Thailand’s Hidden Hazards
- Published: 6 Aug 2012 at 16.05
- Online news: Regional
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Thailand travel guides warn you of exotic diseases that melt your brain, shopping scams that gut your wallet, and cultural no-no’s that may send you to the slammer, but seldom cover the day-to-day, life-threatening hazards you only learn about if you survive them. On my first day in Thailand, I almost died just trying to walk.
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Uneven Floors and Teflon Tile. I didn’t notice the five-centimeter drop when I went into the guesthouse bathroom. On the way out, however, with wet feet, I smashed the toes on one foot into the imperceptible step, and catapulted into the next room, as my other foot slipped on the smooth tile coated with Teflon to assure that the maids would be able to clean up the caked blood after my landing. While airborne, I somehow avoided the sharp edges of the teak furniture heading toward my skull. Wear socks, or step on a throw rug, and it’s like sledding down an icy hill. Add water and you might as well crawl.
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