Thailand - safe for jogging?
 

Husband and I are going on a month trip to Thailand (including BKK, Chiang Mai, Kanchanaburi, and Ko Samui). From reading travel books and forums, it seems there are not many safety concerns. Was also wondering if people thought it was safe in these places for a woman to jog early in the morning.

Thanks!

i think there would not be any problem with a woman jogging...i would use the same cautions i use in any big city...

the heat and humidity may affect you however...keep this in mind...it is not what i would call a 'cool morning' anyplace in thailand...

and in bkk the pollution is extreme...

i would stick to workouts in the hotel gym...

I have seen people jogging in Bangkok in Lumphini Park - v early in the morning before the heat gets up

Hi

I have always felt pretty safe in Thailand but maybe that is just because I'm a bit naive :-) But as mentioned already bangkok can be very hot and polluted. But it is a nice way to see the city. One morning in Bangkok I got up and I walked through a part of the city...I got to see the city wake up but by the time I was finished I was soaked in sweat :-) I have posted a trip report with some pictures on my homepage http://gardkarlsen.com/thailand2002.htm . Maybe you can find some useful info there.

Regards
Gard
Stavanger, Norway

Lumphini Park in BKK has many joggers. I'm a runner and I always use the treadmill at my hotel, even though I detest treadmills. It's just easier. The sidewalks are not good for running.

gpanda forgot to mention that he is usually chasing ambulances when he does his running

bangkok
in the late afternoon 5 - 7PM many parks are packed with Thais/ farang running around the pathways, exercising and doing thai chi. in some parks free public aerobics sesions are held

in lumpini park there is a free outdoor gym and you may also cycle around the park if you have a bike.

Seuastin where will you be staying in BKK. someone may now where the best place to jog is. I would NOT recommend joging in sidewalk. the sidewalks in bangkok are a mess. and if you are on a wide nicely pathed sidewalk it then becomes a motorcycle lane.

thanks for the replies. we haven't decided on hotels yet. at this point, we just know we want to hit the regular route: BKK, chiang mai, island, and maybe kanch.

i'll look into lumpini park. my husband is concerned about me jogging alone. i'd rather jog in the morning so it doesn't interfere with our day.

anyone have comments on the safety/jogging conditions of the other cities?

thailand along with most other bhudist countries are safe for women. Men in these countries don't act stupid around women, as they do in other nations with different cultures. http://fodors.com/forums/images/post...button_alt.gif

Orgy, that's a great summary of the situation! seuaustin, the dangers you will encounter will be heat, humidity, air pollution, uneven pavement.

Don't forget dog poop

Thats what I love about Thailand, the culture overall is just so courteous, and I find the men to be extremly polite and respectful. I have never felt unsafe in BKK. Like others have said the main worry would be the heat and the polution, and there are quite a few stray dogs, that I would watch out for

I hate to be a party pooper after all that had been said by seasoned travellers on this thread.

I urge common sense and caution against complacency wherever you might travel to.

I had my sixteen year old daughter along for my holiday in BKK.

One evening about 9 pm, I was walking about 100 yards ahead of her along Rajaprarop Road in Makassan. I turned to wait for her to catch up, then observed a man appearing out of a laneway behind her.

Nothing to be alarmed of at first.

Then he approached her with questionable intent. I walked briskly toward them at once. The fellow hesitated, then turned and disappeared down another laneway. My daughter was shaken but unhurt. Thankfully I was close by to intervene.

Buddhist or non buddhist persuasion is too sweeping a qualifier for human behavior.

Having made this point, I like to say that Thais are some of the most likeable and gentle people I had the privilege to meet. It is for this reason that I plan to return.

just to follow up on this, why did you think he had any bad intentions in mind?? did he do anything or say anything evil or was he just standing there??

there have been very few reports in the last two years of any issues of this kind in thailand here on fodors...i should think if it is a problem that we would hear more about this type of thing....like any big metropolitan area i think one needs to always have his/her guard up, especially when alone...

I don't think BKK 'has a problem' - just that like all large cities, one ought to exercise some common sense. My feeling was that BKK is probably safer than many other large cities (though, having spent time in Singapore as part of our trip, the later 'felt' safer - but that could be subjective).

As for his intent, he was following her sufficiently closely to intrude on her personal space, words spoken in Thais which my daughter could not understand, though she described the demenour as 'leering.' Again one could argue that was pretty subjective, but I have learnt to trust the intuition of a female on things like that.
But the telling thing was he hurried off in the opposite direction when he saw me approaching.

But again, the beauty and gentleness of the Thais in general is the great selling point of the country. And, of course the exotic culture and food.

As for BKK itself.....my perfect city would combine the ruthless efficiency of Singapore, the beauty of the Thai people, the harbour of Sydney, the energy of NYC, the sophistication of London, the arts of Paris and the hawker food of Malaysia.

eschaton, you did the right thing and that's a good advice to always be on alert in any big, and sometime small, city.

I could feel my shoes filling with sweat even walking in BKK. It's possibly the most uncomfortable climate I have ever endured. Jogging? You must be kidding.