| You've been pick-pocketed. You lost your | | | | get run down? Major Asian cities will usually have |
| passport, or you've had an accident and smashed | | | | modern hospitals that are equal in quality to any |
| up that cute little rental car. Maybe you had too | | | | hospital in the West. If you are in a rural, |
| much to drink and ran afoul of the local | | | | less-developed area though, you may run into |
| authorities. Emergencies of all sorts do occur while | | | | some difficulty getting to a modern medical |
| traveling, and some advance preparation and | | | | facility. The first thing to do is to find out before |
| understanding of Asian culture and law is in order. | | | | you leave, whether your medical insurance covers |
| Victim of a crime? | | | | you while traveling in Asia, and if not, get |
| In many of the major Asian destinations, the | | | | supplemental coverage. Be aware as well that |
| crime rate is no worse than in the West, and | | | | foreign hospitals are likely to require payment up |
| often better. It's often said that in Tokyo, you | | | | front for services. |
| can leave your wallet on the subway turn style | | | | If you use a prescription medication, you may not |
| and come back the next day and find it still there. | | | | be able to refill it while overseas, so be sure to |
| Nonetheless, crime occurs everywhere, and it's | | | | take enough with you to last. Also, if you use any |
| best to be on your guard. Petty theft or | | | | common over-the-counter medications, these too |
| pickpocketing may be common in some areas, so | | | | many not be readily available, so pack extra. |
| beware. Keep your wallet and money safe (never | | | | Driving Emergencies |
| in your back pocket), and keep your passport | | | | You may want to rent a car once you get to |
| locked in the hotel safe and carry only a | | | | your destination-although in the biggest cities, |
| photocopy in case you need it to show the | | | | public transportation will be readily available. If you |
| authorities. | | | | do rent a car, understand that local traffic laws |
| If you are a victim of a crime, then it may be a | | | | may not be the same as back home, and even if |
| little confusing. You may not know how to | | | | they are, locals may not pay attention to them. |
| summon the police, or how to speak to them | | | | Drive with extreme caution at all times. If you do |
| when they arrive. Your hotel will probably have an | | | | get into an auto accident, the authorities are likely |
| English-speaking concierge, so keep the name and | | | | to consider you to be at fault regardless of the |
| phone number of your hotel with you whenever | | | | circumstances, because you are a foreigner, and |
| you go out-they can usually help you with advice | | | | if you were not visiting in the first place, the |
| and in speaking with the authorities if necessary. | | | | accident would not have occurred. |
| Your embassy will also be able to help, so keep | | | | Depending on where you are, traffic police may |
| their number handy as well. Also, in some | | | | see a foreigner driving a vehicle as an opportunity. |
| destinations, there are special "tourist police" | | | | Bribery is rampant in some Asian cities, and you |
| agencies, with English-speaking officers that | | | | may get pulled over for questioning. If this |
| specialize in helping foreigners. | | | | happens, you have two options. You can go along |
| Commit a crime? | | | | with it, and possibly get pulled into the local police |
| The first and most important thing to know in | | | | station, or you can do what many of them |
| advance is that no matter where you are | | | | expect, which is to slip some paper currency |
| traveling, you must stay in compliance with the | | | | under your passport as you hand it to them and |
| local laws, even if they differ from the laws back | | | | be on your way. |
| home. You do have an obligation to stay within | | | | A Few Tips for Staying Safe and Sane |
| the law, and don't assume that as an American | | | | · Be adventurous, but safe-know where |
| you'll get special treatment, or that your embassy | | | | you are at all times and what the risks are. For |
| will get you out of trouble-it doesn't work that | | | | example, wandering aimlessly through the jungle in |
| way. Asian prisons are full of Westerners who | | | | parts of Cambodia or Laos is not a good idea, |
| made that assumption. If you do break the law, | | | | there are still active land mines left over from the |
| intentionally or unintentionally, don't lose your | | | | war. |
| temper. Stay calm and don't try to bully your | | | | · If you are traveling with other people, |
| way out of it. Be respectful, and contact your | | | | it's easy to get lost or separated, and if you're in |
| embassy for assistance. | | | | an unfamiliar place, it can be a frightening |
| Be aware of the local law as well as custom. In | | | | experience. It's usually easy to rent a short-term |
| Thailand for example, there is a strict lèse | | | | cell phone just for use for the duration of your |
| majesté law, which makes it illegal to | | | | trip, so make sure everyone in your party has |
| speak against the king or to deface his image. | | | | one. |
| There have been many cases of tourists doing | | | | · Register with your local embassy upon |
| just that, and winding up in a very disagreeable | | | | arrival. Although it's not mandatory, doing so will |
| prison. The king himself tends to be good-hearted | | | | make you accessible in case of emergency, or if |
| about such infractions and will often issue a | | | | someone back home needs to contact you. |
| pardon, but not before the perpetrator has spent | | | | · Your credit card company may have a |
| a little time behind bars. | | | | "travel emergency service" that can be useful. It |
| Need a doctor? | | | | is often available at no charge, and you may |
| Eat a few too many of the local fried beetles? | | | | already have it. The service may include a local |
| Chile peppers burn a hole in your stomach? Forget | | | | contact number and English-speaking assistance. |
| that pedestrians don't have the right-of-way and | | | | |