Watch Out, Watch Out, there are Robbers About
June 10, 2008 by Ubertramp
Filed under Southeast Asia, Thailand
The scenery between Surat Thani and Phuket was incredible. The six hour journey took us through Kao Sok National Park –with its glorious limestone karts and thick jungle – and then through Kao Lak, a beach resort town hit mercilessly hard by the Boxing Day Tsunami of 2004. Kao Lak looked like a newly built town – and, in truth, for the most part it probably was.
Now almost 24 hours since leaving Bangkok, we finally rolled into Phuket Town. Despite the island being regarded as package holiday hell on a stick, at that particular moment I couldn’t have cared less. I was happy just to have stopped moving. What’s more, had the ground not had an impressive covering of diesel, cigarette butts and general filth, I’d have gotten down on all fours and given it a little pope-esque kiss.
During the usual post-bus bottle-of-pop-and-cigarette ritual, I noticed a western couple sitting at a nearby table. I went over and said hello. Soon after, we got chatting. They were Canadian, they were waiting for a bus out of Phuket and, until I arrived, they were happily playing cards. These 2 roaming Canucks had also arrived from Surat Thani, but several days earlier and via one of the V.I.P. tour buses. They had very few positive things to say about it, not least of all because they’d been robbed on the way down. Not at the hands of gun-toting bandits, as I had dramatically envisaged, but (and this is by their own admission) by their tour company. Bags had dipped and rucksacks rifled, and each relieved of electrical goodies, cash, cards and, in this particular girl’s case, jewellery. They were certain it was and ‘inside job’, so to speak, and clearly felt let down by their operator. Sadly, they were also unable to prove a thing either way. You know this kind of thing goes on from time to time, but seldom do you hear about it firsthand. They just had to take it on the chin and hope their travel insurance covered it.
I’m sure the lion’s share of these tourist buses run without a glitch and that all baggage turns up intact – and I’m also sure that this could happen on any bus on a given day, be it tourist or government flavour. Events such as these can happen to any of us at any given time, we just hope above all hopes that they don’t.
But there are, I feel, some measures we can take to further reduce these already slight risks. Here and here are just two examples that I’ve had time to write about. In addition, splitting your valuables and/or travelling with more than one bag may help reduce losses, too.
If you have any other ones that you swear by, do please take the time to put them in the comments section below. If it allows even just one person to avoid this potentially avoidable scenario then you’ve not wasted you time. Thanks.
Nath – It happens everywhere. I live near Atlanta and that’s one of the most dangerous places in the world if you find yourself in the wrong neighborhood at the wrong time. Keep sharing as this is a great adventure and break from my daily grind. Your site is looking awesome too!
Scott
Ah, the long distance VIP bustrips from hell, where you’re treated (quick quick… wake up, 20 minutes to eat!! now!) and tagged (blue red green stickers, depending on your destination) as cattle, have to watch secondrate Hollywood movies (as long it has special effects they seem to think), the sound always too loud, distorted, or just missing, where ya freeze to death by the aircon, examining the zillion ways to wrap yourself with a blanket always too small (wear trousers folks and galls, and don’t forget socks… ) till the midnight stopover where too expensive food and drinks were offered in total (me sleepy) boredom…
And gosh I miss it.
And yes, sometimes little Thai boys crawl through the luggage compartment while you are watching the dark Thai skies trying to sleep, and take what they like. It happened to me 3 times (in the 9? times i was in Thailand) and heard stories quite a multiple of it. So far I only missed a (dry battery) flashlight, a pair of wet O’Neill swim trunks (my fav, the pain!), and a small bottle of Sangsom. Things unworthy of stealing I thought , and I have to admit, I prob wouldn’t even have thought of them as stolen (just lost ,as things get lost when traveling) ifn’t other bus travelers missed much more valuable things after the trip, we all dazed in the early light, relieved by a quick tour to the rest room, gazing over a cup of coffee thinking what next.
Sure I felt some pitty over someones else grieve over the loss of a camera (with pics, the memories!), and sure as often I thought why the hell did you put your wallet and pasport in your backpack? Common sense, somehow it’s not that obvious, weird.
Anyway no tips from then the usual one: just keep your precious things close to you (also at the breaks and walk to the loo) and further, just relax when you find your fav Nirvana t-shirt or after shave missing after that bus trip to beach or town – maybe some change will do you good.
Cheers
Hey, next time your in that area you should definitlely stop in Kao Sok and stay in a tree house and a floating hut on the lake. The wildlife is fantastic as is the incredible limestone karts and the jungle noise.
Ben – thanks for the tip off about Kao Sok. If I’m ever back up that way I may just have to check it out – it sounds a great place!
Conrad – 3 out of 9 times? Man, you’re either very unlucky or the risk is a little higher that I first thought. Still, like you say, you can always reduce these risks and, well, maybe its true: some of these ‘losses’ could be for the better (so long as its not your passport or cash! haha). A very healthy and positive outlook you have there, and one that no doubt enhances your travels somewhat.
I guess that by travelling we are also accepting the slightly higher level of risk (although it may only be marginally so) but with risk comes reward.
Keep on truckin’, Conrad.