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AsiaESLbound
Joined: 07 Jan 2010
Location: Truck Stop Missouri
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 Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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| tukmax wrote: |
| AsiaESLbound wrote: |
except Egyptians like saying this annoying, "Canada Dry till' I die.". |
lol what does that mean? |
It's just an idiotic disrespectful mindless response touts, drivers, and guys trying to lure tourists in to some scam deal say like a repeated broken record. I think it means something along the lines, "I have no respect for you arrogant rich white North American man, I hope you die a slow suffering death over consuming all that stuff you have." They said it in such jealous disgust many times and other times it was meant as a light hearted joke they picked up from their peers. Egypt really needs to clean up those working in tourism by making it illegal for someone with too many complaints or incidents to talk to tourists. They already have the tourist police force to do it should they want to clamp down, but it's obviously corruptly over ran by incompetent men paying the law off to allow them free run of the sites.
Dr. Zahi Hawass is planning to build a wall all around the pyramids to keep bad guys out with the opening of the new museum, but that's a bad idea that won't work and will only sour the view with a modern construction. Why not just require tourist operator licenses and ID badge system enforced using the extensive police force already in place?
Many people love Egypt for the extra stimulation the confrontational touts add to it, but I would like to have enjoyed the sites without harassment. Sales touting is one thing, but blatant insulting and often confrontational harassment crosses the line.
Last edited by AsiaESLbound on Fri Aug 27, 2010 7:54 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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runthegauntlet
Joined: 02 Dec 2007
Location: the southlands.
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| Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 7:35 pm Post subject: |
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| AsiaESLbound wrote: |
| I think it means something along the lines, "I have no respect for you arrogant rich white North American man, I hope you die a slow suffering death over consuming all that stuff you have." They said in such jealous disgust many times. Egypt really needs to clean up those working in tourism by making it illegal for someone with too many complaints or incidents to be talking to tourists. |
Wow, you've got some issues. |
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AsiaESLbound
Joined: 07 Jan 2010
Location: Truck Stop Missouri
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| Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 5:04 am Post subject: |
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| runthegauntlet wrote: |
| AsiaESLbound wrote: |
| I think it means something along the lines, "I have no respect for you arrogant rich white North American man, I hope you die a slow suffering death over consuming all that stuff you have." They said in such jealous disgust many times. Egypt really needs to clean up those working in tourism by making it illegal for someone with too many complaints or incidents to be talking to tourists. |
Wow, you've got some issues. |
Not quite. Many of those working the tourists have some serious issues on how bad they treat single tourists. I'm not an apologist simply because they are the only Egyptians nor am I daft enough to not know something when it's right in my face. Many tourists all over the world just ignore and refuse to acknowledge anything negative related to social problems and go on acting like they don't exist. I traveled alone so I seen and experienced more of how locals feel and think as you will always have a very different experience anywhere in the world if you go alone vs. a couple or group. If going as a couple or group, you will miss more of the realities as people rarely embarrass themselves or tell the awful truth in the presence of a couple or group. Those Egyptians that are amiable to talk with told me about how many Egyptian people are extremely mad at the West for the 2008 economic downturn that caused them significant hardship and damage through hyper inflation on the cost of living and decreased tourism. After seeing and understanding their predicament, I too would be more than angry in their shoes so I do understand why attitudes went South, but it was frustrating. If you go on group tours vs. DIY by yourself, you will have a very different experience as I took a few day trip group tours that gave me a very peaceful and more interesting experience than when I'm walking around alone. When you are touring alone, you will be aggressively approached and harassed, but as a group, they leave you alone and only do typical harmless sales pitches. Don't ask how badly they treat single female travelers... |
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BoholDiver
Joined: 03 Oct 2009
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 7:02 am Post subject: |
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I laughed at the part of baming the west for their economic problems. I guess it's our responsibility to support them financially by touring their country where they don't make anyone feel welcome.
I would love to see the Pyramids some day, but by reading this thread, it has totally turned me off the idea of visiting Egypt. If some lazy fooker spit on me for not giving me baksheesh, I'd go ballistic and end up in an Egyptian prison. |
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bucheon bum
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 9:16 am Post subject: |
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You're not going to get spit on. You just have to know what you're doing. I wasn't harassed at all at the pyramids. I got there right when it opened and was leaving when the tour buses were arriving.
3 dudes and I paid a taxi driver to drive us to the giza pyramids then the pyramids at saqqura (lame, skip) and dashur (awesome, check them out). price? about 10 bucks TOTAL (so $2.50 each).* We kept on thinking: when are we going to get ripped off?? Never happened and the guy politely took our money at the end. No mention of baksheesh or anything. Point being for every 5 a-hole touts and taxi drivers, you'll find a good person.
Just educate yourself, mentally prepare yourself, and you'll be ok, even if you're staying in a tourist area. While I personally thought Egypt was the worst arab country i've been to, I certainly wouldn't dissuade people from going. The pyramids ARE splendid, the Valley of Kings is worth seeing, and the Red Sea is fantastic.
And if you've been to Morocco or India, Egypt is about on par with them in regards to touts.
*I was there when the pound was weak (6 e.pounds=1 dollar then) |
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runthegauntlet
Joined: 02 Dec 2007
Location: the southlands.
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| Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 5:10 pm Post subject: |
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| AsiaESLbound wrote: |
| runthegauntlet wrote: |
| AsiaESLbound wrote: |
| I think it means something along the lines, "I have no respect for you arrogant rich white North American man, I hope you die a slow suffering death over consuming all that stuff you have." They said in such jealous disgust many times. Egypt really needs to clean up those working in tourism by making it illegal for someone with too many complaints or incidents to be talking to tourists. |
Wow, you've got some issues. |
Not quite. Many of those working the tourists have some serious issues on how bad they treat single tourists. I'm not an apologist simply because they are the only Egyptians nor am I daft enough to not know something when it's right in my face. Many tourists all over the world just ignore and refuse to acknowledge anything negative related to social problems and go on acting like they don't exist. I traveled alone so I seen and experienced more of how locals feel and think as you will always have a very different experience anywhere in the world if you go alone vs. a couple or group. If going as a couple or group, you will miss more of the realities as people rarely embarrass themselves or tell the awful truth in the presence of a couple or group. Those Egyptians that are amiable to talk with told me about how many Egyptian people are extremely mad at the West for the 2008 economic downturn that caused them significant hardship and damage through hyper inflation on the cost of living and decreased tourism. After seeing and understanding their predicament, I too would be more than angry in their shoes so I do understand why attitudes went South, but it was frustrating. If you go on group tours vs. DIY by yourself, you will have a very different experience as I took a few day trip group tours that gave me a very peaceful and more interesting experience than when I'm walking around alone. When you are touring alone, you will be aggressively approached and harassed, but as a group, they leave you alone and only do typical harmless sales pitches. Don't ask how badly they treat single female travelers... |
I wasn't traveling with a group, but that really has nothing to do with anything.
As you stated, people have different experiences. Yet you've taken your experiences and projected your opinion of said experiences on nearly everyone associated with the tourism industry in Egypt. And that's just b.s.
I and others have stated different things yet you feel compelled to continually regurgitate these asinine interjections about people wanting anyone from the west to die. Like I said, 'issues'. Maybe a persecution complex? |
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runthegauntlet
Joined: 02 Dec 2007
Location: the southlands.
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| Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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| bucheon bum wrote: |
3 dudes and I paid a taxi driver to drive us to the giza pyramids then the pyramids at saqqura (lame, skip) and dashur (awesome, check them out). price? about 10 bucks TOTAL (so $2.50 each).* We kept on thinking: when are we going to get ripped off?? Never happened and the guy politely took our money at the end. No mention of baksheesh or anything. Point being for every 5 a-hole touts and taxi drivers, you'll find a good person.
......
And if you've been to Morocco or India, Egypt is about on par with them in regards to touts.
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Ah, I thought Dashur was brilliant as well, and Saqqara, yeah, kind of a 'yawn'. Fun going into the Red Pyramid as well.
Thought touts in India were far worse than Egypt, though. |
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runthegauntlet
Joined: 02 Dec 2007
Location: the southlands.
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| Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 5:18 pm Post subject: |
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| BoholDiver wrote: |
I laughed at the part of baming the west for their economic problems. I guess it's our responsibility to support them financially by touring their country where they don't make anyone feel welcome.
I would love to see the Pyramids some day, but by reading this thread, it has totally turned me off the idea of visiting Egypt. If some lazy fooker spit on me for not giving me baksheesh, I'd go ballistic and end up in an Egyptian prison. |
It's far better to check out something for yourself than to make a decision based on some random person's opinions, good or bad. Especially if it's something you really want to see.
Are you really going to be turned off by one random thread with one random guy saying bad things about Egypt? Seriously?!  |
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BoholDiver
Joined: 03 Oct 2009
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 6:14 pm Post subject: |
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Not only one random thread. I have heard this sort of thing several times.
Also, I don't really wantto go anywhere where men with guns is necessary.
Maybe some day in the future. It is low on my list of plces I want to go.
| runthegauntlet wrote: |
| BoholDiver wrote: |
I laughed at the part of baming the west for their economic problems. I guess it's our responsibility to support them financially by touring their country where they don't make anyone feel welcome.
I would love to see the Pyramids some day, but by reading this thread, it has totally turned me off the idea of visiting Egypt. If some lazy fooker spit on me for not giving me baksheesh, I'd go ballistic and end up in an Egyptian prison. |
It's far better to check out something for yourself than to make a decision based on some random person's opinions, good or bad. Especially if it's something you really want to see.
Are you really going to be turned off by one random thread with one random guy saying bad things about Egypt? Seriously?! |
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DaeguKid
Joined: 09 Dec 2006
Location: Daegu
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| Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 4:16 am Post subject: |
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| bucheon bum wrote: |
| DaeguKid wrote: |
| ThingsComeAround wrote: |
| the women are tall and beautiful- go there! |
Don't go to Mongolia if your plan to meet the ladies. There is a current movement among men in Ulangbatuur (spelling?) who have a hate on for the foriegn man. They are convinced that the Chinese and anyone else who is not Mongolian is trying to thin out the race. I kid you not. I listen to a CBC podcast (As It Happens) daily and this topic was brought up just last week. They were saying that about 3,000 men are in on this. They praise the work of Hitler and his nationalistic views and ways. I wish I were joking.
Like I said, if women hunting is part of your tour, I would say avoid the North. |
I am pretty sure the OP isn't Chinese. Westerners are actually liked since we are viewed as a group that might help Mongolia "keep away" those ever pressing Chinese.
3K men? Wow, that's a TON! Come on dude, stop spreading paranoia. |
Hey bud, I wish it were just paranoia.
Have a listen.
http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Social-Sciences/Current-Events/CBCs-The-Best-of-As-It-Happens-Podcast/18753
scroll down to August 9th and have a listen. I don't bs. |
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runthegauntlet
Joined: 02 Dec 2007
Location: the southlands.
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| Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 6:21 am Post subject: |
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| BoholDiver wrote: |
Not only one random thread. I have heard this sort of thing several times.
Also, I don't really wantto go anywhere where men with guns is necessary.
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Where guns are necessary, huh? Because police officers and guards, etc. don't have guns in the U.S. or Europe or Asia, etc.
Well, most places in the world.
Yeah, best to stay in your cave then. The world's too dangerous for you. |
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bucheon bum
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Aug 29, 2010 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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| DaeguKid wrote: |
| bucheon bum wrote: |
| DaeguKid wrote: |
| ThingsComeAround wrote: |
| the women are tall and beautiful- go there! |
Don't go to Mongolia if your plan to meet the ladies. There is a current movement among men in Ulangbatuur (spelling?) who have a hate on for the foriegn man. They are convinced that the Chinese and anyone else who is not Mongolian is trying to thin out the race. I kid you not. I listen to a CBC podcast (As It Happens) daily and this topic was brought up just last week. They were saying that about 3,000 men are in on this. They praise the work of Hitler and his nationalistic views and ways. I wish I were joking.
Like I said, if women hunting is part of your tour, I would say avoid the North. |
I am pretty sure the OP isn't Chinese. Westerners are actually liked since we are viewed as a group that might help Mongolia "keep away" those ever pressing Chinese.
3K men? Wow, that's a TON! Come on dude, stop spreading paranoia. |
Hey bud, I wish it were just paranoia.
Have a listen.
http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/Social-Sciences/Current-Events/CBCs-The-Best-of-As-It-Happens-Podcast/18753
scroll down to August 9th and have a listen. I don't bs. |
The broadcast said they don't even know if there are 3K (could be less, could be more). They also mentioned the anti-chinese sentiments. Wow. I'm scared. |
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travel zen
Joined: 22 Feb 2005
Location: Good old Toronto, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 10:49 am Post subject: |
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I was in Mongolia last year, and will go again in 2011.
Anti-Chinese hate is ugly over there, but I haven't seen ANY violence to anyone.
Foreigners are safe enough! I was travelling with two Mongolian girls (I'm a black guy) and there wasn't much of any hate. The ignorance is far worse in China or Korea.
I did see Nazi flags, motorcyclists wearing Nazi helmets and Nazi Iron Crosses on shirts and jackets. Not religious at all! They didn't bother me or my gals. Didn't seem to care.
Mongolians are THE friendliest people in all of East Asia. Period. Down to earth people, like people in the Phillippines.  |
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Aelric
Joined: 02 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 11:16 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, At this point, I'm pretty sure it's gonna be Mongolia. It a matter of time spendable, and Egypt just doesn't have enough things to occupy me for this pass. I do hope to see the pyramids someday, but I'd rather trek for two weeks or so on the plains. It's sorta the wrong time of year that far north late Oct., but I'll stick it out. Thanks for the opinions.
Oh, and Zen, don't forget Northern Thai on that friendly folks list. They are friendly to a fault in my experience. Ate and drank for free more than a few times just for talking up at restaurants proprietors. Either they were really friendly, or the average backpacker treated them so badly that making small talk really impressed them. |
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travel zen
Joined: 22 Feb 2005
Location: Good old Toronto, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 2:57 am Post subject: |
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The right choice, the Khan will thank you (not the Sultan !) . |
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