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Sex, Alcohol, Motorbikes Killing Tourists


george

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Sex, alcohol and motorbikes killing hundreds of tourists in Thailand

BANGKOK: A volatile mix of Viagra, alcohol and reckless motorbike riding takes a heavy toll on Thailand's tourists, and every year hundreds fail to survive their holiday in the kingdom.

"The tourist death toll amounts to more than two Bali bomb attacks every year just from recklessness," said Steven Martin, co-author of the Lonely Planet Thailand guide book.

"At home people wouldn't dream of having a few margaritas, renting a motorcycle without a license and then riding around in a bikini and no helmet, it's the holiday mind-frame," he said.

Of some 9.7 million tourists who came to Thailand last year, British citizens recorded the highest number of deaths with 148, while there were 137 from the United States, 120 from Germany and 73 from Japan.

Thailand's tourist police recorded only 119 tourist deaths last year, but 10 embassies representing just under half the foreign nationals visiting the kingdom in 2003 reported at least 595 fatalities.

While the causes of death varied -- Japan had a high suicide rate with 13 of its citizens killing themselves in Thailand -- traffic accidents, alcohol and impotency drugs proved to be the biggest killers.

Martin said Thai authorities and the travel industry had worked hard over the past decade to make the kingdom as safe as possible, but it was powerless to enforce common sense.

"Each country is different so even if you think you know how to ride a motorbike well, you might not be used to coconut trucks, stray dogs and livestock at each curve, not to mention the Asian style of driving."

While traffic accidents involving rental bikes are one of the biggest killers, Viagra -- usually mixed with alcohol and physical overload -- is another, according to embassy officials.

Despite government efforts to quash the kingdom's reputation as Asia's red light capital, Thailand continues to attract millions of sex tourists each year, many of them elderly men.

"It's a combination of old age, alcohol, the hot and humid climate in Thailand that Europeans are not used to, certain kinds of medication and above-average physical exhaustion," said Karsten Tietz, head of consul at the German embassy.

"They have fun, they're on their vacation, they drink more than at home and tend to be a lot less cautious."

Travel industry experts say Thailand's disproportionately high tourist death toll is the result of its attracting a huge volume of tourists while also offering high-risk activities typically found in less well-trodden places.

"There are many contributing factors to this," said John Koldowski, spokesman for the Bangkok-based Pacific Asia Travel Association.

"But primarily Thailand is the region's main tourism hub and the bulk of people coming here are geared towards having a good time rather than being here on business."

Diplomats said thousands of tourists injured each year also risked financial problems due to their careless behaviour.

"Drink driving or driving without a licence means that you have broken the law and your insurance will not cover any of your injuries," said Warren Macilwain from the Australian embassy.

"A young man crashed recently in the far north with serious injuries and no insurance and his family could not afford the medivac (medical evacuation) back to Australia," he said. "People forget these things run into tens of thousands of dollars."

Those dealing directly with the victims and their families said they continued to be shocked by the avoidable nature of many of the deaths.

"Every case is different and you never get used to telling a mother her child has died, that your brother has died, it is awful, and usually very traumatic for the family," said Ursula Simon from the German embassy.

"The hardest is when you contact someone and they don't know what to do, or can't talk about it, and especially when the people don't care about the person who has died," she said.

Simon said holidaymakers should not fall into the trap of thinking that different rules abroad meant no rules at all.

"Take the same safety precautions you would at home, but be even more vigilant," she said.

Thai mortician Hirun Phurdnampetch, who has spent more than two decades dealing with the remains of dead tourists from Europe and the United States, has a similar message.

"When a foreigner dies it is usually on a motorbike, riding without skill or protective clothing and usually in the most popular places like Pattaya and Samui, with heart attacks the second biggest cause," said Hirun.

"If they would just not drink so much, be sensible and wear a helmet if they must ride a motorbike, it would mean a lot less work for me."

-- AFP 2004-03-18

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"It's a combination of old age, alcohol, the hot and humid climate in Thailand that Europeans are not used to, certain kinds of medication and above-average physical exhaustion," said Karsten Tietz, head of consul at the German embassy.

Better than a nursing home :o

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:D - so it's sex/viagra plus women, wine & song

what a way to leave this world.

the moto-bike just make it simpler & quick.

better than sitting in a nursing home - eh ??

:o

don't forget the smile after a good romp in the hay.

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:D  - so it's sex/viagra plus women, wine & song

      what a way to leave this world.

      the moto-bike just make it simpler & quick.

      better than sitting in a nursing home - eh ??

:o

      don't forget the smile after a good romp in the hay.

Agree.

Everyone has to leave sooner or later and it's up to them to choose when.

What I am concerned is that there are other people who wants to leave later.

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my us home is key west, it is now spring break. 2 have died so far on "mopeds" many have left their elbows or noses on the pavement. average years, about 5 kids never see their final exams. yes i am old, and well deserved. i'm lucky. my thai gf's sister is dead, motorbike, her father wheelchair, motorbike. i won't do 'em anymore.

love y'all

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Sex, alcohol and motorbikes killing hundreds of tourists in Thailand

BANGKOK: A volatile mix of Viagra, alcohol and reckless motorbike riding takes a heavy toll on Thailand's tourists, and every year hundreds fail to survive their holiday in the kingdom.

"The tourist death toll amounts to more than two Bali bomb attacks every year just from recklessness," said Steven Martin, co-author of the Lonely Planet Thailand guide book.

Thailand's tourist police recorded only 119 tourist deaths last year, but 10 embassies representing just under half the foreign nationals visiting the kingdom in 2003 reported at least 595 fatalities.

This is just another set of statistics from Lonely Planet that I do not believe.

Yes, there are many deaths, both tourists and ex-pats. Is this why there is a discrepancy in figures? Many retirees tend to die out here, because they are OLD. Are they in the embassy figures, but not the police figures, 'cos they're not tourists?

Need more statistical analysis before I stop drinking. (Don't ride when I'm drinking - take a moto-taxi instead :o ). Don't take Viagra - had half-a-cap once, took four hours and two girls to get me back to normal. (And I had minor heart palpitations - never again).

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Don't forget some other causes like.

Plastic Bags suddenly appearing on your head an suffocating you.

Telephone cords trying to strangle you.

Flying lessons from High condo balconies not ending up landing like they should.

Prostitutes sticking holes in you looking for that extra Pan Bath

your wife's so called " Brother" clobbering you on the head. ect..

You don't find those reasons in statistics ??? funny.

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Each has some philosophy of life that seems to suit them...this is a good thing. I, for one, do not want someone legislating my life.

When adults make bad decisions they are still their own decisions...

Only issue that I can see is that all too often there is a negative impact...society on the whole can absorb this and within a short time a death or serious injury will just be another statistic (and these are at best, suspect), nobody will give a crap within two months...family and loved ones are another issue...and again I don't believe it is anyone's business but the family's...this is for accidental events...OD'ing on Viagra, minibike accident, ect...

If most agree that you cannot legislate stupidity or bad decisions then don't try...The current PM and his moral Nazi's are mis-directing and mismanaging their resources as is...don't give them another target!!

Bird Flu what a mess...Mid-night closings, what a mess...kicking the street venders off the streets, privatization of utilities (this is big, big money), religious unrest and militant issues in the south, drugs moving in all directions with no end in site, violations of Basic human rights...and so on and so on

Please don't give them another windmill to chase....

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Last year, suffering from a nasty bout of food poisoning, I had to go to hospital in Pattaya. In my one hour there four foreigners were brought in injured in motorcycle accidents. Unfortunately one was DOA (dead on arrival).

The doctor called this 'an exceptionally quiet night'; it was the middle of the week. He explained that a normal night was about ten injuries to foreigners including three from moto-taxis and up to four deaths per week

Remember this was one hospital in one city.

If anything the Lonely Planet figures may be understated.

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"once upon a time" I rode motorcycles and even did a bit of competition stuff and yes I did ride a bike in the realm a few years back (a good few years in fact) but now you wouldn't catch me on one.

So many people who come and particularly the tourists clearly leave their brains in their home country's as they engage in all manner of stupid things whilst here.

They wouldn't walk on the road at home so why do so here although granted there are so many goddamn motorcycles parked on the footpaths here they don't have too much choice.

I have witnessed a guy (from the old dart) who has been here a number of years a couple of days back here in the north breaking traffic rules because he was just too bloody lazy to go around the klong insteady of driving straight through against the signs, and because he was coming from the direction of his office I dare say he does exactly the same every day or the (and several times a day too)

We have Songkran in less than and the younger tourists will have a brain fade and act like the Thais on their bikes.

Anyways who really gives a shit. The crazy ones at least clearly don't.

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Don't forget some other causes like.

Plastic Bags suddenly appearing on your head an suffocating you.

Telephone cords trying to strangle you.

Flying lessons from High condo balconies not ending up landing like they should.

Prostitutes sticking holes in you looking for that extra Pan Bath

your wife's so called " Brother" clobbering you on the head. ect..

You don't find those reasons in statistics ??? funny.

Dear Zendesigner,

May I encourage you to learn Thai language: :D

-- English - cause of death - Thai version --

- plastic bags - cause of death : cardiac arrest / drawning / sunstroke / hypothermia / flu / swallowing accident leading to suffocation

- flying lessons - cause of death : suicide / drug or alcohol induced accident / loss of balance accident

- strangulation - cause of death : suicide by hanging / drawning / drugs overdose

- holes - cause of death : bronchitis / alcohol or drug induced self inflicted injuries leading to death

- wife brother - cause of death : road accident / suicide / drug induced behavior

They all actually are within the statistics (which probably DO show, at least, about 10% of the actual number of cases, indeed - to be checked further), just under a Thai version. :D

Remember the successful cleaning work of the current government in its anti-drug war. The effects are potent indeed, the prices have risen (...), and only drug dealers & bad people have been killed... and most of them by unidentified people (not the Police), probably other drug dealers. We have to learn these communication skills (5th element) !... :o to understand them.

One thing is certain, I am extremely cautious in Thailand, as everywhere else, of everything I do and everything around me at any time, as I consider it the best way to enjoy a safe & beautiful time here... :D

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George, I think I get your point, incase the others don't. This is just to tell people to keep your head outa your ass when you party. It's not nail you down rules or laws, it's more meant to WAKE YOU UP! :o I like to drink and I love to ride motorcycles, I just don't do them at the same time. OK, so I don't get drunk and ride. One ok, two ok, three and I don't ride. As far as the Viagra stuff, if you're heart is in good shape and you're not a FAT MAN, shouldn't be too much problem. I've heard plenty stories of these German guys getting all loaded up and kicking the bucket in the middle of something. The warnings are there, and if you don't heed them, then there's not much anyone can do. :D

Everyone likes to PARTY, just sometimes it pays to "GET A GRIP"!

on reality, not your other brain! :D

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As being a bartender/hostelreceptionist i'm working in 1 of city finest livemusic bar/hostel "The Last Waterhole" located in the red light district of Smokin' city no: 1...Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Amsterdam is famous about her softdrug-policy, coffeeshops are allmost on every streetcorner and for a few bucks you buy the "best" weed/hash in the world and with a couple of beers aswell, you can have a wonderfull time.

But it happen more than occasionally, that tourist are stuppid as *f* and getting in trouble for nothing, because they are "losing their heads". As soon they dropped their backpacks, they will disapear in the nightlive of Amsterdam. I would do the same, but stay allert aswell, especially in a new environment. But there are always people who know better, and will think" nothing will happend to me.

For those people we have the Thai expression "Som Nam Naa"

For the statistics 590 people out of 9.8 mln???

Last year 1563 people died in traffic in Holland (pop: 16.5 mln) most of the time alcohol was involved.

Have a good Song kran, have a drink of ....... :o

But please don't drive

Kc

Bartender

The Last Waterhole

Amsterdam

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YES ,marto.

It is called condom :o

Hmm... Let me generalize...... Viagra+helmet /condom?/+ motor bike+ a few drops alcohol /or jet-fuel?/... sounds like a lot of troubles for all female, male and shemale.... And before that I'll write on my right hand - "Marto - if you can read this notice - DO NOT touch anyone with braun uniform+badge!" :D

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I read this a while back on Asia Bugle:

Many tourists, only here for the beach and temples, inadvertently allow their mind to drift towards their sexual fantasies. It's too much staring at coconut palms that does it! Resolving those fantasies is possible, but not quite as simple as you may think. Recently, an acquaintance suffered a heart attack after a night spent in search of fantasy. Knowing the guy was a reasonably fit person, I asked him what on earth he had done. "Two Viagra, two ecstasy and five eighteen-year-olds," was his reply. He may just have deserved it, but I suppose it's not a bad way to go! He is now fully recovered, and interestingly his doctors, while warning him off the ecstasy, said the Viagra was okay!

Gotta love it... :D

Or not... :o

Enjoy,

MP

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Thailand's tourist police recorded only 119 tourist deaths last year, but 10 embassies representing just under half the foreign nationals visiting the kingdom in 2003 reported at least 595 fatalities.

Did any "farangs" get officially murdered in the Realm last year? :D

Are Permanent Residents included among tourist fatalities or are they survivalists? :o

Snowleopard.

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let us face it guys, during the european summer, when there is the "bike season", hundreds of victims, deaths or badly injured cases occur there every year. Not so much because of alcohol or viagra but mainly on juvenile strengh measuring, high spirits, showing off with a big bike and simply carelessness, recklessness or even criminal negligence.

Living and enjoying my present home Thailand, I dont refrain from driving my bike, dont refrain from sex and do not refrain from alcohol. But, and that is the philosophy, anyone of them at its time.

No one of us can afford an accident neither way.

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Well its a great laugh to read all of that, better than Morcome and Wise(yes Im English) But all these Farang are quite crazy here, in the sun, in the drink, in the sex, in the shit mostly. I live far north, poor villages, The Thai driving gets worse and worse, it begins to frighten me. As a long time driver, I survive, I by learned defesive driving, watching out for the idiots who do not know, do not have the experience! I am a Buddhist, and its a burden some times, A farang who's not a buddhist???? does he care? But my view is , too many f***ing tourist, sod everything up mostly, But I do laugh when I see the old Farang on the bikes, Wind blowing thier hair all over the place! Too embariesed to go to pick it Up!!!!!!

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Dumb and dumber

Funny how guys dont load up with grog and pills before playing football- rugby - sports (normally) -

however they load up on grog, cigerettes and pills and have sex (more physically demanding)

Its like drag racing with the handbrake on - it puts a real strain on the motor

Talk about dumb and dumber

Drink and driving - a problem - as drunks usually hit something and 9 times out of 10 its someone that hasnt been drinking - poor dog - pole - family

I tried to tell all this to the motor cycle taxi driver and he just looked at me stupid and said mai kow chai

i kept saying TIT TIT -

Mr Taxin are u listening - ban all non drinking people and dogs from the streets of Bangkok - round up all V takers and send to the Entertainment Plaza for a complete physical

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