OnPoint by Keith Ng

I find that ostentatiously listening to loud music through headphones is a good foil against most touts.

my friend Nicola, who was tasked with defending my virtue, beat back the pimps, touts and ladyboys with great success. "No" most certainly meant no.

Reminds of a time when I was in Patpong. Our hotel wasn't too far from Patpong and I wanted to get some cheap watches. My girlfriend didn't want to go out, so I was in Patpong on my own, sans chaperone.

The market is actually very pleasant, pity it's surrounded by sleazy burlesque bars, each with signs like "Girl with snake !". Eeew .

The door touts were quite aggressive, and politely declining wasn't effective, so I ended up telling them I was gay. It worked, probably helped by the fact that I was wearing a sarong.

I finished my shopping and grabbed a taxi back to the hotel. The driver pulled out some brothel brochures with pictures of scantily clad young Thai women, saying "You like ?"

"No thanks, I'm gay."

He put them away. But, while driving, he started pointing at me, laughing and saying "I like, I like." He pointed at himself, "You want ?"

He wanted to have sex with me. Aaargh ! The one weak point in my otherwise flawless plan !

"Um, no thanks."

"OK. OK. 100 Baht ?"

I'd thought I was worth more than that. Maybe it was the sarong...

Was that a bid or an offer?

Was that a bid or an offer?

I pondered that for a second too, but unless the money system is very different over there, it wouldn't make sense to go from "how about it?" to "No? What if you pay me?" as a second attempt.

Maybe it works with the serious perverts who can only get excited when it costs.

Hmmm...
this reminds of that ad that used to be on TV later at night.
It shows 'respectable' business man ringing the wife and family from his hotel room while away on business. The ad ends with the camera widening the shot to show a very young girl of Asian ethnicity standing next to his bed looking upset.
it creeps me out every time I see it even though I have seen it many times. (I actually still physically shudder and feel nauseous)

Where are yer fodos dude? You can't do a travel blog without fodos... I mean, not of pingpong shows and that, but just urine and rubbish...

I hear there's a seaside town in South Cambodia where the child prostitution is even more obvious. I'd find it hard not to walk around with a piece of 2x4 I think.

Sitting at the airport in Chiang Mai, trying to fly to Phuket. When i booked my flight, from Chiang Mai to Phuket, I didn't understand that 'change of plane required' meant changing fricken airports at my own cost... someone will pay.... probably me... grumble.

I hear there's a seaside town in South Cambodia where the child prostitution is even more obvious.

You might be talking about Sihanoukville. The place was full of predators and misfits like Gary Glitter.

The door touts were quite aggressive, and politely declining wasn't effective,

Just learn 'no' or "I'm not interested' in the local language and never look anyone in the eye. or be polite about it. Your, western, not wanting to be rude is what touts and hawkers rely on. And never, ever, discuss, talk to, or say 'maybe later'. It works pretty much anywhere in Asia.

Just learn 'no' or "I'm not interested' in the local language and never look anyone in the eye. or be polite about it. Your, western, not wanting to be rude is what touts and hawkers rely on. And never, ever, discuss, talk to, or say 'maybe later'. It works pretty much anywhere in Asia.

Tidak Mau, got me some street cred from the sharks in Indonesia , thanks to Simon.

Tidak Mau, got me some street cred from the sharks in Indonesia

I think it was your getting in the wrong car with that poor Indonesian family at the mall in Denpasar caused the biggest impression. After that, the word spread like wildfire across the island...you were not to be messed with.

It's more common than you think . I'll never forget the look on the Indonesian family faces. Thanks for reminding me!

Damian: You have the photos market cornered. I should upload some, though... maybe the next post.

Simon: Funny, it's my usual MO, too. But here (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam), for some reason, I find that it works better if I smile at them, look them in the eye and say no; whereas the mutter no and walk away thing ignoring them doesn't work... maybe it's just me.