Thursday, March 8, 2012
On Being A Farong
Once we step near a curb, we get deluged by men wanting to take us in their taxi or tuk-tuk (three wheeled motorbike with carriage to ride in, roof for the sun). Automatically the price can be as much as five times normal for a foreigner. You have to say "meter" over and over to get them to agree to normal metered rates. As we came out of five star restaurant last night, they would not relent at all - possibly because they figured we were rich farongs if we were at the restaurant. Even when Erin pointed at them and said "shame on you!" in Thai. One man rolled his eyes and just waved us disgustedly away. One nice cab driver named Chai calls them the "mafia" because they try to monopolize the Farong business at hotels and such by stationing a "guide" to help you. We had to ask one guy who was badgering us "are you even a cab driver?" (no) and walk away.
We had to cross the street and walk away from the restaurant for a bit before we found a pliable tuk-tuk driver, but even he wanted more than the normal rate (about $4 instead of the $2-3).
It is not uncommon at sites to see one entrance for Thais that is free and a paid line for the rest of us.
Still, most Thais are smiling and friendly people (I will relate the opposite when I recount my three attempts to clear customs later).
We had to cross the street and walk away from the restaurant for a bit before we found a pliable tuk-tuk driver, but even he wanted more than the normal rate (about $4 instead of the $2-3).
It is not uncommon at sites to see one entrance for Thais that is free and a paid line for the rest of us.
Still, most Thais are smiling and friendly people (I will relate the opposite when I recount my three attempts to clear customs later).
Surreal Flight
So this last jump from Hong Kong to Bangkok I spent with headphones on. Listening to Skynard, Joe Walsh, and Humble Pie is an intensely surreal experience for me as my eyes wander thru the cabin. Only one other gaijin on this flight, a rather nerdy guy who is not very communicative who is sitting next to me. The rest all "belong" here.
The chatter I hear is all foreign to me but I can imagine conversations just like the ones I hear on airplanes around the US. Again, three seeming teenage girls behind me talking up a storm. Talking about boyfriends, school, clothes-- who knows.
And oh yes Erin, the flight attendants on Cathay Pacific are most definitely gorgeous....as you warned me. Eyes down the whole flight, I swear!....
The chatter I hear is all foreign to me but I can imagine conversations just like the ones I hear on airplanes around the US. Again, three seeming teenage girls behind me talking up a storm. Talking about boyfriends, school, clothes-- who knows.
And oh yes Erin, the flight attendants on Cathay Pacific are most definitely gorgeous....as you warned me. Eyes down the whole flight, I swear!....
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Dim Sum In Hong Kong
The HKG currency is the HKG dollar and they use the same dollar sign. I was a bit shocked to see that my dumplings were $38, until I realized that was only $4.89 US DOLLARS.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
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