HAWKERS/TOUTS/SCAM, Goa

WHILE TRAVELLING TO GOA ON HOLIDAY BE AWARE OF SMALL TIME JEWELLERY STORES IN GOA WHO ENTICE YOU INTO TRAPPING SHOPPERS WHO DO NOT BUY AFTER ASKING PRICE BY BLAMING SUCH SHOPPERS OF HAVING LIFTED GOLD JEWELLERY SEEN BY THEM. ONE SUCH JEWELLERY STORE "SANJAY JEWELLERS" LOCATED IN SOUTH GOA CREATED A DIRTY SCENE WHEN I TRIED TO HAGGLE FOR A BETTER PRICE AND IN THE END LEFT FROM THAT SHOP HIGHLY EMBARRASED. HOW CAN THE INDIAN AND GOA GOVERNMENT LET THIS HAPPEN IS AMAZING. ITS BLACKMAIL IN DAYLIGHT.

Unique Suggestions: DO NOT DEAL WITH SMALL SHOPS FOR ANY JEWELLERY AND ONLY GO TO REPUTED BIG STORES. CERTAINLY REMAIN AWAY FROM SANJY JEWELLERS FOR SURE. WHAT A RIPOFF!!!

Fun Alternatives: AVOID SHOPPING AT SUCH PLACES AND LOOK FOR GOOD STORES WHO HAVE COURTEUS STAFF. COMPLAINT TO LOCAL POLICE IF YOU HAVE TIME BUT NEVER TRUST THE GOA SHOPKEEPERS LIKE SANJY JEWELLERS.... HE IS A FRAUD. ALONG WITH ALL HIS STAFF HE IS MAKING MOCKERY OF INNOCENT SHOPPERS AND HE SHOULD BE PUNISHED FOR SUCH DIRTY TRICKS..

OH GOD!!!!!
I HAVE LIVED IN THE WEST FOR 25 YEARS TO NAME A FEW COUNTRIES, USA; AUSTRALIA; GERMANY; CANADA. I WAS BORN AND BROUGHT UP IN INDIA FOR THE FIRST 27 YEARS OF MY LIFE.
THE THING THAT NEVER EVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME IS THAT THE MOMENT WESTERNERS ENTER INDIA, THE WHOLE PSYCHE CHANGES, LIKE NIGHT INTO DAY, THAT IS THE BIGGEST SCAM I THINK, IS THAT PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD COME TO THIS PLACE THAT IS SO DIFFERENT TO THE WEST, SO FULL OF EXPERIENCES THAT YOU COULD NEVER EVER HAVE OR SEE IN THE WEST.
FOR THE WESTERNER WHO CANT SEE PAST THERE NOSES, AND IS SO CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT THEY CAME TO INDIA FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE, OFCOURSE IT IS A BAD THING, BUT THEN, THESE TYPES OF PEOPLE ARE ROTTING AND LIVING IN UTTER DEPRESSION IN THEIR OWN CLEAN WEST WHICH IS FULL OF ***, NOT ON THE ROAD, BUT IN THE MINDS OF THE WESTERN PSYCHE. THEY ARE TAKEN FOR A RIDE 24/7 AS THAT IS THEIR CULTURE, BUT BECAUSE THEY LACK INTELLIGENCE THEY CANNOT SEE IT, BIG CORPORATIONS AND THEIR GOVERNMENTS ARE SCREWING THEM ALL THE TIME, THEY LIVE LIKE CORPSES, WHO HAVE LOST THEIR SOUL, AND IT IS ALL A SMOOTH RIDE, SO THEY THINK.
THEY COME TO A SIMPLE COUNTRY OF POOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO MAKE A FEW BUCKS FOR A MEASLY LIVING AND SUDDENLY ALL THIS IS A SCAM.
LIKE THE ELEPHANTS IN GOA, OK I HEARD YOU, SO THERE ARE 3 ELEPHANTS IN GOA ,MATE DID YOU EVER GO TO SCHOOL OR DO YOU KNOW MATHS LIKE 2+2 MAKES FOUR, OR WHAT HAPPENED YOU LOST YOUR ABILITY TO USE YOUR JUDGEMENT OR BOTH. DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH CARE AN ELEPHANT TAKES TO KEEP,THIS LARGE AND ENDANGEARED SPECIES, THE PAINSTAKING CARE THAT THESE MAHOUTS HAVE TO TAKE TO KEEP THESE ELEPHANTS. LET ME JUST EDUCATE YOU, BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT SORT OF EDUCATION YOU GUYS GET IN YOUR WESTERN COUNTRIES, IT IS ABOUT GETTING PLASTIC SURGERY TO FIX YOUR BODIES, GET SILICONE *** AND ARSES, AND DRINK LOADS OF ALCOHOL; AND CONSUME AND POLUTE THE WHOLE WORLD, WITH EMISSION OF GREEN HOUSE GASES.

Unique Suggestions: Let me educate all who are reading about HOW IT IS A SCAM TO PAY 500 RUPEES TO THE ELEPHANT MAN FOR A RIDE.
1) It costs around 800 000 Rupees ( 8 lakhs of rupees)to buy an elephant, it does not come free, so that in itself is a big investment. And now one cannot even buy one, as it is an endangered species.
2) An elephant eats 30 to 50 pounds of food per day, and it has to be fed all day.
3)Needs the labour of 2 mahouts who are experienced in this to look after 24/7 all the time, so think of the labour costs here, these are not washer men who wash or clean your utensils, ok !!!!! they do have a certain or rather a very exclusive expertiese to handle these humungus animals.
(why dont you try to see if you can handle a big elephant and get hin to do your bidding, see if he does not stamp on you and turn you into pulp.)
4)Medical expenses, what do you think your cat or dog needs, multiply that a thousand or 2 thousand times, now do you get it, or are you brain dead.

Fun Alternatives: So after all these calculations, THE ELEPHANT HAS TO SIT TO MOUNT THE PEOPLE ON HIS BACK AND STAND AGAIN TO WALK, THIS IS HARD WORK MATE. So now have you seen how it is unfair to pay him only 9 US dollars, (500 hundred rupees) you should pay him atleast 20 US dollars, the cost of a meal in a ordinary resturant in the west .YES THAT IS ALL IT IS.
AND THINK OF THE GLEE ON YOUR GRAND KIDS OR GREAT GRAND KIDS faces when you tell them the stories of this elephant you sat on, and the Mahout of God!! that is something to wonder about in itself, one can talk volumes about these amazing mahouts, you could talk to the mahout and he would give you the most amazing stories about elephant experiences.
AND LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST THINK OF THE GLEE ON YOUR GREAT GRAND KIDS WHEN THEY SEE A PHOTO OF YOU ON THAT ELEPHANT.
NOW DONT YOU THINK A RIDE ON AN INDIAN ELEPHANT IS WORTH 5OO HUNDRED RUPEES MERE US 9 DOLLARS. THERE IS NO COUNTRY IN THE WORLD THAT HAS ELEPHANTS THAT YOU CAN RIDE ON, INDIA IS THE ONLY ONE, SO ALL YOU PEOPLE DONT KNOCK THE ELEPHANT RIDE, OR THE OTHER SIMPLE VENDORS TRYING TO MAKE A SIMPLE LIVING, GO AND LOOK IN YOUR BACKYARDS YOU HAVE LOT TO WONDER ABOUT THERE. SCAM MY ............

Sadly it's true. You'll be swarmed by touts selling you everything from beads to babies. It's a tough country and goa is one of the little holes where the pressure can be released.
Just be persistant in your NO. They will press hard and irritate the hell out of you but you can't let them win cause then you'll have opened the door cause contrary to popular belief the touts are a very organized bunch and they regularly share info on those who bought stuff and how much they bougth it for (a measure of how gullible the person is).

Unique Suggestions: Be Persistant in saying NO. Take help from others if necessary.

Fun Alternatives: Usually the shack or the establishment owner will get rid of them if you ask.

In every market here you will have a girl trying to get you to come to see her shop. But here, they will actually spend a great deal of time with you - following you, or guiding you around to do it.
Once I was approached by 2 girls to go with them to see their souvenirs, I apologies saying I was buying my groceries..an hour later after I had checked my email etc I was in another small shop, I turned around and there they were! They had followed me to getting my veggies, checking my email and after an hour were still hot on my trail.

Often people who do not know the market will take comfort in asking the girls for good shops..beware here: they will take you to shops where they have an arrangement, a % of the sale..so you will always end up paying more..but go away thinking what a great deal you got by shopping with the locals.

Unique Suggestions: Choose one person to help you, you dont need a gang of girls guiding you around..they will all expect a tip for taking you or you will feel obligated to go to all their shops and spend money.

Only spend cash while at the beach, if you dont intend to leave the beach for shopping during the entire holiday.
Everything here is 5+ times the normal price, even an ice cream lolly will be sold to you for Rs50 instead of 5!

Unique Suggestions: ear cleaning - even after reading their tourist reviews book and looking at the photo of inner ear etc..dont give them more than Rs10. many tourists are left deciding what to give and end up giving Rs500.
If you are ever told "pay what you feel is right" stick to your first instinct of Rs10/-
dont compare to UK or other countries. If they deserved more money, they would have an office/salon/surgery and you would need an appointment to see them.

Fun Alternatives: take one day and head to Panjim..go on the bus for Rs8 each way.

You will come across many VERY persistent hawkers at the beaches; if you don't want to buy anything you have to be VERY firm (yet polite) with them, otherwise they will not budge! Equally, if you are rude they will harass you by sending a lot many more of their 'friends'!

Unique Suggestions: Be polite yet FIRM, if you don't want to buy anything.

Fun Alternatives: No alternatives; this is the way there, just sit back & go with the flow!

These.. strange men, attempt to put something in your ear!

I have only seen these guys in Anjuna Market ( in the North), but as your aimlessly strolling from stall to stall random men appear out of nowhere, touching their ears.... now i know this sounds bizzare but you have a desire to ( i dont know why?!) touch your own ear, as if you have something on them, as you do this is a signal to them that they have sold you a product and they will slip something down your ear and charge you for it!

Just dont look at them, if you do... dont touch your ears!

Unique Suggestions: Theres not alot of them about so try not to worry, just be aware that they are in the markets.

This is a real nice hotel/apartment block. It is a lovely complex on the Baga river road in near Apora. However its more like a timeshare, and they do offer you freebies, and customer surveys, but its really a plot to get you to sign up and stay there. Watch out for boys on Motorbikes driving past you on the road then saying you have won a competition or prize.

Unique Suggestions: Say you are not a couple, only friends or father/daughter or Mother/son, and they are not interested. They really are nice private apartments, but you might not want to get pestered whilst you are on holiday.