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Sometimes, I wonder about Australians. Many don’t seem to understand the dangers that await travelers in this part of the world, the US and Mexico, etc.
A few years back, I was working in a very small post office in the middle of the desert, west of Phoenix, remote location.
One day out of the blue, a very attractive young woman, around 20, walks in to the post office, no car, which was incredibly bizarre. Other than a gas station/ restaurant, there isn’t much there.
Anyway, I got to talking to her and it turns out she is from Australia, and she was doing a year visiting the US. She landed in Oakland, CA and the plan was to hitch hike, walk, get rides until she made it to NYC many months later. That way, she could see the entire US and experience it all.
Which is good in theory, I guess, but my first thought was: Are you insane?
I think about this woman often, because I think it is incredibly dangerous for a young woman to be traveling by foot alone in the US. She however, didn’t seem to have a care in the world, just assumed that everything is safe like back in Australia?
I sure hope she made it home safely, but it wouldn’t surprise me if she didn’t make it.
It sounds like one of the brothers had lived in California for several years so should have been well acquainted with any dangers in Mexico.
Above post reminds me of how our daughter set off at the age of 22, firstly to Canada and on to London.
Travelled in Europe with friends and alone, then a month by herself in Turkey. Came home via China, Vietnam and Laos.
We were relieved when she got home safely but we would always dread a middle of the night phone call.
There are always risks with living, travellers come to harm regularly in all countries. We had an awful stabbing in Sydney recently, one of the six victims was a Pakistani security guard, one a Chinese student, another from the country of Georgia. Half the victims living here, away from their country of origin.
But with this killing, the poor parents who have lost two sons.
As I age I have less and less desire to travel abroad anymore. God knows there is crime in the States but I just would not feel comfortable on a remote beach in Mexico.
Although the area where they were supposed to surf sounds like a safe'ish enclave, that whole area surrounding Ensenada is dangerous. As someone said, the wild west. Since these appeared to be capable, strapping young men, they may have not felt the danger as others might. But you can't fight off a bullet to the head. The criminals down there are animals and the police are corrupt.
What a tragedy......those poor parents. DON'T TRAVEL TO MEXICO. that's my advice.
The criminals down there are animals and the police are corrupt.
What a tragedy......those poor parents. DON'T TRAVEL TO MEXICO. that's my advice.
Agreed.
The U.S. State Department said in its 2023 report that Americans should “reconsider” travel to Baja California due to kidnapping and crime. The “reconsider” category is the second-worst category, after the department’s “do not travel to” recommendation.
Sometimes, I wonder about Australians. Many don’t seem to understand the dangers that await travelers in this part of the world, the US and Mexico, etc.
A few years back, I was working in a very small post office in the middle of the desert, west of Phoenix, remote location.
One day out of the blue, a very attractive young woman, around 20, walks in to the post office, no car, which was incredibly bizarre. Other than a gas station/ restaurant, there isn’t much there.
Anyway, I got to talking to her and it turns out she is from Australia, and she was doing a year visiting the US. She landed in Oakland, CA and the plan was to hitch hike, walk, get rides until she made it to NYC many months later. That way, she could see the entire US and experience it all.
Which is good in theory, I guess, but my first thought was: Are you insane?
I think about this woman often, because I think it is incredibly dangerous for a young woman to be traveling by foot alone in the US. She however, didn’t seem to have a care in the world, just assumed that everything is safe like back in Australia?
I sure hope she made it home safely, but it wouldn’t surprise me if she didn’t make it.
There was a poll taken, the question was: Who are the most Adventuresome tourists in the world. Australians came out #1 and the British were, I believe, #2.
Americans, at the bottom of the list.
I've driven all over Mexico by car, made 80 trips to Tijuana while living in Las Vegas, spend whole weekends there, walked around the city alone until 4-5am and never an incident, felt completely safe walking alone at 4-5am.
Although the area where they were supposed to surf sounds like a safe'ish enclave, that whole area surrounding Ensenada is dangerous. As someone said, the wild west. Since these appeared to be capable, strapping young men, they may have not felt the danger as others might. But you can't fight off a bullet to the head. The criminals down there are animals and the police are corrupt.
What a tragedy......those poor parents. DON'T TRAVEL TO MEXICO. that's my advice.
Adventure travel is a big thing now. They put everything on instagram. One of these guys had on his social media something like - 'if you don't live on the edge you are taking up too much room'. Chances of bad things happening increase quite a lot with that attitude and confidence.
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