Harrassed by foreigners in Thailand?

Sorry, but I need to get this off my chest... and hope that I am not the only one who has had this experience, or that someone can tell me what I'm doing wrong.

I'm in my mid-20s, and I pretty much always travel solo - have done so in North Africa, the Middle East and Southern Europe without ever experiencing problems or harassment by men whatsoever. I'm on the tall side so taller than most local guys, and have short, dark hair, so I guess I don't match most of these guys' expectations for a woman. I'm not a shy or insecure person and from the practical aspects, find travelling in Thailand a piece of cake. Still, I seem to give off the wrong vibes.

However, I've been in Thailand for almost a month now and keep getting harassed, followed in the street (twice even for days, once the guy followed me to my hostel!), groped on public transport/in busy markets - by Westerners!

And I did pretty much avoid the tourist ghettos until I got to Chiang Mai (where it's worst), was travelling north from Bangkok, so did not go to any islands that have this 'party' vibe. I'm not wearing tiny shorts or other revealing clothing either. Is it really the fact that a solo travellers stand out here (I have met only 2 girls who were travelling alone so far!)? That men come here expecting they can have ANY women?

I'm considering donning a headscarf at this point, but it probably won't help
Did anybody else experience this or am I just extremely unlucky?

Coming from a guy who has traveled with the Asia-looking wife through Asia.

For my wife it was a regular occurrence. No groping. But she constantly got pertty-eyed, waved at, chatted up, etc by Westerners. But yeah, they thought she was a local and therefore available.

I have also overheard Westerners who believe that Western girls in Thailand are 'desperate' because of all the Thai competition so they 'want it'. Obviously a utterly stupid perception. But there are many stupid Western pigs in Thailand.

My tip: a punch in the nose.

Really it was a shocking matter for you. I think it was a accident and exceptional. So don't blame the country as a tourist destination. Beacuse it is the most popular tourist destination in Southest Asia.

Huh? I could mention about 20 different incidents like this, no 'accident' or 'exception'. And of course, everything that's popular is always the best and must never be questioned

elAdi, I've heard about this from Asian women with Western partners - quite often they are taken for prostitutes. I talked to an American-Korean girl who had the same problem with her Caucasian husband here.

Were these guys, Israeli? The they tend to think they are gods gift and all women travelling solo are up for a shag.

(BTW, before anyone gets upset. I have met a few non-boorish Israeli guys, but they are few and far between. So in my mind the Israeli backpacker stereotype remains)

Beachcombers wrote:Were these guys, Israeli? The they tend to think they are gods gift and all women travelling solo are up for a shag.

(BTW, before anyone gets upset. I have met a few non-boorish Israeli guys, but they are few and far between. So in my mind the Israeli backpacker stereotype remains)

That was uncalled for!

Does this ever happen in Germany by locals or foreign men living there?

I never had it quite that bad, but thinking back on it the one time I ever had to shout "leave me alone!" very loudly because a guy kept harassing/ tried to grab me etc was a Westerner in Thailand. He was drunk and I was traveling with my female cousin at the time.

There were a few other instances where Western guys got interested when I wasn't but, erm, my cousin's a bit of a flirt so I'm not holding that against 'em.

But yeah, I think the Thailand thing just comes down to is there are a fair larger number of Western boors than the average population. Once you cross over the border to places like Laos the problem disappears.

As at home, so on the road, you will find a proportional mix of boors, drunks, bums, decent people from "back home". Women have their radar honed (or not!) to such incidents; and men atuned to wrong impressions.

Having said that, Thailand & DR amongst men, and Bali & Barbados amongst women for some reason has developed a reputation