Travel Tales: Women Alone
—The #MeToo of Travel
—The #MeToo of Travel
True Travel Tales, Volume 3
Michael Brein
Published by Michael Brein, 2018
Some story excerpts from this book
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Watch for more at www.michaelbrein.com.
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You wouldn't believe the incredible strories people have told me about their travels.Loading...
You wouldn't believe the incredible strories people have told me about their travels.Introduction
Michael Brein
These are the true travel tales of solo women travelers being sexually harassed and assaulted in their travels around the world and what some of them were able to do about it!
They are shouting “Me Too!” to you through these pages!
No human being should be subjected to the despicable, disgusting and degrading behaviors that these women have had to put up with at the hands of men who should be relegated to the dregs of humanity!
For my True Travel Tales series, I have interviewed nearly 2,000 world travelers. And I have weaved the best of their 10,000 fantastic travel tales into a psychology of travel as revealed by these very telling stories. These are travelers I’ve met on airplanes, trains, buses, ships, tours, safaris, and in hotels, campgrounds, cafes, and pubs.
These courageous travelers have shared often their most personal and private travel experiences, some good and wonderful and others horrific and life-threatening, which I, in turn, share with you now through this series in general and this book in particular.
Travel Tales: Women Alone is Volume 3 of the True Travel Tales series and deals with safety and security of the woman solo traveler. It’s about how to travel safely throughout the world.
They are shouting “Me Too!” to you through these pages!
No human being should be subjected to the despicable, disgusting and degrading behaviors that these women have had to put up with at the hands of men who should be relegated to the dregs of humanity!
For my True Travel Tales series, I have interviewed nearly 2,000 world travelers. And I have weaved the best of their 10,000 fantastic travel tales into a psychology of travel as revealed by these very telling stories. These are travelers I’ve met on airplanes, trains, buses, ships, tours, safaris, and in hotels, campgrounds, cafes, and pubs.
These courageous travelers have shared often their most personal and private travel experiences, some good and wonderful and others horrific and life-threatening, which I, in turn, share with you now through this series in general and this book in particular.
Travel Tales: Women Alone is Volume 3 of the True Travel Tales series and deals with safety and security of the woman solo traveler. It’s about how to travel safely throughout the world.
Unfortunately, travel today finds us in a world of growing terror threats, the imposition of severe and strict cultural and religious restrictions on women’s rights and freedoms, as well as decreasing tolerance for cultural and religious differences and diversity around the world.
For women traveling alone, having to deal with sexual hassles and assaults is daunting in the least. For women alone, travel mostly is exciting and relatively safe, but for many women, traveling in some countries, particularly in North Africa and the Middle East, can often be traumatic and downright dangerous.
I have tales of women constantly being bothered and harassed. And, sad to say, some women have even disappeared from marketplaces, never to be seen again.
To be a woman and to travel alone in such forbidding and foreboding places is not for the faint of heart. Many young women are naively unaware and must be exceedingly careful in their interactions with men overseas.
Just because men are well-dressed and speak your language does not necessarily mean that they can be trusted.
Every woman traveling abroad needs to know about and prepare herself for dealing with such things. Again, while travel is mostly adventurous, exciting and safe, it can also be foreboding and downright dangerous at times, and one must be prudent.
Forgive me for pulling no punches: but, if I were you, I’d think very carefully about traveling to some parts of the world as a woman ALONE!
Women have shared hundreds of travel stories with me about how they have had to fend off — yes, even fight off at times — the unwanted advances of men, ranging from verbal harassment, unwanted touching, exposure, and, yes, even rape and disappearance.
For women traveling alone, having to deal with sexual hassles and assaults is daunting in the least. For women alone, travel mostly is exciting and relatively safe, but for many women, traveling in some countries, particularly in North Africa and the Middle East, can often be traumatic and downright dangerous.
I have tales of women constantly being bothered and harassed. And, sad to say, some women have even disappeared from marketplaces, never to be seen again.
To be a woman and to travel alone in such forbidding and foreboding places is not for the faint of heart. Many young women are naively unaware and must be exceedingly careful in their interactions with men overseas.
Just because men are well-dressed and speak your language does not necessarily mean that they can be trusted.
Every woman traveling abroad needs to know about and prepare herself for dealing with such things. Again, while travel is mostly adventurous, exciting and safe, it can also be foreboding and downright dangerous at times, and one must be prudent.
Forgive me for pulling no punches: but, if I were you, I’d think very carefully about traveling to some parts of the world as a woman ALONE!
Women have shared hundreds of travel stories with me about how they have had to fend off — yes, even fight off at times — the unwanted advances of men, ranging from verbal harassment, unwanted touching, exposure, and, yes, even rape and disappearance.
Unfortunately, travel today finds us in a world of growing terror threats, the imposition of severe and strict cultural and religious restrictions on women’s rights and freedoms, as well as decreasing tolerance for cultural and religious differences and diversity around the world.
For women traveling alone, having to deal with sexual hassles and assaults is daunting in the least. For women alone, travel mostly is exciting and relatively safe, but for many women, traveling in some countries, particularly in North Africa and the Middle East, can often be traumatic and downright dangerous.
I have tales of women constantly being bothered and harassed. And, sad to say, some women have even disappeared from marketplaces, never to be seen again.
To be a woman and to travel alone in such forbidding and foreboding places is not for the faint of heart. Many young women are naively unaware and must be exceedingly careful in their interactions with men overseas.
Just because men are well-dressed and speak your language does not necessarily mean that they can be trusted.
Every woman traveling abroad needs to know about and prepare herself for dealing with such things. Again, while travel is mostly adventurous, exciting and safe, it can also be foreboding and downright dangerous at times, and one must be prudent.
Forgive me for pulling no punches: but, if I were you, I’d think very carefully about traveling to some parts of the world as a woman ALONE!
Women have shared hundreds of travel stories with me about how they have had to fend off — yes, even fight off at times — the unwanted advances of men, ranging from verbal harassment, unwanted touching, exposure, and, yes, even rape and disappearance.
For women traveling alone, having to deal with sexual hassles and assaults is daunting in the least. For women alone, travel mostly is exciting and relatively safe, but for many women, traveling in some countries, particularly in North Africa and the Middle East, can often be traumatic and downright dangerous.
I have tales of women constantly being bothered and harassed. And, sad to say, some women have even disappeared from marketplaces, never to be seen again.
To be a woman and to travel alone in such forbidding and foreboding places is not for the faint of heart. Many young women are naively unaware and must be exceedingly careful in their interactions with men overseas.
Just because men are well-dressed and speak your language does not necessarily mean that they can be trusted.
Every woman traveling abroad needs to know about and prepare herself for dealing with such things. Again, while travel is mostly adventurous, exciting and safe, it can also be foreboding and downright dangerous at times, and one must be prudent.
Forgive me for pulling no punches: but, if I were you, I’d think very carefully about traveling to some parts of the world as a woman ALONE!
Women have shared hundreds of travel stories with me about how they have had to fend off — yes, even fight off at times — the unwanted advances of men, ranging from verbal harassment, unwanted touching, exposure, and, yes, even rape and disappearance.
I have had young women relating to me, “Yes, I should have known better; I should have seen the signs.”
The stories in this book emphasize how women alone have gotten themselves into dangerous situations in the first place, how they coped and sometimes managed to escape and survive, and what they might have done differently in retrospect if they had to re-experience these harassments and assaults all over again.
Every effort is made to uncover the clues and cues to dangerous situations and to provide, where feasible, possible ways to avoid these scary and horrific experiences in the first place.
Finally, a series of “Travel Tips” are offered throughout this book in support of experiencing travel in the most safe and secure manner possible.
And to those brave and courageous women who have forged their paths in travel and endured the suffering of sexual harassment and assault to bring to you useful knowledge and valuable information that can help you to avoid that which they have had to suffer through, we say, “Thank you” for shouting out to the world in your own special ways, “Me Too!”
The stories in this book emphasize how women alone have gotten themselves into dangerous situations in the first place, how they coped and sometimes managed to escape and survive, and what they might have done differently in retrospect if they had to re-experience these harassments and assaults all over again.
Every effort is made to uncover the clues and cues to dangerous situations and to provide, where feasible, possible ways to avoid these scary and horrific experiences in the first place.
Finally, a series of “Travel Tips” are offered throughout this book in support of experiencing travel in the most safe and secure manner possible.
And to those brave and courageous women who have forged their paths in travel and endured the suffering of sexual harassment and assault to bring to you useful knowledge and valuable information that can help you to avoid that which they have had to suffer through, we say, “Thank you” for shouting out to the world in your own special ways, “Me Too!”
Disclaimer
Please know that some stories in the True Travel Tales series may be graphic, unpleasant, and disturbing. This book is aimed towards a mature adult audience. Yet, some material ought to be communicated in a clear and responsible manner to younger and relatively inexperienced travelers who could benefit by knowing how to travel more safely and securely.
No story in the series is meant to depict any country, people, race, culture or religion in a negative light. Good and bad things can and do happen anywhere and to anyone.
Finally, some stories may appear in other books depending on the countries and subject matter covered.
No story in the series is meant to depict any country, people, race, culture or religion in a negative light. Good and bad things can and do happen anywhere and to anyone.
Finally, some stories may appear in other books depending on the countries and subject matter covered.
Note: The author, Michael Brein, makes comments and asks questions frequently throughout the stories in this book.
Disclaimer
Please know that some stories in the True Travel Tales series may be graphic, unpleasant, and disturbing. This book is aimed towards a mature adult audience. Yet, some material ought to be communicated in a clear and responsible manner to younger and relatively inexperienced travelers who could benefit by knowing how to travel more safely and securely.
No story in the series is meant to depict any country, people, race, culture or religion in a negative light. Good and bad things can and do happen anywhere and to anyone.
Finally, some stories may appear in other books depending on the countries and subject matter covered.
No story in the series is meant to depict any country, people, race, culture or religion in a negative light. Good and bad things can and do happen anywhere and to anyone.
Finally, some stories may appear in other books depending on the countries and subject matter covered.
Note: The author, Michael Brein, makes comments and asks questions frequently throughout the stories in this book.
Chased in New Delhi
Jamie Grimaldi
New Delhi, India, 1970. I was in my early 20s and I was walking along a main street in New Delhi. I had just turned right onto another main street and was about to make another right down an alleyway.
Just as I was turning into the pathway, a black car suddenly pulled right up in front of me, screeching to a sudden halt — they were obviously going too fast. I heard two doors swing open and these two men jumped out of the car.
I could see that they were both staring at me with the intent of grabbing me.
So, I started running.
[Michael] What clued you in on that?
Their very intense staring, their very anxious staring. They focused their complete attention on ME. It was the abruptness of what they did, after screeching their brakes to a sudden stop.
They had very rough, nasty looks on their faces.
[Michael] What did you do?
I ran. I had, in fact, just come from the Himalayas, from literally running up and down mountains, so I was in great shape at the time.
They started chasing me down this pathway, and I was running
Just as I was turning into the pathway, a black car suddenly pulled right up in front of me, screeching to a sudden halt — they were obviously going too fast. I heard two doors swing open and these two men jumped out of the car.
I could see that they were both staring at me with the intent of grabbing me.
So, I started running.
[Michael] What clued you in on that?
Their very intense staring, their very anxious staring. They focused their complete attention on ME. It was the abruptness of what they did, after screeching their brakes to a sudden stop.
They had very rough, nasty looks on their faces.
[Michael] What did you do?
I ran. I had, in fact, just come from the Himalayas, from literally running up and down mountains, so I was in great shape at the time.
They started chasing me down this pathway, and I was running
to my hotel. They were right in back of me, but as soon as I hit the doors of the hotel they backed right off and ran off.
[Michael] Did anybody see them?
Nobody saw them. It was amazing that nobody saw them. I didn’t scream. I was going to start screaming if they had followed me into the hotel, however. But no matter, they backed off.
[Michael] What do you think was going on?
Well, they definitely wanted to take me for the slave market. That was high stakes in the 1970s. There were all kinds of stories of white women being kidnapped in India.
[Michael] In INDIA?
Oh, yeah. In India, all right! All across Asia, in fact, from Turkey to India. That’s what we were hearing — stories of women being kidnapped. We heard from other travelers, mostly Europeans. We heard from them to be very careful traveling alone, especially as a woman.
I heard stories in Europe even before I went to India. Funny, I was not even intending to go to India, but it so happened that I ended up going there.
I heard all along that we had to be very careful and to watch out where you are going and watch out who you talk to. They could sell you for a lot of money, actually. You’re a valuable commodity to them. (Laughs) They sell you, and you can get raped and killed. All kinds of wonderful things!
[Michael] Did these guys look like they had done this before?
The ones that were after me? Oh yeah, they sure did. They looked like they had done this MANY times before; it was their very high intention of grabbing me. It was all very scary.
[Michael] Were you wary of leaving the hotel after that?
No. I went out again. But I was leaving India in a few days, so I was ready to leave. I was going back to the Himalayas.
[Michael] Did anybody see them?
Nobody saw them. It was amazing that nobody saw them. I didn’t scream. I was going to start screaming if they had followed me into the hotel, however. But no matter, they backed off.
[Michael] What do you think was going on?
Well, they definitely wanted to take me for the slave market. That was high stakes in the 1970s. There were all kinds of stories of white women being kidnapped in India.
[Michael] In INDIA?
Oh, yeah. In India, all right! All across Asia, in fact, from Turkey to India. That’s what we were hearing — stories of women being kidnapped. We heard from other travelers, mostly Europeans. We heard from them to be very careful traveling alone, especially as a woman.
I heard stories in Europe even before I went to India. Funny, I was not even intending to go to India, but it so happened that I ended up going there.
I heard all along that we had to be very careful and to watch out where you are going and watch out who you talk to. They could sell you for a lot of money, actually. You’re a valuable commodity to them. (Laughs) They sell you, and you can get raped and killed. All kinds of wonderful things!
[Michael] Did these guys look like they had done this before?
The ones that were after me? Oh yeah, they sure did. They looked like they had done this MANY times before; it was their very high intention of grabbing me. It was all very scary.
[Michael] Were you wary of leaving the hotel after that?
No. I went out again. But I was leaving India in a few days, so I was ready to leave. I was going back to the Himalayas.