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35 Scary Travel Experiences Which Made People Stop And Think Before Their Next Trip, As Shared By Our Community
Interview
While traveling is mainly seen as an enriching and eye-opening experience, it can go both ways. The journey of your dreams can either turn out to be the best time of your life or it can leave a traumatic scar you will never forget.
As much as I love traveling, I believe that at one point or another, you can be faced with your biggest fear. And though this post is not meant to discourage you from traveling, I am really curious to know the story that made you stop to think before taking your next trip.
Bored Panda reached out to Tom Grond, also known as Travel Tom Tom, who is an avid adventure traveler from The Netherlands. We wanted to ask a professional full-time traveler to share his both best and worst adventures with us, so feel free to read the full interview with him below.
More info: traveltomtom.net | Instagram | TikTok
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
I walked outside and realized I lived in Oklahoma. Went right back into the house. Terrifying.
Final score:
277points
Though we agree that not everything goes according to plan, we would like to start this interview by delving into Tom's most memorable positive travel experiences. Here is what he wrote: “After uncountable trips around the world and more than 10 years of full-time continuously traveling the world, I can talk for hours about absolutely amazing travel adventures, from going completely off the grid on a small boat and a hammock deep into the jungle of Suriname to sailing the gorgeous islands in West Papua or from my overland trip from South to North Africa or climbing mountains in the Nepali Himalayas. It is very hard for me to choose the most memorable travel experience."
"When I keep it closer to date, I just finished an absolutely amazing trip to Algeria. Not many people had the chance to see the full potential of what Algeria has to offer since it is still a pretty closed country, and the visa process is not easy. Finally, I obtained a visa and spent 2 weeks traveling around the country.
Visiting the national parks nearby Djanet in southeast Algeria on the border of Niger and Libya was the absolute highlight. A 2-hour domestic flight took me deep into the Sahara Desert where I went off the grid for almost a week. We got to see the most amazing landscapes, rock formations, valleys, gorges, and of course, sand dunes. But what made me fall in love the most was the simple life with the Tuareg people, the people from the Sahara Desert. Away from civilization and technology, we really bonded with them and learned about their way of life dealing with the extreme conditions of the desert. We braved sand storms and extreme heat during the day, but at night we watched them making tea and cook meals for us on a campfire and listened to their local music and their performances. A week out in the desert without any phone signal gets you thinking a lot about life. For me, beautiful moments to reflect on yourself, develop your personality and think about where I want to take my life with my constant travels around the world.”
RELATED:
#2
So... there were scary road trips for sure (flash floods, forest fires, etc) but this... for me personally was the scariest. It was Christmas day, we were headed back to Canada. We were in Georgia and there was a problem with our hotel room. It hadn't been cleaned, there were chicken bones on a plate in the bed and pee on the bathroom floor... just gross. So they got us a room at a sister hotel about 2 hrs away. We went there and were completely exhausted, so after checking in, we went to get dinner.
By this point, it's like 10 pm, and the only place open was a Waffle House (kind of like depressing Denny's for those that don't know the brand). We went in and, to put it lightly, everyone inside seemed like someone should do a wellness check on them (e.g. two teens were clearly strung out, and there was a filthy screaming baby that looked like it hadn't been bathed in weeks yet the parents had new iPhones, a domestic violence situation was going on, etc.). Everyone stared at us as we sat down.
After about 10 minutes the police show up... in my head, it's because of the methheads screaming and throwing things or the woman actively scared of her skinhead bf. The officers said a quick hello to a methhead, asked them to say hello to their mom, and then came right over to us. They sat down at our booth blocking us from being able to get up. Now, my mum is black, my dad is white and I'm visibly mixed. Everyone in the diner is white including the cops. They wanted our names, our addresses, our car info, our IDs, our room info. Where we are staying, how long, and if we had firearms. They made it incredibly clear that we were not welcome in their town and that "people like [us]" should be cautious in this area. They suggested we be careful "flaunting [our] lifestyle." They asked for our food to come out to go and did not leave until we had left. When our food came they stood up and put their hands on their holsters and told us to have a good night while we grabbed our things and left.
As we went outside I could see a Confederate bumper stick and Trump/Pence bumper sticker on the police vehicle. We ended up begrudgingly staying over in town as it was too late to leave and the hotel owner was really sweet (originally from Macon). We had promised the officer we'd be gone by 8, we left at 7 am the next day and did not look back. I love Georgia but that experience was the last time I went into the mountains in rural Georgia. Like I literally didn't sleep that night. They were so... scary that I thought I was not going to survive the night. He made me feel like he was disgusted that I even existed and it was truly disturbing.
Final score:
177points
#3
A long time ago, in 1982, I was flying to Thailand from the United States. We had a stop in Belgium and then at Dubai Airport. There was a lot of tension with Iran at the time so security at Dubai was very tight. We were going to be allowed to get off the plane but were warned not to take any photos. I stuck my small Instamatic camera in my inside jacket pocket, rather than leave it on the plane as it was being cleaned and serviced.
The plane stopped on the tarmac and a set of rolling steps was used for us to leave. Armed soldiers were on either side of the line of people going into the terminal and we were marched, at a very fast pace inside.
When we were allowed to get back onto the plane it had been moved to a typical gate we could enter from inside the building. Each person was patted down before being allowed on. As a soldier was patting me down his hand hit my camera. He began shouting at me in Arabic, I didn’t speak the language so, I did not understand what he was saying. He motioned to my pocket, indicating he wanted me to remove what was there. I slowly swung open my jacket as he pointed his weapon at my chest and took the safety off. I figured I was in trouble for having a camera, as we were warned to not take pictures. He continued to talk very fast as I very slowly reached into the inside pocket of my jacket and pulled out my camera. As soon as he saw it was a camera he made a spitting sound, turned away from me, and waved at me to get on the plane. No big deal, I guess, well other than having an agitated soldier point a weapon at my chest with the safety off.
Final score:
133points
Getting out there and going to as many different places as Tom, you are bound to get into all sorts of craziness. Tom recollected one of the worst experiences while visiting the jungle of Guyana in South America. He shared: “I could talk about getting arrested in Gabon for my viral TikTok videos and interrogated for 2 consecutive days about why I was making videos everywhere. Or floating aimlessly on a river between Senegal and Mauritania because I got deported from Senegal and couldn't get back into Mauritania.
But the craziest travel memory is most probably that I had to jump out of a sinking boat with all my stuff just moments before the boat plunged down a 220m waterfall deep in the jungle of Guyana in South America.
We had to cross a river and were waiting for a little boat to make the crossing for about 2 hours. We chilled at the most amazing waterfall, completely unknown to any tourists, about 3 days walking from the last village on the Guyana/Venezuela border. After a long wait, some of our local guides found an old wooden boat in the jungle, and they came up with the idea to completely wrap it with tarps to make it float. They tested it, and an hour later, they first transported goods and other porters to the other side of the river. It worked.
When we got in the boat, it suddenly and completely started pouring down rain, and within seconds a small water tornado showed up out of nothing. The calm river turned into a raging river, and this all happened in just a minute. With just a stick and being hit by the tornado, the boat became incontrollable and started making water. It was heading straight to the drop-off of the waterfall.
When the local guide started screaming: 'Be prepared to jump off,' I first was like... okay, let me grab my phone and take a video of this. So I did! I jumped off last moment, trying to film at the same time, and before I could even look back, the boat already plunged down the 220m high waterfall.
All 4 of us in the boat managed to keep our backpacks and swim to the side of the waterfall, and everyone was ok. Besides that, all our cameras and electronics were soaked.”
#4
Years ago, my cousin received tickets to a Kiss concert for his birthday and took me along as we were only born 6 days apart and were best friends. I lived about 40 minutes from our hometown and the concert was another 2 hours and 15 minutes from my apartment so he was going to pick me up on the way and then spend the night at my place before going home. His engine blew on the way down to get me and my uncle had to come to bring him their ‘extra in case someone needs it beater car’. This put us 30 minutes behind schedule so we decided to take a shortcut to shave off some time and we ended up lost in the ghetto of a major city. I was wearing a red bandanna on my head and my cousin heavy metaled out driving a beat-up old person car and turns out we were in Crip territory and people were staring us down hard. We had to stop at a light and a man approached openly carrying a gun. He told us he was doing us a favor because he could tell we were just two lost white kids, and let us know what territory we were in and that I needed to lose the bandanna, etc. He then told us how to get out of the area and back to the highway. We were so scared for a few minutes and then it turned to being grateful that we were approached by a Crip with a conscious. And yes I left the bandanna off the rest of the night!
Final score:
125points
#5
Someone pointed a gun out the window of their car at my then-girlfriend (now wife) and me. They pulled the trigger but the gun wasn't loaded. They laughed and drove away.
Final score:
112points
Some of the most common difficulties when traveling are communication or cultural barriers. Tom shared how he navigates through these sorts of situations. “Language barriers are constant issues when traveling. Luckily, we have a lot of technology nowadays to make us understand each other even if we don't speak the language. But in the days before mobile phones and the internet, that was a completely different story.
I remember the times that I traveled around with a book full of handy pictures. So whenever you needed something, you just pointed at the picture in the book, and it sounds so simple, but it worked perfectly.
The funny story is that there was one time in South Korea when I entered a restaurant, and the menu was written on the wall, but just in Korean language. There was no internet, no phones, and one else in the restaurant, so I couldn't point at a dish. I tried to order by pointing at the first line of signs from left to write. My intention was to order the first dish on the menu.
There was a lot of confusion, and the people in the restaurant all looked at me so puzzled. No word of English was spoken, but we smiled. I sat down at my table, and to my surprise, I actually got some pretty nice food. However, later I learned that in the Korean language, they don't read from left to right, but from top to bottom. So basically, me pointing at the first line from left to right was meaning, I want all the dishes!
The most important thing is that you do everything with a smile, an open mind, and an approachable attitude. We all make mistakes, it is impossible to know all the habits and customs of every culture. Even as a professional and full-time traveler, I constantly make small mistakes, but be open to learning, be patient, and listen to the directions of local people helping you to get accustomed to different cultures. And another important thing: don't judge!
#6
Went on a trip with my sister last year to see a show three states over. Middle of the night we stopped for gas at this kinda seedy looking gas station. I wanted to wait till the next one but my sister didn't think we'd make it much further.
So we try to pay with a card and of course, the machine doesn't work, meaning we're gonna have to go in to pay and there's no way either of us is going alone, so we walk inside together and ask the girl at the register to put 20 on pump 3. And while we're standing there these two guys off to the side make some comment about a two-for-one special. It takes me a moment to realize they're talking about me and my sister, and not a product, and the cashier responds before either of us can.
"Look I'm not dealing with you tonight. Why don't you go harass them at pump 3 and get the hell out of here?"
We're both extremely shocked. I mean, seriously? We're hardly the only people in here and you're just gonna throw us AND our car to these creeps because you're tired??
My sister looks these guys dead in the face and tells them if they come near her car, she'll hit them with it. They seemed to back off.
I stood with her while she filled the tank, we moved to hop in the car, and from behind us one of the guys got his phone out and shouts "MTY huh? Like Mitty or like Empty?" We ignored him.
It was only a few hours later, when we stopped next, that I realized what he'd been referring to.
MTY. It was the letters on the end of her license plate. Which I'm almost positive he'd taken a picture of.
She ended up changing her plate real soon after that trip.
Final score:
94points
#7
At the start of July 2016, I had to go to Istanbul, Turkey to repatriate the body of my late brother-in-law who had passed from Dengue fever while on route to Denmark from Uganda. Landed in Atatürk airport at a terminal that had been bombed on the 28th of June taking away 45 (plus 3 perpetrators) lives and injuring 230. The cloth had been put up to cover the damaged building. So that gave some cause for concern...
Fast forward 5 days to the 15th of July. All matters regarding my late BIL taken care of, I headed back to the airport to return to Denmark.
There was a strange feel to the city that morning. And as I arrived at the airport I realized that a military coup was in full swing!! Everyone scrambled to the gates. And as we took off we saw tanks smashing the fences to the airport and very visible gunfights too. Crikey!!!!
But in the air, we went. And landed in Frankfurt a couple of hours later visibly relieved.
I was tired, it had been 5 challenging days. I just wanted to pass security and find my connecting flight to Denmark. And passing security is always a bit of a hassle due to the numerous implants in my body. I basically light up like a Christmas tree when going through various metal detectors and scanners.
But… Remember that bombing on the 28th of June?
Going through security, my carry-on tested positive for explosives!
12 seconds... That's exactly how long it takes for 2 stern-looking German Police Officers armed with machine guns to materialize and pin you to a wall.
I didn't catch my connecting flight until I was released sometime later, now practically glow-in-the-dark from all the x-rays and scans.
Final score:
83points
We were also very curious to know if, throughout Tom’s travel experiences, he has ever faced any safety or security concerns. We wanted to know how Tom prioritizes his personal safety while still immersing himself in new and unfamiliar environments, and what precautions he takes to ensure a smooth and secure journey.
“Let me first add that I am a tall and fit European guy and that traveling for me is completely different compared to, for example, a vulnerable cute blond girl. Obviously, I also have to deal with a lot of safety issues, but there are way fewer risks involved for me when traveling the world than other, more vulnerable travelers.
Luckily, in more than 3,850 days of continuously traveling the world, I hardly ran into crazy situations where I felt that I was in danger. After all those years of traveling, it is a ton of experience that guides me through the weirdest situations. But that has obviously been different when I started traveling.
I must say I have never felt my life was at risk or I got into a life-threatening situation. Not even when I was on a little boat in Gambia crossing a 4-kilometer-wide river with 10x more people on the boat than actually possible.
The main car-ferry boat broke down, and the only way to cross the river was by small little boats, but there were hundreds of people and only a couple boats. The boat guys saw their chance to make some quick money, so they stuffed the boat with way more people than actually possible. It was one big chaos, screaming and fighting for the maybe 20 life vests when there were about 100 people on the little boat. As soon as we left, suddenly everyone was dead silent, and they began to pray. At that time, I knew this could be a 'fun' trip.
When we were about halfway into the crossing, the engine stopped working and the boat began to make water. Big panic, people screaming and for about 20 minutes we floated around, towards the ocean. Waves got bigger as well as the panic and the chaos. Luckily, somehow they managed to get the engine going again, and we somehow made it to the other side of the river. I never feared for my life, but I did have my escape plan ready when the boat would sink. I already said goodbye to my backpack and my electronics, but luckily it never got that far.
My most simple tips for other travelers, which seem to be very hard for some people, are to use common sense, don't be naive, and rely on your gut. If something doesn't feel right, then your own safety and security should always be a priority! Looking back at the boat crossing in Gambia, it was obviously a really stupid decision to take the risk and stay on the boat, when I had the chance to say no, this is too much, and leave the little boat,” shared Tom.
#8
Malaria in Malawi 22 years ago. At the time Malawi was the 3rd poorest country in the world. Nicest people in the world though. They were still reusing needles in Africa at that time in some places. Spent 4 days in the hospital with a Quinine drip. Apparently, they thought I was going to pass away. I was out of it most of the time. I wasn't scared, but my husband still will not tell me about the sights he saw in the hospital. We were newlyweds and this man slept on the hard floor every night to make sure they used new needles. He also cleaned the hospital room and private bathroom with bleach before he would let me leave the bed, once I was able to. I am alive because I was a tourist and could afford to pay for the hospital and my husband made sure they used new needles. I owe him and those African doctors my life. I never really had thought about white privilege before but now I will never forget it. I still have survivor's guilt over it.
Final score:
75points
Autumn Lilly 2 years ago
I'm pretty sure if you were a Asian or Hispanic tourist with money and a sweet husband the results would of been the same..your white skin color didn't play a factor..wish ppl would stop that sort of thinking
#9
I was in the Air Force from 84 to 90 then Reserves from 90 to 96. During my reserve time, we were traveling from Youngstown Ohio to RAF Upper Heyford in England. Flying in a C-130 we needed to stop over in Lajes Field in the Azores.
About an hour outside of Lajes, we hit some terrible weather. If you have never flown in a C-130, there are not really seats. All the gear is on pallets in the center line of the completely open fuselage and there are pull-down "seats" along both sides of the plane facing the middle.
The weather got so bad I was afraid the pallets would come loose and crush us. Now the C-130 is an AWESOME aircraft. Stable, can fly just about anywhere, it's even the largest plane to land on an aircraft carrier and is even equipped for snow ski landings. It's a beast.
We're on the final approach and bouncing up and down, side to side and I'm thinking "THIS IS IT! THIS IS HOW I GO!"
We hit the runway so hard and were tipping at about a 30-degree angle I thought we were going to flip. The pilots did a great job but we still went off the runway and had to do an emergency exit into the storm.
I was never so glad to put my feet on the ground.
The trouble was, we had to get back on the plane the next day to complete our journey. Now THAT was rough!
Final score:
68points
SparkleFarts 2 years ago
I was a 130 crew chief from '94 to' 08. In tech school we heard about the Herk that had the #3 engine gear box seize in flight, resulting in #3 prop disengaging from the engine and taking out #4 prop and forcing it into the leading edge. Imagine my surprise when I got to my first duty station and it was one of our planes (73-1592)
And lastly, we wanted to know if Tom has ever experienced travel fatigue or burnout, since traveling can be physically and emotionally demanding. He shared: “Like everything in life, travel inspiration comes with ups and downs as well. A great example is my article about What it is Really Like to Visit Every Country in the World. It describes perfectly my feelings about visiting every country in the world. On the one hand, it was a big inspiration to see new places and countries I had never been to. On the other hand, it started to feel like a race in which I completely lost my inspiration.
Sure thing, I still want to visit every country in the world, and it will keep me going for the next few years. Even though I have now visited almost 160 countries, I don't feel the pressure of visiting the last 35 countries somehow fast, just so I can say I visited every country in the world. I'm actually starting to feel the opposite and taking it even slower than before.
What is most important to me is that I keep enjoying traveling. There was a reason I escaped the corporate rat race and the pressure of society more than 10 years ago. The last thing I want is for traveling the world to start feeling the same!
What keeps me going and inspires me a lot is actually the support and enthusiasm of my followers on my social media channels. My 800K TikTok @traveltomtom and my 430K Instagram @traveltomtom are amazing ways to get inspired. And one of the most amazing things about being a travel blogger is that it allows me to change perceptions. Showing that Pakistan is NOT the land of terrorism, but of incredible hospitality. That women in Saudi are NOT obligated to wear a hijab. That renting a car and driving around Iraq is an amazing travel adventure. That Syria is NOT all about war. That it is totally safe to visit Algeria.”
“For more information about my travel experiences from all over the world, how I became a travel blogger, my journey to visit every country in the world, and of course, almost 1,000 travel blogs with all my travel tips for planning your next adventure abroad, visit my blog: www.traveltomtom.net.”
#10
We were staying in a cabin in Shenandoah National Park and decided to drive the length of Skyline Drive. It’s a beautiful drive with incredible vistas into the valleys below. We got to the end and turned around to start making the drive back to our cabin about 50 miles away. Suddenly a very dense fog descended and night began to fall. I white-knuckled that long, scary drive going about 15-20 miles an hour barely able to see the tail lights of the car in front of me on some pretty steep curves. What was most terrifying was when the taillights would disappear and I would think they just drove off the edge. Then they would reappear again right in front of me. I could hardly see the sheer rock walls beside me. Imagine diving with your windshield painted. When we finally saw the entrance to our campground area I felt the most relief I’ve ever felt in my life. The drive back took almost two hours and I was vividly and painfully alert for every single second of it.
Final score:
68points
#11
Years ago (pre-COVID) I was visiting a friend in Niagara Falls NY and we took the walking bridge into Canada for a nice night out. (I was born in Canada but moved to the US as a child.) On the way back, a young customs agent asked me at the border back into the US “Where were you born?” I say “Canada.” He then asks “How long will you be visiting the US?” I reply “I live here.” I had recently gotten married so when he went to look me up on the computer, my name wasn’t found. And neither was my maiden name! He then asked me for my green card, to which I responded that I’m a US citizen who was naturalized, and he didn’t believe me! I told him I can prove it, my mother is American. Then he looked HER up, and couldn’t find her either! Mum has been married three times and after being detained for almost two hours we finally discovered that in the citizenship database, they have her listed not under her birth name, or her current married name, or even her first husband’s name, but under the last name of my father (husband 2). It might not seem very harrowing, but for two solid hours, I was terrified that they weren’t going to let me back in!
Final score:
64points
Nimues Child 2 years ago
This. This is why I miss the friendly Canada-USA border we had before 2002.
#12
I accidentally walked off a cliff. I fell into the water, so I was fine, but I seriously wonder how braindead I was that I casually walked straight over a cliff! The other tourists were not impressed.
Final score:
60points
#13
I went to Minsk in 2017. The trip itself was a fine, beautiful city and the people were lovely, even entertaining my sorry attempts to try to speak Russian.
The scary part happened the morning I left. I'm a type 1 diabetic and had a very low blood sugar episode in my sleep, woke up incredibly confused and had to drag myself to the shared kitchen of the guesthouse to try to find something with carbohydrates. (I'd bought snacks the night before but was too confused to find them when waking.)
The other guests, who spoke no English at all, heard me making noise trying to get food at 5 am and came to help me, getting me juice and bread. They then helped me get cleaned up a little and made sure I had my stuff together for the flight.
The taxi driver to the airport was nice, but only accepted cash, which I didn't have so it was a mad dash to the ATM at the airport and then to meet with disability services to get me to the plane. I was out of it the whole time, still coming back from waking up with my sugar so low, and it was just a terrifying experience.
I'm very lucky everyone was so kind to me. Managed to make the flight and got a free sandwich on the plane when I explained I'd been having blood sugar issues.
Final score:
60points
#14
Driving from Massachusetts up to Maine to visit family. The weather reports said there might be flurries along the way, but nothing to worry about. When we left our house, there was a light drizzle. Not far up the highway, it began to ice, then snow. Suddenly, there was a lot of snow and we watched cars and tractor-trailer trucks spin off the road on all sides. Since the weather forecast hadn't seen this storm coming, the roads were untreated. I just focused as hard as possible on staying in what I hoped was the center lane as the weather got worse. I didn't dare pull into the breakdown lane and stop for fear of being hit. The snow got heavier, turned to ice, and back to snow again. Based on where we were, we knew our only escape hope was to make it to Rt. 1 in Kittery, where we knew there'd be places to safely park + food, and motels. My wife kept giving directions from her phone that mapped with my memory and we just kept moving until we reached a parking lot in Kittery and were safe. Once stopped, we both broke into tears from the experience. When we looked at the weather map on our phones, an ice storm surrounded us and all we could do was wait until it ended. Finally, the warm front came north enough that we could head back home.
Final score:
57points
Earl Grey 2 years ago
Yeah, it’s like that. Family up in the Boston area tell me there is an old saying… “If you don’t like the weather up here, just wait a minute.” I had a friend recount a time he strolled across town one afternoon and variously encountered rain, hail, snow, lightening and sunny skies all during one walk.
#15
The only time I kind of panicked was when I was in the Caribbean and decided that I wanted to learn how to scuba. After taking the classes we go off into that beautiful clear blue water. Since this was for beginners we weren't going to go more than 40-50 ft under. There were about six of us newbies with the dive master. Prior to going under the dive master goes over all the safety issues again, including covering what kind of sea creatures we may encounter. It was fascinating to be able to look down above the water and not see a single fish but as soon as you are underwater there were just schools of different species, all colorful. As you can imagine, we were all excited once we were under. I was at the back of the pack following along with the others when the person in front of me accidentally kicked me in the face, knocking my mask off and my regulator out of my mouth. I manage to get the regulator fairly quickly back in and, thankfully, I had been able to catch my mask before it was out of reach. So, I take the time to get the mask back on, get the water out of it, adjust the fit, and get ready to go when I realize that I am all alone in this deep blue. I look around and see nothing but a few fish and the water is so clear you can see out quite a way. But, in my panicked mind, I thought, ....I am in someone else's home and there are things bigger than me out here. I finally, calm down and see some bubbles coming over an outcropping of rock and coral and flippered my happy butt over to the rest of the group. It may not seem like a scary moment to some but when you are not in your natural environment, you are warned that sharks are in the area (but normally don't bother you...yeah, right), you're a scuba virgin and you feel like you are lost it is not a moment of calm. But I still intend to go back and do it all over again.
Final score:
57points
#16
Many years ago I took a trip with my girlfriend to Paris. It was something we joked about on our first date and we made it happen 2 years later. We were both in our early 20s and it was the early '90s. We scrimped and saved for a year and we rented a couple of rooms in a very, very old apartment building to spend a month there.
On the day of the flight to Paris, we were both excited and scared at the same time. Neither of us had ever been on an adventure like this. The plane took off and we were on our way.
About an hour into the flight, the pilot came on and made an announcement in French. People on the plane started to look around nervously and I could tell whatever it was, it wasn't good.
I asked my GF what was said because she was fluent in French and I could barely ask where the restroom was. She told me that there was a small problem with the plane and that we were turning around to go back to San Francisco. I tried to remain calm, cool, and collected but on the inside, I was freaking out.
When we got back to SF and landed, ALL OF THE FIRETRUCKS AND AMBULANCES we're on the tarmac. We were able to land and everyone inside the plane started clapping and cheering because we were alive.
We had to wait on the plane for 4 hours while they fixed the issue.
After things were fixed, we took off and the rest of the flight was uneventful.
Turns out that there was some sort of issue with the landing gear/system. If they would have continued with the flight, we'd have, at least, made it to Paris before we crashed.
The rest of the trip went nothing like we had planned but that's a story for another time.
Final score:
56points
#17
We were going to my Grandparents' house and right in the country, the car stopped like, dead-bolted. I was terrified it was 8 pm and the starting signs of civilization were 70 miles away... Until the kind passerby or rather the Good Samaritan helped us get that car started again.
P.S. There was no cell service.
Final score:
55points
Hill Branda 2 years ago
So glad that there are still kind, generous people who help stranded motorists.
#18
Traveling from a remote Aboriginal community in outback Australia in a Cessna 206... the pilot was a little nervous ... calling up on the radio and slowing the engine.
We eventually arrived at our home airstrip. I asked the pilot if there was a problem ... he took me to the front of the plane and grabbed hold of one of the two propeller blades which just flopped around loose in its housing.
The only thing stopping the propeller from flying off was a retaining ring.
Pilot reckons it was touch and go there and we had only just made it back.
Almost had an underwear mishap right there and then.
Final score:
53points
Kathryn Baylis 1 year ago
Good pilots know that there’s always a possibility of a total loss of power—-like 99% of their training is “what if” scenarios of potential calamities, and only like 1% is of the perfect flight—-and that their plane, no matter what size it is, will have to become a glider, and ride the air currents down to land safely on the ground. Still a terrifying option that takes great skill, a cool head, and a steady hand, but it’s way better than nothing. I would rather the pilot at least try than not.
#19
Stopped at a diner in a very small town on my way to TN. Waited for the bathroom for 10 mins as the door was locked. Finally asked the waitress if maybe no one was in there and she explained that unfortunately, some truckers will fall asleep in there. "They've been on the road for hours, hun."
Long story short... the guy was deceased on the toilet. No one was shocked except me. It was as if it happened on a regular basis.
Final score:
53points
#20
A high school teacher would take students abroad every summer. In Paris, the bus stopped for a souvenir run. We were told to be back in ten minutes. I was late, and the bus left without me. My teacher had four students, including me. The other group who shared our bus had 24 teens and three adults. The leader of the other group was the one who noticed I was missing, an hour and a half later. They went back to the shop, but Montezuma got me, and I'd gone to find a bathroom. Afterward, I had an ice cream, got on the subway, and rode to our station. I went to our hotel and filled out my travel diary. Why scary? I didn't speak a word of French. My teacher knew I'd be sensible, and kept calling our hotel room. The phone's ringer was broken. She heard the rings on her end, but the phone in the room didn't ring. Since I didn't answer, I obviously wasn't at the hotel, so I had to be lost in a huge city, in a foreign country, with no language. Those were the longest three hours of my teacher's life.
Final score:
51points
#21
Many years ago. Driving in a Toronto neighborhood at like 5 pm or sth. The guy cuts me off, I utter something to myself, he sees me through his mirror, and gets out of his car with a machete in his hand. I drove off in like 1 second.
Final score:
46points
#22
My grandfather passed away unexpectedly. He lived in Arkansas, we lived in California. We mounted a family convoy to head out there. My dad, cousin, niece and I rode with my sister and my uncles and aunts drove their vehicles. We had pulled over at a very nice rest stop in Texas. We spent a good 1/2hr, 40 mins there. My cousin had opted to stay in the van because she had undone her pants top button and had painted her nails (She's an adult) We all tell her she should try to get out and go to the bathroom cause it will be a long drive to the next stop. she declines.
We load up and head out. No sooner than we get past the point of no return on the on-ramp, she pipes up that she has to go!! She has IBS and was claiming an episode was a rumbling. I got on the walkie talkies we were using to advise that we'd have to take the next off ramp.
We did, and there was only a sketchy looking road side thrift store. We pulled up, she jumped and ran in. This was the type of the place that had a black velvet John Wayne painting, a bunch of ancient cowboy boots and a party/ disco light show projector in the window. After a while, the uncles got worried and went in to check on her. They came back out and said the place was a real flea trap, but that she should be ok. About that time she comes hauling a**e to the van, jumps in and starts screaming at my sister to ,"GO GO GO!!!" We peel out and get back on the freeway, my sis is checking side and rear view mirrors to see if we've been followed.
We are all freaking out asking her what the heck happened. She explained that the bathroom had a sign admonishing people to not throw anything, including toilet paper into the toilet. She figured she wasn't about to throw the paper she used to clean up after her explosive IBS ordeal into the trash and figured what harm could it really do? Wrong question. apparently her fecund deposit backed up the toilet and it was threatening to over flow. So, she did what any rationally terrified person might do, flushed it again. this time it did over flow. She reached down to put the lid down and I guess the toilet had held a tenuous grip on its wax ring that it now completely let go of so all of it it just went spilling across the floor headed for the door. She yelped and ran, closing the door behind her and raced the smell of her treachery out of there.
I have nothing but the deepest sympathy for the owners of that shop.
Final score:
46points
Jaqi Hegland 2 years ago
If the place says don't flush TP, throw it in the trash and it's their problem.
#23
Getting heatstroke and passing out while on a stopover in St Louis. Being a pasty limey I had no idea what being in 30-degree heat was like back then, but of course, now it's the norm every summer even over here
Final score:
43points
Dynamic duck 2 years ago (edited)
It took me a while to figure out that you mean 30 degrees Celsius not fairenhight I was thinking that's freezing. glad you're ok 🥶😂
#24
Not my story, but my brother's...
I have three younger siblings (one sister and two brothers). My whole family went on our annual trip to South Dakota. We decided to hike up Mt. Coolidge. The hike is about a mile and a half up a twisty gravel road, so sight is limited. Since we all walk at different speeds, we all got somewhat separated from each other. I was way ahead of everyone. At some point, my brother (F) looked back to see how far behind the other four people were. F only saw my dad and other brothers (D) walking together. F continued up the mountain. Eventually, I and my two brothers met at the top of the mountain. F asked D where our dad was. D had absolutely no idea what F was talking about. D said our dad was at least a 1/4 to a 1/2 a mile behind us the whole time. Our dad eventually made it up the hill and confirmed that he had never walked with D. To this day, F insists he saw a ghost walking beside D. Creeps me out because we were in the middle of the Black Hills in the middle of nowhere.
Final score:
43points
Alexandra Davis 1 year ago
First rule of hiking- always stick together! What if they had had a fall or something?
#25
When I heard children playing and laughing outside my hotel room. At 3 a.m. And it happens many times in different cities, different hotels. Since then I'm struggling to trust my own hearing, especially late at night.
Final score:
42points
Monica Miklos 2 years ago
I have a problem with ringing in my ears, have had it for years. When it first started, at night I kept asking my husband "do you hear someone talking?" and the answer was always "no". I talked with my neurologist about these voices I kept hearing at night, and he told me that a lot of people with tinnitus (ringing in the ears) experience that same weird occurrence. I've pretty much gotten used to it, but sometimes it seems so real that I get up and walk into the hallway - just to check.
#26
Once went to my friend's house (who lives in the middle of Yeehawville) but on the way there in one of the neighboring towns, we went down this one street in which people started to get closer to the car in which I realized they had knives and baseball bats and horrible things of that nature. So I then told my parents to go a decent chunk faster than they were to avoid being jumped or whatever they planned to do, we then passed them and one began waving their knife around like a trophy, we all are still ok today.
Final score:
40points
*Displayname*=idk 2 years ago
I have seen videos of people doing that. Even through the screen they are still scary. I can't imagine it happening in rl.
#27
This is probably not as exciting as others, but my experiences with travelling have always been smooth sailing so this particular experience got me good.
L o n g story simplified, I found myself walking through a dense Russian forest with a bunch of local kids when I was around seven. My Russian was supbar at best (I grew up in Canada and only spoke Russian with my family) so I don't know why I was dragged into the expedition in the first place. I vividly remember my grandfather telling me it was the day before the longest day of the year, and since we left later in the afternoon I felt uneasy about how long we've been walking and how long it would take to get back. At one point a boy was ready to call quits, only to get laughed at by the others. He and I looked at eachother, having that mental agreement that we were on the same page, and turned around to head back together.
Turns out, not only was that part of the forest untouched by the locals but was actually prohibited to enter because of war stuff that happened in the area. A search party went out when the boy undoubtedly told his parents where the rest of the kids went, and when my grandfather asked me if I knew anything I played dumb and told him I hung out in the garden with my great-grandmother all day.
To my knowledge, all the kids were found and brought back *the next fricking morning*. Only God knows what went down throughout the night and I'm glad every day I decided to turn back when I did.
Final score:
36points
#28
Flight to China at 18 to stay with a host family. My first time ever travelling all by myself. I was supposed to call my host once I landed at Beijing International. So, I pop up at that (crazy huge) airport, whip out my cellphone (specifically got a phone card for China) and call the number my host family gave me - only to get a automatic message saying "Your phone call has been [unintelligible due to heavy accent]"
So I'm standing there at a huge-a*s airport in fricking China, speaking only like four words of Mandarin, and can't call my host. The solution was (luckily) unspectacular: After briefly panicking I turned to the airport personnel and they called the number for me. All turned out well in the end and was one of my most treasured experiences in life
Final score:
34points
#29
Finding out the emergency door on the plane could have flown off in the air, I was seated in that seat.
Final score:
31points
SparkleFarts 2 years ago
Emergency exit doors on aircraft open IN so as long as the aircraft is pressurized the door is not going to just pop open Source: I'm an aircraft mechanic
#30
(I am a US Navy Vet.)
At the onset of September 11, 2001.
Operation Enduring Freedom
Backstory:
I was deployed from my East Coast Command (Yes, I was stationed in DC when 9/11 happened) to my West Coast Command (a *Boat* SHIP/ Aircraft Carrier Nuclear Power). They (the Boat) had already set sail, for (the coast/off coast) Afghanistan. With our Battlegroup.
Made it to the West Coat:
I had to check in with the Base Admin office. Base Admin, sent a message to my Boat, letting them know I had checked in and my estimated travel time.
I was issued my travel vouchers, my airline tickets, travel money, and updated orders. Along with my travel briefing (Traveling While Active Military, during War Time.)
What Happened While Traveling:
1st/2nd Airport (US)
We (there were like 40 of us traveling together) made it to the US airport.
The Yeoman that made the travel arrangements did NOT pay attention while booking our flights. Said Yeoman, first of all, overbook the flight by over 100 people on the first flight (1st delay by 10 hours). We had to go back to Base and wait for our flight. No, we did not want to wait at the USO in the airport, due to other military personnel flying through and needing the space more than us.
3rd airport (Overseas).
Boarding the Plane.
This big commotion started. We were so confused, at the fuss going on. We have been traveling all day.
Mistakes were made. We were booked on a flight going to Afghanistan, instead of Bahrain. They got up from their seats and started running toward us, to fight. People were hurt. I was more unsettled/irked than scared. We had to have the people from the local US Air Force Base come get us and rebook our flights. They (USAF) had to call the nearest Naval Station to get this settled.
We were still HOURS away from getting to Bahrain, and our Boat.
Finally, made it to Bahrain.
So, we board our Helicopter, to take us to our Boat.
Helicopter decided it was NOT having it that day. We get over the water. We see our Boat, in the distance. The Pilot is like we have to turn around, NOW.
The helicopter starts shaking and we smell smoke. We SEE SMOKE. The Pilot tells us not to worry, he and his crew have it all under control. We LAND back on base safely. I sit on the ground, ( with several others) until one of the crew from the helicopter comes over and sits down with us. He starts talking with us.
I look at him and say: I am not moving from this spot until someone brings me a phone (cordless), so I can talk to my mother. I just saw all of my 28 years of life flash in front of me.
He cracks up laughing and says I will pay for your call and food if you just come with me. You all, are blocking the other Helicopters from landing. (did not realize we had sat down in the landing area for the helicopters)
I look up, and sure enough, there are like 3 of them, waiting to land. LMAO.
Note: I tried to keep out as much of my personal information as possible. If you are doubting my recalling of this. I am ok with all of that.
Final score:
29points
Jaguarundi 2 years ago
I don't doubt a word of it. Everything in the US was a mess for a solid 6 weeks, until mid-October at least. I'm glad you made it back safely, not everyone did.
#31
Rural highway. Five years old. Have to pee. Mom pulls over. Find a bush. Before I finish, she drives off. I wait. And wait. Start thumbing it. 10 minutes later, catch a ride. It's Mom.
Final score:
28points
#32
Easy. Not sure if ‘travel’, but once I was on vacation with BFFs and they decided upon this huge water park with a near vertical water slide. Sounded pretty bad for me, who had fear of heights, the kind where you black out and stuff. Plus fear of deep water. The slide had both.
I literally was pushed down the slide by the CROWD because they were angry I was blocking up the line. I literally flew right out of the TRACK and nearly landed on a big doggo and its owner, and the dog jumped a meter.
It sounds funny now but definitely scary at the time. They were fine, but because the protective stuff had flown right out of my hands I had a few bruises and stuff.
The safety coach said I was too light.
Final score:
27points
Shyla Clay 2 years ago
I'm afraid of heights, and I can't swim. You're NOT getting me on a water slide.
#33
Traveling to the US for work two weeks after 9/11 … besides that I just became a father and developed fear for flying instantaneously. Took me 10 years to get rid of it
Final score:
25points
#34
We were moving to Hawaii and there was a "shooter" (overheated computer) at the airport we were delayed for 487947287794871 hours (5 hrs, but the same thing!) and our friends had to do the same bit in a janitors closet.
Final score:
18points
PandaMagicGrl (Submission author) 2 years ago (edited)
Why am I getting downvoted? can someone tell me?😭 Which jerk is doing this? This was a real thing that really happend! everyone was TERRIFIED TO DEATH!
#35
I was flying back from Brazil and had fallen asleep. I awoke to an unknown male "caressing" me-when I started to push him off, he became very angry and held me down. Once the stewardesses became aware, they (with some male passengers) grabbed/subdued him and tied him to a seat. He began screaming that he loved me and was going to "blow up the plane". It was a nightmare...
What do you think ?
Leo Domitrix 2 years ago
Scariest moment: Plane lost over 15,000 ft in altitude in less than 2 minutes. It was a dive b/c the engines stalled b/c the pilots flew "too high". (That's a thing.) When we got on the ground, *early* at the airport, I overheard an airline employee mutter to another, "We gotta get this thing into maintenance." We were never told what went wrong. I saw it on Air Disasters! (TV show.) For the record, when you're diving in a huge plane with only wind noise and no lights but the teeny-tiny aisle lights? .... You *will* be the person you think you'd make fun of in that situation. I speed-prayed a rosary so da*n fast I must've sounded like an auctioneer.
Easy Breezy 2 years ago
Christmas and new year 2019/2020 being detained for 2 weeks in a medical prison in barbados for testing COVID positive on arrival (had beg test before departure as per protocols at the time) - I had no symptoms so probably a faulty test result. Zero rights, zero representation, holiday fully cancelled and not refundable, slept in a prison dorm with 60 strangers and no AC in 100+ heat. "Medical staff" / prison guards detested us as they thought tourists would bring the disease to their island and kill their loved ones so we were treated like proper prisoners. Taken away from my 2 babies for 2 weeks. Absolute nightmare
enohPilivE 2 years ago
Nope. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Barbados
Load More Replies...
Shannon Dasher 2 years ago
My scary moment was on a cruise ship 🚢 with my husband. The ship (Diamond Princess ) hit a iceberg, in Alaska. The vast majority of the iceberg was under water. Just a small part was visible. All l could think about was the freezing water. The location was called "The arm of Tracy".
October 1 year ago (edited)
At the end of December 2007 we landed in Nairobi, just when massive violence broke out due to disputed elections. The city was overrun by gun toting soldiers and machette carrying rioters. We escaped to a more rural area for a few days, till our embassy called and told us to get out of the country asap. We had to spend another night in Nairobi in order to catch our early morning plane. The owners of our hotel had fled, but texted we could spend the night hiding from the violence in their walled in garden. That was the longest night of my life. Bad experience for us, hell for the people of Kenia. About 1300 people died there during the two months that the riots lasted.
Reviewer UK01 1 year ago
Way worse for my daughter than for me. I use a wheelchair and for most trains they have to put a ramp down for me to get on. I'm traveling with my daughter who is a teenager and has autism and a learning disability. My daughter gets into the train with our bags and just as the lady bends down with the ramp the train just pulls away. My daughter is now on a train with no tickets and no understanding of how to deal with that, no idea of geography (she gets confused by the difference between cities and countries) and she doesn't talk to other people and I'm left frantic at the station hoping she doesn't get off the train at some random country station with no staff. She had to sit it out for a full hour on the train and another 30 minutes in a city she doesn't know and the train guy was going to write her a penalty for not having a ticket then put her off, thankfully the train company managed to get in touch to explain what happened and she didn't have to try to explain.
Libstak 1 year ago (edited)
Aged 3 1/2 1970. We had emigrated to Australia 6 months ago. Family of 5, my parents, my sister 9yrs, my brother 13 yrs and little ol me. New years eve parents went to local dance hall, my brother was baby sitter. I was playing outside on my new tricycle with neighbours boy, about 4 yrs old. He was pushing me, we went too fast on a bend and I toppled. Next thing I knew he disappeared and I'm scraped knee and crying. A lady in blue with a hat comes to me, that's all I remember. It was the police, I didn't speak English and they had no idea where I lived, no one in that street round the corner did. So I spent the night at the head office police about 30kms away. My siblings in the meantime were hopping apeshit scared looking for me, also hardly spoke English. My parents came home at 2am, my siblings were hiding under the bed cos they had lost me and couldn't face mum and dad. Many shenanigans later a family friend drove them to the local police who told them a little girl had.
Libstak 1 year ago
..been taken into town. Apparently my only complaint was they didn't give me milk cos they didn't understand me when I asked for it. Enough drama to last everyone a lifetime and I spent most of it oblivious to anything being wrong at all. In 1970 things were a bit more blaze too, no one got charged etc and the fact it was a genuine mistake was taken for granted.
Load More Replies... 
Leo Domitrix 2 years ago
Scariest moment: Plane lost over 15,000 ft in altitude in less than 2 minutes. It was a dive b/c the engines stalled b/c the pilots flew "too high". (That's a thing.) When we got on the ground, *early* at the airport, I overheard an airline employee mutter to another, "We gotta get this thing into maintenance." We were never told what went wrong. I saw it on Air Disasters! (TV show.) For the record, when you're diving in a huge plane with only wind noise and no lights but the teeny-tiny aisle lights? .... You *will* be the person you think you'd make fun of in that situation. I speed-prayed a rosary so da*n fast I must've sounded like an auctioneer.
Easy Breezy 2 years ago
Christmas and new year 2019/2020 being detained for 2 weeks in a medical prison in barbados for testing COVID positive on arrival (had beg test before departure as per protocols at the time) - I had no symptoms so probably a faulty test result. Zero rights, zero representation, holiday fully cancelled and not refundable, slept in a prison dorm with 60 strangers and no AC in 100+ heat. "Medical staff" / prison guards detested us as they thought tourists would bring the disease to their island and kill their loved ones so we were treated like proper prisoners. Taken away from my 2 babies for 2 weeks. Absolute nightmare
enohPilivE 2 years ago
Nope. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Barbados
Load More Replies... Shannon Dasher 2 years ago
My scary moment was on a cruise ship 🚢 with my husband. The ship (Diamond Princess ) hit a iceberg, in Alaska. The vast majority of the iceberg was under water. Just a small part was visible. All l could think about was the freezing water. The location was called "The arm of Tracy".
October 1 year ago (edited)
At the end of December 2007 we landed in Nairobi, just when massive violence broke out due to disputed elections. The city was overrun by gun toting soldiers and machette carrying rioters. We escaped to a more rural area for a few days, till our embassy called and told us to get out of the country asap. We had to spend another night in Nairobi in order to catch our early morning plane. The owners of our hotel had fled, but texted we could spend the night hiding from the violence in their walled in garden. That was the longest night of my life. Bad experience for us, hell for the people of Kenia. About 1300 people died there during the two months that the riots lasted.
Reviewer UK01 1 year ago
Way worse for my daughter than for me. I use a wheelchair and for most trains they have to put a ramp down for me to get on. I'm traveling with my daughter who is a teenager and has autism and a learning disability. My daughter gets into the train with our bags and just as the lady bends down with the ramp the train just pulls away. My daughter is now on a train with no tickets and no understanding of how to deal with that, no idea of geography (she gets confused by the difference between cities and countries) and she doesn't talk to other people and I'm left frantic at the station hoping she doesn't get off the train at some random country station with no staff. She had to sit it out for a full hour on the train and another 30 minutes in a city she doesn't know and the train guy was going to write her a penalty for not having a ticket then put her off, thankfully the train company managed to get in touch to explain what happened and she didn't have to try to explain.
Libstak 1 year ago (edited)
Aged 3 1/2 1970. We had emigrated to Australia 6 months ago. Family of 5, my parents, my sister 9yrs, my brother 13 yrs and little ol me. New years eve parents went to local dance hall, my brother was baby sitter. I was playing outside on my new tricycle with neighbours boy, about 4 yrs old. He was pushing me, we went too fast on a bend and I toppled. Next thing I knew he disappeared and I'm scraped knee and crying. A lady in blue with a hat comes to me, that's all I remember. It was the police, I didn't speak English and they had no idea where I lived, no one in that street round the corner did. So I spent the night at the head office police about 30kms away. My siblings in the meantime were hopping apeshit scared looking for me, also hardly spoke English. My parents came home at 2am, my siblings were hiding under the bed cos they had lost me and couldn't face mum and dad. Many shenanigans later a family friend drove them to the local police who told them a little girl had.
Libstak 1 year ago
..been taken into town. Apparently my only complaint was they didn't give me milk cos they didn't understand me when I asked for it. Enough drama to last everyone a lifetime and I spent most of it oblivious to anything being wrong at all. In 1970 things were a bit more blaze too, no one got charged etc and the fact it was a genuine mistake was taken for granted.
Load More Replies... 
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