On this first extensive trip outside the States, I've had an experience I wouldn't have expected...
Gringos/Farang/Tourists supposedly in trouble.
I have now traveled in Ecuador, Panama, and currently in Costa Rica. In Quito, I was approached three times by gringos who made various claims of being in trouble: one said he forgot the $40 exit fee at Quito airport, second said his bags and money were stolen, and the third I didn't listen long enough to see what his trouble was. In Quito, I was rather skeptical as it was all in "Gringoland" with plenty of English speaking people and within walking distance of most of the embassies (including the U.S.) to contact for help. That said, I didn't give money to them. There was one more guy who was on the Panama-Costa Rica border claiming troubles, which while I remained skeptical then I've since wondered more about...who sits on this border - not a very attractive place in general - to beg for change? In Quito and Gringoland, I could see it a lot more as there's lots of opportunity for handouts. I've actually seemed to have been asked for change more by gringos than locals; at least the locals are usually selling something.
That said, have others experienced the same? Is it a scam for money, or legitimate troubles? I've generally suggested to people to call their embassy for help, to which they say they have no money to do so. Next option would seem to be ask the police to call the embassy. What is the answer to not be completely cold-hearted for those truly in trouble, but not be a sucker either? Keep the numbers for the embassies in countries I'm in and give enough money to call the embassy, with the phone number? All thoughts welcome!
Reply to this Hello Gary 😊
I dont know about Ecuador but when I was in Cuba there was plenty of potential for foreigners to get in financial trouble and need the help of other foreigners. It happened to us. Luckily we got sorted it out before we had to beg for help from other tourists. It had to do with the US boycotting Cuba so our credit card and travellers cheques could not be used there.
I dont see how so many could be getting in trouble in Ecuador. There is a US consulate there and US dollars can be wired easily to the banks there as far as I know.
I did meet a girl in Brazil who had spent all her money and could not get on her plane back to France if somebody did not give her the airport departure fee. I did not give her anything. Another girl gave her a loan so she had enough to have money wired to Brazil via some express service. Expensive but the money gets there quickly. I dont know how it turned out and if the loan giver got her money back.
Mel
Reply to this To expand out the discussion - there are a certain type of backpacker who will resort to stealing, begging, lying to try and extend their trip.
A sketchy western guy in Phnom Penh would be seen everyday begging from tourists in the tourist area - if nothing was given he'd then berate you for only giving to Cambodians! I wondered if
the soul cultivator had bumped into the same guy a few years on...
A portly ozzie aged around 35 years old moved from the table next to me and asked to sit with me, the conversation went like this:
“Gooday..was wondering if you had $1 you could give me?"
"Why?" I asked.
"Well.... I was out late last night getting totally wasted.....(my mind is made up already based on them 9 words) which iv done every night here for six weeks ..its that kinda town ay... I pulled this local chick...a real hottie and we got on her bike to go back to her place....I must have been spiked....(OH GOD, HERE WE GO) as I woke up in some drive way and my bag had my passport, wallet and all my money was stolen.
from
Baked, Sweat & Teeth
Is it worse for a westerner with all the opportunities we have to be begging in a country as poor as Cambodia?
Reply to this Ali, I would say anyone, Westerner or not, who has opportunities to take care of themselves and begs because of their choice to be irresponsible is worse than those in Cambodia itself begging because of far fewer opportunities. Assuming his story is true to begin with, I have little to no sympathy for the ozzie guy...if you're going to get drunk and everything else, take care of yourself enough to put your money and passport where it won't be taken to begin with. If nothing else, he can call his embassy or call collect to family and friends for help. I will credit him for at least telling a story that would otherwise make you think he's being somewhat truthful, since it's not especially flattering to him.
I think my response of suggesting calling the embassy or police is the way to go. Depending on where I am and how honest I feel they're being, maybe I'll supply the cash to make the call. However, if I'm going to offer cash it's more likely going to be to the elderly lady that is almost crippled, shoeless and obviously there's no way she can work any longer to help herself. Even then, I wonder if it would be better to give money to an organization such as a church or Salvation Army type organization that might work to get the lady off the street to begin with.
Reply to this I recently saw a thread on another travel site. People there were discussing a Dutch guy who asks travellers for money to buy a plane ticket to get back home.
Some of them were asked for money recently and some were asked years ago. They guy has been begging for years in Bangkok. What is one supposed to think about that?
When I was in India there was a French man in Mumbai also asking tourists for money to buy soap, food.....
He had been in India for 40 years and at some stage ran out of money. What is it with travellers who just dont go home? Any job in their home country would allow them to earn enough to return to India and travel quite comfortably.
Reply to this A very different mindset and psychology, obviously...my guess can only be they prefer to trade away the physical comforts of having cash from a job in return for the "freedom" of not having to keep a job and report to someone. It's an interesting mental game they're playing with themselves as I'm not sure how much "freedom" there is living a life of begging and being dependent on others, but I guess that's how it works in their minds.
I did hear in Quito there are "perpetual" beggars. In fact, the last one in Quito ran up in his good English as another guy and I were walking into a restaurant. We cut him off telling him to call the Embassy. The next morning, I saw him with some friends looking like he was already getting drunk (or still drinking from the last night?).
The tough part is you see these people who shouldn't deserve much sympathy, but then you get hardened to those who may really need our help - they really were just mugged for being in the wrong place/wrong time.
Reply to this Yes, it is pretty tough to keep yourself from being hardened to real situations. I guess the best strategy is to remember that fact and keep a cool head about what to do.
Reply to this I think you are right Gary.
I always make sure I have extra money for emergencies or in case I want something unexpected that costs extra. That is what makes me feel free. I dont think there is any freedom in having no money at all. So they dont have to report to an employer, but they have to report to all of us instead. They are still depending more than is desirable on people so not more free. They are a bit extreme and I think some balance would do them good.
When I was living in Toronto my housemate who was a student told me some guys he knew wanted him to go out with them. They told him to wear old clothes. When he got there he found out why he was to wear old clothes. They were students with someplace to live and parents who gave them money to live on, yet they would go out begging. My housemate was shocked and went home without doing any begging.
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