Confusion
I was at Soi Bangla in Patong, Phuket, just chilling on the pavement, smoking a cigarette and watching the freak show drift by, when two men approached me. If I had to guess, I'd say they were from Turkey. I'm not sure why I'd say that though.
Man: Hey mate, how are you?
Me: Fine. You?
Man: Good, good. Hey, can I ask you a question?
Me: OK.
Man: Right, me and my friend, we bet $100. He says you are from Germany, I say you are from Netherlands.
Me: I'm English.
Man: English? Ah OK. All right then, see you later.
Me: Bye.
So what did all of that mean? Why would someone bet $100 that I was German or Dutch?
OK I've read it. I'm fine with that edit. Just one things:
The lack of tourists means locals are often overwhelming friendly.
I’m not sure it’s the lack of tourists that makes them so friendly. It’s a post-conflict country and the people have been through a lot and seen horrendous things, but still they’re an amazingly warm, inviting people.
Maybe we could change this to something like: East Timor is a post-conflict country and its people have experienced unimaginable horrors, and yet they are often overwhelmingly friendly and keen to interact with those foreigners who make the effort.
August 14th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
no hidden agenda there. Been there before. I have lost B1000 on that before! Just bored I guess. Maybe Phuket needs a casino…
August 14th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Just drunk people for me ;)
August 15th, 2009 at 9:51 am
I do that very often with my Thai friends, they can't get it that foreigners can guess where other foreigners comes from… where you wearing sandals with sock? Or a sleeveless T-shirt?
August 15th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
You're a marked man, Matt, marked … Seriously. Not.
August 16th, 2009 at 11:36 am
were you sitting there in a pair of black shpeeeeeedos that are a size to small?
August 17th, 2009 at 1:26 am
I don't think I've ever worn sandals with socks. I was wearing a T-shirt I think.