More thoughts stemming from a conversation with a friend on traveling to places where the locals can be assholes to person of the non-local persuasion...
For me, it's just being rude to traveler's in general - for any country- that is a no go. I understand pickpockets and such, in a lot of places if you have the money to travel - you are richer than the local population. But, not always. Just because we chose to travel doesn't mean we are rich. It means that this is a particular life choice. It means that this is what we want to do with our lives, and we'll make it happen whether or not we are rollin' in the Benjamins. It does not necessarily logically correlate to travelers making bank. In fact it can just as easily be other other way. Obviously we have some money because we can make it from place to place. But, some of us are still surviving on a tight budget...
But the people who really bother me when they choose to be dirt bags are the people who work in the travel/tourism sector or run businesses that end up catering to travelers. There's no reason for them to be crappy. We are still bringing business. Our money works just as well as locals. And I'm convinced there are only a few other ways to rack up karma points quicker than being nice to someone in need - this includes travelers. Which, although travelers of the vagabond variety have to be self sufficient and independent - everyone needs a hand sometimes. And, especially if you ever plan on traveling yourself, you had better be nice to your fellow travelers. One day you will need help, and if you've been a douche bag --this goes for all of the hotel managers who charge triple normal rates for skin tax, and taxi drivers who over charge and grab at people to prevent them from leaving the car, among others-- who knows how favorable Karma is going to look upon you. She is meticulous in her tally.
