Russian tourist killed in India

AwayFromHome · Feb 26th, 2008, 21:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by DUNCAN

Tragic But Not In Vein, Maybe They Wont Try To Rob Westerners Again. I Would Have Done The Same.

Very confused.
You would take the arterial route on non-westerners?

atala · Mar 2nd, 2008, 10:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingstonian

Seriously good point, Atala – they don’t start playing that spooky music to warn you what’s coming …

From a couple of personal experiences (nothing like the same scale as poor Nadezhda and her companions), of knives, not guns, disbelief was my first response. It wouldn’t be easy to think to reach quickly for your money and hand it over if your brain is full of “uuuuhhhhh???????000000”.

Once the shock and disbelief pass, it’s still hard to engage the thinking processes, rather than “instinct”. And there are no rules – each occasion is different. It’s probably better to hand over the money (if that’s what’s wanted), but sometimes it isn’t, and perhaps it’s back to “instinct” to determine the difference …

My own personal rules/practices are:

- try and stay as fit as possible, so your reactions work better
- walk the line – between relaxing and enjoying yourself, keeping alert, and being paranoid (might as well stay home …)
- don’t rely on others’ instincts and opinions: try not to make like a sheep …, but listen to others’ experiences and experts’ advice
- when feeling tired, sick, jet-lagged, culture-shocked, the passing of the years - pay more (catch a taxi …?)
- as and when it occurs to you, mentally rehearse what you could do, in any given situation – but don’t ruminate and dwell on it
- fear paralyses – remind yourself to breathe!
- enjoy!

One very important point here. If a robbery is happening to you, be helpful when a robber wants a ring from your finger or a watch. If you have time, (like in a mass robbery) take watch and ring off before they come to you to hand over. A robber does not mind cutting off your finger or hand, if watch or ring does not come off quickly. Best: Do not wear any gold rings, or none at all.

machadinha · Mar 2nd, 2008, 12:38

Er, yes. And this is helpful advice for say South America. I'm personally not aware of anything much like this going on in India. But it has been established before we don't always share the same views on the place, which can only be for the better, and so I may well be wrong.

My experience with jewellery traveling very low-budget in India was mostly I'd be offered a lot of it as a gift and an obvious token of good intentions by total strangers (simple stuff, that of course was never the point), to my great shame as all I wear has some personal meaning attached to it and so I could never return the favor. I'll make up for it a next time, I promise. And yes, if it hasn't gone broken I still wear it all.

nedhopkins · Mar 3rd, 2008, 12:13

Quote:

If you are robbed, just hand over your valuables and don't try to fight. I got robbed twice in Brazil and cooperating with the robbers worked well.

Yes, but instinct sometimes takes over -- and you fight instead of remaining passive. I, too, was robbed in Brazil -- thrown to the ground and cash, cards, watch taken by three men (one of them in a Policia Militar uniform). I resisted and got bloodied as a result. It could, of course, have been much worse.

The best advice is (1) carry little money and few valuables and (2) always beware of where you are, avoiding dark and isolated places in particular.

atala · Mar 3rd, 2008, 13:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by machadinha

Er, yes. And this is helpful advice for say South America. I'm personally not aware of anything much like this going on in India. But it has been established before we don't always share the same views on the place, which can only be for the better, and so I may well be wrong.
.

First you go into denial, and then into relativating that denial, to again include the possibility. I can tell you gross stories that happened, but avoid it because I will be pointed at as denigrating this wonderful India, where none of these things (can) happen.

Fortunately, they are rare, just as robberies do not happen to everyone. But this is a travel site, and since we do have the opportunity to share experiences and advice, why not do it also regarding the grimmest possible situations?

Nick-H · Mar 3rd, 2008, 14:49

Rose-tinted spectacles are not a pre-requisite of belonging to this forum!

But, on the other hand, some of us are squeamish and don't mind being saved the details.

Anybody who believes that all the slum dwellers, poor village folk, fishing folk, etc are all honest, hospitable folk who would never harm a foreign fly had better get, and stay, lucky. Sorry if that hurts anyone feelings, and I used to be naive too: it has taken hearing about real experiences from my wife and others with a lifetime's experience of India, not to mention reading the newspapers, to open my eyes a bit.

atala · Mar 3rd, 2008, 15:03

Thanks for the support, Nick-H, I agree to all you say, which is why I am only talking advice here.

Mar 2nd, 2008, 12:38	#18
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,024	Er, yes. And this is helpful advice for say South America. I'm personally not aware of anything much like this going on in India. But it has been established before we don't always share the same views on the place, which can only be for the better, and so I may well be wrong. My experience with jewellery traveling very low-budget in India was mostly I'd be offered a lot of it as a gift and an obvious token of good intentions by total strangers (simple stuff, that of course was never the point), to my great shame as all I wear has some personal meaning attached to it and so I could never return the favor. I'll make up for it a next time, I promise. And yes, if it hasn't gone broken I still wear it all. __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Mar 3rd, 2008, 14:49	#21
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,586	Rose-tinted spectacles are not a pre-requisite of belonging to this forum! But, on the other hand, some of us are squeamish and don't mind being saved the details. Anybody who believes that all the slum dwellers, poor village folk, fishing folk, etc are all honest, hospitable folk who would never harm a foreign fly had better get, and stay, lucky. Sorry if that hurts anyone feelings, and I used to be naive too: it has taken hearing about real experiences from my wife and others with a lifetime's experience of India, not to mention reading the newspapers, to open my eyes a bit. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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Mar 3rd, 2008, 15:03	#22
atala Senior Member, 8 yrs in India Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Switzerland, just back from India 2008 Posts: 691	Thanks for the support, Nick-H, I agree to all you say, which is why I am only talking advice here.

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