My Little Plastic Friend

As many people who have travelled around Asia can testify, 'tourist price' or 'foreigner price' is pretty universal. When buying anything from shoelaces to satellite dishes you can be sure as a non-native that the price quoted is not the same as the one given 5 minutes previous to the local. Usually, I don't have a problem with this as most foreigners come from considerably richer countries and the difference is generally nothing more that a couple of dollars at most. Besides, it often gives me the opportunity to haggle and as much as I find shopping a bore, I can enjoy the bartering game. I wouldn't say that I'm an expert, but I've done it enough over the last few years that I know a lot of techniques to get the price I'm happy with.

This two-tiered pricing scheme, however, does become frustrating when it is clear that you are just being ripped-off, scammed, or being taken for the proverbial ride. A recent example was at a bus station in Turkey where the guy at the desk said the price of a seat was 45 TL. Not knowing any different, money was exchanged only to discover that the ticket price was 30 TL. Before a refund could be demanded, though, the guy quickly waved the bus away so that there was no choice left but to jump on the coach and curse the cashier who had made a tidy sum for himself.

Another incident happened 2 years ago in Agra, India, home of the Taj Mahal. The cost of admission to this monument of love was FOUR HUNDRED times more expensive for tourists than locals. I like the fact that locals can gain entrance to museums and national parks in their own country for a low price as they should be encouraged to visit these treasures. I don't like that foreigners pay so much extra for the privilege only to be told that they can't take any guidebooks inside. Instead, visitors are informed that only an 'official' guidebook bought at one of the souvenir stalls will be allowed inside. Failing that, you are more than welcome to fork out even more money for an 'official' guide who will walk around with you and tell you everything he had just read in one of those books! My experience at the mausoleum in Agra included being forcibly ejected for disagreeing with this policy. I was able to get back in without much hassle (with my guidebook hidden in my then girlfriend's handbag) and had an otherwise great time.



I have found a way around such problems arising in Turkey. As a university lecturer I was given an ID card when I first started. I had hoped that this card would act in a similar fashion to a student card in that I could get discounts at various places. What I hadn't expected was the Golden Ticket to practically FREE sightseeing in Turkey. While in the queue to enter the Aya Sofya, I flashed my teacher's card hoping for 10% off and was instead instructed to join the other line (for Turkish citizens). There I handed over my card plus 10 TL and was given a Museum Card. This new card would then permit me to enter any other site throughout Turkey for no extra charge! So far I have saved hundreds of dollars, thanks to my little plastic friend.