"Why don't lots of tourists want to speak with us?"
This is the question posed to us by two guys on a motorbike who had pulled over asking to talk to us.
"Probably because they always want to sell us something or get something out of it" was our reply." That or because we just get it so much!"
To prove not everyone in Nepal is like those "bloody shop owners", they invited us to eat dinner at their place that night. Nothing needed in return. Personally I wasn't that keen (sadly still highly skeptical about all 'free' offers) but we agreed and as Jo pointed out, it could be cool to hang with some locals for a change.
So that night we met them at a bar and they bought us a free beer. Or one for Jo anyway. I declined as I still didn't like the whole 'free' idea and wanted to keep a clear head. I'd heard about a thing called a gem scam in India and as these guys had said they were jewellers, I was a little weary.
So on the way to the car from the bar, I tried to seperate Jo to explain that I reckon we should be careful as I was worried about a scam going on. I couldn't really say anything without them overhearing and Jo had never heard of a gem scam sadly but he's not stupid and the word scam got across and instantly put him on guard too.
When we got into the car I was a little worried they would drive us somewhere and we wouldn't be able to get back. So i was watching the clock as I wasn't going to go further than 15 minutes worth (walking distance still, I figured) and I was watching carefully all the turns we made. Luckily it turned out their place was actually fairly close to our guesthouse.
So we turn up at their house and they start offering us beers and weed. Hmmm. Cool. Only why are they not drinking too? I ask them a couple of times why they don't join us and they make all sorts of stupid excuses. Then one comes out of the kitchen (we'd met two on the bike but at the house there were around 8 or so living together) and says he's drinking with us. Hmmm, yeah. Like a shot worth of beer! To me, it seemed they were so obviously trying to get us light headed.
Then we sat down to eat and that really was cool. Free is always good for a start, plus it was a good meal. Beef curry, veges and chapatti. It was good.
Meanwhile, while we've been seated and chatting, their occupation had obviously come up in conversation. How surprising. Hahhaa, ooooh. Next thing we know we're being shown rubies and being told about how we could earn thousands of Euro in just a few days; easy as. Just help them transport them to Europe.
Man, how dumb do we look?! It was such the gem deal I almost cracked up right there. But we played it cool as we were getting a free meal and I still wasn't easy with all of them around us. My money belt was tightly wrapped around my ankle and I was keeping my back to the wall - seriously. Probably a bit over the top but ya never know.
Around 11 or so maybe, we said we were pretty tired and were going to head home to bed. So we organised to meet them again the next morning and join them for a boat ride around the lake.
Moment we were outside (after declining an offer for a lift home), I felt so much better! And just laughed. Jo too. All the way home. Explained the whole deal with gem scams to Jo as well and then this time I was the one keen to join them the next day to go for a free boat ride but Jo, sensibly, suggested that maybe we shouldn't encourage them anymore and so we headed off to Annapurna early next day instead.
So as for their original question, "Why don't lots of tourists want to speak with us?" Easy! Because you're bloody con artists!
N.B Gem scam:
A network of con artsists present you with an opportunity to profit from buying discount gems from them. They try and convince you to buy gems at a discount price and bring them overseas to sell for a massive profit. That or transport gems for them, leaving a small 'donation' as insurance to stop you from running off with their jewels. Of course what you really transport is glass or some other rubbish and you'll never see your hard earned cash 'donation' again.
No comments:
Post a Comment