You can try to get off the beaten track all you want but it’s inevitable that eventually you’ll end up in yet another bloody tourist market, selling the same wooden frogs, the same fake football shirts and of course the same ubiquitous tailored suits.
These markets have their place, of course they do – they give you a great opportunity to to replenish your shrinking clothes stash (see another rant about the laundry services around the world, grrrrrr), and its’s always an entertaining way to spend a couple of hours watching tourists try on stupid ‘local’ hats but please God can someone teach these suit guys a new sales pitch?!!?
Them: “Hey bro/mate – want a new suit”
Me: “I don’t want to buy anything thanks”
Them: “No worries/problem mate, where you from?”
Me: “Sorry, I don’t want anything”
Them: “No problem, where you from? England? Australia”
Me: Ignore them blankly, walk on.
Literally within 10 meters:
Another one of them: “Hey bro – want a new suit?”
Me: SIGH “No thanks”
Them: “No worries – where you from mate?”
Me: Violently bash the guy to death while shouting, “I’m from Ireland MATE, ok IRELAND, BLOODY IRELAND – DO YOU HEAR THAT? AAAAAAGH – NOW HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOU?? – I’M STILL NOT BUYING ANYTHING FROM YOU!!!!”
The next time someone tries to flog you anything around the world, and they open with “Hey bro, where u from?” – please please please explain to them that although you understand they’re trying to build a rapport with you before they try the hard sell, it’s not going to work. Thank you and good bye. That feels good to get off my chest.
As you know, blogging changed my life. I left Ireland broke, with no plan, with just a one-way ticket to Thailand and no money. Since then, I started a blog, then a digital media company, I’ve made more than $1,500,000 USD, bought 4 properties and visited (almost) every country in the world. And I did it all from my laptop as I travel the world and live my dream.
I tried lying in Egypt by saying I was Dutch and infering I had little English. Then I looked up and spotted the ‘We Speak Dutch’ sign. It must have been the only shop in town that had one.
Brilliant! what are the odds on that?! that is a great story!!
Just answer “Madagascar” or “Les Îles Vanuatu” or something along those lines…
i’ve been finding North Korea quite effective recently too
hahaha my reactions are similar 😀
i’m sure you’ve perfected your rejection techniques over the years 😉