You know the types. Especially when you're backpacking, maybe you get into a conversation over a beer or two, and they start reeling off all the places they've been to like it's some kind of competition.

Sometimes they'll disparage the place where you are (not cool if it's the only place you're going!) and say somewhere else is better (where you are now is NEVER the best place they've been ).

I've even had this with backpackers in a very touristy area whining about all the touristy areas and talking about the perfect, isolated places they've been to. They have this romanticized idea of (particularly in Thailand) finding the perfect beach or remote mountain-side location and it's as if nowhere else is worth a thing.

At the point where they ask me how many times I've been to a place I tend to find a reason to get up and walk away.

Anybody else similarly irked by these irksome travelers?

I once had a pen-friend from Bavaria. After writing for a couple of years she came over to visit, via NZ. She compared everything here with there - nothing here was as pretty as there (and it's actually true, but do we want to hear that? bloody kiwis!) We took her around to show her some wildlife, and she said "ah yes, the black swans, they are a pest" She had some piece of misinformation about EVERYTHING.
More a know-it-all than a boastful traveller but irksome nonetheless.
When the waiter in the pizza restaurant I took her to started in on her about Hitler I didn't even bother jumping to her defense, I was totally fed up with her by then

ZombieKitten said:

ZombieKitten said:

Don't know about irksome travellers, but what is it about pizza waiters and Hitler? Every time I'm out for a pizza it's "Hitler this.." and "Hitler that.."
Put a sock in it guys!

I've lost track of how many times I've been in Khao San Road and ended up chatting with someone (although they always start it, like they really want to talk to somebody, anybody, about it). The road is well known and chock full of tourists, and these people start lamenting all the tourists being there and going on about some obscure place or other that's so unspoilt and perfect. All the while they're sitting there in the nice comfy bar, drinking a nice cool beer. Sometimes they nip off to find an internet cafe, no doubt to blog about how the development and tourists are ruining Thailand.

I stopped traveling. Problem solved.

Especially in Thailand they can REALLY get on one´s nerves. I met a couple of backpackers on my way to Koh Chang. They hopped on board after Chantaburi and Trad and they had this aura as if Koh Chang belonged to them, as if it´s some kind of discovery that only THEY should have access to, even though that place is a tourist´s nest for some years now.And they all dressed funny, like a walking stereotype of a backpacker.

ZombieKitten said:

mcmeekle said:

mcmeekle said:

bloody fascists

Fauxie said:

There will always be people, in all walks of life, who try to impress with a snooty attitude. It's a mark of insecurity.

If I were you, I would launch into an impassioned rave about Disneyland.

Once I've been to NYC, I'm gonna have somewhere to go on and on and on about too

KoolEaze said:

I can totally relate to this.

I get asked how many times I've been to Thailand and I tell them I live here, which sometimes shuts them up. What cracks me up is the way they talk about these cheap places they've stayed with the basic amenities and talk about it as if it's the best thing in the world, but they could be describing our house. We'd much rather have a hot shower and a toilet with a flush, but it's all such a thrill to them.

ZombieKitten said:

New York rawks. When you goin'?

Fauxie said:

How did you end up in Thailand? Where are you from, originally?

Ace said:

I must confess, I probably find it more amusing than irritating these days, and that's most likely due to having a bit of a superiority complex about it myself.

I'm 27 years old and it'll be some 18-21 year old talking to me. I'm in Khao San Road, a living, breathing cartoon of a place, and it's exactly how touristy and trashy it is that's fun for me. I'm living the simple life to some extent every day here, so I just pop down there for a bit of nostalgia and a knowing chuckle behind my hands at it all. Maybe I see a bit of myself when I first came over in them. Now I appreciate it for what it is, as much as I appreciate the spectacular beauty spots and secluded well-kept secrets. It's the passion these backpackers show that I find amusing. They seem to care so much about it all, yet there they are, in the tourist mecca.

Ace said:

I went with a friend to NZ for a month and we decided to stop in Thailand on the way for 2 weeks. I loved it here and decided shortly after that I was coming back the next year. Kept in touch with a girl I'd met and over the space of a year it was clear it had turned into more than friendship. We hooked up the second time and after a few trips back and forth for a year or two I moved out here permanently.

I'm from England. Born in Brighton, but grew up in Cheltenham.

Fauxie said:

I never knew that you are actually LIVING in Khao San Road
. You probably know all those sliced pineapple and melon and pat thai vendors by their names now. Cool !
So you´´re originally from Brighton....Brighton is a very beautiful place, I loved it. ( Stayed there in 2003)

Not really, I enjoy travelling so it's always a good topic for conversation with open minded peeps that don't talk shit. I don't associate nor mix in backpacker circles, not my style.

KoolEaze said:

No, I don't live in Khao San Road. I meant 'here' as in Thailand, or more specifically Bangkok. When I said 'I'm in Khao San' I was just setting the scene and how it goes down. I did live there once upon a time though, if only briefly. I stayed with the wife where she worked, round behind the temple there. Great times, looking back. I couldn't live there or anywhere like Sukhumwit or Silom now and be really happy, I don't think. We're out in the suburbs to the far west, with an easy escape from the city.

I love Brighton. I only spent the first couple of years of my life there, but I've family still there so I visit whenever I'm back in the UK. I really like it too.

Yeah, I'm probably one of those people.

ZombieKitten said:

bloody kiwis?

cheers!
~svn seven

minneapolisgenius said:

I'd totally let you irk me though.

Do you travel alone? Is it because you're lonely? I've had people just come and attach themselves to me or my group at my table, just worming their way in. I wouldn't approach them since I'm an unfriendly, anti-social person. I'm loathe to even talk to the people at my table, so I'm not about to go looking for new friends. They just seem to want someone to talk to so they look over and find a way to start a conversation and eventually come and sit down. Then all the boasting commences and I have to try to care.

Fauxie said:

And what do you do in Thailand?

Fauxie said:

Wait, are you my husband? He's the exact same way. Actually, I'm usually traveling with him, but also alone. And when we travel, we never talk with other travelers because he's like I said, just like you! It bugs me because I love meeting people.

Anyway, if I'm talking about my "travels" it's usually with people who come right out and ask me about where I've been, where I just back from, etc. so I figure they actually want to hear about it. I love comparing travel stories with others though, so yeah, I'm probably one of those irritating people going on and on about how much better things used to be the last time I was there and how things are so much cheaper if you go about it this way or that, etc. Yeah, I've become Dutch.

Also, i can't type the word "travel" anymore because now it's lost its meaning from overuse after this post.

Ace said:

No wait, I'm supposed to say something evasive in a pseudo-mysterious manner.

.
[Edited 2/26/09 5:42am]

minneapolisgenius said:

I was exaggerating somewhat though, I must admit. I mean, I can turn it on if I have to and I find it's not even disingenuous interest in people. It's just that before I start talking to someone I don't know at all or very well I really have no inclination to start conversing with them. I'd be quite happy not talking with anyone, but when I do start talking I find it's alright too. I just find the boasting irksome. I suppose it's because I'm not traveling, I'm just living. Perhaps in a different setting, where I'm traveling too, I'd feel differently. I guess it's just all stuff I've heard before where I am so it gets tiresome.

Fauxie said:

I like meeting people while traveling mostly because after a month, I need to talk to someone else. It's either that or kill my husband, so I figure the former is a much better solution.

I get like that at parties though. Like, obligation b-day parties where people invite their whole family to and also their friends. I hate the small talk, chit-chat part of things where everyone who i haven't seen in years (and maybe only met once before) comes up to me asking how I've been, how I like it here, or when am I going back, am I still dancing, why don't I have kids yet?, etc. I know they're being polite, but I'm usually dying inside and just want to fade into the wallpaper.

PanthaGirl said:

I think it's funny that you started your traveling thread http://prince.org/msg/100/299108 hours after this one.

I aspire to be a boastful traveller one day, and rub it in everybody's face!