Time for Change: Should Begging Foreign Backpackers Take a Hike? (2.28)

You may have seen them on the streets of Bangkok, Singapore, or
Hanoi. Many play instruments, juggle, or sell postcards. Some
simply stand there with a hat and a sign asking for pity. We're
talking, of course, about the round-the-world adventurer looking
for a handout. Should these begging vagabonds take a hike, or do
they deserve some leeway to, er, find their way? We also talk about
staying dry (or attempting to) during Songkran, and Greg's foot
fetish (in that he'd really like to be able to find shoes to
fit his giant feet).

The story has been tearing up the newspapers and internets lately
- the foreign backpacker. Usually white, European/North American,
usually with scraggly bears, matted hair, and doing their best to
trade a skill for a bit o' spare change, their presence inspires
anger and pity in equal amounts. But they are nothing new.
Indeed, as far back as 10 years ago, Greg remembers
seeing the first 'famous' farang backpacker as he sat there
with a sign begging for help to buy his plane ticket back home,
as group after group of university students passed by and dropped
some hard-earned cash in his hat. "That's nice," thought
Greg. But then Greg saw the same guy in a different part of
the city. Then another. Then another. Then it dawned on Greg -
this guy was a scammer. But now farang beggars are much more
common. Many offer legitimate - if not entertaining - services,
such as selling handmade wares, playing an instrument, or doing
some tricks. But should they even be doing it? In a region as
poor as Southeast Asia - where real poverty is
an every day issue for far too many - is it really
proper for able-bodied, western-educated foreigners, likely
with a healthy support network back home, to be begging for
scraps to fund their adventures? Greg and Evo argue the pros and
cons, and come up with more cons than pros.
Love, Loathe or Leave

We think it's safe to say that Bangkok's street food scene
would not be as creative (and delicious) as it is without the,
er, less-than-stringent food safety ecosystem that many of us
westerns are used to. We posit that a food safety inspector from,
say, Canada or the US, would have a stroke if he saw how food is
prepared here, but should he maybe loosen up a bit? Greg and Evo
discuss the safety (and sickness) of street food, and
if the lack of regulation is something that helps or hinders
eating out.
Want More?

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time on The Bangkok Podcast!


(Direct download .mp3)