How many countries have you been to?

[franksinatra]

I hate haggling too. Syria was much the same, and the souk at Aleppo was quite fun to watch others on the carpet stalls.

Same here. In some countries, Egypt for me, the sellers were pretty aggressive when a deal was not concluded and so it left a pretty bad taste.

The number of times I was offered a carpet, as a 21 year old backpacker, and even though I explained I neither owned a house or able to fit a carpet in my backpack It still resulted in further reduced offers in price and a sour face when I did not purchase.

 

[franksinatra]

-"Hey! Friend! Where you from?"
-"Wales!"
-"Oh Wales! Yeah!"
-"Do you know where Wales is?"
-"No!"

Istanbul was slightly too full on for my liking although I will go back. I'd like to take a boat across the Bosporus and get to Fenerbahche's ground that way.

There was lots of diversity in terms of visitors. Two German lads were on the next table and Ethiopian boys on the other side.

With experience you learn to say your from ‘Liechenstein’ and as they pause to think of a follow up line you are two steps past and the moment has gone.

 

[peoffrey]

With experience you learn to say your from ‘Liechenstein’ and as they pause to think of a follow up line you are two steps past and the moment has gone.

I had a gourmet burger and chips in a little fryer basket served on a wooden board in Berlin and the waiter had no idea where Wales was. I'm all "Manic Street Preachers" "Gareth Bale" and he still smiles politely.

The steward on the flight to Istanbul was convinced I was a Liverpool fan because of my Wales jersey. I think we all know what's wrong with that one...

 

[MillionMilesAway]

With experience you learn to say your from ‘Liechenstein’ and as they pause to think of a follow up line you are two steps past and the moment has gone.

Ha, I like that.

In Japan, we were approached by some young schoolchildren who had their "ask tourists questions to practice your English". I was quite easy, but they didn't understand "New Zealand" from the people I was with.

 

[Blootoof]

Ha, I like that.

In Japan, we were approached by some young schoolchildren who had their "ask tourists questions to practice your English". I was quite easy, but they didn't understand "New Zealand" from the people I was with.

What's 'Wagging cnuts' in Japanese?

 

[The perfect fumble]

With experience you learn to say your from ‘Liechenstein’ and as they pause to think of a follow up line you are two steps past and the moment has gone.

Salford works for me.

 

[franksinatra]

Ha, I like that.

In Japan, we were approached by some young schoolchildren who had their "ask tourists questions to practice your English". I was quite easy, but they didn't understand "New Zealand" from the people I was with.

I will add New Zealand to the list then. Lol. Of course that experience in Japan is a real positive interaction and only enriches a trip away.

When I was backpacking through Indonesia (Sumatra) I was approached multiple times a day and rather than it be a chore, like with aggressive sellers, it completely made the trip.

Often I was asked if I could have my picture taken with a new born baby and when trekking in some areas I would be approached and invited for tea and food with the village elder. Conversation would be a bit stifled, due to the language barrier, but still they are cherished memories of experiencing something new and hopefully leaving a positive footprint on my trip.

 

[franksinatra]

Salford works for me.

I didnt want the sellers to be worried about their carpets being stolen, if that documentary, posted a few weeks back, is anything to go by.

 

[peoffrey]

The lady in the kebab shop in Baku, Azerbaijan couldn't speak a word of English. Ordering from a menu in Azerbaijani (if that's the lingo?!) was an adventure.

 

[laserblue]

-"Hey! Friend! Where you from?"
-"Wales!"
-"Oh Wales! Yeah!"
-"Do you know where Wales is?"
-"No!"

Istanbul was slightly too full on for my liking although I will go back. I'd like to take a boat across the Bosporus and get to Fenerbahche's ground that way.

There was lots of diversity in terms of visitors. Two German lads were on the next table and Ethiopian boys on the other side.

In my student days my mate and I were on the beach in Portugal and we kept getting hassled to buy Omega and other brand name watches that we didn't want and couldn't afford anyway. Some local lads also told us that they were dud and the jewels in the mechanism had been taken out and the watches would pack up very quickly.

We were always approached in English so we started to pretend we were Icelandic or Czech even to the point of speaking gibberish to each other when approached. The hustlers were so frustrated that we apparently couldn't speak English and quickly gave up on us.