This locale has long been cherished by Americans - surfers, campers, and others who appreciate the scenic seashore and pristine beaches as well as the friendly Mexican people and the inexpensive seafood restaurants. Tourists visiting San Diego find it alluring to day - trip to another country searching for shopping bargains or just cultural diversity.

Recently - especially over the past eight months - there have been an increasing number of reports of armed robberies, shooting incidents, and car jackings - even kidnappings - involving visitors to this beautiful, normally serene coastal region. These atrocities are being promulgated by well organized criminal elements who view visitors from up north as easy marks.

Mexican law prohibits guns to be carried into Mexico. You are warned of this at the border with unmistakable clarity. Penalties are severe for those caught with weapons in their vehicles or on their person. Apparently, the well armed criminals- some with automatic rifles - know of their advantage in robbing the unarmed.

Recent news accounts in the local San Diego Union - Tribune and other newspapers lead with such disquieting headlines as “Troubling sign in Baja…Surfers warn of armed robberies while camping on Mexican coast.” and “Surfer's Baja tale is warning to others…Camping trip ended in robbery, assault…”; the latest on January 24th being “Baja tourist bid enters crisis mode….” The November 25th edition of the North County Times ran with this: “U.S. renews warning to Baja travelers.” These and others have brought to light what has apparently become all too commonplace there. While at least seven atrocities have been documented, it is believed numerous other crimes of this nature have gone unreported due to distrust of Mexican authorities. In at least one instance, an RV was fired into when the occupants refused to open the door. When they complied with the robbers' demands, a woman in the vehicle was sexually assaulted while the robbers held her male companion at gunpoint. Surfers have been accosted by armed thugs on a too regular basis. Campers are especially at risk in the camp grounds which abound on the coast highway.

As one veteran Baja camper relates: “It is like the Wild West down there now.” The situation has become so potentially dangerous that many others, some long time visitors to the area, vow to never return. “It's an end of an era.” says one recent victim.

Most of the incidents have occurred south of Tijuana on the toll road along the coast to Ensenada and south. Most were at night on that road or in camp grounds nearby. During daylight hours there are patrols by the respected tourist assistance organization Angeles Verdes (Green Angels); there are none after dark along the unlighted highway.

The tactics have varied. Some people were pulled over by drivers dressed in military style uniforms with "official" looking vehicles equipped with flashing lights and sirens; others became victims while they slept in campgrounds or in their RV's parked along the highway. In each case, the thugs were well armed and ruthless, terrorizing their victims, and most times leaving them in fear of their lives.

Over the last Thanksgiving holiday weekend, tourism apparently dipped dramatically enough for local Mexican officials to become outwardly concerned. Mexican tourism industry officials know that the adverse publicity could be disastrous. An estimated 25 million visitors flock to Baja annually, most from Southern California. Meetings are being held to discuss what has become an embarrassment. Some say that millions of dollars in revenue have already been lost there - perhaps up to a 30% decline in spending over the last year - and that news of these most recent atrocities will further harm the tourism business, a major factor in the economy of the region.

Until recently, Mexican law enforcement officials had downplayed the problem hoping it would go away. Go away it did not as publicized reports of this malady erupted throughout the news and on television and began to effect tourism in a dramatic way. In January, Mexican government officials held emergency meetings concerned that the security problem had drastically affected tourism as word of these atrocities was publicized. An estimated 1.5 million less visitors to the region in 2007 than 2006 has prompted action on their behalf. A public relations firm has been hired and posters and other materials are being distributed urging Americans and others to “Come Back!”

Oscar Escobedo Carignan, Baja California's tourism secretary, pronounced at a January 23rd news conference “The image of the security problem has hit the state very badly...It is a challenge and we are working on it.” Escobar has stated that enhanced security patrols along the highway from Tijuana to Ensenada are in effect and are working to alleviate the problem. “…we feel confident that this will not be an issue anymore.” says Escobar. However, he believes that news reports have exaggerated the situation blowing it out of proportion. (Not if you become a victim of one of these all too frequent crimes!)

“We want to make it safe for visitors…” says one coastal town major. But safe it is not. The facts are that paramilitary style thugs roam the highways of Baja preying upon visiting Southern Californians and other tourists with increasing violence. The United States has issued a "Travel Advisory" warning Americans about the possible dangers of travel to that area.

Sadly, Baja California has become a war zone; Americans are wisely advised to travel there at their own risk until - and if - Mexican officials rectify this egregious situation and regain control of their once safe and friendly coastal vacation mecca.

It's not all a bed of roses, you know. It's expensive to live and expensive to be unhealthy. Wages are low and benefits are few and far between anywhere outside the largest cities. Standards of Health and Safety are low in general, with a few bizarre areas where the safety police have gone overboard. You can drink and drive your power boat, and let fifteen year olds drive themselves to school.

You can walk on tracks no wider than your arm on the edge of crumbling cliffs and throw yourselves off buildings and bridges - but don't even think about having an open swimming pool in case Johnny from the next road decides he wants to take an uninvited dip. Food hygiene is best described as random and food prices are bumped up from being just not good value for the amount you have to fork out, to downright unbelievable on Public Holidays.

Driving on the public roads is an amateur sport here. It's enjoyed by many. Corners are for taking at any speed at which at least two wheels will stay in contact with the gravel (yes gravel, don't expect all the roads to have tarmac) and indicating before you turn simply means you're scared or have no license. Trucks own the road, argue at your peril.

Still reading?

What About the Fantastic Scenery and the Clean, Green Image?

Okay. As much as there are bad things, there are plenty of good things to balance them out. Generally, New Zealanders are very community minded and respectful, both of people and property. Your kids will be safer, and you can find a beach to yourself if that's what you want. You can lose yourself in the woods, hide in the valleys and live off the land if that's what floats your boat. Saturdays are for sport. Watching it, playing it or just sitting round and re-living it.

Summer in a country with this many beaches means that all other worries just melt away. The fishing is sublime. In boats, in kayaks or from the rocks. In less than a year you will be an expert and can safely catch enough to feed your family. You know when you've cracked it when the value of fish you catch is more than the amount you've just spent on bait!

Life is slower here, but you can stay busy all year round. Tourism is a major part of life and is actively promoted, but it can be very seasonal. The scale of events and attractions is the one point you have to make an early decision on. An “international” attraction may be less than the size of your double garage. All the rides in some Theme parks can be done twice in two hours.

But put the commercial tourism aside, walk and talk with the locals and enjoy what they enjoy, and it soon becomes clear exactly what the attraction of New Zealand is. It's the variety, it's the plain speaking and if you're not too naïve - the opportunity.

So you have at long last made up your mind that you are going on that South African safari or holiday. Well my friend here are some tips on how to stay alive and out of trouble. From the moment your plane touch African soil you better start thinking safety and caution. Make sure you have made arrangements for someone that you know to pick you up at the airport. If you have not, then get one of the airport taxis to take you to your hotel or where ever you want to go. If you take a rental car ensure to lock all the doors and keep the windows closed. Should you have a mobile phone on you, keep it out of sight and don’t wear to many flashy jewelery.

It is sad but true that thousands of tourists get hi-jacked and robbed of their mobile phones and jewelery every year. If you should get lost while driving somewhere, don’t stop and asked for directions in the middle of nowhere, drive until you get to a big shopping centre or somewhere that there are a lot of people. Avoid driving at night. Most incidents happens at night or early mornings, when the victims are tired or not alert. Another thing these thugs do is to try and flag you down by pretending that they are hurt or their car has broken down. Don’t stop, they will rape, rob or worse kill you. It is also known that the thugs sometimes follow victims to their house or apartments where they then rob them. So always be alert, if you should see a car tailing you, rather go straight to your nearest police station and report the incident. Remember drive to stay alive!

Accomodation

Ensure you keep all your windows closed at night. If you go out during the day be sure to lock all doors and again make sure that all the windows are closed. Should you be indoors during the day with the windows open, don’t let anything of value lying around, things like mobile phones, wallets, jewelery, cameras and laptops. If you don’t do this the thugs will simply climbed through the window and take what they want.

On The Beach

South Africa is well known for it’s beautiful weather, so if you are going to the beach, don’t leave anything of value lying around. When you go for a swim make sure that there is someone to look after it at all times. What these thugs do is to keep an eye on you and as soon as you are in the water or turn your back they will simply walk past and take what they want, and disappear. Another thing, don’t go for a stroll alone on a secluded beach, day or night, many tourists had been robbed, raped and killed. I used the beach for an example, but you should be careful and alert wherever you go at all times. Always think safety!

Restaurants and Automatic Teller Machines

When you need to withdraw money from a (ATM) try to do it during the day. When you approach an (ATM) have a look round first for any suspicious persons just standing there. Don’t accept help from strangers trying to show you how the machine works, if need to ask for an bank employee to assist you. If you go to a restaurant and you are sitting outside ensure not to let your wallet or handbag out of sight.

Hope when you go to South Africa, or any place in Africa that you will remember my article and that it will help you. Trust me I know what I am talking about, I had lived there more than thirty years.

For a few years I was a Security Officer for some of the most well known casinos and shopping venues on the Las Vegas Strip. During that time, I learned a lot about the nature of people, and how to protect yourself when you are visiting Las Vegas.

I have included 10 tips that you might find useful the next time you are visiting a casino or hotel in town.

1. Protecting Your Possessions:

   Unfortunately, not everyone comes to Las Vegas for a simple vacation like many folks. Vegas is known for attracting not only tourists, but also those people who would like to separate you from your money.
   
   Here is a short list of things to watch for: Do not leave handbags or purses laying on the ground or the next seat when you are gambling. Thieves are getting braver every day. They don't hide in the shadows anymore. They will walk right past you and take your belongings as if it belonged to them the whole time, and then dare you to say anything.
   
   Also, just because you leave valuables in your room does not mean they are safe. Always lock up your jewelry or money in the safe if the hotel provides one. Make sure if you have anything valuable in your luggage that you put it away. Thieves will always go for things that are the most accessible first.
   
   A common practice of hotel thieves is to walk down the hallway as if they are going to their room and push on each door to see if any of them open. When they find a door open they just walk on in and begin stealing your belongings. If they happen to walk in on you in the room, they will often just pretend they got confused as to which room was theirs because they all look the same.

2. The Art of the Trick Roll:

   Men, you especially need to pay attention to this. Let me give you a little scenario. You are at the blackjack table and are having a great time. After a while, you decide to take a break and go to the bar. While you are there, a very attractive woman sits down beside you and begins to strike up a conversation. You begin to think that things are going great and she suggest that you take her up to your room. You feel like nothing could go wrong and then you wake up and find it's the afternoon of the next day.
   
   As you try to clear the cobwebs from your head, you begin to realize that you are alone in your room and all your money and credit cards are gone. Now if you haven't figured it out yet, let me explain to you what just happened. While you were gambling the night before, you were being watched. And before you go thinking it was because you're such a stud, it was you were seen as an easy mark.
   
   Chances are you were drinking at the table and the woman who met you at the bar noticed that you were getting drunk and had already started losing control of reality. At some point she distracted you, and placed knock out drops in your drink. This often happens when you are in your room, and she suggests you go take a warm shower to relax and get ready, but some have even been brazen enough to put the drops in your drink right there at the bar. By the time you get upstairs you are just about out of it, and if anyone asks, she just tells them you had too much to drink and she is making sure you get to bed.
   
   While you are knocked out, she will turn the heat up on the thermostat a little bit to make you nice and comfortable. Then while you are sleeping away, she has full access to anything she wants, and by the time you wake up she is long gone. You may ask yourself, why doesn't somebody do something about it. I can tell you from experience that we make every effort to stop this from happening.
   
   The fact is that 97% of these “trick rolls” will not get reported to the police. I think you know why, but just in case you don't, it's because these men don't want their wives to find out.

3. Bucket or Voucher Thieves:

   Another common trick for thieves is that when you go to cash in your ticket at the Machine, they will be waiting right behind you and as soon as the money comes out they will grab it and run. They will also cruise through the casino to see if you may have left your credits on the slot machine, while you went to get a drink or to the restroom. When they see the credits, they just cash it out, and take it to be cashed in as if it was theirs all along.
   
   At some of the older casinos that still pay out in coins the thief will use a trick that was perfected in the old days. They will walk around with a few coins in their hand as if they are looking for a machine to play.
   
   When they see you with a bucket full of coins, they will casually drop a couple coins on the floor on the opposite side of where your bucket is, and then politely let you know you accidentally dropped your money. When you thank them and lean over to pick up the loose change they will move around to the other side and take your bucket of money, and just walk off. Chances are you are so busy playing that you won't even notice it's gone for a few minutes. By that time they are already gone, and out on the street.

4. Scams:

   It should go without saying, but I'll say it anyway. If it looks to good to be true, then it is. There are many people out there, not just in Las Vegas, but probably in your town too, that are trying to run a game on people. But somehow, Vegas seems to attract a lot of them.
   
   Let me tell you about one particularly interesting scam. A young lady was sitting at a bar in a casino, when a man sat down beside her and ordered both of them a drink. They began to talk and got along quite well, actually talking to each other at the bar for a couple hours. At that point the man said that he was getting a little hungry. He told the woman that he had won two free meals at the steakhouse in the casino, and asked if she would like to join him.
   
   Since they had been talking for so long, she felt comfortable with him and agreed, not wanting to miss out on the chance for a free meal at the steakhouse. They ordered their meals, the best steaks in the place and a bottle of the most expensive wine to go with it. While they were finishing up, the man excused himself to use the restroom and, (you guessed it) never came back, leaving this woman with a bill for over $250.00. Let me say again, if it looks to good to be true, it is.

5. No More Freebies:

   You will hear the street vendors say it all up and down the strip and inside the casinos. Get this or that for free! It's free, just try it out. Let me warn you, there is no free lunch.
   
   If it is being offered for free, then there is a catch. Las Vegas has changed since the old days when, if you lost all your money, you could still get a meal at the buffet on the house. Those days are gone. Today it is all about the bottom line, and if anything is offered to you, you can be sure that somewhere, the house is going to make money on it.

6. 86'd (You're Outta Here!):

   It started with the Kefauver Commission on organized crime, and was known as the Black Book. It was actually a list of all the crime figures who were banned from going into any casinos in Las Vegas, and some were even banned from the casinos in Reno as well. As time went on, each casino would add to the list, any person who was caught in their place of business being disruptive or cheating. They would be 86'd or thrown out of the casino.
   
   In the past, this was done literally. If a card cheat was found out, he was lucky if he got out of the casino with only a few broken fingers. Today, of course, those methods are not allowed, but the list still remains. Now, let me tell you something about that list you may not know. Each casino is privately owned, and therefore private property. Many people come in thinking it is public property, but they would be wrong. The owner(s) of each property have the authority to ask you to leave for any reason they want.
   
   Normally, the owners will give the authority to 86 someone to the security department who acts on behalf of the owner. Once you are kicked out of a casino, it is for life! And here is something else you may not have thought of. Many of the major corporations own more than one casino, so if you are kicked out of one, you are 86'd from all the casinos they own.

7. Las Vegas Fever:

   This is something that occurs way too much, but in a place like Las Vegas it might really surprise you. Everyday we would see people who would get caught up in the excitement and everything going on around them, and forget to do one thing. They would forget to eat.
   
   We would always see people passing out in the casinos, because they would simply not take time away to replenish themselves. I even saw one young lady who passed out in the buffet line. She was so close! With all the food in this town, how is it even remotely possible that anyone would forget to eat. But it does happen.

8. Be Aware of Your Surroundings:

   I am seriously not trying to frighten you away. Things like this could happen in any city in the world. It's just that they happen with more frequency here.
   
   Always make sure you know what is going on around you. When you get out of your car, lock it. And always pay close attention to your children. Which brings me to my next point.

9. Do Not Leave Your Children Unattended:

   Forgive me, because I'm about to give you a list of dont's, but you would not believe what some people actually do with their children, in order to go gambling. Do not send your children to an arcade room alone. If they are going, make sure someone goes with them. The same goes for the restroom, do not send them in alone. Waiting at the door is not good enough.
   
   Believe me, there are pedophiles just waiting where you least expect them. If they are left in the hotel room, make sure there is someone old enough to stay with them. Do not leave your kids in the car, while you go inside to gamble (Oh, yes they did!). And under no circumstances, leave your kids with a stranger while you go cash in your chips.

10. If You Win, Leave!

    This may sound strange to you, but there is nothing worse than seeing someone lose everything they have on a chance.
    
    I once saw a man who had just come into town and had just placed his first bet on the craps table. This was his first experience in Las Vegas and the worst thing that could possibly happen to him happened. He placed his entire paycheck on a roll, and won!
    
    Now why do I say that is the worst thing that could have happened to him. It's because he now thought he was invincible. He went from his hourly job in the Midwest, to being a highroller on Fremont St in Las Vegas in less than a day. He actually won $10,000 on that one roll. And then he proceeded to lose it all.
    
    Several people encouraged him to walk away, but he wouldn't listen. He not only lost everything he had won, plus his paycheck, but he now had to go back home and tell his wife that he had lost their house.
    
    If you are winning, good for you. Take a break and walk away. Go get something to eat or get some fresh air. Save yourself a lot of heartache.

These are just a few tips from what I have seen during working in the casinos. Las Vegas is an exciting town and there is a lot to do here. Just make sure that when you come here, you are able to leave safe and sound.