Scams & Warnings
Warnings & Scams
Beware of the rug SCAM that's now ubikitus in Bakpakhistan! I can't believe no one's written in about this one before: I was totally taken. This is what happened to me. I bought a rug from a very nice guy called Ahful. Well, I thought he was nice! He said he'd send my rug to me in the post if I gave him my credit card to hang on to for three days - he said it'd be safer than at the hotel, cause all hotel workers are theives!(!). He'd shown me a picture of his daugheter, who goes to school where I used to in Sussex, and so I knew I could trust him. But my rug never showed up! Plus, I think he drugged me, because when I got my credit card bill there was a bill for three nights stay at the Hilton and a really big bar tab, and I know I only ever drink when I'm on drugs, so he must have drugged me. So Watch out, OK?!??! Plus, I love the books: they're my bibel!
Donna Mason, London (Nov 00)
If you're planning on walking to Gagin Mawnkhunt from Hikinboot, don't forget to take a spare t-shirt. I was lucky to have an extra in my backpack - it proved invaluable for staunching the flow of blood from my severed leg after I stepped on one of the thousands of mines littering the countryside around the capital.
Lars Norvardskinson, Stockholm (April 00)
Lonely Planet's Central Asia on a Shoestring - an otherwise great book, and my bible! - fails to mention the spectacular autumn sanddab migration. It's spectacular! You haven't lived till you've seen the sanddabs of Bakpakhistan rise up out of the Guz River and head for the Tajikistani border on foot. I couldn't find anyone in Hikinboot who knew anything about this migration, but I assume it's a yearly event.
Lester Myerman, Milwaukee (Sep 99 )
Hey, you guys should mention that there's a rug scam going on in Hikinboot and probably other parts of Bakpakhistan. Guys will sell you a rug then tell you they're going to mail it to you, only it won't ever show up. Beware of handing over your credit card for days at a time, too: you might find some suspicious items when you get your bill back! Can you believe it?
It'd be great if you guys mentioned this, because it'd be bad if other travellers got caught the way I did.
Victor Malinaro, Goulburn (Sep 99)
I heard that new visa regulations are coming into force for Bakpakhistan in mid-97. Looks like they'll be loosening up the restrictions on travellers who once saw a TV show about Cleveland, so you should add that to your profile. Thanks.
Lislett'a Storkington, Marienbad (April 95)
For detailed up-to-date travel information check out Lonely Planet's Destination Bakpakhistan.
