 Scariest travel experience or near miss |
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| What was yours? Originally part of "Don't go into the Ruins after dark!" 30 Replies: « back 1 2 next » |  Mell Mell Post Count: 15474 Msg: #21 10 weeks ago, October 23rd 2009 |  Some remote groups, he had told us, lived an almost Stone Age existence and refused all contact with the outside world. I read something about some very remote tribes people who were victims of some natural disaster. Some aid workers tried to bring them food and supplies and they gathered at the perimeters of their territory, and threw stones at the aid workers. They even threw stones at helicopters trying to drop supplies to them. Maybe it was this tribe, that I read about. Mick Swagger Mike Brannon Post Count: 2 Msg: #22 10 weeks ago, October 24th 2009 | Mine just happened and is really getting posted only because I am currently still recovering and don't have much to do besides groan and stare at the television. I'm 24 years old and this has been my first time traveling outside of the United States with the exception of Canda and Mexico. | I'm currently in Hanoi, Vietnam and have been traveling for the last two months starting with Beijing then down the coast and inland before crossing the border into Vietnam overland by bus. Since arriving in Vietnam, I have been traveling by motorcycle. Some say it's a death wish but honestly, it is the only way to truly see this country with any sort of freedom and there isn't a day that goes by that I would consider doing it any other way. I started by traveling north into the mountainous northwest and Sapa, Son La and Mai Chau. (As well as countless tiny villages and locations in between.) After Mai Chau, I passed through Hoa Binh and began to head southeast toward Cuc Phuong, a beautiful national park and primate rescue center. About half way to Cuc Phuong I noticed a large gathering on the side of the street. It was raining and I thought that their might be an accident so I decided to stop and investigate. It turns out that everyone was gathering to head up a dirt path to a village for a wedding and they thought it would be great to have an American there so I was invited along. I don't know the name of the village and I couldn't even tell you the exact location besides a general vicinity on a road map but it was quite far off the road on dirt paths along steep hills and even a rope suspension bridge made of bamboo over a ravine. It was picturesque to say the least. Unfortunately when it was time to leave, the rain was coming down pretty heavily but I needed to make some distance before nightfall so I decided to go at it carefully anyways. I was coming around a bend and my tire slipped in the mud at about 20 km/hr. I hit the ground hard and went over the edge of this hill/cliff and remember thinking that I was going to die. Much to my surprise, I felt a thud about 5m later as I crashed through bamboo trees with my bike. I then blacked out. My memory is a bit hazy from there on out but I remember seeing a gathering of villagers around me and then my next memory is waking up and being unable to move in the back of a dump truck. Yes, a dump truck. I couldn't move because I was wrapped in a tarp that I am guessing they used to lift me and I passed back out. The next thing I remember is waking up at this small and dirty rural hospital with my leg in the most excruciating pain I have ever felt and doctors poking at me with needles as I begged for pain killers. Ultimately they gave it to my request and gave me morphine and continued to give me morphine for the next two days because I was unable to talk to anyone or figure anything out. There were no phones and no internet and I had no clue where I was. I started to panic and yell and plead for help for a whole day before finding someone who had a vehicle and would take me back to Hanoi. Of course, not without fleecing me for all of the cash I had for the privilege. Much to my surprise, whoever brought me to the hospital brought my bike as well so that was not lost and the person providing me with a ride had a truck so I was able to get my bike back to Hanoi while I rode in the back of the truck with it to be able to keep my leg extended for the duration of what turned out to be a four hour trip. It was possibly the worst journey of my life as every bump and hole caused me to scream in agony and there is no telling a local Vietnamese man to drive properly. Since arriving in Hanoi, I saw a cheap clinic and got proper x-rays only to find out that my leg was broken in several places and needed a casting. They did a quick and dirty job yesterday and it's already falling apart today. Tonight at midnight, I have a flight back to the States to get another opinion on the leg and get it properly recast. Once my leg heals though I have every intention of returning to Vietnam after Christmas...and even getting back on a bike. I still believe it is the only way to see this country. And out of all this, I met a cute Vietnamese girl that wants to keep in contact until I return. So not all is lost. [Edited: 10:08 - Mick Swagger ]  LivingTheDream Ben Beiske Post Count: 25 Msg: #23 10 weeks ago, October 25th 2009 | Crossing the slippery wooden plank walks on China's Hua Shan's mountain, attached to a sheer cliff with a 1000 metre drop below me: | The second most terrifying experience of my life (Hua Shan, Shaanxi Province, China)  liliram liliram Post Count: 402 Msg: #24 9 weeks ago, November 1st 2009 | A bad slip in Nanjing........... Misadventure in Nanjing, China (2007) |  travel addicted female Milena Post Count: 16 Msg: #25 8 weeks ago, November 9th 2009 | I was at a hotel in Istanbul, It was quite late in the evening and I decided to go to the shop down the road to buy myself something to munch. The way back to the hotel I decided to go through the backstreets instead of the main road. I was followed by a man asking me to come with him, after I decidely ignored him he grabbed me violently by my neck and threatened to cut my throat if I didnt follow him. I began to beg him to let me go, fortunately he did. I run as fast as I could. | liliram liliram Post Count: 402 Msg: #26 8 weeks ago, November 9th 2009 | OMG, what a scare Milena! So much for my aimless walks late at night! | Mell Mell Post Count: 15474 Msg: #27 8 weeks ago, November 10th 2009 | | I decidely ignored him he grabbed me violently by my neck and threatened to cut my throat if I didnt follow him. I began to beg him to let me go, fortunately he did. I run as fast as I could.How horrible! :( That has to be every womans worst nightmare. :( travel addicted female Milena Post Count: 16 Msg: #28 8 weeks ago, November 10th 2009 | Yes, It was the worst nigtmare for me! While that was happening I couldnt believe it was happening to me, I thought I was going to get raped! One thing that I can particularly remember about that incident was how my body was burning with adrenaline (obviously caused by fear). Other than that this was the only experience of this kind in Turkey or anywhere else (actually something similar happened in Poland, but not as scary)...generally man in Turkey can be quite petulant but are never dangerous...I have also had a turkish boyfriend for 3 years. | Mell Mell Post Count: 15474 Msg: #29 8 weeks ago, November 10th 2009 | I couldnt believe it was happening to me, I thought I was going to get raped!My sister had a similiar experience in Paris. A man threatened to rape her at knife point. It didnt happen, but she reported it to the police anyway, and had to endure a lot of ridiculous questions like 'why didnt you run away?'' How can a person run away if they are trapped in a corner with some big guy with a knife blocking the exit?? One would wonder why we even bother with the police in these situations. Do they ever deal with these things adequately, or even sympathetically? I was cornered by a guy in Dublin who tried to grab me, last year. At least it was near a bar with 2 security men at the door, so I could call them to help me. It is certainly worth staying near people, to be safe. When I go to Turkey next year, I will certainly avoid isolated streets. Turkey can be quite petulant but are never dangerous...I think they sometimes can be dangerous. There is apparently a lot of violence against women in Turkey. system TravelBlog System User Post Count: 967 Msg: #30 8 weeks ago, November 10th 2009 | 2 posts moved to this new topic: Women travellers. | 30 Replies: « back 1 2 next » | Number of Users: 10 | Number of Posts: 30 30 Replies: « back 1 2 next » | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
