There was a tourist who took a photo of a local monk without permission. In Thai culture, this is a big no - no. The monk was visibly upset and the surrounding locals were not very friendly towards the tourist after that. Another case was a tourist who didn't know that it is inappropriate to show the soles of your feet in public. They were sitting with their legs outstretched and showing their soles, which offended the people around them.
Well, I heard about a tourist who saw the beautiful Japanese koi fish in a pond. They thought it was like in some other places where you can touch the fish. So they reached out to touch one, and an old Japanese man nearby quickly stopped them, explaining that the koi are respected in Japanese culture. Also, many tourists misunderstand the Japanese concept of personal space. One tourist got on a crowded train and stood really close to a local. The local was very polite but looked a bit uncomfortable.
Sure. One horror story is about a tourist who went to a remote jungle area. His guide suddenly disappeared, leaving him alone in the middle of the jungle with no sense of direction and only limited supplies. He had to face wild animals and the harsh environment until he was finally rescued days later.
One Thailand horror story is about a haunted hotel. Guests reported seeing a female apparition in a white dress wandering the hallways at night. She would sometimes appear in the rooms, standing by the beds of the sleeping guests. It was said that this spirit was that of a woman who died in the hotel under mysterious circumstances many years ago.
There have been incidents where tourists' belongings were stolen. For example, a group of tourists were at a crowded beach. They left their bags on the shore while they went for a swim and when they came back, their bags, containing passports, money and cameras were gone. There are also stories of tourists being harassed by overly aggressive vendors in the markets. They would not take no for an answer and would follow the tourists around, making them feel very uncomfortable.
One horror story is about a Chinese tourist who got lost in a remote foreign village. The signs were all in a language they didn't understand, and their phone had no signal. They wandered for hours in a panic until finally a kind local who could speak a bit of English helped them find their way back to a main road.
Sure. There was a tourist who had their belongings stolen while on a crowded beach in the Philippines. They just left their bag for a moment to swim and when they came back, it was gone. And there are stories of tourists getting food poisoning from street food stalls. They ended up spending days in a local hospital instead of enjoying their vacation. Additionally, a few tourists have had bad experiences with local transportation. The drivers were reckless and overcharged them.
One famous Thailand horror story is about the Mae Nak Phra Khanong. She was a pregnant woman who died while her husband was away at war. But her spirit remained, believing her husband would return. When he did come back, she was there as if alive. Strange things started to happen, like objects moving on their own. Her husband eventually found out she was a ghost and fled in terror.
There are quite a few. For example, a tourist was walking in Central Park and was surrounded by a group of people trying to sell them overpriced and probably fake items. They were very pushy and the tourist felt really intimidated. Another instance was a tourist who booked a hotel room online but when they arrived, the room was nothing like the pictures. It was dirty and smelled bad, and the hotel staff was unhelpful in resolving the situation.
Sure. A common horror story is related to hotel issues. Some tourists have checked into hotels that were not as advertised. The rooms could be dirty, with broken facilities like air - conditioning or plumbing. It really ruins the travel experience when you expect a comfortable place to stay and end up with something far from it.
Yes. A group of friends were traveling. In a traditional ceremony they participated in without fully understanding the rules, they accidentally broke a local taboo. As a result, they were all locked up. They were separated from each other in the prison. They had to learn the local language quickly just to try and explain that it was a misunderstanding. It was a really scary experience for them as they thought they would be there forever.