those little white lies
ok, something that's a recurring theme throughout all three countries we've visited is the vagueness ... the little white lies that are told constantly. naturally, i've started tracking them because they drive me nuts. i read in the tour books that asians hate to disappoint people or upset them, so they often sugar coat things or don't tell you exactly how it is for fear of upsetting you -- you remember the classic seinfeld episode where they waited 'just a few minutes' for their table that never came ....
anyway, here's a list:
Q: are we going to china during the rainy season?
A: no, it will be very hot. don't bring a coat or anything long sleeves. just short sleeves and shorts. (we all know how that turned out -- turns out this region gets 90 percent of its rainfall during may, june, july. nice.)
comment: all fees will be included in the trip
so far off base i can't even begin to tell you how far off base this is.
comment: this is the last time i'll collect tips
so far off base i can't even begin to tell you just how crazily far away from reality this comment is.
comment: ALL REGIONS HAVE THEIR OWN UNIQUE STYLE OF CUISINE
I THINK WE ALL KNOW THE REAL ANSWER TO THAT ONE
COMMENT: the restaurant is walking distance from the hotel. just a few minutes.
turned out to be 45 minutes away ..... BY CAR.
comment: the boat ride is only 30 minutes long.
it was an hour and ten minutes.
comment: coconut juice doesn't even taste like coconut.
i can't believe i fell for that one. people are always getting me to try and eat my two least favorite foods on the planet ... coconut and salmon .... by claiming they taste nothing like they are supposed to. they are always wrong.
comment: tip your tour guide and your bus driver $1 u.s. per day, each.
two days later it was magically upped to $4 per day. each. i asked him to explain the discrepancy and he said that's just what it cost. i asked to clarify why he quoted a different price earlier and he said something something about not wanting my stupid tip anyway. i am so confused.
anyway, here's a list:
Q: are we going to china during the rainy season?
A: no, it will be very hot. don't bring a coat or anything long sleeves. just short sleeves and shorts. (we all know how that turned out -- turns out this region gets 90 percent of its rainfall during may, june, july. nice.)
comment: all fees will be included in the trip
so far off base i can't even begin to tell you how far off base this is.
comment: this is the last time i'll collect tips
so far off base i can't even begin to tell you just how crazily far away from reality this comment is.
comment: ALL REGIONS HAVE THEIR OWN UNIQUE STYLE OF CUISINE
I THINK WE ALL KNOW THE REAL ANSWER TO THAT ONE
COMMENT: the restaurant is walking distance from the hotel. just a few minutes.
turned out to be 45 minutes away ..... BY CAR.
comment: the boat ride is only 30 minutes long.
it was an hour and ten minutes.
comment: coconut juice doesn't even taste like coconut.
i can't believe i fell for that one. people are always getting me to try and eat my two least favorite foods on the planet ... coconut and salmon .... by claiming they taste nothing like they are supposed to. they are always wrong.
comment: tip your tour guide and your bus driver $1 u.s. per day, each.
two days later it was magically upped to $4 per day. each. i asked him to explain the discrepancy and he said that's just what it cost. i asked to clarify why he quoted a different price earlier and he said something something about not wanting my stupid tip anyway. i am so confused.
posted by christine at 5:45 AM
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