The Travelling Fairy DancerWhich Bag Travels With You?
August 25th 2008 07:31
(And is it safe?)
A small backpack gaped open like an inviting treasure chest, swinging loosely from a woman's shoulders. At the top, a shiny new video camera glistened in the sun and the hint a of leather wallet poked out from the side.
Quicker than two blinks of the eye, a hand snatched the items and disappeared within the mass of bodies staring up at magnificent, European architecture.
Seconds later, the woman's arm reached behind her to her rather empty bag. I watched as her hand became confused by the empty space, moving rapidly around in the darkness. Finally, she took the bag off to look inside and her face crumbled into anxious distress. Uselessly, she looked around with frantic hope, until the obvious became apparent and the tour group she was with began to yell in unison about the injustice of being robbed in broad daylight.
I had been sipping hot chocolate at a nearby restaurant, watching the drama unfold. The whole scene took a matter of seconds. It's that easy for many pick-pockets.
The debate about what's safest rages constantly. Money belt? Bum bag? Locks on the backpack? Backpack worn on the front? While I would never leave a backpack open, on my back, in a large crowd, I don't go as far as wearing money belts under my clothes. They are far too uncomfortable for me.
I prefer the long, over-the-shoulder bags, with my hand on it in obvious, high risk areas such as major tourist spots. I never put it down on a table or a chair next to me when dining (lap is safest), I never leave it, for even a second, unattended and I don't leave it hanging free when on a scooter, in a tuk tuk or even a cyclo.
I haven't had anything stolen in all my travels and I'm unbelievably thankful for my good luck. Stories circulate of items being stolen from locked, 5 star hotel rooms, bag straps cut from bodies by rogue motorcycle bandits and even expensive watches disappearing magically from wrists (without a magician in sight). Luck does seem to play a large part.
But you can, at least, deter thieves. Don't take, wear or carry your most expensive and glamorous items. Don't leave zips open (especially when a bag is on your back) and don't ever, for even a second, leave your belongings unattended. This, plus some common sense, helps; you can only tempt fate, and pick pockets, so far.
A small backpack gaped open like an inviting treasure chest, swinging loosely from a woman's shoulders. At the top, a shiny new video camera glistened in the sun and the hint a of leather wallet poked out from the side.
Quicker than two blinks of the eye, a hand snatched the items and disappeared within the mass of bodies staring up at magnificent, European architecture.
Seconds later, the woman's arm reached behind her to her rather empty bag. I watched as her hand became confused by the empty space, moving rapidly around in the darkness. Finally, she took the bag off to look inside and her face crumbled into anxious distress. Uselessly, she looked around with frantic hope, until the obvious became apparent and the tour group she was with began to yell in unison about the injustice of being robbed in broad daylight.
I had been sipping hot chocolate at a nearby restaurant, watching the drama unfold. The whole scene took a matter of seconds. It's that easy for many pick-pockets.
The debate about what's safest rages constantly. Money belt? Bum bag? Locks on the backpack? Backpack worn on the front? While I would never leave a backpack open, on my back, in a large crowd, I don't go as far as wearing money belts under my clothes. They are far too uncomfortable for me.
I prefer the long, over-the-shoulder bags, with my hand on it in obvious, high risk areas such as major tourist spots. I never put it down on a table or a chair next to me when dining (lap is safest), I never leave it, for even a second, unattended and I don't leave it hanging free when on a scooter, in a tuk tuk or even a cyclo.
I haven't had anything stolen in all my travels and I'm unbelievably thankful for my good luck. Stories circulate of items being stolen from locked, 5 star hotel rooms, bag straps cut from bodies by rogue motorcycle bandits and even expensive watches disappearing magically from wrists (without a magician in sight). Luck does seem to play a large part.
But you can, at least, deter thieves. Don't take, wear or carry your most expensive and glamorous items. Don't leave zips open (especially when a bag is on your back) and don't ever, for even a second, leave your belongings unattended. This, plus some common sense, helps; you can only tempt fate, and pick pockets, so far.
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