Bad Travel Experiences

[AdamGT]

If you’ve travelled a lot, as I have, you will no doubt have had some bad experiences. I wrote about this topic before in my Local Guides’ bad experiences post. I’ve had a few bad experiences (Indonesia, Egypt, Poland, Turkey, Italy, US) and as in just a few days time I’m about to travel overseas again, in conversation with a couple of others, one particular bad experience came up. I didn’t share too many details in that discussion but as you will see from some snippets of that discussion below, some, including @iyudhi and @SP31 were keen to know:

Ivan wrote…

@AdrianLunsong chimed in and added…

Well I thought that this story might be a good read for others here so here goes…

What happened?

Some years back now I was on a biz trip to Kuching after which I was to meet my family holidaying in Bali. My flights were Melbourne > Singapore > Kuching > Bali > Melbourne. I think that order is right. Anyway, while wandering around in Singapore, I came across a too good to refuse deal on Nike (or look alike Nike) shoes. Not knowing the correct size of my then wife and 2 kids, I decided to buy a few pairs. My son at the time was also a collector of Nikes. Back then I didn’t understand why but knowing the prices of collector Nikes today I sure do know why now.

Anyway I bought something like 12 pairs of these “Nike” shoes, some just to wear around and several really beautiful looking others for my son to add to his collection. Under instructions, those for his collection needed to be kept in their original boxes. Of course I ended up needing an extra suitcase, quite a large one at that. So with that excess baggage I continued on my journey. The first problem was with customs in Kuching but we’ll save that story for another day!

When I arrived in Bali, customs opened the “Nike” suitcase and all hell broke loose!! Several customs officers started yelling at me in a foreign tongue and immediately thereafter, machinegun armed, airport police surrounded me. It was a very hot a humid day as it so often is in Bali, not accepting my explanation, I was escorted into an interrogation office where I was questioned by an even larger sized human, protected by two of these machinegun armed police officers. It was then that I learned that I was being accused/charged with wanting to bring goods for sale into Bali which I was told was a no, no!!! I needed Australian consulate-general help to get out of this but as it was a Sunday, all this took time. Cutting a long story short, eventually, I was allowed entry into Bali but with only 4 pairs of those beautiful fake Nikes to enjoy the rest of what was to be a short holiday after a biz trip.

Thereafter I had visions of some 8 machinegun armed, uniformed Indonesian Police officers with big smiles on their faces, roaming the streets of Bali, proudly showcasing my “Nikes”

I’m about to go into a foreign country with a large suitcase full of some 40+ identical items and just praying that Adrian’s prediction doesn’t become a reality LOL. If the Top 100 leaderboards are not posted by the end of the first week in November, you’ll know I’m in BIG trouble

Have you ever experienced anything like this yourself?

[SP31]

That’s QUITE the tale, @AdamGT - considering the craze and obsession with sneakers (especially Nikes) im shocked they took such an approach to you having all those pairs! Makes me wonder how they react when it is actually something serious . Really unfortunate that they confiscated so many of the pairs that you had, but glad you’re still here to tell the tale . Appreciate you sharing this!

[AdamGT]

In hindsight, perhaps I should have know better @SP31 and I’m not all too sure that they then appreciated the craze with Nikes. I have to say though, even though I purchased them at a good price, it was still an expensive exercise but at the time, I was more worried about ending up inKerobokan Prison. I too am glad I’m hear to tell the story Steve. While I don’t know if the incident was recorded in some customs database, I’ve been to Indonesia several times since, without any problems. I know you’re a Floridian, so one day I’ll share about an incident I had in Florida

[AZ_2021]

Wow such an interesting tale @AdamGT . That’s crazy the shoes were fake. The armed airport police sound so scary. Glad you were still able to walk away with at least 4 pairs and had a relaxing time in Bail.

Below I’ve typed out my story.

Can’t wait to hear what other stories the other Local Guides have to share. Just as a joke, imagine a yearly “album” post of Craziest Travel Stories and everyone just posts their craziest one and we’d have a collection to read through.

---

I think my recent travel experience wasn’t as crazy as yours but it also involves a run in with popo. I was driving to another city an hour away in Arizona to explore. A police officer was most likely not in a good mood and started to tailgate me. I thought that was odd and so I decided to move out of the way. Seconds later, the officer changed lanes and I saw the lights flash. The only other car on the road zoomed by so I knew it had to be that I was getting stopped for some reason. Not too sure if true but I believe that sometimes police officers have a quota of tickets they have to hand out, and it was the last day of the month…

The officer mentioned how I was speeding so fast which I knew I couldn’t have been- or if it was I was probably over by a few miles. I mentioned if I was moving quicker when he saw me, it was to get out of his way. He angrily said he didn’t care and would go write up something in his car. So, I smiled and waited. Similar to your story Adam, it was also hot and I was starting to sweat both from the scare and the outside heat. I also didn’t want to have to deal with a pricey ticket of hundreds of dollars and going to driving ed school (both of can be the penalty).

Finally, the officer came back and he muttered, “So it’s actually 65 mph here and you were going 67. I wrote you a warning this time.” I sighed in relief. The officer then proceeded to drive off. A few other cars flew by at 90 mph but he didn’t stop them. Maybe his quota was reached. The officer sped away too at the tune of about 80 mph.

All in all, I was happy that everything was okay.

[iyudhi]

Thanks for sharing @AdamGT that was quite a wild experience! I must say thought the fact that they pointed guns at you makes it seems like you were bringing something else.

Now I wonder what happened to the other 8 pairs of Nikes

[iyudhi]

My wild travel story was when I had a work trip to south of San Diego, near the Mexican border. Going to the site was no big deal, business as usual. When I was driving back to San Diego to go to the airport, I had to go through security checkpoint. They let all the cars in front of me to pass through, but somehow they waved me to pull over.

Confused, i went out and asked why, and somehow I put my hands in my pocket. They basically pulled out their guns and yelled at me to take my hands out of my pocket. I was like… “Holy what am I getting into here???” Luckily my coworker warned be about this, so just in case, I brought my passport with the visa stamp on it (no green card yet back then). I asked if it’s ok to grab it from my bag and showed it to them. Still not convinced, they asked for my driver license as a proof that I actually live in the States. I showed them my Californian driver license and they let me go.

[AdamGT]

Yes indeedcrazy @AZ_2021 , the shoes were fake!! Oh yes, armed airport police are scary but why they carried machineguns was even scarier. As if it was a war zone lol!

I too have no idea if police officers have a quota of tickets they have to hand out but I’m certain it would not have been an enjoyable experience for you Ashley. Pleased to hear that you got off with just a warning. Your incident reminds me of one here at home when I had the Sherriff visit me to collect a speeding fine…a story for another day.

In closing, I too would love to hear about the travel experiences of others. We can learn a lot by sharing like don’t go into a foreign country with a suitcase full of Nikes lol. Having said that, I’m about to head into a foreign country with a suitcase full of the same item…oh dear, having gone through this experience once I’m already starting to worry lol. Hoping that @AdrianLunsong 's prediction, doesn’t eventuate into a reality

[AdamGT]

Oh @iyudhi how scary. When you have no idea what’s going on, you might well put your hands in your pockets. Luckily you had your passport with stamped visa with you.

BTW, I dreamt about my whole for quite awhile and also wondered what happened to the other 8 pairs of Nikes lol but I was more than pleased that even though it was a daunting travel experience and I had a difficult time explaining things, I didn’t end up in some Indonesian jail.

[AdrianLunsong]

Well, stay safe on your travels @AdamGT and no fakes, please! Only the Made by Google will do

[Gezendunyali]

Hi @AdamGT This is pretty crazy. How much profit can you make with just that many shoes? It’s funny. I think the airport police enjoy making their own rules. I experienced something similar to what you experienced. This summer, when I return from France, at the Bergamo Airport in Italy, you will take the 5 wine openers I bought from France and sell them. They didn’t want to give it to me. Then, when they saw that I was a teacher and had a green passport, they gave up. It was a story similar to yours. By the way, where are you planning to come in Turkey?

[AdamGT]

LOL @AdrianLunsong . Believe me, it’s all smokes and mirrors

[AjitThite]

That’s bizarre experience @AdamGT !! I couldn’t imagine this…at customs, police holding on gunpoint and yelling in foreign language at you…LOL

Nevertheless, jokes apart, it’s very difficult to relate what you went through at that time; it was just the worst-case scenario imaginable.

This time, take care boss!! I will be waiting for your leaderboard posts in time.

Cheers!

[AdamGT]

Hi @AdamGT This is pretty crazy. How much profit can you make with just that many shoes?

Yes that’s a very goog point you make @Gezendunyali . I think they didn’t want a foreigner to come in and take the job of the local peddlers or peddle stiff on the beaches to foreigners. But indeed, if it was a suitcase full of cigarettes or whiskey or drugs, pull out the machineguns but a bag full of fake Nikes hmmmm crazy.

It’s funny. I think the airport police enjoy making their own rules. I experienced something similar to what you experienced. This summer, when I return from France, at the Bergamo Airport in Italy, you will take the 5 wine openers I bought from France and sell them. They didn’t want to give it to me. Then, when they saw that I was a teacher and had a green passport, they gave up. It was a story similar to yours.

Mamma mia! Just 5 wine openers! Crazy, crazy.

By the way, where are you planning to come in Turkey?

You may know I have a special bond with beautiful Turkey and spent many months there when visiting many places from Istanbul to Trabzon, along the Black Sea, then from there to Goreme, Cappadocia, Uçhisar, down to Adana and many places in between and nothing would give me greater pleasure than doing it all again my friend. for now, I have thousands of photos to help me relive the dream. I also have many friends there that I would love to see again… Maybe one day I can do it all again.

[Gezendunyali]

A real traveler @AdamGT . I’m so sorry you came to my city. It’s so sad to miss the opportunity to meet someone like you. I hope we can meet next time. Cheers.

[AdamGT]

Don’t be sorry fellow Local Guide and Guiding Star @Gezendunyali and no need to be sad because opportunities always come up and my friends always ask me to come visit and one day I will…

.

[AdamGT]

Absolutely bizarre @AjitThite , and when you don’t know what they are saying with anger written all over in their faces, not to mention the weapons, all you can think of is your worst nightmare is about to happen.

Fingers crossed and all prayers are needed for the next instalment of the leaderboards.

[shaileno]

I agree with you dear frnd @AZ_2021

[AZ_2021]

So interesting @AdamGT .

Wow, never knew the police came to visit you at home for a speeding fine.

I agree- such a fun topic you started and so fun and insightful to read the other crazy stories that fellow Guides have run into.

[AdamGT]

Yes I must post about the Sheriff’s visit @AZ_2021 , you will just not believe how when things go wrong, they can certainly get way our of control. It is a fun and very interesting topic and by this kind of sharing, we can all learn a lot on how to avoid bad travel experiences. I must also remember to post about my bad experience in Egypt…if I only had time.

[tony_b]

Wow!! I’ve heard of many bad experiences @AdamGT , but this one is extreme. The foreign language aspect certainly doesn’t do anything to allay your fears in those circumstances. I haven’t had any serious issues up to now, but before COVID there was always a fear of having suitcases thoroughly searched on returning home and being charged Duty on anything purchased overseas. Now there’s hardly any checking done, but I’m not going to push my luck.