Pan Admun Republic of Western Blog

I almost got pick pocket on the street last night when touring the city with my friend Jesse and wife Fanny from Hong Kong.....

The three of us walked out of a shopping mall and heading to grab some eat. It's dark already and we walk side-by side among the crowds, suddenly I feel a pull from my camera bag on the side. I immediately turn around and feel something back away. I notice a guy in white tee right behind me. This guy than move to the left and walk in front of us, eventually goes into a shop. I check and realize the buckle of the bag is opened, I know for sure it's not me forgetting because I checked earlier.

Actually, I think I stopped an potential pickpicketer earlier in the day, when we walked on the street and I noticed a guy pay a little too much attention on us and start following us. I stared at him as he walked innocently behind us to make sure he saw me looking at him, than he looks away and walk on.

I know I have been pushing it to wear my camera on the side, everyone I met from Guangzhou warned me about it. But I thought:

1. I need easy access to my camera so I can take picture often (bad bad bad idea.....)
2. The bag only carry camera, which is quite heavy, so I will feel it if someone try to pick it
3. I am wearing it on my right, which my hand is always right next to it, which will shield it. It will be very hard to attempt
4. I usually attach my camera to me with a biner, so no chance they are going to steal it without my notice
5. I am an alert person

Yesterday, I even purposely carry a back-pack to create an extra barrier to block someone form the back picking. But it still happened, and just days before I left for the country. I was lucky to block their attemp. On the other side I have to admit that I am getting sloppy:

1. Going in a group give me a sense of security, so my guard is slightly down
2. I did not tie the camera to myslef, which if the guy did pick my cmaera, I will have to chase after him (which is bad)
3. I am getting a bit tired at the end of the day (it was almost 8pm when this happened)

Lucky me this time, but next time I might not. So I got to remind myself this part of the world is really NOT a safe place. Unlike in Canada, you can left a bag of camcorder on a bench in Wonderland for half an hour and still no one will take it (or treat it as a "unidentify" object and call the bomb squad)

Just to illustrate how I carry:

In Tokyo, there are women's only train in the morning before 9:30am. So, OL can go to work without harassed by molester.

In reason years, my friend told me, women are more vocal when being victimized.

From Sanya, during my last visit (while a typoon is approaching)

No Swimming.... than what all these people in the water doing?

A sign I saw in Singapore's Metro.

Interesting to see how the image of police in China, Hong Kong and Japan being presented to the public. It tells a lot about the society they are protect and serve.