Comments on: How to deal with Your Bus Getting Hijacked (and Other Dangers) While Living Abroad http://matadorabroad.com/how-to-deal-with-your-bus-getting-hijacked-and-other-dangers-while-living-abroad/ study abroad programs Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:17:56 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: pacific_waters http://matadorabroad.com/how-to-deal-with-your-bus-getting-hijacked-and-other-dangers-while-living-abroad/comment-page-1/#comment-2145 pacific_waters Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:13:53 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=43#comment-2145 Considering the legal system in Ecuador I'd think twice about carrying a gun. It's not that easy to get one and if you are stopped with an illegal one during the frequent police stops of buses in certain areas life could take some unpleasant turns. Give them your cash and consider yourself lucky. I never take the bus in Ecuador. Everybody thinks it's a great adventure but pick pockets abound and depending on the area, so do robbers. A friend of mine was held up at gunpoint across the street from the Swiss Hotel in Quito while cops stood across the street watching. The coast is infamous for robberies at night. Considering the legal system in Ecuador I’d think twice about carrying a gun. It’s not that easy to get one and if you are stopped with an illegal one during the frequent police stops of buses in certain areas life could take some unpleasant turns. Give them your cash and consider yourself lucky. I never take the bus in Ecuador. Everybody thinks it’s a great adventure but pick pockets abound and depending on the area, so do robbers. A friend of mine was held up at gunpoint across the street from the Swiss Hotel in Quito while cops stood across the street watching. The coast is infamous for robberies at night.

(Report comment)

]]> By: Pinx http://matadorabroad.com/how-to-deal-with-your-bus-getting-hijacked-and-other-dangers-while-living-abroad/comment-page-1/#comment-557 Pinx Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:10:41 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=43#comment-557 Very well said! I've been in the same situation with (believe it or not) Pirates! Sometimes giving up some small materialistic things to save your life is a really small price to pay. Very well said! I've been in the same situation with (believe it or not) Pirates! Sometimes giving up some small materialistic things to save your life is a really small price to pay.

(Report comment)

]]> By: Pinx http://matadorabroad.com/how-to-deal-with-your-bus-getting-hijacked-and-other-dangers-while-living-abroad/comment-page-1/#comment-556 Pinx Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:02:38 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=43#comment-556 I can bet your an American! I can bet your an American!

(Report comment)

]]> By: Pinx http://matadorabroad.com/how-to-deal-with-your-bus-getting-hijacked-and-other-dangers-while-living-abroad/comment-page-1/#comment-555 Pinx Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:00:29 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=43#comment-555 Now thats a place you really need to be careful! Now thats a place you really need to be careful!

(Report comment)

]]> By: Jean-Michel http://matadorabroad.com/how-to-deal-with-your-bus-getting-hijacked-and-other-dangers-while-living-abroad/comment-page-1/#comment-554 Jean-Michel Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:12:03 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=43#comment-554 hijack* =) hijack* =)

(Report comment)

]]> By: Jean-Michel http://matadorabroad.com/how-to-deal-with-your-bus-getting-hijacked-and-other-dangers-while-living-abroad/comment-page-1/#comment-553 Jean-Michel Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:10:14 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=43#comment-553 BE AWARE! There are things you should be aware of, just like you wouldn't take a bus late night in the upper part of NYC. Wherever you'll be there will always be risky situations, more or less dangerous. The only effective way of preventing from being trapped in some life threatening situation, is to be the most informed as you could be. ASK the locals, talk to them, or even better be accompanied. Forget about the travelers book, they're never gonna tell you about such things, their goals arent to scare people. Because when you're in a high jack situation, it's already too late... Good reaction Jon, but i believe there were ways you could have avoid puting your life in danger, simply by being more informed. BE AWARE! There are things you should be aware of, just like you wouldn't take a bus late night in the upper part of NYC. Wherever you'll be there will always be risky situations, more or less dangerous. The only effective way of preventing from being trapped in some life threatening situation, is to be the most informed as you could be. ASK the locals, talk to them, or even better be accompanied. Forget about the travelers book, they're never gonna tell you about such things, their goals arent to scare people. Because when you're in a high jack situation, it's already too late… Good reaction Jon, but i believe there were ways you could have avoid puting your life in danger, simply by being more informed.

(Report comment)

]]> By: Julio Tello http://matadorabroad.com/how-to-deal-with-your-bus-getting-hijacked-and-other-dangers-while-living-abroad/comment-page-1/#comment-552 Julio Tello Thu, 06 Nov 2008 08:20:30 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=43#comment-552 I run a travel service which brings students and adventurer's to Peru, none of them have ever been robbed simply because you have to know some basic rules: 1. Travel in large groups and don't wear your jewels 2. always look like you know where you are going. if you are lost go into a restaurant or cafe and look at your map and ask for directions. 3. Do not travel at night unless you know the driver, passenger and have all doors locked. Or are taking a high end bus company non stop to a location. avoid public transportation at night. 4 blend in with the locals, try studying local styles and dress down if you have to. 5. Never show how much money you are carrying, keep it in coins. have a friend watch your back at atms. 6. Unless your superman do not fight back, you are always outnumbered even if you think you are not. 7. learn some first aid you could save your own or someone else's life. 8. study the language religiously, the less accent you have the more others think your are local and broke. hope this helps. you did the right thing, i hope the guy who got stabbed is alright. The robbers will always get whats coming to them, it's the universes way, let it take care of them. if you want to be the hero learn first aid, attempt to memorize the face of your attackers and any vehicle ids. I run a travel service which brings students and adventurer's to Peru, none of them have ever been robbed simply because you have to know some basic rules: 1. Travel in large groups and don't wear your jewels 2. always look like you know where you are going. if you are lost go into a restaurant or cafe and look at your map and ask for directions. 3. Do not travel at night unless you know the driver, passenger and have all doors locked. Or are taking a high end bus company non stop to a location. avoid public transportation at night. 4 blend in with the locals, try studying local styles and dress down if you have to. 5. Never show how much money you are carrying, keep it in coins. have a friend watch your back at atms. 6. Unless your superman do not fight back, you are always outnumbered even if you think you are not. 7. learn some first aid you could save your own or someone else's life. 8. study the language religiously, the less accent you have the more others think your are local and broke. hope this helps. you did the right thing, i hope the guy who got stabbed is alright. The robbers will always get whats coming to them, it's the universes way, let it take care of them. if you want to be the hero learn first aid, attempt to memorize the face of your attackers and any vehicle ids.

(Report comment)

]]> By: voralak http://matadorabroad.com/how-to-deal-with-your-bus-getting-hijacked-and-other-dangers-while-living-abroad/comment-page-1/#comment-551 voralak Tue, 04 Nov 2008 04:44:41 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=43#comment-551 Thanks for sharing this - can't imagine that it was an easy thing to do. Hope you are doing okay. Thanks for sharing this – can't imagine that it was an easy thing to do. Hope you are doing okay.

(Report comment)

]]> By: brian from nodebtwor http://matadorabroad.com/how-to-deal-with-your-bus-getting-hijacked-and-other-dangers-while-living-abroad/comment-page-1/#comment-550 brian from nodebtwor Sun, 02 Nov 2008 02:28:26 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=43#comment-550 Wow...Jon's case is an extreme one. I don't think he could have done anything differently. He happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. You can't plan for everything. Wow…Jon's case is an extreme one. I don't think he could have done anything differently. He happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. You can't plan for everything.

(Report comment)

]]> By: VagabonderZ http://matadorabroad.com/how-to-deal-with-your-bus-getting-hijacked-and-other-dangers-while-living-abroad/comment-page-1/#comment-549 VagabonderZ Tue, 21 Oct 2008 22:12:29 +0000 http://matadorabroad.com/?p=43#comment-549 Buses are used by low income and poor people? That's a rather grand generalisation. A lot of people (myself included) make it a conscious choice, not related at all to financial situation. And I have to argue with your statement that its a mistake to take buses. How many travelers have taken buses and trains in foreign countries and NOT been assaulted or robbed? If you had the stats and figured the percentage I am pretty confident 99.99% do NOT have a life threatening experience. This is fear mongering. Sure, taking a night bus in Ecuador was perhaps a bad decision (as attested to by the Ecuadorian) but you can't just say DON'T EVER TAKE BUSES. That's just ignorant. Buses are used by low income and poor people? That's a rather grand generalisation. A lot of people (myself included) make it a conscious choice, not related at all to financial situation. And I have to argue with your statement that its a mistake to take buses. How many travelers have taken buses and trains in foreign countries and NOT been assaulted or robbed? If you had the stats and figured the percentage I am pretty confident 99.99% do NOT have a life threatening experience. This is fear mongering. Sure, taking a night bus in Ecuador was perhaps a bad decision (as attested to by the Ecuadorian) but you can't just say DON'T EVER TAKE BUSES. That's just ignorant.

(Report comment)

]]>