There was an artist who was traveling to explore different art forms. He took pictures of some local people without asking permission, which was a big no - no in that culture. He was immediately locked up. He didn't have his camera or any of his art supplies with him. He spent days in a cell, trying to communicate with the guards through gestures to explain that he didn't mean any harm. Eventually, with the help of the local embassy, he was released after a lot of apologies.
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.
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.
One horror story is about a person who unknowingly violated local drug laws in a foreign country. They were locked up in a filthy, overcrowded jail with very little access to proper legal representation. The language barrier made it even worse as they couldn't fully communicate their situation. Another is a traveler who got into a fight in a bar abroad. He was thrown into a jail where the living conditions were so bad that it was a constant struggle for survival.
The stories in Locked Up Abroad are true. They offer insights into the challenges and unexpected circumstances that people can face when traveling or living abroad. But keep in mind that for TV purposes, there might be some minor tweaks to make the stories more engaging.
Most of the stories in 'Locked Up Abroad' are based on real events and experiences of the individuals featured.
Sure. There was a couple who loved each other deeply. One day, the girlfriend saw the boyfriend talking to an old female friend. She got jealous and accused him of cheating. The boyfriend, feeling wrongly accused, got angry and didn't explain properly. They had a huge fight and broke up, when all it really was a misunderstanding as the old friend was just asking for relationship advice.
Sure. There was a couple where the guy thought his girlfriend wanted a big, public proposal on Valentine's Day. So he arranged this elaborate scene in a park with lots of people around. But the girl was actually a very private person and she was horrified. She thought he was just showing off and didn't really understand her. It led to a huge fight and they almost broke up that day.
Sure. A teacher might have unknowingly offended local parents due to cultural misunderstandings. For instance, in Western cultures, it's common to be more casual with students, like using first names. But in Korea, some parents might view this as disrespectful. So, a teacher who did this could face complaints from parents, which could lead to a lot of stress and problems at work.
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.
A 'locked up horror game story' usually involves a character being trapped in a confined and terrifying space. This could be an old, dilapidated building like an abandoned asylum or a locked cellar. The horror often stems from the sense of isolation and the unknown threats lurking within. For example, in some games, there might be a malevolent spirit that haunts the locked area, and the player has to find a way to escape while being constantly in fear of being attacked.
Once, an EMT got a call for a 'person having a seizure'. But when they arrived, it was just a teenager doing really bad break - dancing moves. The EMT couldn't stop laughing at the misunderstanding and the teen was a bit sheepish about it.