Lifestyle Trend: The ‘Thailand tattoo’ isn’t a real tattoo, it’s a travel warning You Should Know

Everyone wants in on the Thailand vibe. Those beaches, the nightlife, the food, bohemian elephant pants, the (in) famous green balm, tuk-tuk rides, and more. All of that is fine.

And now, somehow everyone is talking about the “Thailand tattoo.”

It’s not a traditional tattoo. In fact, it’s not a tattoo at all. It’s a scar. It’s simply misjudged driving, and maybe too much partying as well. But somehow, several tourists are getting it.

The real story behind the tattoos

It’s not a happy one.

Recently, a digital nomad couple shared a video where they noticed people in bandages. It wasn’t just a coincidence. It was an alarmingly significant number of people, strolling around town in what can only be called “bandage fashion.”

Why? It all comes down to two-wheeler-related injuries — a burn from an exhaust pipe or a scooter crash. And these injuries are being labelled as the “Thailand tattoo.”

The video has amassed 43 million views and counting.

Renting your own vehicle to explore a new destination is pretty much what people are doing these days. Much like Goa or Puducherry in India, renting a moped in Thailand is now extremely common, along with taking tuk-tuks.

Well, what’s a better way to explore the lanes of a new place than actually meandering through them yourself?

We get it. It’s the vacation sun, the soft breeze of a new land brushing past you, moving through traffic like you belong. It doesn’t feel like a decision so much as a rite of passage.

So, planning an itinerary, picking a beach, deciding to rent a scooter, because how hard can it be? Of course you’ll figure it out. Because in that moment, it doesn’t look like a risk. Until it does.

The scooter crashes in Thailand

They’re pretty common, apparently.

The moment you Google it, there are several videos, articles, and Reddit threads where tourists talk about their experiences. That one wrong turn. That one overspeeding bike coming out of nowhere. That one drunken night ride.

The most common scooter injury tourists experience in Thailand is an exhaust burn — often referred to as a ‘Thai Tattoo’. The second most common is road rash — what happens when skin meets gravel at speed.

The islands Koh Samui and Koh Tao are particularly notorious for their steep turns.

Koh Tao has steep hills, sandy corners, and uneven roads, and many travellers rent scooters without prior experience. Sometimes people call it the ‘Koh Tao Tattoo’ also. Different name, same road rash.

The Thai Health Promotion Foundation reports that about 70 people die each day as a result of road accidents in Thailand, of which 74 per cent are motorbike riders and passengers.

Nearly 75 per cent of traffic deaths in Thailand involve motorcyclists, and Thailand has one of the highest road fatality rates in the world, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

It is not uncommon to see tourists line up to rent scooters because the vibe says go, and everybody else seems to be doing it.

How not to get a Thailand tattoo?

Follow the traffic rules, have a valid driving permit that allows international driving and be extremely mindful while taking the steep turns. Do not rash drive just because you are on vacation.

Also, it is better to wear full pants while driving atleast to prevent exhaust pipe burns. And one thing that many overlook is travel insurance. Just double check its facilities and validity in the country you are travelling to (Just in case you meet with an accident).

Thailand is magic. It really is. The temples, the chaos, the 3 am street food. Go for all of it. But if you absolutely must get on a scooter — wear the helmet, skip the nightcap and be safe. Not all holiday anecdotes are worth being souvenirs.

– Ends