Five Dangerous Things Travelers are Advised by this Blog Not to Do
5 of the Most dangerous things you can do as a traveler:
Sara was a neighbor in my town, Staten Island , NYC. She went to Turkey on a visit in which she was to go with a friend of hers to visit. At the last minute, her friend canceled and Sara had to go alone. Probably with no refund tickets it made more sense to go than not to go. She had roots in Turkey so it was not unnatural for someone like her to pick a third work country to visit. To all americans this blog will advice you to pick someplace else..
To pick a place in which there is conflict and in many places in which Americans are seen with not friendly eyes. Particularly after the 8 years of war with the past American administration. Please be wise, the choices of safe countries is limitless. But where ever you go please be advised to follow this instructions.
The taking pictures of military or police my ex partner learned at the train station in Madrid when he took a picture of one of the armed army personnel at the station. They were armed with Ozzie Machine guns and it was nerve racking to all of a sudden have all of those guns trained on you.
Sarai Sierra in FILE photo provided by the family.AP
More than 65 million Americans travel overseas each year –mostly without incident. But as the recent case of Sarai Sierra –the New York City woman who disappeared while vacationing alone in Turkey shows --just about anyone traveling overseas can be at risk. Here are five things to do that jack up the chances you’ll become a victim of a crime, get thrown into prison –or worse.
1Taking Pictures of Military or Police
You think capturing the perfect sunset -- at the airport -- is worth time in prison? Want to land in the slammer for that perfect candid snap of a sentry standing guard. In many countries, taking of pictures of military personal or installations –even police officers on the street -- can land you in some serious hot water. And we’re not talking just in military dictatorships. In the U.K., for example, anyone taking a photograph of a police officer could be deemed to have committed a criminal offense and is considered a possible terrorism risk. If you really want that picture as souvenir, it’s best to just ask. Most times they’d be happy to be the subject of your snap.2Carrying a Knife
Leave that Swiss Army knife in your hotel room –or better yet at home, even if it does have a handy can opener. Having some innocent fun can turn into a disaster if trouble starts. You don’t want to be hauled into the police station, only for an officer to find that you’re also carrying a weapon.3Getting Drunk
Go ahead and have a few drinks on vacation. But getting completely, fall-down drunk puts you and your group in serious danger. Weaving down a dark street late at night after drinking too much alcohol will make you an easy target. Also you’re more likely to do stupid things like get behind a wheel or get into a fight.4Trusting Touts
Don't know what a tout is? If someone comes up to you on the street calling you, “my friend,” promising the best rate at his uncle’s hotel --that's a tout. Touts make a living by ripping off naĂ¯ve travelers. Most of the times they’re simply after your money, but they could want to do you harm. To avoid becoming a target in the first place, don’t wear conspicuous clothing or carry excessive amounts of money. Also, do not leave unattended luggage in public areas and do not accept packages from strangers. There’s no need to get rude with them, but if they’re persistent, sometimes ignoring them is the best policy.5Buying Illegal Drugs
You may think that buying drugs like marijuana is no big deal, but in some countries it could mean a life sentence. In places like Thailand, famous for its Full Moon Parties on the beach, Thai police regularly arrest foreigners, and some are still festering in Thai jails. Also, beware of places where drugs are openly sold. Just because someone is offering you hashish on the street in Morocco doesn't make it legal.
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