We were vacationing in Thailand and decided to spend the day at the famous Sai Kaew Beach, a place completely overrun by wild macaques that hang from the trees like giant clusters of grapes. My friend and I were lounging on the sand, soaking up the sun, when the real chaos began.

Out of nowhere, a massive monkey pulled off a lightning-fast ninja leap toward an unattended beach bag. Before anyone could even blink, the little thief snatched a bag of chips, zipped it open like a seasoned pro, and sat down to munch on them with absolute zero regret. It was sitting there eating with the most calm, unbothered expression imaginable, looking like a total boss. We never saw the owner of the bag come back—they were probably off swimming—but hopefully, they didn’t mind sponsoring a wild macaque’s luxury lunch!

Pro Tip: Never leave food or shiny objects exposed when visiting beaches with wild monkey populations in Thailand. Macaques have sharp eyesight, quickly recognize food packaging, and will not hesitate to open zippers to get what they want. Keep bags locked and food hidden.

I was traveling through India and followed every single safety rule in the book. I only drank bottled water, stuck to fruits and veggies I could peel myself, completely avoided meat and dairy, and even brushed my teeth using bottled water. I did everything humanly possible to stay safe, but I still ended up with severe food poisoning.

Long story short, if you want to travel independently through India, make sure you have an iron stomach. My friend barely paid attention to any precautions, ate whatever he pleased, and didn’t feel sick for a single second