Beware of coconuts! Honestly! Falling coconuts can be
a real and potentially lethal hazard. The beautifully idyllic and iconic image
of blissful palm-fringed white sand beaches can be found everywhere in
Southeast Asia, but it’s not always not so wise to shelter underneath the
coconut trees.
There are some potentially deadly creatures in Southeast
Asia, including Tigers, bears and snakes, though you are highly unlikely to
encounter them, even in the National Parks.
Although instances of snakebite are fairly frequent,
especially in Myanmar, most incidents occur among indigenous agricultural
workers, especially during periods of localized flooding.
Travelling in the undergrowth of unfamiliar
landscapes is best done in the company of an experienced guide.
The waters of Southeast Asia are resplendent with marine
life, which includes several shark species. Globally, shark attacks are
extremely rare and occur most frequently in the waters of the United States,
Australasia, and South Africa.
With the notable of exceptions of Hong Kong and the
Philippines, there are no reported Shark attacks on swimmers, snorkelers or
divers in Southeast Asia, though one fatality of a fisherman occurred in
Thailand in 2000, featuring an understandably agitated shark caught up in his
nets.
In Hong Kong, a spate of fatal shark attacks occurred
between 1991 and 1995, claiming ten lives and causing considerable panic,
following which Hong Kong’s government took the step of netting the majority of
its beaches, which has entirely resolved the problem.
All the Hong Kong beaches featured on this site are
securely netted. A full list of Gazetted netted beaches is provided by the Hong
Kong authorities and is available at http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/.
We do not recommend swimming at un-gazetted Hong Kong beaches.
In the Philippines, there have been a small number of
shark attacks since the 1960’s, of which four were fatal, the most recent death
occurring in 2008.
An up to date global database of both fatal and non-fatal
shark attacks can be found at http://www.sharkattackdata.com/.
Sea snakes inhabit tropical waters, and on the rare
occasions that they are seen can cause undue commotion. Sea snakes are by
nature shy and will usually only bite humans when threatened or trapped in
fishing nets.
Another potential danger for those involved in aquatic
pursuits, including swimming, is that of the box jellyfish which can be
encountered in both the South China Sea and Indian Ocean. Though incidents are
extremely rare, they can be both very painful and potentially lethal.
Mercifully, providing treatment is applied immediately, a
simple and readily available cure exists, by continually soaking the skin and
any attached residual stinging material in vinegar, while you await
professional medical help. Any remaining stinging material should be removed as
soon as possible, using gloves or a stick.
For the best advice on water safety, few people know the
waters at your destination better than the local dive masters, so if you have
any concerns, a visit to the local dive school should give you an informed and
up to date assessment of the local marine life and water conditions.
A common and entirely avoidable source of beach injury is
carelessly walking barefoot on sharp coral, which can cause serious cuts, and
furthermore penetrate the skin with broken shards, which can potentially lead
to a lifetimes walking discomfort.
The not so humble mosquito is the most potentially
dangerous creature you are likely to encounter, and it is advised to use a
repellent and in vulnerable areas use a net for sleeping, especially out in the
wild.
Although Malaria is not a threat in most tourist areas,
if you are travelling into remote territories, precaution is necessary. In
addition to malaria, Dengue Fever and Japanese Encephalitis are also borne
by mosquitoes active during daytime.
You should consult your medical practitioner for fully up
to date and personalised health advice and any recommended medication before
taking your trip.
The world is an organic ever-changing dynamic and
evolving being, which despite the illusion of relative calm during its quieter
spells, is always in motion, and sometimes prone to sudden movement, the most
famous example of which, in Indonesia, triggered the awesome power of the 2004 Tsunami.
The disconcertingly worrying notion that the ground
beneath our feet is not as solid as we suppose, is not of course unique to
Southeast Asia, and should be put in perspective.
Nevertheless the ‘ring of fire’ which encircles almost
the entire Pacific Ocean basin, is a highly active source of earthquakes and
volcanic eruptions, especially along the southern rim of the Indonesian
archipelago, and undoubtedly is a factor to consider, though most visitors will
never feel even a tremor during their visit.
In the northern countries, of China, Bhutan, Myanmar,
Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, occurrences of earthquakes are extremely rare and
usually of little consequence, though it would be foolish to entirely overlook
the possibility of a major event.
These countries have a few volcanoes, which have not
erupted in recorded history. In Indonesia, by contrast, both quakes and
eruptions occur frequently, and can be among the worlds most dramatic and
destructive. Thailand and Malaysia, particularly Borneo, are also prone to
occasional earthquakes.
In extremely rare instances, the whole region can be
affected by underwater quakes resulting Tsunami tidal waves. However, although
the Asia Pacific region is the World’s most regularly active focus of tectonic
activity, in the interests of perspective, it should be borne in mind that the potential for globally
significant catastrophe could occur almost anywhere, and at any time.