Wake up and smell the coffee brother - it was your "girl friend". You seem painfully naive - but it's not your fault your from Des Moines.

Just to wear a MONEY BELT is a sign of an inexperienced traveller. For me, it is weakness. Weakness smells - it makes you a target.

Why wouldn't you just carry the $$ in your pant's front pocket - just like at home?

Always carrying a nice sum of cash in your pocket (min. US$ 1.000) is an advice many "success gurus" will give to you.

It will give you a healthier attitude towards money - about MAKING MORE money, and not about LOSING LESS money. Money does have a smell - a smell of strength. Believe me, it works!

And a side-effect: If you really get robbed, you'd be happy to give away some $$ (give 200$ from the right pocket first). Or you may need to seriously pay your way out of big trouble - at a border, in an accident, ....$ For the tough traveller, there is still a lot of things, credit cards can't buy.

Giving away a lot of cash could make your life a lot easier - and longer.


My advice: ALWAYS carry cash with you.

Gato next time when you feel the urge for travelling... stay home, subscribe on the Discovery channel and stop messing up the HUBB.

Hey Gato

You wouldnt want to meet these guys on a dark night would you? These are the type who would pass without stopping if they saw a biker broken down by the side of the road.

You've survived so far....well done! I see on your website that you're asking for money for your bike trips - can you send me some money for mine? Thanks.

Your posts are extremely skilfully done - are you a dryfly fisherman by any chance?

Hey Gatogato
Just read your ride report.Liked that..well done.
Bill Bryson says your home town is the most boring place in the world.You better start saving for your next trip.

__________________
Dean

If i have had to carry cash, i have always used money belt that sits on my waist.
I try and put this on under my cloth. iIt is best to keep your cash as close to you
as possible. I think the man was not happy in his life who theft your money,and
will not be happy in future. But in my opinion, you should be having a serious
discussion with your girlfriend.

Because everyone from Cali is a brain surgeon, What a twat.

__________________
www.EaracheMotorsports.com

Hey give the guy a break, I'm sure it came out wrong. I screw up a lot, I've been mugged 5 times in my life and had it all, had knives drawn, I've even had brick thrown at my head and my face kicked to a mess. I only ever had myself to blame for those situations... is the conclusion I gather in retrospect.

Anyhow the point this guy is trying to make is don't make the same mistake he made. Ignore all the other details of the porter or the girlfriend or the fact he's in South America.

Imprudence = will catch you off guard.

I was reading one of the great blogs on here and winced at the story of a few bikers, and a couple of bikers who had their rucksacks taken whilst in a cafe in africa (not sure which country... but not important). They had their wallets, passports, carnets ... well frankly everything taken. The restaurateur said it was their own fault for not being more diligent.

What more can be said? Be paranoid, until you get home.

__________________
Neil's in... (the website)
Also you can follow me on Neil's in... on FaceBook, Neilisin on YouTube,
@NeilSnaps on Instagram or NeilisTweetin Twitter.

man, we travelled extensively in sth america, carried cash (anything between lots and bugger all) wherever and whenever necessary without resorting to paranoia. went where we felt like going.
all you need to do is use your noggin. that's your head. paranoia is bad for you and those around you.
cheers,
andy

__________________
www.outforaspin.blogspot.com

When I was in Istanbul, I gave my wallet (with all my money) and documents to a stranger at the door, to look after (you are not allowed to take things with you into the building)

Only after he was out of sight, did I have a moment of doubt - he was still there, smiling, with all my stuff, when I got back 10 minutes later.

When I was in Zimbabwe, I paid a group of street boys the equivalent of £1 to look after ALL my and my brother's things, including helmets, bags, etc.

We got delayed, and only got back hours later. They were still there. And so was all our stuff.

In Mozambique, I gave our passports to a complete stranger, with money for visas, because he said he could help us.

He disappeared into the crowds. I waited, and waited... and started to think how stupid I was - when he returned, with our passports, and all our stamps and permits sorted.

In Johannesburg, I lost my wallet with a weeks worth of wages in cash, in a flea market.

It never occured to me that it was stolen, I knew I had LOST it... and when I went back, to retrace my steps - one of the stall owners had my wallet, with all the money still in it...

A black man had picked it up, and given it to him, asking him to ring the phone number in the wallet to try and return it to its owner.


I can go on for several pages, accepting lifts from strangers on my own, giving money to people to look after, lost money returned etc. etc. etc.... and then...



In Botswana, we kept our camera equipment in a trailer, LOCKED UP with THREE padlocks, inside secured PELI cases and we never let it out of our sight. We were completely paranoid about security.

At the border, in a blink of an eye - in the time it took to sort our passports out, in full view of guards / public... someone had jimmied the locks, and stolen the peli cases. £20,000 worth of kit.


In London, we kept our new 125cc locked up, in a residence only, gated parking area, under a bike cover. We were completely paranoid about security. Got stolen within a few weeks of owning it.

The only time EVER I got money stolen from me whilst I was travelling, was when I was completely paranoid about security... I had it in a LOCKED money belt, inside my rucksack, and I SLEPT ON TOP OF MY RUCKSACK... £400 stolen. Whilst I was sleeping, someone slit the bag open, right under my head.



My experience may be unique -- but I believe, you reap what you sow.

Perhaps paranoia has a smell... and opportunist can pick you out.

Perhaps trust, inspires trust, and fosters pride and kindness and compassion.

__________________

XT girl,

Nice post. So far my experience exactly.

__________________
How much does a man live, after all?
Does he live a thousand days, or one only?
For a week, or several centuries?
How long does a man spend dying?
What does it mean to say “forever”? - Pablo Neruda

reminds me of the story of some royal jewels that were sent in 2 ways Number one was fake. with all of security . the second was way was just by everyday mail. Guess which one got taken? The one with security. That was 120 years ago I think. Leaving cash in a strange land in a house is asking for trouble. Putting in a bank account would have left secure. there s tons of banks that you can access your cash anywhere in the world. Doorman, girlfriend or one of her friends. You left a small fortune by their standards laying around . Bad things happen everywhere. In place such SA, cuba india etc woman will hock up with guys from europe, usa, canada just to be taken care of. For the dream of our lands they ll fake love letting lust cloud a the guys minds. A sugar daddy. From what I understand down SA way 1 buck a days is what some people live on.

.....

__________________
http://www.journeyrider.net Latin America blog (07-8)

I got a puncture last week in Australia, my advise is to
be very careful here people, it's a dangerous place, keep your wits about you always, maybe you shouldn't come here altogether, You might get a puncture too. FFS.

__________________
Ride on
Kev

Hello,
Now a days handling cash while traveling is really quite risky. According to me it is particularly not only in SA but allover the world, people are facing same type of problem.Credit cards are better option for this.But hurting tourists like this, felts quite guilty about it and take immediate actions to stop this.
Thanks