Comments on: Is it good or bad to look like a tourist? http://www.mobal.com/blog/travel-tips/is-it-good-or-bad-to-look-like-a-tourist/ Just another WordPress weblog Sun, 14 Mar 2010 06:29:00 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: UJM http://www.mobal.com/blog/travel-tips/is-it-good-or-bad-to-look-like-a-tourist/comment-page-1/#comment-896 UJM Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:09:04 +0000 http://www.mobal.com/blog/?p=63#comment-896 As tourists in Mumbai, you'll have to watch out for pickpockets. Mumbaikars themselves are so prone to being pickpocketed at bus stops, on the road, at crowded places and especially on the local trains. Just when we'd given up hope on the Railway authorities doing something, we found this phenomenon of reverse pickpocketing so to say happening all across the city. Instead of having our phones or wallets conveniently stolen, we found along with our intact valuables, booklets on how to be vigilent and avoid being a victim of a pickpocket. It's almost like they(the railway authorities) employed reformed pickpocketers to slip this info into our pockets to warn us of those who hadn't. Those booklets appeared like magic almost. As tourists in Mumbai, you’ll have to watch out for pickpockets. Mumbaikars themselves are so prone to being pickpocketed at bus stops, on the road, at crowded places and especially on the local trains. Just when we’d given up hope on the Railway authorities doing something, we found this phenomenon of reverse pickpocketing so to say happening all across the city. Instead of having our phones or wallets conveniently stolen, we found along with our intact valuables, booklets on how to be vigilent and avoid being a victim of a pickpocket. It’s almost like they(the railway authorities) employed reformed pickpocketers to slip this info into our pockets to warn us of those who hadn’t. Those booklets appeared like magic almost.

]]> By: John Clark http://www.mobal.com/blog/travel-tips/is-it-good-or-bad-to-look-like-a-tourist/comment-page-1/#comment-741 John Clark Wed, 04 Feb 2009 03:53:05 +0000 http://www.mobal.com/blog/?p=63#comment-741 Dressing to blend in, or at least to not stand out, is the best policy. Even more important, though, is learning at least a bit of the language and the basic social niceties of the locale. Learning in advance how to say "Good morning," "Please," "Thank you," and "I'm sorry, but I speak very little ___; can you help me?" isn't difficult, but it makes a huge difference in the way you're perceived. Turn the situation around: suppose a foreign tourist approached you in your home town, to ask for directions or other information. If the visitor made an effort, however limited, to communicate in English, wouldn't you do your best to help, or to find someone who spoke the visitor's language? That's been my experience as a tourist in the rest of the world. Cameras and maps are essentially impossible to conceal, but conservative dress, good manners, and a little bit of the native language will almost make you a welcome visitor just about anywhere. Dressing to blend in, or at least to not stand out, is the best policy. Even more important, though, is learning at least a bit of the language and the basic social niceties of the locale. Learning in advance how to say “Good morning,” “Please,” “Thank you,” and “I’m sorry, but I speak very little ___; can you help me?” isn’t difficult, but it makes a huge difference in the way you’re perceived. Turn the situation around: suppose a foreign tourist approached you in your home town, to ask for directions or other information. If the visitor made an effort, however limited, to communicate in English, wouldn’t you do your best to help, or to find someone who spoke the visitor’s language? That’s been my experience as a tourist in the rest of the world. Cameras and maps are essentially impossible to conceal, but conservative dress, good manners, and a little bit of the native language will almost make you a welcome visitor just about anywhere.

]]> By: Mike http://www.mobal.com/blog/travel-tips/is-it-good-or-bad-to-look-like-a-tourist/comment-page-1/#comment-740 Mike Wed, 04 Feb 2009 02:04:56 +0000 http://www.mobal.com/blog/?p=63#comment-740 I always try to blend in and have frequently been stopped by the natives in Germany and France asking for directions. Those stopping me are usually middle aged to older people. I consider this to be a great compliment, and have been tempted more than once to give some of the "Ugly Americans" a good tongue lashing. I had hoped they were extinct, but alas, they are not. Mike I always try to blend in and have frequently been stopped by the natives in Germany and France asking for directions. Those stopping me are usually middle aged to older people. I consider this to be a great compliment, and have been tempted more than once to give some of the “Ugly Americans” a good tongue lashing. I had hoped they were extinct, but alas, they are not. Mike

]]> By: Carol http://www.mobal.com/blog/travel-tips/is-it-good-or-bad-to-look-like-a-tourist/comment-page-1/#comment-739 Carol Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:55:48 +0000 http://www.mobal.com/blog/?p=63#comment-739 The best solution seems to be not to stand out visually. The suggestion of "black, black and more black" in clothing seems to work very well. I've found a couple of conservative styled hats for warmth and sun protection as needed, long sleeves are also wise. But most importantly, don't be afraid to explore the unfamiliar. The best solution seems to be not to stand out visually. The suggestion of “black, black and more black” in clothing seems to work very well. I’ve found a couple of conservative styled hats for warmth and sun protection as needed, long sleeves are also wise. But most importantly, don’t be afraid to explore the unfamiliar.

]]> By: Paul Bopko http://www.mobal.com/blog/travel-tips/is-it-good-or-bad-to-look-like-a-tourist/comment-page-1/#comment-715 Paul Bopko Tue, 03 Feb 2009 01:02:35 +0000 http://www.mobal.com/blog/?p=63#comment-715 When I travel abroad I realize I will be taken as a tourist/foreigner/American by my dress and speech. Behaving polite, respectful and unobtrusive will allow me to enjoy me trip and not offend the host people. No sense in hiding who you are. The folks in foreign lands like us to spend money when travelling. When I travel abroad I realize I will be taken as a tourist/foreigner/American by my dress and speech. Behaving polite, respectful and unobtrusive will allow me to enjoy me trip and not offend the host people. No sense in hiding who you are. The folks in foreign lands like us to spend money when travelling.

]]> By: Sarah http://www.mobal.com/blog/travel-tips/is-it-good-or-bad-to-look-like-a-tourist/comment-page-1/#comment-710 Sarah Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:51:47 +0000 http://www.mobal.com/blog/?p=63#comment-710 I do agree with trying to blend in, but not at the expense of wearing designer clothes, etc. I have a relative who is a professor in Mexico, and travelled down to meet her, wearing conservative knee-length shorts and a polo shirt. I stuck out like a sore thumb when I went out for coffee. The next day I wore a skirt of the same length and no-one seemed to notice me. When you're traveling to a country of a different ethnicity, you will stand out regardless. I vouch for wearing simple, easy to pack clothing like khakis and a collared shirt (women) or a long skirt, with closed-toe shoes in any culture, unless you know you can wear something else (swimsuit in Ibiza, shorts in the Swiss alps..whatever) without stirring up the crowd. Also, carrying a small neutral bag with the essentials keeps it real. I would never spend a lot of money trying to 'dress to impress' in a foreign culture, but I would dress respectfully. I was traveling to the Philippines once where my luggage was lost in Hong Kong for a few days. On my island, the clothes stores were cheap, and funny thing, they sold all knockoffs of american-branded clothing. For $10 total, I bought a few outfits and ended up looking like a naitive after all. I do agree with trying to blend in, but not at the expense of wearing designer clothes, etc. I have a relative who is a professor in Mexico, and travelled down to meet her, wearing conservative knee-length shorts and a polo shirt. I stuck out like a sore thumb when I went out for coffee. The next day I wore a skirt of the same length and no-one seemed to notice me.

When you’re traveling to a country of a different ethnicity, you will stand out regardless. I vouch for wearing simple, easy to pack clothing like khakis and a collared shirt (women) or a long skirt, with closed-toe shoes in any culture, unless you know you can wear something else (swimsuit in Ibiza, shorts in the Swiss alps..whatever) without stirring up the crowd. Also, carrying a small neutral bag with the essentials keeps it real. I would never spend a lot of money trying to ‘dress to impress’ in a foreign culture, but I would dress respectfully.

I was traveling to the Philippines once where my luggage was lost in Hong Kong for a few days. On my island, the clothes stores were cheap, and funny thing, they sold all knockoffs of american-branded clothing. For $10 total, I bought a few outfits and ended up looking like a naitive after all.

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