Det är farligt att resa

Travelling is dangerous. It is also dangerous to live, but perhaps even more dangerous to travel. There are some dangers abroad that don't exist at home: wars, volcanoes, Vietnamese mopeds, crocodiles ...

Being familiar with the dangers

At home, you are also more familiar with the dangers. You can of course be robbed or assaulted in Stockholm too, but at home you know which streets to avoid at night and how to find a reliable taxi. You also have a cultural competence that allows you to recognise which people you can trust and which you should pass by.

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In Kenya, it was a different story. We happened to end up there in the midst of burning riots during the elections just over a year ago, and the taxi driver who helped us escape through smouldering slums discreetly pointed out the men he perceived as dangerous. To our eyes, they all looked the same, but he was probably right when he said "In your country, you would also know who to be afraid of, right?".

Travelling is more dangerous than staying at home

So travelling is a bit more dangerous than staying at home. But considering how safe and stable everything is in Sweden, maybe we need to expose ourselves to some risks sometimes? I can often think that people are far too cowardly when travelling.

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We only want to go to places that have been made safe by a few million Swedes in advance and where we know we can be sure of getting meatballs with lingonberries and a Swedish-speaking guide. It takes time to burn new countries into the brains of security-crazed Swedes, but after a few decades we dare to go not only to Majorca and the Canary Islands, but also to Thailand.

Fear of the unknown

But now comes the weird part! Normally, charter Swedes are cowardly and fearful of trying anything that might be dangerous. But once a country is imprinted and established, it can't be washed away! Thailand is burning and people are being killed in chaotic Bangkok. But according to Ving, they have not had any cancellations or any questions, neither in Sweden nor in Thailand. And according to Fritidsresor, a plane took off for Thailand this morning without a single cancellation.

Why are Swedes not afraid now? Where does the logic lie? Thailand is not a Swedish colony but a separate country with its own political problems. In general, I don't think you should be afraid of travelling, but you have to keep yourself informed about what is happening in the world. You can't expect the Swedish government to come and rescue you on the other side of the world. As soon as you have travelled outside the border, you are on your own.