Why I Started Taking Extra Precautions
Last month I got real lost hiking near some border areas where phones barely worked. Stumbled through sketchy backroads for hours trying to find civilization again. Scared the hell outta me when some unfriendly locals started eyeballing my gear. Made me realize I’d been dumb thinking “nah won’t happen to me”. That night, I started piecing together my safety rules.
What I Actually Do Now
Step 1: Emergency info tattoos
Grabbed a sharpie before every trip now. Scribbles on my forearm – emergency contacts, blood type, known allergies. Looks trashy but if I’m knocked out cold, medics got instant info. Bonus: creeps hesitate when they see permanent-looking ink thinking I might be connected.
Step 2: Cash stashes like a squirrel
Started folding emergency cash into weird spots:
- Inside phone case behind SIM tray
- Sewn into hat lining with dental floss
- Taped under disgusting hostel bunk beds
Found out 20 bucks in local currency behind your phone’s battery can literally buy your way outta police checkpoints.
Step 3: The shoe trick
Always wear lace-up boots now. When entering dicey neighborhoods, I double knot then tuck the loops under side straps. Sounds dumb but that slight resistance when running gives critical seconds if somebody grabs your ankle. Tested this running from wild dogs – works!
How It Saved My Ass
Tried this system in Cambodia last week. Tuk-tuk driver turned down this pitch-black alleyway at midnight. Saw him texting someone after I said hotel name. Immediately started:
- Scratched forearm ink off with keys (stings like hell)
- Dumped phone battery to retrieve $12
- Kicked boots against seat till knots tightened
When he stopped near some boarded-up shacks, threw cash at him while jumping out mid-roll. Those knotted boots let me sprint without stumbling over loose laces. Would’ve been robbed blind without these dumb little hacks.
My Takeaway After Testing
Safety ain’t about fancy gadgets or martial arts. It’s doing simple crap consistently. The sharpie scribbles? Wash off in shower later. Hidden cash? Spend it on beers after danger passes. Boot laces? Untie normally next day. Zero cost systems beat expensive survival kits every time.
