whats the most dangerous city in the world?

[Jastel]

Originally Posted by vdo

After my flight was cancelled in Detroit, I found myself in downtown Detroit at the Greyhound station in the middle of the night. I watched the hookers and drug dealers ply their trade outside for a while, then decided I had to get a room for the night. I didn't dare walk, so I caught a taxi for the one and a half blocks to the hotel, only to find out that it was a fake taxi... the driver picked up another passenger on the way, who climbed in the back with me, he bought some drugs from the driver and then the driver proceeded to take me to the hotel, where he demanded $20.00 for a $5.00 fare (800 metres). I just paid it and got out as fast as I could. The hotel had bars and wire mesh at the desk, I got into my room (air cond was broken) and was awakened 3 times during the night, by prostitutes banging on my door accompanied by their BIG minders, wanting business. I could see them through the peephole. I laid low, pretending not to be there. I hid my carry bag in the shower cubicle in case my door was rammed during the night, eventually leaned over from my bed to turn off the side lamp and was electrocuted by the frayed wiring. I got up in the morning, ordered a (real) taxi by phone to the airport and got the hell out of there. All the time I was carrying over $4000.00 US in my carry bag. A night I'll never forget.

I was at the Greyhound station in the daylight and it was bad enough...I walked the 800m into the city with no troubles but the taxi drivers looked like they wanted to kill me as they missed the fare. I was staying at a Holiday Inn and the girl was amazed that I walked in the door from the Greyhound.

It was definitely a poor place, lots of beggars and empty buildings but didn't really feel unsafe in the CBD area anyway. Got a hotel recommended taxi driver to go the Ford Museum and the airport, which was the only time I was out of the CBD.

Paris and Rome are up there for pickpockets, beggars and scams too.

[Danny]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

6) Walk with direction, enthusiasm and purpose. 'Look' like you always know where you are going, you are in a rush to get there and you are well aware of your surroundings. ALWAYS.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Lol...

[Franco Cozzo]

One of my ex-workmates fought in the civil war in his home country of El Salvador in the 1970s/80s.

The military came through and raped all the women/young girls than hung them all from the trees around the town afterwards in one of the towns.

South America is one messed up place, I'd put it on par with Africa.

[tranquilized]

I've traveled through some cities that many might consider pretty sketchy - Mexico City, San Jose, (Costa Rica) Medellin & Bogota (Colombia) Lima (Peru) LaPaz (Bolivia) to name a few. Now I quite enjoy checking out the local nightlife when I travel, so I found myself walking through most of these cities alone in the middle of the night at least once.

I never had any trouble though, and as others have said I think its all down to the way you carry yourself. I would always pull my hood on, walk fast and purposely, never looked lost, and any one I passed on the street I would look briefly in the eyes - not in a threatening way - just to let them know (or to pretend!) I wasn't scared of them. No matter what the realities of the situation (ie I'm not a big guy and cant fight to save my life) they will always pick what they perceive to be the weakest target.

Worked for me - 8 months in Latin America and the only trouble I had was doing a bad currency exchange deal and being left with fake money in Peru.

[buggerlugs]

Great thread, is Fiji safe ? Going next week, done bugger all o/s travel...........

[xxx000]

Fiji's awesome. Friendliest people on earth, where are you staying?

[buggerlugs]

Shangra la, Where ever that is !! Got told by wifey that I needed a holiday !! Could you PM me some things to do / see.............

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by Davehoos

I did 3 trips around the USA and Memphis was the most dangerous. Ohare is in the crap part of town 'so you don't go out of the airport, and you don't take a Californian hire car into seatle or The South.

New years mid 1980's in los angles look like bagdad with tracer shots-and Im not talking east LA.

Seatle Really? They hate Californians?

I plan on driving right across the US. I would be getting a Californian car since that's where we will be starting.
Im guessing hicks in the south don't like californi ?

Often hear that LA is bad, but we walked around at night and drove many places during the day with no problems.
Then again we kept well away from all the known rough areas in town.
Worse place we went to was the CBD at night and that's not very bad from my experience.

[JC]

Have lived and worked overseas in HK, NY,and Irvine (Orange county). Most dangerous place for me? A villa/hotel complex in Bali where I was the victim of a coward punch (formerly called king hit), by a roided up idiot at my sister's wedding in 2005/6. Pretty sure the headaches I get every now and again are the result of that hit. I as lucky that I landed on a bed (apparently) and then slid to the floor, so I didn't end up with a cracked skull from the knockout fall.

I am certainly no adventurer, so prefer to enjoy my time at home rather than spending money to travel overseas only to be in potential danger. Call m a scardy cat if you like, but I would prefer to spend my money on cars than travel (did enough of that with work anyway).

[Feathers]

I'm currently overseas for a month. Left AU for Finland at the end of March. Finnish Lapland for a week, then Helsinki for a week, followed by 3 nights in Krakow, Poland on my own. I loved Finland, and never felt unsafe, even with a DSLR out at midnight in Senate Square. There were a bunch of students sitting on the steps singing songs.

Krakow, I was a little more suspicious walking around the markets alone.

Now I've joined a Trafalgar tour, and joined up with a bunch of Aussies, so we're looking out for each other. Going through Munich, Prague, Bratislava, Budapest, Vienna and Salzburg. Then I'm off on my own to Copenhagen, before coming home.

I bought a Pacsafe handbag before I left with mesh panels, wire reinforced straps and safety clips on the zipper. So I'm happy enough that things in my bag are as safe as I can manage. I just have to keep hold of the camera, though my arctic parka covers that pretty well.

[FPVS3]

Originally Posted by buggerlugs

Great thread, is Fiji safe ? Going next week, done bugger all o/s travel...........

Yup, safe, where are you going?

Oops! Just saw, you're going to Shangri La by the looks, probably a typical resort, hope they have good Mai Tais, did you get b'fast thrown in, most do?
You could rent a car and drive 'round the island for a day trip. If you rent a jet ski be careful, may have to sign a liability thing for damage, we tipped one over, cost us $230, they worry about engine damage.
Watch out for falling coconuts

[FPVS3]

Originally Posted by Iggypoppin'

Mexico city is pretty deadly.

Don't say that!! My daughter is passing thru there soon....on her way to Havana!!.....Oh Gawd!!!

[FPVS3]

Originally Posted by Davehoos

recently listened to a conversation between airline engineers about what African country wasn't crap--it was a short list.

My boss has been trying to organise a south American trip for 3 years.

I did 3 trips around the USA and Memphis was the most dangerous. Ohare is in the crap part of town 'so you don't go out of the airport, and you don't take a Californian hire car into seatle or The South.

New years mid 1980's in los angles look like bagdad with tracer shots-and Im not talking east LA.

Was bashed by steroid morrons in parramata--and warned by police not to be seen on the street for their shift.

I've lived in Seattle and Memphis, didn't find Seattle bad but have blundered into dodgy areas in Memphis, did a quick U turn. Shanghai is a great city but don't let the street girls lure you upstairs (not speaking from personal experience, just work mates), can be very expensive.
San Francisco is great but don't go too far down Market St, can get quite dodgy suddenly.

[BENT_8]

Im gonna say bloody Brisbane, hands down.

The way the mob they breed tough, norf of the border, are always crying about traffic laws.
It must be a bloody scary place to live.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by Feathers

Now I've joined a Trafalgar tour, and joined up with a bunch of Aussies, so we're looking out for each other. Going through Munich, Prague, Bratislava, Budapest, Vienna and Salzburg. Then I'm off on my own to Copenhagen, before coming home.

Do the sound of music tour and dance around the Mirabell gardens if that sort of stuff tickles your fancy.

In Copenhagen try and get your hands on a 'city bike'... was near impossible to find a decent one when I was there, probably none now!

Is Christiania still around or has that place been cleaned up / out I wonder?? If it's still there you're best to leave your camera and wallet in the hotel and befriend a local that will spend half a day taking you around there. Shout them lunch or something ;)

Safe travels ;)

[HULK_I6T]

Originally Posted by buggerlugs

Shangra la, Where ever that is !! Got told by wifey that I needed a holiday !! Could you PM me some things to do / see.............

Ive stayed there.. pretty safe but dont open your doors at night.. hotel as I remember it had rooms accessible without going through reception. I was also told do not leave the resort without a tour organised by the hotel. The locals know who is staying there have cash on them. Dont even think about venturing upto the local shops.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by f6_benito

Ive stayed there.. pretty safe but dont open your doors at night.. hotel as I remember it had rooms accessible without going through reception. I was also told do not leave the resort without a tour organised by the hotel. The locals know who is staying there have cash on them. Dont even think about venturing upto the local shops.

Is that resort on Denarau Island???

If it is, I can assure you there is nothing wrong with hopping on the local (Yellow) bus with the local workers, paying the $1 Fijian and heading into Nadi for a day or 2. Forget the Bulla Bus, that's a whole $7...

Curious, was it the hotel tour desk that told you that you need a tour???

Oh man... venturing into the local shops is the BEST. You pay low prices for great food and clothes, meet some locals (don't worry, they are no longer canibals), visit the local markets etc.

[xxx000]

Originally Posted by f6_benito

Ive stayed there.. pretty safe but dont open your doors at night.. hotel as I remember it had rooms accessible without going through reception. I was also told do not leave the resort without a tour organised by the hotel. The locals know who is staying there have cash on them. Dont even think about venturing upto the local shops.

probably the safest place i've stayed at, people are so friendly and welcoming

you can go for a walk at 2am and you'll see security staff and other staff working and walking around and they all say 'Bulla'

Sigatoka, the nearest main town nearby is very safe too

local shops? there's a restaurant nearby which is apparently not bad but I never even saw it as it's up a side road back over the bridge near the railway track.

Coleen Hewett (remember her?) lives maybe 20 mins away from the Shangrila

[xxx000]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Is that resort on Denarau Island???

If it is, I can assure you there is nothing wrong with hopping on the local (Yellow) bus with the local workers, paying the $1 Fijian and heading into Nadi for a day or 2. Forget the Bulla Bus, that's a whole $7...

Curious, was it the hotel tour desk that told you that you need a tour???

Oh man... venturing into the local shops is the BEST. You pay low prices for great food and clothes, meet some locals (don't worry, they are no longer canibals), visit the local markets etc.

No it's on the Coral Coast

I agree with all your comments re it being cheap and safe to shop over there

[HULK_I6T]

I have a few dodgy thailand stories...

guy offered me cheap nike shoes... yeah no worries I said.. just down the alley off the main strip, just in here he says, go into back door of a dodgy looking kitchen, then he removes a fake wall, just in here, so I stepped through it, he replaces it, just down the coridoor, so we walk through the dark and down some stairs.. by then its very quiet, dark and way off the main strip or where anyone can hear you. Opens a door and there is an immaculate showroom with shoes perfectly presented. Like a footlocker store. There were a few of his crew in there. I basically had to either buy shoes or be robbed. They were ready to jump me.I bought 3 pairs of the nikes.. (good price but fakes)

then went to a bar at night. Sitting with a mate, two of the local girls came over just chatting and laughing. Sat on my mates lap. Just chatting and enjoying our drinks. Then after about 30 mins a guy comes over and says we must pay for the girls for half an hour?? Pretty expensive too..Huh?? Just chatting in a club? No discussion of any payment or service being offered?. My mate became a little argumentative, I looked about and there were his crew watching us ready to pounce if things got heavy. I paid up..

in another bar and saw another big guy with american accent arguing with a local about something. He was trying to intimidate the local with his size standing over him. Not sure who was right or wrong or what the disagreement was about. Some guy came out of the dark with a set of knuckle dusters and absolutely king hit him, out cold.. a group of locals quickly picked him up and out the back door. Dont know what happened to him.

same night in another bar... my mate gets approached by bouncer and says get out. My mate says what for? The bounser asked for a sum of money to remain and if he refused to pay he was out and would not get in anywhere.

I borrowed a scooter, took it for a few days and returned each day to pay the guy to extend the use for another day. After a few days the owner says he has heard a few things and that people are watching me. He said that I should wear long sleeves and lay low (im quite muscular). Many of the locals train muay thai and they thought they would see what im made of. He said stay in busy areas as they are waiting for a chance.

one thing you dont do... dont ****** with the thai's in thailand, just dont do it. they will destroy you and wont bat an eyelid at the carnage. Its weapons central over there too.

[HULK_I6T]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Is that resort on Denarau Island???

If it is, I can assure you there is nothing wrong with hopping on the local (Yellow) bus with the local workers, paying the $1 Fijian and heading into Nadi for a day or 2. Forget the Bulla Bus, that's a whole $7...

Curious, was it the hotel tour desk that told you that you need a tour???

Oh man... venturing into the local shops is the BEST. You pay low prices for great food and clothes, meet some locals (don't worry, they are no longer canibals), visit the local markets etc.

I didnt wanna find out.. maybe you are right. But I stayed in the resort after their warning. I promise this was the advice I received.

I also stayed in one of the islands... all the staff went home of a night by boat. Pretty scary knowing your in the middle of nowhere, maybe 5-6 tourists in the resort, mainland fiji is 3 hours boatride away, no police, hospital or anything just the natives who live on the island. then you hear a rustle in the dark in the trees behind your hut... ohhhh!!

[Psi-Pop]

I got robbed in San Sebastian in Spain, had a few too many brews and I lived in a Transit van on the beach carpark and I left the doors wide open and fell asleep. Woke up to a scuffle and noticed two blokes beating the living daylights out of a guy wearing a Cold Chisel shirt, turned out it was my shirt. Apparently Chisel isn't that big in Spain.

The two blokes were under cover cops who laid down some early justice, gave me my gear back and took us to a cop shop for a report, which was interesting cos I cant speak Spanish and they cant hear Australian. After they they took us back to the van, the police got in a pursuit, dropped us off in the middle of nowhere and disappeared for an hour. Got back to the van eventually, had a sleep then just chalked it down as a interesting time. I still love San Seb but its not the greatest place for personal safety.

I had a few interesting times in Budapest, usually involving girls or security ushering you to certain taxis who will take you out the the boonies and empty your bank account.

[Auslandau]

Me and the Mrs grabbed a car and a trailer and drove around South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Swazi land the year before last.

South Africa. Rule is windows up, door locks down and be alert at intersections. While it is a bit overwhelming and frightening, as said above, look confident and be alert. Stay in the main areas and just be aware. Some towns we stopped because we had to ...... some we drove through very quickly. But funnily we never felt unsafe.

Botswana. Incredible once we crossed the border. Friendly and totally different. Had no feeling of having to be careful ... even though we were but could stop at towns where we were the only white people, kids were friendly and people smiled. Loved it immesnsly and would LOVE to go back. Best experience ever.

Zimbabwe. NOW talking about a dangerous place. We were warned and we **** ourselves. The minute we tried to cross the border from guards with their hands out from bribes, with people running up to you demanding you to buy their wares, guards with machine guns at the ATM. I said hello and smiled at him ...... I thought he was going to shoot me. Then a policeman started following us and after about 5 minutes behind my wife asked him why are you following? He said we should not be walking around by ourselves and he will walk with us while we go to the market as thats where we were heading. I think that made us more nervous but we weren't bothered after that. He walked us back to the motel gates (the locals are not allowed past a yellow line) and then we were OK to go by ourselves. This was at Victoria Falls .... the tourist area! When we got back to Botswana talking to a few people, there was some bad stories.

Coming back from Botswana to South Africa, it was like we had to take a deep breath and the tension we noticed way more after a few weeks away. Had no real drama. Just tension.

Anyway ....... dont let that stop anyone. Amazing amazing places ...... but don't think I could go back to Zimbabwe.

[93EB_SXR6]

A friend of mine comes from Argentina, he left in the late 1970's. He had been a forced conscript in the military. Some of the stories he told me turned my bones to ice. Scary, scary things happened there back then but not many people here either know about it or will simply not talk about it.

[buggerlugs]

Well, there is quite a bit that has been crossed off my bucket list !!

[LyleXR8]

the Pier Hotel in Port Hedland, im sure its the most dangerous place on earth!!!
got South African friends that have said if we want to go to Sth Africa they will come with us, go to the wrong part of town and you wont be seen again, they are white and said even if they make a wrong turn and go to a black area they will have there heads cut off, not many guns so they will do drive by stabbings and decapitations for no reason, wont pinch any of your stuff or rob your money, just cut your head off and move on to the next weak target, Fiji is heaps better than Bali, people are so much friendlier, they don't hassle you to buy stuff and even though they are poor the place doesn't feel as 3rd world and povo as bali, plenty of Indians in Fiji though and they are the shady people to watch out, they'll try rip you off and charge a fortune, Denarau is a pretty awesome place to stay, feel safe the whole time, security at the resorts at night, free to roam and swim at any of the resorts, its pretty pricey to shop on the island as most shops/restaurants are owned bu indian slimeballs, as said the bus into town is good for fresh fruit and the butcher is owned by an Aussie so you feel safe buying meat

[XW WA]

Nah, Pier hotel got that rep back in the 60s and 70s when heaps of migrants were up there in the original mining boom . Alot of them didnt get on with each other and then add lots of alcohol gambling and no women . I lived in hedland for nearly 20 years 92 >2012 . Fights mostly every closing time at most pubs in port and south when theres something on but no worse than alot of places and prob better than alot.

[buggerlugs]

Well we made it here today. Fiji Airport is a bit of an eye opener especially when about 4 planes land and 2 are going to take off and you have about 2 workers at Customs !!!! And the road network and road rules...........wow, just wow !!

[HULK_I6T]

Originally Posted by LyleXR8

the Pier Hotel in Port Hedland, im sure its the most dangerous place on earth!!! t

Dodgy places both Karratha and port hedland. I went up for work a few years back..

Was told to stay out of that pub if I liked the look of my teeth. I bunkered down in my hotel for my stay at night.

Everyone drinks up every day after work, people use alcohol as currency.

The aboriginal communities are on the move if they ban alcohol.

I walked into a shopping centre in Karratha and two aboriginal guys were fighting in the car park, Rolling around on the floor going hell for leather, I stopped to have a bit of a look, they both stopped fighting and started abusing me, both wanted a piece of me. I kept walking then they started swinging at one another again... Lol

I worked at a warehouse at port hedland and was driving back to my hotel at around 11pm Port hedland time... I saw in the pitch black only about 300 metres from where I was working in a large yard, what looked like neon lights on a gate, I drove past slowly to see what it was about, some girl comes out skimply dressed and was pointing to a driveway for me to drive into. She was blocking the road, I drove around her and sped off.

Not the most dangerous places in the world but about as bad as Australia has