Going to Brazil, Rio

[lostasor22]

Hi

planning to go rio for solo. im a gal.. how unsafe/safe is brazil rite now?

 

[dilphinus]

Hi

planning to go rio for solo. im a gal.. how unsafe/safe is brazil rite now?

My friend (guy from HK), lives in Rio de Janeiro now. He was followed a few times, and there were several attempts to rob him too.

Another friend, Singaporean guy, went during the World Cup, had his wallet pickpocketed!

 

[lostasor22]

My friend (guy from HK), lives in Rio de Janeiro now. He was followed a few times, and there were several attempts to rob him too.

Another friend, Singaporean guy, went during the World Cup, had his wallet pickpocketed!

oh crap.. how abt the use of gunfire etc? robbing via weapons? how common isit? will the situation improve soon? plans to go to olympics in 2016 leh..

 

[Topaz8]

I love traveling solo and been to many places.

Well, for Brazil your life will be like a lottery if u are alone + girl. Especially if u don't speak Portuguese.

Thief, pick-pocket, etc are small crimes.

Gun robbery, rapes, Spiking your drinks to harvest your organs are another level. Specially if u are alone. No love lost & life is cheap when poverty & corruption is a plenty.

No one to report your lost or last seen. So u will be written off as missing (look at what happened to the case of NUS guy went missing in Athens).

Tell u a story of what Happen to a Taiwan guy on business trip. Was approach by a young guy abt 18yo for some "change". He didn't want to give & gave a comment. The 18yo Brazilian guy took out a gun and shot him in the stomach. Lucky for him his colleague was around saw & took him to a hospital. This is in Sao Paulo.

Brazil, Columbia & S Africa is some scary **** places.

Happy traveling.

p.s. Sorry if i sounded negative. Yes everywhere u go there's risk. Brazil is high risk!
Why did u pick Rio? How abt Peru, Norway, Budapest or Prague?

 

[dilphinus]

I love traveling solo and been to many places.

Well, for Brazil your life will be like a lottery if u are alone + girl. Especially if u don't speak Portuguese.

Thief, pick-pocket, etc are small crimes.

Gun robbery, rapes, Spiking your drinks to harvest your organs are another level. Specially if u are alone. No love lost & life is cheap when poverty & corruption is a plenty.

No one to report your lost or last seen. So u will be written off as missing (look at what happened to the case of NUS guy went missing in Athens).

Tell u a story of what Happen to a Taiwan guy on business trip. Was approach by a young guy abt 18yo for some "change". He didn't want to give & gave a comment. The 18yo Brazilian guy took out a gun and shot him in the stomach. Lucky for him his colleague was around saw & took him to a hospital. This is in Sao Paulo.

Brazil, Columbia & S Africa is some scary **** places.

Happy traveling.

p.s. Sorry if i sounded negative. Yes everywhere u go there's risk. Brazil is high risk!
Why did u pick Rio? How abt Peru, Norway, Budapest or Prague?

She already said she wants to go during the Olympic Games..... So most likely it's for the games.

Peru ain't safe too. A friend is living in Peru. Another friend went to visit. Was rob by two with guns. Gun was pointed at friend's head. Somemore at atas area. Supposedly to be safe.

South Africa ain't that bad. I have lots of friends who grew up in Johannesburg and Cape Town and some other SA's cities.

 

[Topaz8]

She already said she wants to go during the Olympic Games..... So most likely it's for the games.

Peru ain't safe too. A friend is living in Peru. Another friend went to visit. Was rob by two with guns. Gun was pointed at friend's head. Somemore at atas area. Supposedly to be safe.

South Africa ain't that bad. I have lots of friends who grew up in Johannesburg and Cape Town and some other SA's cities.

Oh Paisei. Didn't read following posts.

Was Solo in Cape town & Jo-burg too. Had a good trip. Was advised to stay indoors at night. Was offered a Beretta by a friend living in Camps bay to keep w me but i declined.

Strangely, my experience in Peru was quite alright. Maybe i was lucky.

 

[lostasor22]

I love traveling solo and been to many places.

Well, for Brazil your life will be like a lottery if u are alone + girl. Especially if u don't speak Portuguese.

Thief, pick-pocket, etc are small crimes.

Gun robbery, rapes, Spiking your drinks to harvest your organs are another level. Specially if u are alone. No love lost & life is cheap when poverty & corruption is a plenty.

No one to report your lost or last seen. So u will be written off as missing (look at what happened to the case of NUS guy went missing in Athens).

Tell u a story of what Happen to a Taiwan guy on business trip. Was approach by a young guy abt 18yo for some "change". He didn't want to give & gave a comment. The 18yo Brazilian guy took out a gun and shot him in the stomach. Lucky for him his colleague was around saw & took him to a hospital. This is in Sao Paulo.

Brazil, Columbia & S Africa is some scary **** places.

Happy traveling.

p.s. Sorry if i sounded negative. Yes everywhere u go there's risk. Brazil is high risk!
Why did u pick Rio? How abt Peru, Norway, Budapest or Prague?

oh crap.. tis is so risky.. any idea will the situation improved during the olympics? i noe for world cup, such issues still exist etc, but since oly is on a much bigger scale.. need to order competiton tixs some time early next yr le if i wan to go.. but im really undecided due to such issues

 

[wuso]

..............
........
Brazil, Columbia & S Africa is some scary **** places.

Happy traveling.

p.s. Sorry if i sounded negative. Yes everywhere u go there's risk. Brazil is high risk!

I think that's not just negative, but quite a sweeping statement as well! Sure, some cities are more dangerous than others, but doesn't mean whole country is. And one country spell wrong somemore...

oh crap.. tis is so risky.. any idea will the situation improved during the olympics? i noe for world cup, such issues still exist etc, but since oly is on a much bigger scale.. need to order competiton tixs some time early next yr le if i wan to go.. but im really undecided due to such issues

have you traveled alone before? if not, then mabbe its not the best of places for a newbie to travel alone
if you've traveled solo before, then its the same in other countries - don't go to dark alleys alone; don't wander deserted streets at night, or for some places, avoid going out at night alone totally - if you are staying at hostels, chat up other travelers so that you can go out together etc

I've heard my fair share of horror stories as well, but some I feel is "shooting yourself in the foot", eg. this guy was telling us in the hostel how he got robbed, and when we enquire the details, basically he was coming back after pubbing like 2am or something, semi-drunk and staggering on the streets. Well, good luck! And another case, this guy was robbed clean in broad daylight, but he was trying to cut diagonally across this huge field instead of walking along the road. So right in the middle of the field, some thugs came rushing in and robbed him, and even though its daytime, the cars and pedestrians on the sides of the road are a little too far to notice/hear etc. So go with the crowds is generally a good idea. But the story will go round that this guy is robbed in broad daylight in Dar es Salaam, dar es salaam is a dangerous place!

I am not sure Oly is a much bigger scale than WC, but usually for such big events, petty crimes actually increase. So I would say pickpockets pose the biggest problems becoz of the crowds. Ultimately, still boils down to you and your comfort level ba. But Brazil is a friendly country, although quite expensive.

 

[lostasor22]

I think that's not just negative, but quite a sweeping statement as well! Sure, some cities are more dangerous than others, but doesn't mean whole country is. And one country spell wrong somemore...


have you traveled alone before? if not, then mabbe its not the best of places for a newbie to travel alone
if you've traveled solo before, then its the same in other countries - don't go to dark alleys alone; don't wander deserted streets at night, or for some places, avoid going out at night alone totally - if you are staying at hostels, chat up other travelers so that you can go out together etc

I've heard my fair share of horror stories as well, but some I feel is "shooting yourself in the foot", eg. this guy was telling us in the hostel how he got robbed, and when we enquire the details, basically he was coming back after pubbing like 2am or something, semi-drunk and staggering on the streets. Well, good luck! And another case, this guy was robbed clean in broad daylight, but he was trying to cut diagonally across this huge field instead of walking along the road. So right in the middle of the field, some thugs came rushing in and robbed him, and even though its daytime, the cars and pedestrians on the sides of the road are a little too far to notice/hear etc. So go with the crowds is generally a good idea. But the story will go round that this guy is robbed in broad daylight in Dar es Salaam, dar es salaam is a dangerous place!

I am not sure Oly is a much bigger scale than WC, but usually for such big events, petty crimes actually increase. So I would say pickpockets pose the biggest problems becoz of the crowds. Ultimately, still boils down to you and your comfort level ba. But Brazil is a friendly country, although quite expensive.

ya but i only been solo to jpn n kor which is so solo friendly and safe.. yeah better scale for oly due to the many sports and sportmen from almost all the countries.. plus oso got football in oly ma.. so ya oly many times bigger.. yeah i read tat crime do increase.. but im ok with pickpocket la, kana before, so no feeling le haha.. juz dun bring expensive stuffs..

my only concern is tat i am very afraid of armed robberies and i read abt stories of a grp of ppl following oso jin scary.. tis is the part tat make me undecided leh

 

[dilphinus]

oh crap.. tis is so risky.. any idea will the situation improved during the olympics? i noe for world cup, such issues still exist etc, but since oly is on a much bigger scale.. need to order competiton tixs some time early next yr le if i wan to go.. but im really undecided due to such issues

Maybe you want to try asking a Psychic? It's not like weather forecast, can study the clouds, etc.

ya but i only been solo to jpn n kor which is so solo friendly and safe.. yeah better scale for oly due to the many sports and sportmen from almost all the countries.. plus oso got football in oly ma.. so ya oly many times bigger.. yeah i read tat crime do increase.. but im ok with pickpocket la, kana before, so no feeling le haha.. juz dun bring expensive stuffs..

my only concern is tat i am very afraid of armed robberies and i read abt stories of a grp of ppl following oso jin scary.. tis is the part tat make me undecided leh

You have so little money for pickpocket/robbers to take from, later they angry, will probably be even more aggressive. If you have a lot of valuables for them to take, they will probably just take and leave you alone.

Actually, the decision making process is so simple. You want to take the risk, go. Scared to die, don't go.

 

[lostasor22]

Maybe you want to try asking a Psychic? It's not like weather forecast, can study the clouds, etc.



You have so little money for pickpocket/robbers to take from, later they angry, will probably be even more aggressive. If you have a lot of valuables for them to take, they will probably just take and leave you alone.

Actually, the decision making process is so simple. You want to take the risk, go. Scared to die, don't go.

of cos is scared to die dun wan risk.. but 2016 oly means sth to me la, very impt.. tat y in dilema.. else wun even tink so much..

 

[Topaz8]

I think that's not just negative, but quite a sweeping statement as well! Sure, some cities are more dangerous than others, but doesn't mean whole country is. And one country spell wrong somemore...

Hello fellow traveler,
Pardon my english. I don't suppose your generic statement has any value as well. Anyway, i am sure we meant no harm to anyone here. Just wanted to give a little advice to avoid any unpleasant incident.

Btw So were u in Dar es Salaam?

 

[wuso]

ya but i only been solo to jpn n kor which is so solo friendly and safe.. yeah better scale for oly due to the many sports and sportmen from almost all the countries.. plus oso got football in oly ma.. so ya oly many times bigger.. yeah i read tat crime do increase.. but im ok with pickpocket la, kana before, so no feeling le haha.. juz dun bring expensive stuffs..

my only concern is tat i am very afraid of armed robberies and i read abt stories of a grp of ppl following oso jin scary.. tis is the part tat make me undecided leh

Unfortunately, I think posting here would not help you much then
I have spent 1 week walking around Rio and didn't feel particularly unsafe, but with this one "safe" story, you are gonna read/hear 3x more "horror" stories, so... mabbe you shouldn't post here.....

 

[wuso]

Hello fellow traveler,
Pardon my english. I don't suppose your generic statement has any value as well. Anyway, i am sure we meant no harm to anyone here. Just wanted to give a little advice to avoid any unpleasant incident.

Btw So were u in Dar es Salaam?

Hail traveler,
Oops, pardon mine as well then
what I meant is, Rio/Sao Paolo etc may be more dangerous than other Brazilian cities, doesn't mean all the cities in that country is dangerous (and thus doesn't mean that country is dangerous)

Anyway, yeah, I'm sure none of us meant any harm and really wanted to help, and although opinions are all subjective, I just felt that info/advise should be more balanced/first-hand etc

And yes, I was in Dar, though only for 3days...

 

[Topaz8]

Hail traveler,
Oops, pardon mine as well then
what I meant is, Rio/Sao Paolo etc may be more dangerous than other Brazilian cities, doesn't mean all the cities in that country is dangerous (and thus doesn't mean that country is dangerous)

Anyway, yeah, I'm sure none of us meant any harm and really wanted to help, and although opinions are all subjective, I just felt that info/advise should be more balanced/first-hand etc

And yes, I was in Dar, though only for 3days...

Shalom Wuso,
My 1st trip to Rio (carnival) was almost 18yrs ago & it was rough even to get there. Yes, i guess its more tourist friendly now after they "clean up" for the WC, but to the uninitiated, it may still be a bit challenging.

What would be common sense to you may not be so obvious to others. Just like what u described in your story. (If u see how some of the S'Porean behaved when travel across to JB & got pickpocketed/rob, u will laugh).

After covering 32 countries over the years, i'm still looking forward to discover more places and i appreciate your advice as well.

Do u have a thread in this forum that document your exploits? Maybe we can chat more there.

Sorry for scaring u (lostasor22) and digressing from your topic.

Enjoy your trip to Rio.

Cheers & happy travels!

 

[ShinigamiX]

Hail traveler,
Oops, pardon mine as well then
what I meant is, Rio/Sao Paolo etc may be more dangerous than other Brazilian cities, doesn't mean all the cities in that country is dangerous (and thus doesn't mean that country is dangerous)

Anyway, yeah, I'm sure none of us meant any harm and really wanted to help, and although opinions are all subjective, I just felt that info/advise should be more balanced/first-hand etc

And yes, I was in Dar, though only for 3days...

hmmm.... your nick is juz,

anata hontoni uso-tsuki?

 

[lostasor22]

Unfortunately, I think posting here would not help you much then
I have spent 1 week walking around Rio and didn't feel particularly unsafe, but with this one "safe" story, you are gonna read/hear 3x more "horror" stories, so... mabbe you shouldn't post here.....

i do want to hear horror stories though so at least can prepare myself if i were to go ma.. afterall its going to be 2weeks there if i had to go..

 

[wuso]

Shalom Wuso,
My 1st trip to Rio (carnival) was almost 18yrs ago & it was rough even to get there. Yes, i guess its more tourist friendly now after they "clean up" for the WC, but to the uninitiated, it may still be a bit challenging.

Wow, 18yrs ago! Definitely different then! yup, definitely challenging

After covering 32 countries over the years, i'm still looking forward to discover more places and i appreciate your advice as well.

Do u have a thread in this forum that document your exploits? Maybe we can chat more there.

The world is so big, so no matter how many countries one go to, there will be mutual sharing of info even if 2 people have been to the same place!
No, I don't have a thread here abt my travels, but I do have my own website/blog (in my sig), and I also drop by/moderate another travel forum at sgtravelcafe.com

hmmm.... your nick is juz,

anata hontoni uso-tsuki?

Eh? Sorry, dont understand? whats with the nick?

 

[wuso]

i do want to hear horror stories though so at least can prepare myself if i were to go ma.. afterall its going to be 2weeks there if i had to go..

Ah ok, good, as long as it doesn't scare you from not going