Comments on: The price of being British https://www.501places.com/2009/10/the-price-of-being-british/ Sharing the world with you Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:43:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Andy Jarosz https://www.501places.com/2009/10/the-price-of-being-british/#comment-309 Andy Jarosz Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:45:55 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=930#comment-309 Hi John and Carolyn! So nice of you to post here and to get the views of our very well travelled friends :-) Yes, Africa does get so much bad press, yet for the most part it is a very safe place to travel (and let's face it there are some places in LA or in London that you wouldn't want to venture day or night). Funny about the rice in China. I don't remember that but I can't imagine eating a Chinese meal and not being offered rice. Their service must have been based on previous visitors' behaviour though, so I guess enough people left rice on their plates? Hi John and Carolyn!
So nice of you to post here and to get the views of our very well travelled friends :-)
Yes, Africa does get so much bad press, yet for the most part it is a very safe place to travel (and let’s face it there are some places in LA or in London that you wouldn’t want to venture day or night). Funny about the rice in China. I don’t remember that but I can’t imagine eating a Chinese meal and not being offered rice. Their service must have been based on previous visitors’ behaviour though, so I guess enough people left rice on their plates?

]]> By: joncaro https://www.501places.com/2009/10/the-price-of-being-british/#comment-308 joncaro Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:11:51 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=930#comment-308 Stereotyping is a fact of life. Being a US citizen and living in California, the rest of the States assume we are superficial, pampered and have lots of money. People in nearby states (such as Oregon, Arizona and Nevada) are often not too friendly with Californians as they assume we will drive up the cost of living in their state (like real estate and groceries). When we visited China several years ago, we often had to ask for rice with our meals since the Chinese assumed we did not care to have it. Several of our acquaintances and friends in California often wonder why we visit Africa every year. Several perceive the continent as dangerours, hot and rife with disease (thanks to the media). While these qualities are true in some parts of the continent, what is not commonly known is that Africa has magnificent and unique landscape, beautiful beaches, cold weather and is reasonably safe. Stereotyping is a fact of life. Being a US citizen and living in California, the rest of the States assume we are superficial, pampered and have lots of money. People in nearby states (such as Oregon, Arizona and Nevada) are often not too friendly with Californians as they assume we will drive up the cost of living in their state (like real estate and groceries). When we visited China several years ago, we often had to ask for rice with our meals since the Chinese assumed we did not care to have it. Several of our acquaintances and friends in California often wonder why we visit Africa every year. Several perceive the continent as dangerours, hot and rife with disease (thanks to the media). While these qualities are true in some parts of the continent, what is not commonly known is that Africa has magnificent and unique landscape, beautiful beaches, cold weather and is reasonably safe.

]]> By: rebecca https://www.501places.com/2009/10/the-price-of-being-british/#comment-298 rebecca Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:36:30 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=930#comment-298 Jasmin my daughter has your name and is 1/2 British and 1/2 Indian small world love this post so true Jasmin my daughter has your name and is 1/2 British and 1/2 Indian small world

love this post so true

]]> By: Andy Jarosz https://www.501places.com/2009/10/the-price-of-being-british/#comment-294 Andy Jarosz Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:39:19 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=930#comment-294 Yes, you are so correct T. The curio shops and gift emporiums. While not particular to any one nationality they are a real pain on a trip when time is short and your driver/guide is determined to make his commission. Maybe it's best to be open with him and give him the dollar or two that he might get from the shop just so that he bypasses it. That way he's happy and so are you. Don't know if that always works but I might try it next time... Yes, you are so correct T. The curio shops and gift emporiums. While not particular to any one nationality they are a real pain on a trip when time is short and your driver/guide is determined to make his commission. Maybe it’s best to be open with him and give him the dollar or two that he might get from the shop just so that he bypasses it. That way he’s happy and so are you. Don’t know if that always works but I might try it next time…

]]> By: Tjitske https://www.501places.com/2009/10/the-price-of-being-british/#comment-290 Tjitske Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:57:07 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=930#comment-290 !00% correct on all points... if one is perceived to be South African, the waiter or waittress will ask: "Is ANYthing allright?" as so many South Africans winge and complain about every single thing... but re point 5... most tourist drivers or guides are on commission from any place they take tourists... the higher the commission from the restaurant or curio shop, or whatever, dictates where a tourist will eat or shop or what they may get to see.... it's a big problem here in Africa... and very difficult to beat, unless one is in the know and decides oneself where one want to eat and shop and so forth... and even then sometimes drivers or guides will tell you that particular business has shut down or 'closed today' as they wont receive a commission, and only want to take you where they know they have a 'good deal'.... life.... ruled mostly by greed rather than aiming to please... !00% correct on all points… if one is perceived to be South African, the waiter or waittress will ask: “Is ANYthing allright?” as so many South Africans winge and complain about every single thing… but re point 5… most tourist drivers or guides are on commission from any place they take tourists… the higher the commission from the restaurant or curio shop, or whatever, dictates where a tourist will eat or shop or what they may get to see…. it’s a big problem here in Africa… and very difficult to beat, unless one is in the know and decides oneself where one want to eat and shop and so forth… and even then sometimes drivers or guides will tell you that particular business has shut down or ‘closed today’ as they wont receive a commission, and only want to take you where they know they have a ‘good deal’…. life…. ruled mostly by greed rather than aiming to please…

]]> By: Andy Jarosz https://www.501places.com/2009/10/the-price-of-being-british/#comment-289 Andy Jarosz Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:09:11 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=930#comment-289 Thanks Jasmin, I'm glad to hear that my experiences are familiar even to a native Indian! There are no doubt so many British and American Indians coming to India on holiday that it's an easy mistake to make. I'm sure you can use it to your advantage :-) Thanks Jasmin, I’m glad to hear that my experiences are familiar even to a native Indian! There are no doubt so many British and American Indians coming to India on holiday that it’s an easy mistake to make. I’m sure you can use it to your advantage :-)

]]> By: Jasmin https://www.501places.com/2009/10/the-price-of-being-british/#comment-287 Jasmin Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:43:30 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=930#comment-287 go figure :) just saw in your porto that ur a copywriter :) i'm a freelance copywriter as well hahaha cheers! andy go figure :) just saw in your porto that ur a copywriter :) i’m a freelance copywriter as well hahaha cheers! andy

]]> By: Jasmin https://www.501places.com/2009/10/the-price-of-being-british/#comment-286 Jasmin Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:38:55 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=930#comment-286 :) am a bit of a cocktail, I'm half Indian and half brit and have lived in India all my life. usually am mistaken for a foreigner, its only when i break out the fluent hindi that i get super confused looks... good fun even now after 28 years. you are spot on all counts. made for an interesting read ... thanks :) am a bit of a cocktail, I’m half Indian and half brit and have lived in India all my life. usually am mistaken for a foreigner, its only when i break out the fluent hindi that i get super confused looks… good fun even now after 28 years.
you are spot on all counts. made for an interesting read … thanks

]]> By: uberVU - social comments https://www.501places.com/2009/10/the-price-of-being-british/#comment-285 uberVU - social comments Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:18:17 +0000 https://www.501places.com/?p=930#comment-285 <strong>Social comments and analytics for this post...</strong> This post was mentioned on Twitter by Andy Jarosz: The price of being British http://su.pr/5uqJz7... Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by Andy Jarosz: The price of being British http://su.pr/5uqJz7…

]]>