The title again says it all but misses the point about why. In Jamaica the tourist is KING. It doesn't matter what else may be going on here, violence, drug dealing (more on that later) or theft - that's for the locals - not tourists!!! I write this from the Jamaican point of view - tourists are simply too valuable to the Jamaican economy.
Being a king or queen in another country may sound grand, but of course it has it's drawbacks too. As a tourist you are fair game for EVERY vendor of EVERY product (remember that mention of drugs?) Step out of the cossetted surrounds of your resort and you are soon assailed by the local populace who assume you have infinite sums of cash to pay them for their goods.
Case point
Part 1.
Jill and I visited Ocho Riso a town where cruise ships frequent (frequent as in a few times a week frequent). We were driven into 2 separate shopping malls where the security guard raises a metal barrier to allow vehicles in and out. Once in there I had the distinct feeling of being "food" rather than a shopper. Hungry shop owners watch you closely and ignore all statements of, "Just looking" as though they were never spoken. Every shop has specials and great deals which are the best in Jamaica...mon. You may NOT look unmolested at anything in the shop. I missed my opportunity to grab a duty free bargain watch for a mere $3000US rather than the usual $6000US. That's shopping in the tourist malls.
Part 2
By the second tourist mall, we decided to walk across the street to the local markets and see what was on offer there. By the time we had crossed the street I had 2 offers of drugs and a taxi ride. Jill sailed on unaccosted. Entering the market meant entering a cacophony of offers and entreaties to look inside their tent. With over a hundred such tents, it meant a lot of offers and most were made at the same time in competition with their neighbours. Eye contact with anybody was a definite no-no. You look at a vendor in Jamaica and the deal is halfway complete according to them. I felt wrung out and unsettled by the time I had walked for 5 minutes around the markets.
Part 3
Taxi drivers in Ocho Riso must be the 2nd largest industry behind street vendors if the number of them is anyhting to go by. The are also imbued with the Jamaican persuasive techniques. Taxi driver,"Yo mon! I will give you a ride." "No thanks, answers the tourist." "Yes mon, I have a ride for you (said louder and more forcefully) where do you want to go?" "Nowhere." Come with me mon, I will take you, my taxi is just over here, come on mon let's go there now." NO WE DON'T WANT A RIDE THANK YOU," is the exasperated response at which point the taxi driver takes a different tact and offers unasked for advice in the hope of a tip.
We also discovered the 106 Jamaican uses for a car horn while walking along the road of Ocho Riso;
1. toot-toot - want a ride? (taxis)
2. toot-toot - hello
3. toot-toot - goodbye
4. toot-toot - you're in my way
5. toot-toot - you're NOT in my way but I thought I would toot anyhow
6. toot-toot - hey look everyone my car has a horn too!
Plus at least another hundred reasons for using your car horn at every available opportunity. Uisng your horn every 3 seconds is probably a driving test requirement.
In Jamaica they are meant to drive on the left side of the road just like Australia. The key word is MEANT. With a population of 3 million and over 300 road deaths each YEAR - I'm sure you can joing the dots.
In closing
Remember I mentioned the drug dealers as we crossed the road - they weren't the only ones, By the end of our 500 metere walk each way down the street I (not Jill ever) had been offered nearly a dozen deals - always the best and always "Just what you need mon!"
Do I Look that stressed!?
You be the judge.
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