Stepping off the plane and into a major city in Southeast Asia, newcomers are flooded with new sounds, smells, and sights. One thing may notice quickly is the abundance of motorbikes swerving and cutting through traffic. While it can be a quick transportation option, it can also be a dangerous one. Meanwhile, there are a variety of options to get around town that are much more safe and won’t break the bank like taxis or tuk tuks. For traveling outside the city there are many methods like trains, buses, and minivans. Trains can be a little less safe that the trains in Europe or East Asia and buses can take quite a bit of time and have a penchant for breaking down. Minivans are affordable, quick, and safe.
Petty theft can happen in Asia so it’s always good to keep valuables in a safe place. Passports and large amounts of money should be kept in a safe or at least at the volunteer’s residence. Getting money from accounts over seas isn’t difficult with ATM’s being plentiful in the big cities so you never need to carry around that much cash.
Getting out and experiencing the local nightlife while volunteering is a great way to take in the culture and meet new locals and travelers. When you go out we always encourage our volunteers to drink responsibly. If you do go out at night, stay with friends or other volunteers and don’t leave phones or other valuables laying around for someone to take. Taking a taxi home is a much safer option than walking back late at night and taxis and tuk-tuks are cheap and quick.
Friends for Asia prides itself in the relationships that we have with our volunteer and intern coordinating staff and the communities we serve. We go out of our way to make sure that all of our volunteer accommodations are in safe neighborhoods and that local employees working at the volunteer’s homes have undergone criminal background checks. A safe environment for our volunteers gives each participant peace of mind to really settle in and enjoy life helping others in a new, exciting culture.
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