Brasil like Colombia have a pretty bad reputation and like many other places in the world its based on few real stories, I have been arround SA twice for many month ( 6 month a time ) and never had any problem with thief or kidnaping. I live in the US ( close to Miami) and here too we have very bad area where I can warranty you that you will get mug at night and maybe during the day. Don't be paranoiac , don't show too much money at the time, stay in half descent hotel , avoid place with drug ,prostitute or too much alcool and you will be fine.Don't forget that most of the people which will try to scare you never travel to the actual destination .

have a great trip( but watch for banditos)

Even bandits know that tourists mean money to everybody in an area, if you have pocket change given them that and share some food, pose for a picture with them and be on your way UNMOLESTED. They know that if they screw with a tourist that it means Government trouble of a big kind, ok some really desperate ones will want your kit, so give it to them walk away it's not worth your life.

Now let's put things into context: Think of all of the people backpacking or on package holidays or just touring and then think of all of the people that YOU have personally met that have had holiday trouble! and I don't mean drunken fights or romance gone wrong.

What's that oh you only know of 1 or none so that's Millions to one odds with anything going wrong, we even saw it in the WrongWayDown scare mongering Africa oh 'when things go wrong they go wrong quickly' and after 911 we get spoon fed it all the time don't we 'Don't trust your brother man' is what we are being told time after time after time.

Smiles mean a world of hope and love and greeting to everybody, it's built into us like a reflex action, so with everyone you meet do so with a big cheesey sh*t eating grin, works for me everytime Especially at borders or when dealing with the authorities.

Just like this little fella, but then again it could be coz I just look a little retarded.

Very Good Hendi,
In all the places you go, if you don't take care with the people, you can have problems with then.
Everything is going to be OK.

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Robson Giovanni Parisoto.
Fortaleza dos Bruxos Moto Grupo
Visite: http://fortalezadosbruxos.blogspot.com
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Jaborá, SC - Brasil
Fone: +55 (49) 9104-5536
GPS: 27° 10.445' S 51° 44.107' W

Brazil is a great place don't worry about it just be sensible like back home,don't miss the pantanel and iquazzo falls,great wildlife and awesome falls,great people especially Carlos.