A Nocturnal Reverie

Friday, December 29, 20061:28 PM♥

i thought these incidents were interestin' ...
but before you get the hang of it, be clear that we were told to bargain 70 percent off each item at ANY PLACE IN EGYPT except the airport. so if the price is 100 usd, get it only if its lesser or equal to 30 usd.

case 1:
mum wanted to get the pyramids as souvenirs. so she wanted 4 usd but man said " no, no, no, last price, 5!". we insisted 4. he then gritted his teeth then told us, " your bus is waiting. go back." (no manners). after which, he turned away and headed back to his shop. so, we walked away.. tryin' to show some disappointments.. few seconds later, he came out and shouted " hey! ok la! come back! okok! ok!!!!!!!! 4! 4!". feelin' proud,we walked back SLOOOOWLY.

conclusion: he was just actin'. but he didnt know singaporeans are better at buyin'. we won.

case 2:
man said 60 usd. for a small cup. we cant deny that the cup is special.. we just wanted it. so as usual, we bargained. we were straightforward and we insisted on 5 usd. this time round, he said " go back ! go back! your cruise is waitin' ! (when obviously he knows that the cruise will not sail that night) " we just dont like to hear that so, we walked away. this time with real disappointments as that man was really aggressive and the price CONFIRM MEANS CONFIRM OK?

after...

5 steps - man said " 55 usd! last price!"
(we didnt bother.)

15 steps - man said " 45! 45! 45!"
( i turned back and shouted " 5 means 5!)

25 steps - man said " 30! no more!"
( i turned back and shouted louder " 5 means 5!" then uttered to myself " ahpek, dont understand ar?".)

45 steps - man said " okok! can! 20 ! 20 is GOOD!"
(i turned back and shouted even louder as we were really far away.... " LAST PRICE! FIVE!!!!!!!!". )
mum scolded me. she told me to give up...

60 steps - man said " ok lar habibi! five! COOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEE BAAAAAAAACCCCCCCK".
WE WENT BACK!
it was tirin'. i had to turn my head back to check on him.. and it was really far away then.

conclusion: for a small cup, i did something like the above. from 60 usd to 5 usd. incredible..

case 3:
man said " I GIVE YOU MONEY, YOU COME TO MY SHOP!" (his hands with lots of cash)

conclusion: dont even bother to turn back. unless u're thinkin' to rob him.

aside from this 3 cases.. i fathomed that all they wanted was money.

they take a picture with u, u have to pay them.
u take their horse carriage, they tell you that their horse is pregnant and u have to tip them. (when obviously, it is a male horse)
u take another horse carriage, the guy says the same thing. i asked, " your city, all the horse pregnant hor?!" ( cant they use another method)
they help you cross the busy road and u think "wow, egyptians are kind.." -not until their hands beg for money.-
you say "hi" to the children, they say "hi" , followed by " can u give me money? money money!".