Traveling with tattoos?

[mikevaladez]

I took a trip on a bus to Mexico last year. I was strongly advised to wear a long sleeve shirt, cuz apparently all the mexican gangsters look like me. So I did of course and was trippin balls sittin in those bus stations down there thinkin I was gonna get kidnapped or murdered because of my tattoos. It was hot as hell, my ass with sleeves down and collar flipped up. On a good note, the police seemed especially scared of me when I would visit other towns.

[IAS]

Guatemala international airport was not a very good experience. I wore clothes while i was in Guatemala city to conceal my neck tattoo and arms. Gangs is Guatemala city have been on the rise the last number of years and anyone who has tattoos could be easily be considered an active gang member regardless of nationality. In the villages and jungle region it was not a problem, as they do not see or deal with the gangs as often as people in the city. I became lazy when we were leaving the country after 30 days, took my turtle neck off at the gate and was immediately prompted to strip down and be searched in front of all the passengers waiting to board. Thankfully my mother, who is from Guatemala, was there to talk with security. the security was very polite, but noticeably intimidated by my tattoos, which was very weird for me. it was an eye opening experience that made me realize that tattoos are not as accepted in some places as they are in the states. Would still drop everything to go back tomorrow.

[Lala Blackheart]

I seem to get stopped more in airports too, not so much SF-NY, but when I go other places I find that I get either cool people who ask about them or total jerks who give me a hard time and make rude comments about girls being tattooed. I'll get stopped at every security check in these places, fersure. While traveling in Australia a few years ago, the folks working at the various hostels were always really cool, the people staying could go either way.

[ThaliaCamille]

On a trip to Europe a couple of years ago, I got pulled out of line at airports to be scanned "at random" 5 times (Singapore, Dubai, Switzerland, London, and Singapore again on the way home). It's sort of understandable, but I would think anyone trying to participate in illegal activities would try their best NOT to be conspicuous, so always choosing the most obvious person for extra checks doesn't make a lot of sense.

Thankfully the people in those countries (outside of the airports) were pretty friendly, so no issues there. Except Switzerland...

[Duffa]

I've never had any problems or issues while traveling although I did receive a few weird looks (see: stares) from a few older gentlemen whilst in Japan but other than that everything has been pretty smooth (I hope I haven't just jinxed myself... lol)

[Daggboy]

On a trip to Europe a couple of years ago, I got pulled out of line at airports to be scanned "at random" 5 times (Singapore, Dubai, Switzerland, London, and Singapore again on the way home). It's sort of understandable, but I would think anyone trying to participate in illegal activities would try their best NOT to be conspicuous, so always choosing the most obvious person for extra checks doesn't make a lot of sense.

Thankfully the people in those countries (outside of the airports) were pretty friendly, so no issues there. Except Switzerland...

Second that about Switzerland! Some of the best and most polite tattooers in the world, but in a land of uptights! One person described them as iron fists in velvet gloves. Sometimes I think it's true. However, I should add that in the small towns the people are generally lovely. And I'm making HUGE generalisations here!

[RoryQ]

I'm on my way to a Toronto airport in a couple of hours and someone forwarded me this as a joke:-

http://info.publicintelligence.net/CBSA-TattooHandbook.pdf

The link to it came from this Guardian article:-

Tattoos: the hidden meanings | Fashion | The Guardian

[SStu]

I'm on my way to a Toronto airport in a couple of hours and someone forwarded me this as a joke:-

http://info.publicintelligence.net/CBSA-TattooHandbook.pdf

The link to it came from this Guardian article:-

Tattoos: the hidden meanings | Fashion | The Guardian

Wow.

4/20 was Hitler's Birthday!!?? Now every pothead is a Nazi sympathizer?!

[DirtyIrons]

Wow.

4/20 was Hitler's Birthday!!?? Now every pothead is a Nazi sympathizer?!

Hitler can eat a dick.....

The earliest use of the term began among a group of teenagers in San Rafael, California in 1971.[2][3] Calling themselves the Waldos,[4] because "their chosen hang-out spot was a wall outside the school,"[5] the group first used the term in connection to a fall 1971 plan to search for an abandoned cannabis crop that they had learned about.[4][6] The Waldos designated the Louis Pasteur statue on the grounds of San Rafael High School as their meeting place, and 4:20 pm as their meeting time.[5] The Waldos referred to this plan with the phrase "4:20 Louis". Multiple failed attempts to find the crop eventually shortened their phrase to simply "4:20", which ultimately evolved into a codeword that the teens used to mean pot-smoking in general.[6]

High Times editor Steven Hager wrote "Are You Stoner Smart or Stoner Stupid?" in which he called for 4:20 pm to be the socially accepted hour of the day to consume cannabis.[7] He attributes the early spread of the phrase to Grateful Dead followers, who were also linked to the city of San Rafael.[7]

[Dan S]

I've had people move in restaurants in Eastern Europe to get away from me, especially before most of my "jailhouse"-type work was covered. In Germany, they look at you like you are a criminal...that's changing, but slowly. Same in Poland and Checkai.

Canada? I don't go there. I got popped with a couple joints in Chicago in 1973, and unless I pay the Kanadian government $5K U.S. to be "rehabilitated", they won't let me in. Fuck 'em.

In S.E. Asia, I've gottem mostly curiousity. In Thailand and Vietnam, I've had people come up to me on the street, start a crowd scene, cause they wanted to see my work, touch it to make sure it's real, all of that. No hostility whatsoever, just curiousity. Well, there COULD have been some hostility from a coupla NVA types, but they didn't find any of the tattoos they were looking for.

Mexico and South America, I am in Mexico usually a few times a year, but not this last year. I have never had a problem because of tattoos, never. Gang stuff is pretty specific, so while some people may think you're a bit shady, unless you're rocking SUR-13 or something akin to that, they won't think you're a banger. I've been from there on down to Columbia, and pretty much the same all over, no hassle unless you have actual gang work. You may get the fish-eye from the respectable types, but shit, I get that in Chicago!

I've actually gotten breezed through more checkpoints in America with "NICE WORK" ringing in my ears than anything else. Hey-you got mostly young-type people working the checkpoints, only stands to reason some of 'em will be down with tattooing.

[missStark]

Living in Utah can be pretty interesting sometimes. Salt Lake and the surrounding areas are fine and nobody looks twice at you, however if you travel further south shit gets pretty weird. There are entire towns that are strictly mormon. One time while the boyfriend and I were heading south on a bike trip, we stopped at small gas station to use the bathroom. There was a group of fundamentalist mormon women in the bathroom that looked absolutely terrified when they saw me. Another time while on a camping trip we stopped at walmart one evening and one of the workers followed us around. I guess assuming that we were going to steal or someting. Other than that, I've never noticed a problem or been treated differently.

[Dan S]

Living in Utah can be pretty interesting sometimes. Salt Lake and the surrounding areas are fine and nobody looks twice at you, however if you travel further south shit gets pretty weird. There are entire towns that are strictly mormon. One time while the boyfriend and I were heading south on a bike trip, we stopped at small gas station to use the bathroom. There was a group of fundamentalist mormon women in the bathroom that looked absolutely terrified when they saw me. Another time while on a camping trip we stopped at walmart one evening and one of the workers followed us around. I guess assuming that we were going to steal or someting. Other than that, I've never noticed a problem or been treated differently.

I've heard about that shit. When you go into a fundie area, you should use a sharpie to "tattoo" a scroll with like 4 Women's names on it on your b.f.'s arm...protective coloration!

[bongsau]

China - lots of staring. people are mostly curious and would say "ah very beautiful". there is the Triad/Mafia connection to tattoos in China however a smiling white boy with sleeves in a far east land is pretty obviously not part of the chinese connection. In the markets I was a spectacle, people so excited...i have sleeves, legs, both ribs and big ass chest piece but when they found out my back was empty the crowd got pretty bummed haha. also a bit of a celebrity, i went to the hotel front desk and before i could give my room number they would say "oh we know you, very colourful"

Japan - people would slowly move away from me and avoid eye contact on the subway when they noticed lots of tattoos. my experience (and friends who live there) is that there is still a big social stigma and yakuza connection with big tattoos.

Cuba - mang, they love me there! so crazy, people would stop me in the street, make me take off my shirt and pose for pictures. i was touring with a punk band so i already had the mystique of being part of a Canadian rock star. They wouldn't let me keep my shirt on at the shows. I still keep in touch with some of my cuban peoples, this girl Meidy sent me a handwritten letter saying that I inspired her to get her first tattoo, spongebob square pants on her leg haha! My colourful tattoos (and delightful persona haha) gave me celebrity status in the towns and freaky (that's what they call punk rockers) scene. Other bands have gone down on followup tours and the Cuban freakys want to know how Erico is doing, everytime. There is a Cuban dude who moved to the central part of the island where the underground punk scene is growing to tattoo the freakys. My buddy was saying kids are just getting chopped man, neck tattoos hand tattoos, a real fuck you to the traditional way and regime down there. If you are a tattooist and want to experience some real shit in Cuba, link up and I can get you in touch with our posse.

Jamaica - well, this was interesting. they nicknamed me "Colouring Book" wherever I was, which is a reference to a song from the infamous Vybz Kartel, yknow the dancehall superstar who bleaches his skin so he can get more tattoos. I'm pretty well versed in reggae and dancehall so when I start singing the Kartel songs back at the people they just love it up. Anywhere on the beach HEY COLOURING BOOK I GOT THE GOOD WEED MON Think I'm some sort of gangster tourist. LOL. The tattoos also seem to provide the Jamaicans with the belief that I am a millionaire tourist and gwan a hustle all mi money, bumbaclat.

[hogg]

Jamaica - well, this was interesting. they nicknamed me "Colouring Book" wherever I was, which is a reference to a song from the infamous Vybz Kartel, yknow the dancehall superstar who bleaches his skin so he can get more tattoos. I'm pretty well versed in reggae and dancehall so when I start singing the Kartel songs back at the people they just love it up. Anywhere on the beach HEY COLOURING BOOK I GOT THE GOOD WEED MON Think I'm some sort of gangster tourist. LOL. The tattoos also seem to provide the Jamaicans with the belief that I am a millionaire tourist and gwan a hustle all mi money, bumbaclat.

Ha! I love it. Vybz must not be a big Nardo Ranks fan because "him a bleeeeeach." I'm a big reggae/dancehall fan. I DJed and wrote about that stuff for many years.

[bongsau]

Ha! I love it. Vybz must not be a big Nardo Ranks fan because "him a bleeeeeach." I'm a big reggae/dancehall fan. I DJed and wrote about that stuff for many years.

Hogg, we are going to get along just fine :)

[Katy32]

Weird. Must just be me. I've had the whole nine yards done. Patdowns, those chemical sensing swabs, rifling through every page of my notebook/digging through all of my stuff by hand, etc. Just this last time I had my carry-on searched three times on the way to LA. The weird thing is I pack light. I'd make a terrible mule! Haha.

My tattoos tend to be covered when I travel, with the exception of the one on my foot, and I get all of the above at least once a trip, go figure. I travel a LOT for work, and have a pretty conservative travel outfit, but still I'm always getting stopped, my last trip tsa even kept my hairbrush I had in my carry on bag because they claimed it looked like a weapon.

[Colored Guy]

My tattoos tend to be covered when I travel, with the exception of the one on my foot, and I get all of the above at least once a trip, go figure. I travel a LOT for work, and have a pretty conservative travel outfit, but still I'm always getting stopped, my last trip tsa even kept my hairbrush I had in my carry on bag because they claimed it looked like a weapon.

I travel with mine visible on pleasure trips, never been stopped by security ever. Last trip, they did take my shaving cream... maybe next trip I cover ALL of my tats with shaving cream.. let them deal with that.

CG

[Dan S]

My tattoos tend to be covered when I travel, with the exception of the one on my foot, and I get all of the above at least once a trip, go figure. I travel a LOT for work, and have a pretty conservative travel outfit, but still I'm always getting stopped, my last trip tsa even kept my hairbrush I had in my carry on bag because they claimed it looked like a weapon.

TSA guys are no different from any other red-blooded male...just can't resist a Lady with some nice tattooing!

[RoryQ]

My tattoos tend to be covered when I travel, with the exception of the one on my foot, and I get all of the above at least once a trip, go figure. I travel a LOT for work, and have a pretty conservative travel outfit, but still I'm always getting stopped, my last trip tsa even kept my hairbrush I had in my carry on bag because they claimed it looked like a weapon.

What, and there wasn't even a concealed stiletto in it?

Honey Comb : Cold Steel (High Performance Knives)

[Katy32]

What, and there wasn't even a concealed stiletto in it?

Honey Comb : Cold Steel (High Performance Knives)

Lol. Ironically enough on that flight I left my stun gun in my purse on accident and didn't realize it until long after we landed.

[cfgsteak]

What, and there wasn't even a concealed stiletto in it?

Honey Comb : Cold Steel (High Performance Knives)

That's awesome...I'm done Christmas shopping now.

[Gloomy Inks]

One of the craziest people I've ever known is now a pilot. I never liked flying and am now deathly afraid that he'll see me, and start doing barrel rolls...

Actually I'm just scared to fly.

Worst I ever had when traveling was this one time I went to Lookout Mt. in Georgia. Just so happens there was a holy roller in there (not that I care what you believe, just don't mind me) while I was getting a beer.

"And the beast will come!" He yelling to a the nodding counter lady, "And they will bear the mark of the beast!"

Heads turn and look at me.

"Well," I said, "As long as the ink looks good to me, I'm game."

I gave 'em the 'ol horn hand and bopped out of the place with my 40.

[Dennis]

What about with airports? I feel like I get more than my fair share of "random" searches with visible tattoos. Do pigments in my skin make me more of a potential terrorist or is it just unluckiness? Anyone got any experience being hassled by airport security besides me?

I've never had trouble. In fact, last time I went through customs in Toronto on my way to Plurabella the customs agent I had told me he flew down to California to get tattooed by Bob Roberts. Fuck yeah!

[velvetlover36]

I've never had any extra scrutiny when traveling--locally or abroad--but I have noticed that the majority of cities I've been to in Europe, people would stare really hard at my tattoos, but wouldn't approach me and ask about them like people in the States do. I think the only places in Europe where people actually asked me about my tattoos were Amsterdam, Berlin, and Copenhagen.

[dooktruck]

it seemed like people stared at me when i didn't have on long sleeves in paris

one person commented on my tattoos but he was american so...