From the sublime to the ridiculous! Your last China blog was about heavenly friends and places, and now we see the flip side--all part of the human condition, I guess. But I always remember (sometimes even in the midst of a mess) that "bad" experiences make great stories. And after all, isn't it better to be scammed occasionally than not trust at all? Happy travels!
Who ya gonna call? A blog reading catchup over lunch had me nearly choking on my sushi laughing. The Dancing One running around back alleys and fending off scammers..... Great read :-)
When I look at your portraits I often wonder, what is she thinking about that man taking her picture. Her expression is classic and interesting. You are very good at picking your subjects.
ONE OF MY FAVOURITES Well spotted Andrea...a young girl on a ferry crossing the Bani River to Djenne...definitely thinking of something...chewing her pen!
As painful as some of these scams are to read (especially those involving blocked doors, geez), I was laughing out loud at some of the run-ins you've experienced. And, let's be honest, "the second best fossil money can buy" is still quite beautiful even if it was a scam.
AUSPICIOUS ONE Delighted you have read this blog. Having met me...you can probably picture me getting into these scrapes...and then getting out! The funniest image was the senior watchmaker at his desk with monocle in one eye...head cocked up...just looking at me...probably thinking I was the only person who has brought a fake Rolex into his shop for adjustment...and a spare battery! I could see the next to nothing in the casing...and had difficulty not cracking up! I certainly did when I got out of the shop. Hope the two Ones are well & give my regards to Number One.
The scam master?? Great stories, Can't wait to get to China and get scammed. I bet that fossil takes pride of place on your mantle at home. Keep up the great work Dave..love your blog.
THANKS SHELLEY & SCOTT Glad to see I have given you incentive to visit China...I have other stories I could have shared but I didn't want to make the blog too long. The fossil is framed...yes pride of place...had a paleontologist see it but only for a second...managed to draw her away so she wouldn't look too closely...wish I had been able to afford the fossil of the two intertwined dinosaur lizards...what a hoot if I had that one to show!!!
Tricking foreigners There is a saying in Chinese "You can always trick a foreigner."
I've fallen prey to theses tricks, and I bet just about every other laowei or gweilo has too.
Kuan-Yin Thanks for the info of the Chinese saying "You can always trick a foreigner"...guess that's what they say when they see me...triples the fun!!!
THANKS TinNiE Thanks for commenting. A brush with a scam & surviving OK usually makes for a funny or memorable experience...I was lucky on these occasions...keep safe...and I enjoy your blogs!
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Good read Thanks for the insite on Scams. Looks like an amazing trip and I plan on using your travel insight to help when I put together packages for my clients. Thank you.
Shaunette
www.castawaycruiseandtravel.com
Not sure I would have kept walking after hearing the first crack of ice... I like your style; bringing together the memories from many trips to a special place.
As my life began in China, I also have a special fascination for the country. I read many books before going there in 2009. Favorites were: 1421 (which you've read) and 1434 (which you must read) by Gavin Menzies; Prisoner of the State by Zhou Ziyang, the Secretary General of the Communist Party in 1989; Shadow of the Silk Road by Colin Thubron, Lost on Planet China by my favorite travel writer J. Maarten Troost; On China by Henry Kissenger; and Return to the Middle Kingdom by Yuan-Tsung Chen which traces a family history from th Opium Wars and Taiping Rebellion of 1850-64 to Sun Yatsen's revolution in 1911 to the Communist takeover in 1949...fascinating history.
In 2015, if not sooner, I hope to fly to Beijing and then make my way to Xian to travel the Silk Road at least as far as Turkministan.
THANKS BOB I'm looking forward to meeting you when you visit Sydney later in the year...and we both have a fascination with China. The beauty of the family in the ether that is Travelblog. I also love Chinese films...especially on history and the endurance of the spirit...my travels much enriched by my research of the psyche of this amazing country. I saw one a few days ago...amazed how humour in silly things was so familiar...how humour as well can be universal rather than cultural. And the ping and cracking of the ice...made crossing Lake Kunming with my wife and children memorable indeed.
Snow magic! What incredible images with words and photos of magical adventures! Sounds as if your friend David conducts business in a civilized way, and treats his guests like royalty. Thanks for the historical insights, too!
THANKS TARA Good to hear from you. I was wondering where you were at. Nothing like a bit of snow magic to lift my spirits...and makes it much easier to walk on the water...no snow where I'm from. Much of my enjoyment of travel is in the people I meet...the generosity of spirit of the Chinese...their stories...rich and poor...has led to many amazing times in China...watch this space.
My wife Denise & I like to travel "on paths less travelled" that capture our imagination, inspire my photography & where we mix with locals & remain safe.
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taracloud
Tara Cloud
From the sublime to the ridiculous!
Your last China blog was about heavenly friends and places, and now we see the flip side--all part of the human condition, I guess. But I always remember (sometimes even in the midst of a mess) that "bad" experiences make great stories. And after all, isn't it better to be scammed occasionally than not trust at all? Happy travels!