Pickpockets during Unawatuna beach parties and wild monkeys
7 Answers from travellers
Yes, professional pickpockets target large beach raves because it is crowded and people are intoxicated. Leave your passport and credit cards locked in your hotel safe. Only bring the cash you need for the night. During the day, toque macaques absolutely will steal a shiny bag thinking there is food inside. Never leave bags unattended on the sand.
Do not bring a nice purse or handbag to a beach rave. It will get ruined or stolen.
Keep your phone in your front pocket or a tight fanny pack worn across your chest.
A common scam at those parties is someone pretending to dance wildly and bumping into you, while their friend slips your phone out.
If a monkey grabs your bag, do not play tug of war. They can bite and carry rabies. Just let it go, they usually drop it once they realize it is not food.
The monkeys are ruthless. They stole my sunglasses and traded them back to me only when I threw them a banana.
Scam Watch: galle
Someone befriends you and offers a "once in a lifetime" opportunity to buy gems at wholesale prices and resell them abroad for huge profit. They may show you fake export certificates. The gems are worthless glass or low-quality stones.
Restaurants without visible prices. Bill arrives with inflated charges (500 LKR coconut becomes 1500 LKR). "Service charges" added without disclosure.
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