which travel guides have given you an inaccurate picture of the localpeople?
 

The other day I read a post about the Lonely Planet writer who did a
whole chapter on a country without even going there, and amongst all
the discussion about how inaccurate travel guides can be, there was
the remark: "no matter what country it is the guide-book always says
that the people are very friendly".

So, I was wondering what experiences any of you have of the 'locals'
being rather different from the picture the guide-book paints of them.

I keep remembering what the Rough Guide To Morocco said about the
hustlers: basically, that they do pester you, but you mustn't be rude
to them - just be polite and good humored, and they'll soon give up
and leave you alone. Not, you'll notice: 'If you politely refuse their
services, they'll follow you around shouting "**** you! **** you!"'

And the children you beg from you in Morocco: the LP guide said that
all you needed to do was wag a finger at them to point out they were
doing wrong, and they'd quietly go away - not 'even if you refuse with
the utmost politeness, they'll still pelt you with stones'.

So, any experiences of guide-books being 'optimistic' about people?

which travel guides have given you an inaccurate picture of the local people?
 

On Fri, 16 May 2008 04:07:34 -0700 (PDT), martin
wrote:

The other day I read a post about the Lonely Planet writer who did a
whole chapter on a country without even going there, and amongst all
the discussion about how inaccurate travel guides can be, there was
the remark: "no matter what country it is the guide-book always says
that the people are very friendly".

People are often friendly, at least in the countries I've visited,
although there are always exceptions.

Usual story - if you're polite and friendly to people, they'll usually
deal with you similarly.

So, I was wondering what experiences any of you have of the 'locals'
being rather different from the picture the guide-book paints of them.

I was interviewed by a local radio station here in Berlin earlier in
the year as part of a "Berlin for Beginners" seminar. They were urging
me to tell them that Berliners were rude and inconsiderate, and that
the officials I had to deal with as a newcomer were all arrogant and
unpleasant.

I didn't rise to the bait. The lady at Rathaus Schöneberg who dealt
with my registration and Residence Permit had a nice smile - and a
scented candle on her desk. The people at the tax office are great
too.

I keep remembering what the Rough Guide To Morocco said about the
hustlers: basically, that they do pester you, but you mustn't be rude
to them - just be polite and good humored, and they'll soon give up
and leave you alone. Not, you'll notice: 'If you politely refuse their
services, they'll follow you around shouting "**** you! **** you!"'

Can't say that the guidebooks I read about Morocco painted a rosy
picture about hustlers - they prepared me quite well.

And the children you beg from you in Morocco: the LP guide said that
all you needed to do was wag a finger at them to point out they were
doing wrong, and they'd quietly go away - not 'even if you refuse with
the utmost politeness, they'll still pelt you with stones'.

In Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakesh I was never pelted with stones -
nor anywhere else in Morocco. Hustled, yes (continuously in Marrakesh)
but never stoned (in either sense of the word :-) )

So, any experiences of guide-books being 'optimistic' about people?

No, but Rough Guide was, shall we say, optimistic about some of the
hotels it described in Spain. Friendly and folksy they were not - they
had, to say the least, seen better days - probably before the Civil
War.


Keith (formerly of Bristol UK)
now moved to Berlin/nach Berlin umgezogen

which travel guides have given you an inaccurate picture of the local people?
 

"Keith Anderson" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 16 May 2008 04:07:34 -0700 (PDT), martin
wrote:

The other day I read a post about the Lonely Planet writer who did a
whole chapter on a country without even going there, and amongst all
the discussion about how inaccurate travel guides can be, there was
the remark: "no matter what country it is the guide-book always says
that the people are very friendly".

People are often friendly, at least in the countries I've visited,
although there are always exceptions.


I've never really been in a country where I could characterize the whole
population as unfriendly. However, as far as Asia goes, I think Vietnam is
overrated for friendliness; Indonesia underrated. India is friendly almost
to a fault. In China I'm largely invisible. Laotians are too sleepy to
bother with me, which is kind of endearing. I'd rather be ignored than
fussed over.

Cheers,
George W Russell
Bangalore

which travel guides have given you an inaccurate picture of the local people?
 

"grusl" kirjoitti
.. .


I've never really been in a country where I could characterize the whole
population as unfriendly. However, as far as Asia goes, I think Vietnam is
overrated for friendliness; Indonesia underrated. India is friendly almost
to a fault. In China I'm largely invisible. Laotians are too sleepy to
bother with me, which is kind of endearing. I'd rather be ignored than
fussed over.

Where would you place Aleuts and Nanais in the line of friendliness?

which travel guides have given you an inaccurate picture of thelocal people?
 

On May 16, 6:08*pm, Markku Grönroos wrote:
"grusl" kirjoitti
.. .

I've never really been in a country where I could characterize the whole
population as unfriendly. However, as far as Asia goes, I think Vietnam is
overrated for friendliness; Indonesia underrated. India is friendly almost
to a fault. In China I'm largely invisible. Laotians are too sleepy to
bother with me, which is kind of endearing. I'd rather be ignored than
fussed over.

Where would you place Aleuts and Nanais in the line of friendliness?

Well above "hebe faggot" Finns stewed in cheap vodka and roasted on
Usenet.

Cheers,
George W Russell
Bangalore

which travel guides have given you an inaccurate picture of the local people?
 

"grusl" kirjoitti
...
On May 16, 6:08 pm, Markku Grönroos wrote:
"grusl" kirjoitti
.. .

I've never really been in a country where I could characterize the whole
population as unfriendly. However, as far as Asia goes, I think Vietnam
is
overrated for friendliness; Indonesia underrated. India is friendly
almost
to a fault. In China I'm largely invisible. Laotians are too sleepy to
bother with me, which is kind of endearing. I'd rather be ignored than
fussed over.

Where would you place Aleuts and Nanais in the line of friendliness?

Well above "hebe faggot" Finns stewed in cheap vodka and roasted on
Usenet.
__________________________________________________ _________________________

I assume the subscribers fully - without any reservations whatsoever - rely
on your account of this matter. By the way, it is Russians and Poles who
drink vodka.... We drink kossu.

which travel guides have given you an inaccurate picture of the local people?
 

"Markku Grönroos" kirjoitti
hti.fi...

"grusl" kirjoitti
...
On May 16, 6:08 pm, Markku Grönroos wrote:
"grusl" kirjoitti
.. .

I've never really been in a country where I could characterize the
whole
population as unfriendly. However, as far as Asia goes, I think Vietnam
is
overrated for friendliness; Indonesia underrated. India is friendly
almost
to a fault. In China I'm largely invisible. Laotians are too sleepy to
bother with me, which is kind of endearing. I'd rather be ignored than
fussed over.

Where would you place Aleuts and Nanais in the line of friendliness?

Well above "hebe faggot" Finns stewed in cheap vodka and roasted on
Usenet.
__________________________________________________ _________________________

I assume the subscribers fully - without any reservations whatsoever -
rely on your account of this matter. By the way, it is Russians and Poles
who drink vodka.... We drink kossu.
Alright, I was dishonest: I have been drinking distillate from Kilmarnock.

which travel guides have given you an inaccurate picture of the local people? Another useless question with endless thread
 

rtins pals
"martin" a écrit dans le message de
...
The other day I read a post about the Lonely Planet writer who did a
whole chapter on a country without even going there, and amongst all
the discussion about how inaccurate travel guides can be, there was
the remark: "no matter what country it is the guide-book always says
that the people are very friendly".

So, I was wondering what experiences any of you have of the 'locals'
being rather different from the picture the guide-book paints of them.

I keep remembering what the Rough Guide To Morocco said about the
hustlers: basically, that they do pester you, but you mustn't be rude
to them - just be polite and good humored, and they'll soon give up
and leave you alone. Not, you'll notice: 'If you politely refuse their
services, they'll follow you around shouting "**** you! **** you!"'

And the children you beg from you in Morocco: the LP guide said that
all you needed to do was wag a finger at them to point out they were
doing wrong, and they'd quietly go away - not 'even if you refuse with
the utmost politeness, they'll still pelt you with stones'.

So, any experiences of guide-books being 'optimistic' about people?