One never knows what adventures are in store when traveling. I was in tibet last month. I was a "one-erson group", with a guide and driver going to Everest Base Camp after spending a few days in Lhasa. We stopped at a small village to take a break. I got out of the van and was walking around when two vendor ladies approached me. They had their merchandise hanging on one arm, i.e., necklaces,bracelets, etc.
I smiled at them, shook my head and kept walking. They followed me. I again smiled, shookmy head and kept walking. Then I was surprised when one of them said to me, in perfect English, "I like you!" This certainly surprised me mainly because very few Tibetans speak English and those that do speak it with a heavy accent. But, again, I smiled at the lady, shook my head and kept walking. (She's is her 20's or 30's. I am an old codger.)
Then, again, in perfect English she said, "I love you!" This certainly caught my attentioon! I had not heard this pitch before in any of my travels. Usually, an eager vendor's first pitch is, "Where you from?" I kept walking but then decided that it was time for me to start practicing my price haggling techniques. So I approached this friendly lady. She smiled and again said, "I love you!" At that point I decided to get with the program and replied, "I love you, too!" She smiled big, giggled, said, "Oh!" and approached me as if to hug me. But when I reached out with one arm, she quickly pulled away. Of course, she was just fooling around.
We then got down to business. I looked at her merchandise(!!!). A nice hand-crafted turquoise necklace with a locket caught my attention, but she wanted 600 Yuan for it, about $90.00 U.S.! I countered with 100Y ($15.00). We discussed it back and forth, but when I started to walk away she finally accepted my 100Y.
I went back to the van. This lady followed me. I sat looking at her through the window. At one point she smiled at me and again very much to my surprise, she blew a kiss at me! She continued to stand there smiling and I got the impression that she was waiting for some reaction from me. So, finally took the hint and returned her kiss! That got an even bigger smile from her. Then I got the idea to take her picture. After a quick exchange of sign language she posed for me and I took it just before we drove off.
I laughed for about the next 10 miles! What shenanigans! And I still chuckle every time I remember this funny episode that took place in some remote village on the way to Mt. Everest. My guide also laughed especially when I told her that I forgot to get the phone number of "...the lady who loves me!"
PS: Obviously her ploy worked because I did purchase an item from her. Later when I asked my guide if I had paid too much for the necklace she replied with a firm, "Yes".
Such are the vicissitudes of foreign travel!
We then got down to business. I looked at her merchandise(!!!). A nice turquoise necklace with a locket caught my atention, but she wanted 600 Yuan for it, about $90.00 U.S.! I countered with 100Y ($15.00). We
