombing

[Smiles]

To put it mildly ... at 20 years of visiting and living in Thailand I've never once felt danger at night, walking, by myself, in large cities, in small towns, villages etc etc etc.
That 'feeling' is one of the great joys of Thailand.

[pennyboy]

never been to Dublin.

[francois]

I must say I have always felt much safer wandering around Pattaya after a few drinks (ok then, drunk!) than I would in Dublin. I live in the city centre and would be reluctant to be out too late. But I've never felt that in Pattaya. What's your experience?

Joe, when you say "safe" are you referring to things other than traffic? I never feel safe walking around Pattaya in regards to cars and motorbikes.
Also I would avoid "dodgy" areas late at night.

[Faranglaw]

In thirty trips to LOS I have always felt safe. Of course, there was the sexy guy who lifted my cell phone from my backpack when I was blowing him in a toilet stall in Silom Square. But I don’t think that really counts, does it? Besides, he reciprocated, and I have a fonder memory of his blowjob than I do of the phone.

[frequent]

In thirty trips to LOS I have always felt safe. Of course, there was the sexy guy who lifted my cell phone from my backpack when I was blowing him in a toilet stall in Silom Square. But I don’t think that really counts, does it? Besides, he reciprocated, and I have a fonder memory of his blowjob than I do of the phone.I had a similar experience in Singapore except he took cash from my pocket as I stood with my trousers around my ankles and he was kneeling down. I don't count Singapore unsafe because of that

[Nirish guy]

I had a similar experience in Singapore except he took cash from my pocket as I stood with my trousers around my ankles and he was kneeling down. I don't count Singapore unsafe because of that

Wow, we must have met the same guy ! I too had exactly that same experience in the same city. To be fair there was a communication issue and I didn't quite grasp that the guy was suggesting payment, he then got frustrated at my lack of understanding and decided to go straight for direct payment and reached for my wallet - which I then took of course as attempted theft and lifted him by the neck right off his feet and slid him up the door for quote a while I recall as i tried to persuade him to let go of my wallet, However her then grabbed a few notes out of it just and broke free and took off and I was about to chase him until I realised that I too would have to do the penguin chase as my trousers were around my ankles too so decided as his face had already turned from asian brown to Arctic blue that it was probably all equal between us and left it at that. :)

[joe552]

francois - indeed, the traffic is a concern I feel so much older when I go to cross the street.

[Impulse]

I must have met the same guy you guys did! I was in Monty’s pool bath room with a Thai guy blowing me and he attempted to take some cash from my pants pocket while on his knees. I just grabbed his hand and put it back where it belonged,( on my dick) and he carried on. I rewarded him with 600 baht for a job well done.
Carry on.

[frequent]

Sadly for the Singaporean who picked my pocket I was still carrying THB so he gained about SGD10 in all

[Jellybean]

As far as Pattaya, Bangkok and some of the other major Thai cities are concerned, I have never had any worries for my personal safety, joe552. But as françois mentioned at post #11, traffic can be an issue for me. I have some concerns about walking on uneven pavements and crossing roads in Pattaya and Bangkok, especially at night, due to the fact that I can see through only one eye. As can be appreciated, I must therefore be extra careful, but apart from tripping up on a paving stone in Hua Hin and, luckily, managing to land on my outstretched hands, I have never had any problems.

I do however remember one episode up in the province of ì-sǎan, ten or more years ago, when I was with my then boyfriend and several of his friends from his village. We attended a festival (mor-lam?) which was a mixture of a fun fair, concert, stalls selling all sorts of goods, bars and food outlets. It was held in the small town of Nong Bua Daeng, near the city of Chaiyaphum. All began in a very friendly fashion with us eating Thai food and sitting at a temporary bar set up in a large field, drinking from lager towers and generally having a good time.

As far as I can recall, there was a very friendly, festive atmosphere, with many hundreds, perhaps thousands of happy-go-lucky festival-goers. We were there for several hours and at one point we moved to the fun fair area. As we were watching the dodgems, my boyfriend and one of his friends became concerned by a group of young lads, whom they said were looking at us and saying things because of my presence. They were either intoxicated or perhaps they were using yaa-bâa (crazy drug); I’ve no way of knowing which.

As I had never experienced any personal safety problems in Thailand, I really wasn’t concerned and thought we should ignore them and carry on enjoying ourselves. My memory isn’t altogether reliable on the exact details, but I think the boys were becoming more aggressive and maybe shouting insults at us/me. My boyfriend and his best friend thought I may be in some danger. Up until then, I had, had a good night and did not want to spoil everyone’s fun, so I volunteered to call it a night and go back to the hotel and let everyone carry on with their evening.

I knew my way back to the hotel and was about to go back on my own. My boyfriend would not let me, saying it could be dangerous. I honestly did not think I would be at risk if I took myself out of a potentially dangerous situation and away from the aggressive young lads. There were many families attending with young children and aged grandparents, so I thought I’d be pretty safe. But my boyfriend insisted on escorting me back to the hotel. He then returned to be with his friends and came back to the hotel a few hours later. I must say, I was very impressed with my then boyfriend and his friends for taking such good care of me.

That therefore is my one and only recollection of there being an issue with my personal safety while in Thailand.

[dinagam]

Jellybean, the action taken by your friend is simply the essence of 'taking care' from an honest Thai.

[sglad]

I do however remember one episode up in the province of ì-sǎan, ten or more years ago, when I was with my then boyfriend and several of his friends from his village.

Gee, I wonder where this province of isaan is. Must have been secretly created during the ninth reign.:rolleyes:

[Jellybean]

Gee, I wonder where this province of isaan is. Must have been secretly created during the ninth reign.:rolleyes:

Oops! Well spotted, sglad. Yes, my mistake, ì-sǎan simply means the northeast. It does not, of course, refer to a province. Please accept my apologies for the error.

[colmx]

I have heard plenty of Issan boys say that they are from Issan province.
So whilst it may not be a province on a political map, it certainly is in their mindset

[dab69]

Don’t they make female condoms for your personal safety Joe?

[frequent]

Oops! Well spotted, sglad. Yes, my mistake, ì-sǎan simply means the northeast. It does not, of course, refer to a province. Please accept my apologies for the error.Oh dear Mr Jellybaby - someone who's lived in Thailand for as long as sglad would easily spot such a mistake