Friendly warning from Brazil...

Pilot_76 · 01-30-16, 01:53 AM

Hi all.

This is a friendly warning from Brazil. I have been asked a lot about this so I've decided to actually put out a warning to all internet forums that I participate. I am deeply concerned for the safety of all who wish to visit Brazil. Especially during the Olympics.

Please don't.

Do not come here. Do not come here at all. Ever.

Crime rates have increased exponentially due to the chaos that PT or "Workers Party" from President Dilma and our former President Lula installed for more than a decade. Gas prices, basic commodities prices are increasing and Public Health is called "Butcher Service" by the population. On top of that there is the "Zyka" virus which is transmitted by mosquito. The problem is not the mosquito itself but is that the people still leave bottles, tires and any other form of container with water so the mosquito can reproduce freely. You must all understand that I believe that more than 80% of the country's population is politically illiterate and illiterate as well, in reading, thinking on their own and so on. Just another typical case of third World Country symptoms. I come through this post to answer how my life is and how I see tourists doing things which I consider unsafe in times like this with the country going "kapootz". Some thoughts I have on...

Rio de Janeiro:
I have never seen so much crime in so short time. Near Hotel da Glória (A very fancy hotel in Rio) I've witnessed 3 robbery attempts on drivers. Some bare handed and some with knives. They usually attack in 3 or more. At the beaches these are common. Teens and gang members they meet up and setup the so called "Arrastão" or Big Drag. Usually more than 20 members. They run up the entire beach and they steal everything they can get their hands on. Cameras, towels, wallets all gone. The police usually arrests 3 to 10 people but still it is a big scare for everyone. Slums or the favelas: There are shootings all the time. I can't say it is every week or so but definitely every month I watch the news and see The police climbing up the hills and the gangs shooting them down. Syria's war footage on CNN looks just the same. But Rio doesn't show up on CNN (Hey, Olympics are here so let's maintain a good press image shall we?) Same happened during World Cup. (I do believe Brazil has paid for being host at those two events. Just my opinion here). Oh by the way, did you know that a fancy 5 star hotel was invaded by gang members? Oh they do not show that on the news. Bad press.

São Paulo:
Sort of the Brazilian NYC. I live here. I do not feel safe here but crime is still rising. I joke that Rio is at least 5 years ahead of my city in crime development (if you are from Rio, I am sorry but it is the truth). When leaving home riding my Harley (Harley is a bit hard to steal because nobody buys stolen parts) I do carry a very cheap smartphone such as a MOTO G (8gb), wallet with $20, one debit/credit card and that's it. Working is another thing. iPhone, Oakley shades, iPad and expensive watches. As an Airline Pilot nobody can steal my stuff at 35.000 feet! My only concern is on the way to the airport but is very rare to be robbed there. My way of dealing this is to carry a fake briefcase with nothing in it and leave it besides me while I am riding the cab and leave my real breifcase in the trunk. Interesting thing still happens though: Sometimes a thief will buy a ticket to ride the bus from Congonhas Airport to the International airport of Guarulhos (GRU). Then he surrenders the bus driver and a car with his buddies stops right behind the bus and in less than 5 minutes all your belongings are gone. They usually take your luggage as well. Other thing that is very common here is that professional cyclists have their bikes stolen if they happen to ride on the highways. Specialized gangs drive on the highways with SUVs and when they find a group of cyclists they surrender them and take off with the bikes in the SUV. That takes 30 seconds. Did you know that if you go out and hang out with your friends in a local bar you may get robbed? Yup. A group shows up, surrenders everyone in the bar and quickly you have to give up your cellphone and your wallet. Women give their purses because there is no time in looking through them. This takes about 1 minute. Thieves usually work in pairs riding motorcycles. Every motorcycle carrying two people is a big chance that they are thieves. They just drive up your window, show you a gun and then they are gone with your stuff. Every day I hear in the news of someone being shot dead in the head because did not comply with the thief. Kidnap: You are driving and someone gets in your car and later they put you in the trunk and they withdraw all your money from an ATM after you have given them your card and the password. You either get shot in the head or they leave you on the road somewhere in the country side. Without car and your phone. Did I mention that it is common practice to blow up ATMs during the night? It usually works. Oh they also do drive-by's on some police stations sometimes when they are pissed.

You will not see this everyday or witness something similar but you will know it happened to someone and that it might happen to you. This is the scary part.

Now boys and girls, after you have read all what is happening here. Please think again about going to Copacabana beach, São Paulo, Amazon etc. THE COUNTRY IS NOT SAFE. BE SMART.

Please do not reply with things like "Yes Brazil sucks", "I've been robbed there once", "A friend of mine died there" etc etc. I get this every day from brazilians...

Cheers,

Buddahaid · 01-30-16, 03:29 AM

Well that's uplifting.... I don't plan on going there but just the same.....

Pilot_76 · 01-30-16, 04:04 AM

Forgot to mention that they do raid into apartment buildings, and houses. They usually do that when you are entering the garage. Lots of folks are selling/renting their homes. The thing is to leave big cities or move to an apartment which is not located in a fancy neighborhood...

Oberon · 01-30-16, 04:28 AM

And then there's the new fun and games which are delivered to you via Mosquito.

And we thought we had problems with our Olympics.

Good luck.

STEED · 01-30-16, 07:14 AM

And the Zika virus!

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/brazil

Schroeder · 01-30-16, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilot_76

On top of that there is the "Zyka" virus which is transmitted by mosquito.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

And then there's the new fun and games which are delivered to you via Mosquito.

Quote:

Originally Posted by STEED

And the Zika virus!

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/brazil

Now it has been mentioned three times in 5 posts.....

STEED · 01-30-16, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schroeder

Now it has been mentioned three times in 5 posts.....

I'm only half awake these days, lack of sleep real sleep.

BTW: Not joking got a sleep disorder problem.

Granted I must read posts in full but when you have this problem I skim read.

Hope Brazil sees better times soon.

vienna · 01-30-16, 01:43 PM

So, Pilot 76, do you work for the Brazilian Tourism Council or the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce?...

<O>

Pilot_76 · 01-30-16, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vienna

So, Pilot 76, do you work for the Brazilian Tourism Council or the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce?...

<O>

I work as an Airline Pilot.

No affiliation with any of those.

Pilot_76 · 01-30-16, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schroeder

Now it has been mentioned three times in 5 posts.....

If this zyka thing had its origin in Europe or US or Japan for instance, it would be treated as Hong Kong SARS at least. Warnings would be issued across all boarders, millions would be spent on fighting it. Now here in Brazil, the Government is not doing much thing. Bad press for the Olympics. They do not care if your pregnant wife gets bitten and your kid is born not 100% healthy (I'll leave the details out) due to this mosquito. What they care is how much cash the Olympics is bringing to their pockets. We had some time ago the worst ever natural disaster of a dam failing to hold the water and it did damage millions of acres. It was treated as a local flooding. Imagine if Bush said that Katrina was just a "minor flooding". That would piss of a lot of people. It did here with the dam. Our President is incompetent and she will fall if higher Divine Forces allow it.

Sorry guys. I am just depressed by just commenting these. This is not a forum to be sad. It is to blow up enemy merchants and have a good time.

(Even playing SH5 If I ever get to do that).

CaptainRamius · 01-30-16, 02:53 PM

Well, that's why we have the Television/Internet. So we can watch the Olympics without having to travel to dangerous places around the world.

Oh, and to post on Subsim

Pilot_76 · 01-30-16, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainRamius

Well, that's why we have the Television/Internet. So we can watch the Olympics without having to travel to dangerous places around the world.

Oh, and to post on Subsim

I strongly advise that. Olympics and World Cup should always be hosted in First World countries. Here not even our Carnaval Festival is safe.

01-30-16, 05:04 PM

I didn't read your initial post. Not because I wouldn't care, it's just nothing new to me.

Brazil is one of the very last countries I'd ever visit for so many reasons.
I don't see what anyone would want there. Witnessing the poverty, corruption, the crime and that a human life isn't worth a dime there?

Basically, I won't set foot on Islamic soil, or most Asian, South-American and African countries.
Clocks tick differently there and countries where a human life doesn't mean a thing (China or Mexico, for example) send chills down my spine.
Not what I have in mind when I think "holiday's".

To each his own...

vienna · 01-30-16, 05:28 PM

Kind of reminds me of the situation in Jamaica some many years back when the political situation deteriorated into open war between the parties and candidates, highlighted by news footage of one candidate running for cover while shooting back at his adversaries; at the same time, the Jamaican government was peppering US TV with ads showing a smiling Jamaican extolling the "friendly" islands with the catch line "Come to Jamaica!". Robin Williams, in one of his routines amended the pitch: "Come to Jamaica! Bring Small Arms!"...

<O>

Pilot_76 · 01-30-16, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vienna

Kind of reminds me of the situation in Jamaica some many years back when the political situation deteriorated into open war between the parties and candidates, highlighted by news footage of one candidate running for cover while shooting back at his adversaries; at the same time, the Jamaican government was peppering US TV with ads showing a smiling Jamaican extolling the "friendly" islands with the catch line "Come to Jamaica!". Robin Williams, in one of his routines amended the pitch: "Come to Jamaica! Bring Small Arms!"...

<O>

Exactly. Here is the same thing. The Brazil depicted on TV is an Imaginary Brasil imagined by our politicians. No crime. Everyone is happy. Brazil is the king of soccer! Suuuure.

Government propaganda:

Reality:

01-30-16, 01:53 AM	#1
Pilot_76 Chief Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: São Paulo, Brazil Posts: 321 Downloads: 462 Uploads: 0	Friendly warning from Brazil... Hi all. This is a friendly warning from Brazil. I have been asked a lot about this so I've decided to actually put out a warning to all internet forums that I participate. I am deeply concerned for the safety of all who wish to visit Brazil. Especially during the Olympics. Please don't. Do not come here. Do not come here at all. Ever. Crime rates have increased exponentially due to the chaos that PT or "Workers Party" from President Dilma and our former President Lula installed for more than a decade. Gas prices, basic commodities prices are increasing and Public Health is called "Butcher Service" by the population. On top of that there is the "Zyka" virus which is transmitted by mosquito. The problem is not the mosquito itself but is that the people still leave bottles, tires and any other form of container with water so the mosquito can reproduce freely. You must all understand that I believe that more than 80% of the country's population is politically illiterate and illiterate as well, in reading, thinking on their own and so on. Just another typical case of third World Country symptoms. I come through this post to answer how my life is and how I see tourists doing things which I consider unsafe in times like this with the country going "kapootz". Some thoughts I have on... Rio de Janeiro: I have never seen so much crime in so short time. Near Hotel da Glória (A very fancy hotel in Rio) I've witnessed 3 robbery attempts on drivers. Some bare handed and some with knives. They usually attack in 3 or more. At the beaches these are common. Teens and gang members they meet up and setup the so called "Arrastão" or Big Drag. Usually more than 20 members. They run up the entire beach and they steal everything they can get their hands on. Cameras, towels, wallets all gone. The police usually arrests 3 to 10 people but still it is a big scare for everyone. Slums or the favelas: There are shootings all the time. I can't say it is every week or so but definitely every month I watch the news and see The police climbing up the hills and the gangs shooting them down. Syria's war footage on CNN looks just the same. But Rio doesn't show up on CNN (Hey, Olympics are here so let's maintain a good press image shall we?) Same happened during World Cup. (I do believe Brazil has paid for being host at those two events. Just my opinion here). Oh by the way, did you know that a fancy 5 star hotel was invaded by gang members? Oh they do not show that on the news. Bad press. São Paulo: Sort of the Brazilian NYC. I live here. I do not feel safe here but crime is still rising. I joke that Rio is at least 5 years ahead of my city in crime development (if you are from Rio, I am sorry but it is the truth). When leaving home riding my Harley (Harley is a bit hard to steal because nobody buys stolen parts) I do carry a very cheap smartphone such as a MOTO G (8gb), wallet with $20, one debit/credit card and that's it. Working is another thing. iPhone, Oakley shades, iPad and expensive watches. As an Airline Pilot nobody can steal my stuff at 35.000 feet! My only concern is on the way to the airport but is very rare to be robbed there. My way of dealing this is to carry a fake briefcase with nothing in it and leave it besides me while I am riding the cab and leave my real breifcase in the trunk. Interesting thing still happens though: Sometimes a thief will buy a ticket to ride the bus from Congonhas Airport to the International airport of Guarulhos (GRU). Then he surrenders the bus driver and a car with his buddies stops right behind the bus and in less than 5 minutes all your belongings are gone. They usually take your luggage as well. Other thing that is very common here is that professional cyclists have their bikes stolen if they happen to ride on the highways. Specialized gangs drive on the highways with SUVs and when they find a group of cyclists they surrender them and take off with the bikes in the SUV. That takes 30 seconds. Did you know that if you go out and hang out with your friends in a local bar you may get robbed? Yup. A group shows up, surrenders everyone in the bar and quickly you have to give up your cellphone and your wallet. Women give their purses because there is no time in looking through them. This takes about 1 minute. Thieves usually work in pairs riding motorcycles. Every motorcycle carrying two people is a big chance that they are thieves. They just drive up your window, show you a gun and then they are gone with your stuff. Every day I hear in the news of someone being shot dead in the head because did not comply with the thief. Kidnap: You are driving and someone gets in your car and later they put you in the trunk and they withdraw all your money from an ATM after you have given them your card and the password. You either get shot in the head or they leave you on the road somewhere in the country side. Without car and your phone. Did I mention that it is common practice to blow up ATMs during the night? It usually works. Oh they also do drive-by's on some police stations sometimes when they are pissed. You will not see this everyday or witness something similar but you will know it happened to someone and that it might happen to you. This is the scary part. Now boys and girls, after you have read all what is happening here. Please think again about going to Copacabana beach, São Paulo, Amazon etc. THE COUNTRY IS NOT SAFE. BE SMART. Please do not reply with things like "Yes Brazil sucks", "I've been robbed there once", "A friend of mine died there" etc etc. I get this every day from brazilians... Cheers,

01-30-16, 03:29 AM	#2
Buddahaid Shark above Space Chicken Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,320 Downloads: 162 Uploads: 0	Well that's uplifting.... I don't plan on going there but just the same..... __________________ "However vast the darkness, we must provide our own light." Stanley Kubrick "Tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming." David Bowie

01-30-16, 07:14 AM	#5
STEED Lucky Jack Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Down Town UK Posts: 27,695 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 48	And the Zika virus! https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/brazil __________________ Dr Who rest in peace 1963-2017. To borrow Davros saying...I NAME YOU CHIBNALL THE DESTROYER OF DR WHO YOU KILLED IT!

01-30-16, 01:43 PM	#8
vienna Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anywhere but the here & now... Posts: 7,711 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	So, Pilot 76, do you work for the Brazilian Tourism Council or the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce?... <O> __________________ __________________________________________________ __

01-30-16, 05:28 PM	#14
vienna Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anywhere but the here & now... Posts: 7,711 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Kind of reminds me of the situation in Jamaica some many years back when the political situation deteriorated into open war between the parties and candidates, highlighted by news footage of one candidate running for cover while shooting back at his adversaries; at the same time, the Jamaican government was peppering US TV with ads showing a smiling Jamaican extolling the "friendly" islands with the catch line "Come to Jamaica!". Robin Williams, in one of his routines amended the pitch: "Come to Jamaica! Bring Small Arms!"... <O> __________________ __________________________________________________ __

01-30-16, 04:04 AM	#3
Pilot_76 Chief Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: São Paulo, Brazil Posts: 321 Downloads: 462 Uploads: 0	Forgot to mention that they do raid into apartment buildings, and houses. They usually do that when you are entering the garage. Lots of folks are selling/renting their homes. The thing is to leave big cities or move to an apartment which is not located in a fancy neighborhood...

01-30-16, 04:28 AM	#4
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	And then there's the new fun and games which are delivered to you via Mosquito. And we thought we had problems with our Olympics. Good luck.

01-30-16, 02:53 PM	#11
CaptainRamius Sonar Guy Join Date: May 2014 Location: In shallow waters Posts: 388 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	Well, that's why we have the Television/Internet. So we can watch the Olympics without having to travel to dangerous places around the world. Oh, and to post on Subsim

01-30-16, 05:04 PM	#13
Nippelspanner Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	I didn't read your initial post. Not because I wouldn't care, it's just nothing new to me. Brazil is one of the very last countries I'd ever visit for so many reasons. I don't see what anyone would want there. Witnessing the poverty, corruption, the crime and that a human life isn't worth a dime there? Basically, I won't set foot on Islamic soil, or most Asian, South-American and African countries. Clocks tick differently there and countries where a human life doesn't mean a thing (China or Mexico, for example) send chills down my spine. Not what I have in mind when I think "holiday's". To each his own...