5 Stories When Travel Has Gone Horribly Wrong

Travel is exotic, glamorous and fun right? Well yes, but not always. Things can, and often do, go wrong and lead to some pretty interesting situations. But hey, they always make for a good story looking back! Here we have some anonymous stories of ‘uh-oh’ moments and the lessons you can learn from them!

Different cultures may not appreciate your dress sense.

One traveller tells the tale of how, one very hot night in Korea she had undone the top of her shirt to let a little air in, only to be slapped on the chest by an elderly lady in the market.

Not all places will have the hygiene standards you are used to.

Trying the local delicacies? Good work, throw yourself into the culture. Just be careful you don’t end up with more than you bargained for, like the guy who bought a full grilled rat at a local marker and presented it to his friends for dinner. They politely declined the offer so he indulged only to realise on closer inspection it was crawling with maggots!

Smiling locals aren’t always just being friendly.

Walking down a mountainside and encountering local tribal women who laugh and chat and joke with you. A traveller’s dream right? Not when they then harass you to buy things from them, then demand you buy something from each one of them, then chase you down said mountainside!

Massages vary in pressure (and pain).

No matter what the laminated menu may say, a massage in Thailand is probably going to hurt. After selecting ‘Swedish (relaxation)’ from the list, one traveler ended up with a petit Thai lady driving her elbows, arms, knees, and even feet, deep into his muscles and joints. Even once the pain subsided he was left cracking and popping for days!

Not every story ends with a laugh.

Where we can find humour in most things that happen, sometimes things get a little more serious. One poor girl told the tale of her slow boat journey through Laos. What started as a relaxing and scenic trip descended into a nightmare when an elderly passenger died on board; a stark reminder that unfortunately it’s not always just fun and games.

By Amy Leonard