Comments on: The Attack Of The Airport Touts http://www.wanderingearl.com/the-attack-of-the-airport-touts/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-attack-of-the-airport-touts The Life of a Permanent Nomad Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:53:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Earlhttp://www.wanderingearl.com/the-attack-of-the-airport-touts/comment-page-1/#comment-1791 Earl Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:12:22 +0000 http://www.wanderingearl.com/?p=2448#comment-1791 Hey Dina - I remember getting off the ferry in Sumatra coming from Singapore and suddenly being surrounded by dozens of taxi drivers all claiming to be official and telling me not to use the others. In the end it was cheap enough where it didn't really matter who I chose, as long as he took me to my destination. But I highly recommend just sitting down when it gets too overwhelming as its never a good idea to make decisions when you're flustered. I'd think you'd be at an advantage with speaking the language. Apart from jalan-jalan I had no other words to turn to for help. So thanks for the lesson, I'll be using dijemput next time I'm there! Hey Dina – I remember getting off the ferry in Sumatra coming from Singapore and suddenly being surrounded by dozens of taxi drivers all claiming to be official and telling me not to use the others. In the end it was cheap enough where it didn’t really matter who I chose, as long as he took me to my destination. But I highly recommend just sitting down when it gets too overwhelming as its never a good idea to make decisions when you’re flustered.

I’d think you’d be at an advantage with speaking the language. Apart from jalan-jalan I had no other words to turn to for help. So thanks for the lesson, I’ll be using dijemput next time I’m there!

]]> By: Dinahttp://www.wanderingearl.com/the-attack-of-the-airport-touts/comment-page-1/#comment-1790 Dina Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:58:56 +0000 http://www.wanderingearl.com/?p=2448#comment-1790 Forgot to mention, my favourite taxi situation is in Dubai. Very organized and cheap. We didn't usually take taxi to get to places, but we did it in Dubai for those reasons, plus it was super hot outside buildings or vehicles. .-= Dina´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.vagabondquest.com/new-zealand/new-zealands-hidden-valley-orakei-korako-the-land-of-silica-terraces-and-geysers/" rel="nofollow">New Zealand’s Hidden Valley: Orakei Korako, the land of silica terraces and geysers</a> =-. Forgot to mention, my favourite taxi situation is in Dubai. Very organized and cheap. We didn’t usually take taxi to get to places, but we did it in Dubai for those reasons, plus it was super hot outside buildings or vehicles.
.-= Dina´s last blog ..New Zealand’s Hidden Valley: Orakei Korako, the land of silica terraces and geysers =-.

]]> By: Dinahttp://www.wanderingearl.com/the-attack-of-the-airport-touts/comment-page-1/#comment-1789 Dina Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:56:58 +0000 http://www.wanderingearl.com/?p=2448#comment-1789 I smiled reading this jalan-jalan trick :) I usually say "dijemput" which mean I will be picked up by somebody. However, even though one layer of drivers step back, another layer will replace them, and so on. I think I'm just easily flustered by crowd like this. .-= Dina´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.vagabondquest.com/new-zealand/new-zealands-hidden-valley-orakei-korako-the-land-of-silica-terraces-and-geysers/" rel="nofollow">New Zealand’s Hidden Valley: Orakei Korako, the land of silica terraces and geysers</a> =-. I smiled reading this jalan-jalan trick :) I usually say “dijemput” which mean I will be picked up by somebody. However, even though one layer of drivers step back, another layer will replace them, and so on. I think I’m just easily flustered by crowd like this.
.-= Dina´s last blog ..New Zealand’s Hidden Valley: Orakei Korako, the land of silica terraces and geysers =-.

]]> By: Dinahttp://www.wanderingearl.com/the-attack-of-the-airport-touts/comment-page-1/#comment-1788 Dina Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:48:09 +0000 http://www.wanderingearl.com/?p=2448#comment-1788 I did get overwhelmed easily in that situation. Maybe I should take the "sit down" trick? Take a deep breath sounds like a good idea! The funny thing is, my experience felt that way not where I was traveling to, but in my long time home country of Indonesia. And this is not necessarily after international flights, and happen in airports and train/bus station alike. The reputable taxi line's drivers could appear as intimidating as the non official taxi drivers, because they don't want to loose potential passengers over this unofficial one. Unofficial taxi drivers here I mean are not even "taxi" drivers, they use their own whatever cars. And sometimes even the official reputable one, they still try to not use the meter to gain more money. At least I speak the language :) .-= Dina´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.vagabondquest.com/new-zealand/new-zealands-hidden-valley-orakei-korako-the-land-of-silica-terraces-and-geysers/" rel="nofollow">New Zealand’s Hidden Valley: Orakei Korako, the land of silica terraces and geysers</a> =-. I did get overwhelmed easily in that situation. Maybe I should take the “sit down” trick? Take a deep breath sounds like a good idea! The funny thing is, my experience felt that way not where I was traveling to, but in my long time home country of Indonesia. And this is not necessarily after international flights, and happen in airports and train/bus station alike.
The reputable taxi line’s drivers could appear as intimidating as the non official taxi drivers, because they don’t want to loose potential passengers over this unofficial one. Unofficial taxi drivers here I mean are not even “taxi” drivers, they use their own whatever cars. And sometimes even the official reputable one, they still try to not use the meter to gain more money. At least I speak the language :)
.-= Dina´s last blog ..New Zealand’s Hidden Valley: Orakei Korako, the land of silica terraces and geysers =-.

]]> By: Maria Staalhttp://www.wanderingearl.com/the-attack-of-the-airport-touts/comment-page-1/#comment-1785 Maria Staal Wed, 21 Apr 2010 07:27:07 +0000 http://www.wanderingearl.com/?p=2448#comment-1785 So cool that 'jalan-jalan' worked for you as well in Indonesia. :) So cool that ‘jalan-jalan’ worked for you as well in Indonesia. :)

]]> By: Earlhttp://www.wanderingearl.com/the-attack-of-the-airport-touts/comment-page-1/#comment-1783 Earl Wed, 21 Apr 2010 02:48:57 +0000 http://www.wanderingearl.com/?p=2448#comment-1783 Hey Liz - That's impressive! I guess finding a family to take you somewhere is a good option if you can pull it off. I've never tried that one, but just might have to next time I land somewhere new. Hey Liz – That’s impressive! I guess finding a family to take you somewhere is a good option if you can pull it off. I’ve never tried that one, but just might have to next time I land somewhere new.

]]> By: Lizhttp://www.wanderingearl.com/the-attack-of-the-airport-touts/comment-page-1/#comment-1781 Liz Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:02:30 +0000 http://www.wanderingearl.com/?p=2448#comment-1781 Hahaha... so true! That is my less favorite part of my trip, trying to get rid of them while trying to figure out what is the best move. I just traveled a few days ago (Friday) and the taxi was sooooo expensive, that I just took my time and found a nice family who took me somewhere closer where I could get another cab. Thanks for the advice! =) Hahaha… so true!

That is my less favorite part of my trip, trying to get rid of them while trying to figure out what is the best move. I just traveled a few days ago (Friday) and the taxi was sooooo expensive, that I just took my time and found a nice family who took me somewhere closer where I could get another cab.

Thanks for the advice! =)

]]> By: Earlhttp://www.wanderingearl.com/the-attack-of-the-airport-touts/comment-page-1/#comment-1771 Earl Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:50:35 +0000 http://www.wanderingearl.com/?p=2448#comment-1771 Hey Guy - Thanks for visiting! Yeah, its not the best idea to pull out a brand new iPhone when walking through dark streets in an unknown place, but usually pulling it out in the airport just helps you blend in with all of the other travelers and doesn't lead to any problems. And that's an interesting adventure you have planned, it's quite a route to take! Hey Guy – Thanks for visiting! Yeah, its not the best idea to pull out a brand new iPhone when walking through dark streets in an unknown place, but usually pulling it out in the airport just helps you blend in with all of the other travelers and doesn’t lead to any problems.

And that’s an interesting adventure you have planned, it’s quite a route to take!

]]> By: Earlhttp://www.wanderingearl.com/the-attack-of-the-airport-touts/comment-page-1/#comment-1770 Earl Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:45:22 +0000 http://www.wanderingearl.com/?p=2448#comment-1770 Hey Maria - That is definitely true, these suggestions do work for train and bus stations, both of which are places that are often more intimidating than airports when you first arrive. And it's funny you mentioned Indonesia, because I remember saying 'jalan-jalan' all the time as well! And it worked! Hey Maria – That is definitely true, these suggestions do work for train and bus stations, both of which are places that are often more intimidating than airports when you first arrive. And it’s funny you mentioned Indonesia, because I remember saying ‘jalan-jalan’ all the time as well! And it worked!

]]> By: Maria Staalhttp://www.wanderingearl.com/the-attack-of-the-airport-touts/comment-page-1/#comment-1768 Maria Staal Tue, 20 Apr 2010 13:38:08 +0000 http://www.wanderingearl.com/?p=2448#comment-1768 Great advise Earl. I suppose it can not only be used at airports, but also a bus and train stations. A thing that worked for me in Indonesia was saying the Indonesian word for 'walking' to anyone who wanted to offer me a ride. Seemed to put people off that I 'spoke' their language... .-= Maria Staal´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.mariastaal.com/2010/04/20/the-peoples-of-early-medieval-europe-sounds-boring-doesn%E2%80%99t-it/" rel="nofollow">The Peoples of Early Medieval Europe. Sounds boring, doesn’t it?</a> =-. Great advise Earl. I suppose it can not only be used at airports, but also a bus and train stations.
A thing that worked for me in Indonesia was saying the Indonesian word for ‘walking’ to anyone who wanted to offer me a ride. Seemed to put people off that I ‘spoke’ their language…
.-= Maria Staal´s last blog ..The Peoples of Early Medieval Europe. Sounds boring, doesn’t it? =-.

]]>