How backpackers carry money in SE Asia?

Pete Loud wrote:
I think you're overestimating the point of pickpockets.

I have spent several years travelling, mostly around Indonesia, with much of
that in Yogya. While in Yogya I would encounter about three pickpockets a
week, usually on the KOPAJA,
city minibuses. When I told this to tourists they would think I was
exaggerating. To prove my point I would invite them to join me on the
minibus from Jl. Prawirotaman to Jl. Malioboro, about half the times we did
this pickpockets would have a go at us.

In Bali, on the buses I was frequently accosted by pickpockets. After a
while I'd recognise them as they climbed on board the bus. I'd shout across
to, "Selamat Pagi, tukang copet". They'd recognise me then turn around and
get back off the bus.

After years of learning their tricks and foiling them they eventually got me
in Pekanbaru in Sumatra. They didn't get much, but it hurt my pride.

After having spent nearly 2 years living in the Pekanbaru area I won't
argue with you about your experience but I do have to point out that it
never happened to me in Indonesia. Not once.

And I still miss Papa Ron's pizza. ;-)

"Tchiowa" kirjoitti
glegroups.com...


In Bali, on the buses I was frequently accosted by pickpockets. After a
while I'd recognise them as they climbed on board the bus. I'd shout
across
to, "Selamat Pagi, tukang copet". They'd recognise me then turn around
and
get back off the bus.

After years of learning their tricks and foiling them they eventually got
me
in Pekanbaru in Sumatra. They didn't get much, but it hurt my pride.

After having spent nearly 2 years living in the Pekanbaru area I won't
argue with you about your experience but I do have to point out that it
never happened to me in Indonesia. Not once.

I was in Bali a few days in the year 2002 when a young couple on a small
motorbike approached me from behind. The girl behind the driver was fumbling
my trouser pockets. Naturally I had the wallet in a front pocket. These
imbeciles stopped the bike in front of me and the girl said "want money" or
something like that. All the setting was just so bloody pathetic.

"Tchiowa" kirjoitti
glegroups.com...

Markku Grönroos wrote:
"Alfred Molon" kirjoitti
s.com...

No big risk in carrying even large amounts of money with you, because
people in SE Asia are on average very honest. It's only in heavily

However, in the case the improbable happens, little it consoles that the
incident was just of bad luck. Moreover, I don't find people in South East
Asia more honest than people elsewhere.

That isn't what he said. He siad that they are on the average very
honest. Most people are everywhere.

I bet you don't understand what you are saying here. I don't understand.

I know that credit card companies share my opinion.

Nonsense. That only applies to Indonesia and that is because of the
existence of a couple of large CC fraud rings, not because of any
inherent dishonesty in Asians. I certainly doesn't apply to Thailand.

It certainly does. As well as Malaysia and no doubt the other South East
Asian countries as well. However, I didn't mention Thailand by name anyhow
above. Do some reading comprehension.

Who said anything about "partying at a Thai Planet Hollywood", cost of 2x
sky train 40 (if you need to travel) 1x average meal 60, and shall we say
70/100 for a btl of beer and there's your money gone, not much of a night
out. How far would your $ 10 go if you were out on the town in the UK ?.
Fast track from BBC World said that the average tourist in Thailand spends
4000 THB per day


"Pete Loud" wrote in message
...
you must be the life and soul of the party, a whole $ 10 (379 THB) to go
out
on the town, now that's what I call living

For me travelling is not about partying at a Thai Planet Hollywood.

Cheers,


Pete Loud
Maps of Indonesia etc. etc.
www.peteloud.co.uk/





"Sleeping Dog" wrote in message
...
you must be the life and soul of the party, a whole $ 10 (379 THB) to go
out
on the town, now that's what I call living


"Pete Loud" wrote in message
...
Leave it in the bank and use your ATM card, definitely, and take out
only
a
little at a time. In some places in Thailand you have to be careful
about
leaving money and credit cards in hotel security boxes. When I'm out
around
town I rarely carry more than $10 on me for the pickpockets.
whatever, bad

In Yogyakarta, in Central Java, I lived on less than $10 day and that
included my hotel which had a swimming pool, and had at least one beer with
my dinner.

I travel to experience other cultures not to be, "the life and soul of the
party", as you put it. I guess what you want out of life and what I want out
of life are different.

Perhaps when I have as much travelling experience as you do I will need more
money.

Cheers,


Pete Loud
Maps of Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Yemen, Iraq, Iran,
Afghanistan, Maldives etc. etc.
Oh, a few good photos too :-)
www.peteloud.co.uk/






"Sleeping Dog" wrote in message
...
Who said anything about "partying at a Thai Planet Hollywood", cost of 2x
sky train 40 (if you need to travel) 1x average meal 60, and shall we say
70/100 for a btl of beer and there's your money gone, not much of a night
out. How far would your $ 10 go if you were out on the town in the UK ?.
Fast track from BBC World said that the average tourist in Thailand spends
4000 THB per day


"Pete Loud" wrote in message
...
you must be the life and soul of the party, a whole $ 10 (379 THB) to
go
out
on the town, now that's what I call living

For me travelling is not about partying at a Thai Planet Hollywood.

Cheers,


Pete Loud
Maps of Indonesia etc. etc.
www.peteloud.co.uk/





"Sleeping Dog" wrote in message
...
you must be the life and soul of the party, a whole $ 10 (379 THB) to
go
out
on the town, now that's what I call living


"Pete Loud" wrote in message
...
Leave it in the bank and use your ATM card, definitely, and take out
only
a
little at a time. In some places in Thailand you have to be careful
about
leaving money and credit cards in hotel security boxes. When I'm out
around
town I rarely carry more than $10 on me for the pickpockets.
whatever, bad

"Pete Loud" kirjoitti
. uk...
In Yogyakarta, in Central Java, I lived on less than $10 day and that
included my hotel which had a swimming pool, and had at least one beer
with
my dinner.

I don't know about swimming pools but when I visited the town in August 2002
the fees were about 20-30 euros for a night. They were modest
establishments. Beer and food is very inexpensive in Indonesia. In Thailand
folks have learned that farangs don't mind to top their beers with ice. In
Indonesia it is a bit different in this respect.

This is probably a valid statistic, but everyone is different. Luxury hotels
are very nice, but I'd rather spend my money on other things in life.
Besides, I find, for the most part, the 5-star hotels are usually in areas
that I have no interest in exploring.


--
Bob

Travel and Astronomy Photos
http://www3.sympatico.ca/bomo




"Sleeping Dog" wrote in message
...
Who said anything about "partying at a Thai Planet Hollywood", cost of 2x
sky train 40 (if you need to travel) 1x average meal 60, and shall we say
70/100 for a btl of beer and there's your money gone, not much of a night
out. How far would your $ 10 go if you were out on the town in the UK ?.
Fast track from BBC World said that the average tourist in Thailand spends
4000 THB per day


"Pete Loud" wrote in message
...
you must be the life and soul of the party, a whole $ 10 (379 THB) to
go
out
on the town, now that's what I call living

For me travelling is not about partying at a Thai Planet Hollywood.

Cheers,


Pete Loud
Maps of Indonesia etc. etc.
www.peteloud.co.uk/





"Sleeping Dog" wrote in message
...
you must be the life and soul of the party, a whole $ 10 (379 THB) to
go
out
on the town, now that's what I call living


"Pete Loud" wrote in message
...
Leave it in the bank and use your ATM card, definitely, and take out
only
a
little at a time. In some places in Thailand you have to be careful
about
leaving money and credit cards in hotel security boxes. When I'm out
around
town I rarely carry more than $10 on me for the pickpockets.
whatever, bad

Pete Loud wrote:
you must be the life and soul of the party, a whole $ 10 (379 THB) to go
out
on the town, now that's what I call living

For me travelling is not about partying at a Thai Planet Hollywood.

I certainly hope so considering there is no such place.

(it closed a long time ago) :-)

Pete Loud wrote:
In Yogyakarta, in Central Java, I lived on less than $10 day and that
included my hotel which had a swimming pool, and had at least one beer with
my dinner.

I travel to experience other cultures not to be, "the life and soul of the
party", as you put it. I guess what you want out of life and what I want out
of life are different.

While I understand what your trying to say I find your comment
offensive.

Why is it that you feel that you need to live "poor" in order to
"experience other cultures"? Is that how you view them? Is there some
reason why an Indonesian with a good job is somehow less Indonesian in
your mind? Is there a reason that you can't experience Indonesian
culture and stay at a 3 or 4 star hotel?

I lived in Indonesia for 2 years. I've lived, travelled and worked in
SE Asia for many more years than that. I currently live in Thailand. I
regularly (unfortunately) encounter back-packers who insist on calling
themselves "travellers" (whereas "druggie", "doper", "loser", or
"low-life" might be a better appelation) and who demean locals by
treating them as if they aren't allowed to be anything but poor, mostly
to boost their own egos. I find their behavior more than a little bit
offensive. I also find that they experience and understand very, very
little of the cultures they are looking down on.

Over many years in Indonesia I have stayed in some of the fanciest hotels
and I've stayed in many very cheap losmen, I have worked and socialised with
some of the top families and many of the poorest people in the country.

There is not a lot that you, Tchiowa, can tell me about understanding the
culture of Indonesia.


Pete Loud
Down and Out in Jalan Jaksa
http://www.peteloud.co.uk/indonesia/jalan_jaksa.html

Maps of Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Yemen, Iraq, Iran,
Afghanistan, Maldives etc. etc.
Oh, a few good photos too :-)
www.peteloud.co.uk/





"Tchiowa" wrote in message
ups.com...

Pete Loud wrote:
In Yogyakarta, in Central Java, I lived on less than $10 day and that
included my hotel which had a swimming pool, and had at least one beer
with
my dinner.

I travel to experience other cultures not to be, "the life and soul of
the
party", as you put it. I guess what you want out of life and what I want
out
of life are different.

While I understand what your trying to say I find your comment
offensive.

Why is it that you feel that you need to live "poor" in order to
"experience other cultures"? Is that how you view them? Is there some
reason why an Indonesian with a good job is somehow less Indonesian in
your mind? Is there a reason that you can't experience Indonesian
culture and stay at a 3 or 4 star hotel?

I lived in Indonesia for 2 years. I've lived, travelled and worked in
SE Asia for many more years than that. I currently live in Thailand. I
regularly (unfortunately) encounter back-packers who insist on calling
themselves "travellers" (whereas "druggie", "doper", "loser", or
"low-life" might be a better appelation) and who demean locals by
treating them as if they aren't allowed to be anything but poor, mostly
to boost their own egos. I find their behavior more than a little bit
offensive. I also find that they experience and understand very, very
little of the cultures they are looking down on.