What is Wrong with Tourists?

[jonesfam]

I started living in the Gulf (Karumba) in 1988, back then what paved road there was, was skinny, rough & bridges were a novelty.
Also back then you waved to everyone, not a full on wave but at least raise a few finger off the wheel as a "How you travelling?" type of thing & everyone responded.
These days we have mainly paved roads, thousands of tourists/caravaners & I still wave to them all.
But do I get a wave or even recognition back?
Probably only about 15%. And I think half of them are locals.
Are these people that self centred? I thought they did this sort of stuff to enjoy themselves, have fun, experience something different, have a look about.
It annoys me!
I even gave a big wave to a D4 with van in Georgetown the other day, the bloke was looking straight at me but not a sign of recognition came from him, very strange.
It's like some of the Vaners that stop at the Roadhouse, say "Gooday" & it's like you are going to bite them & you should see some of the reactions if my Indigenous staff are friendly or try to have a joke, they seem amazed we even speak English (with a heavy accent mind).
It amuses me when a couple of Doomadgee families are sitting out the front & a van pulls up, they sit in the car for a bit deciding if it's safe, then just the bloke will get out & walk over. You can tell he is trying to sort of not look at anyone & just doesn't know if he should even acknowledge those around him.
I should make it clear this is not all Vaners or tourist but it is a good number.
Some are really nice, friendly, take an interest & are interesting, others, not so much.
The other thing that has changed is if you stop to see if someone on the side of the road is OK.
This was normal practice & I still do it. If someone is stopped on the side of the road & obviously not pulled up for a break or cuppa then I check they are OK either by radio or stopping to ask. Some people react like I just came from Wolf Creek! Most are good & say fine thanks but others seem to be waiting for the AXE to come out.
Me, if I have a problem, I'd like you to stop. You may not be any help but the offer is help in it's own way.
I have lived in small communities for years where even if you did not know everyone personally & were on nodding terms & they know your kids. It seems people from the city are different, I find that sad.
So, if you are going bush, doing the big trip, becoming the Grey Nomad please pay attention to what is around you, you just might learn something.
BTW The local name for this group of people is Tourons! It's easy to work out.
Now I have completed my rant inspired by a different thread.
Jonesfam

[p38arover]

They have watched too many American movies where newcomers to town are treated with suspicion and are likely to be killed or gaoled.

[weeds]

Well I don't wave when touring.....but generally slow down and put my thumb up to see if they are OK when somebody is stopped on the side of the road....I encourage the kids to get the footy when we stop, esp if there are indigenous kids about as they are most likely to join in, I say g'day to who ever is sitting out the front of a roadhouse but steer clear of anybody propped under a tree drinking alcohol.

Other than that we are trying to escape to do our own thing.........

[85 county]

They have watched too many American movies where newcomers to town are treated with suspicion and are likely to be killed or gaoled.

but we do not have many gray nomads nicking of on dirt bikes into the hills

[p38arover]

but we do not have many gray nomads nicking of on dirt bikes into the hills

That's 'cos we don't have many hills! :p

[Cobber]

Feel better? :D

My question isn't what's wrong with tourists, it's where have people's manners gone? It's not that hard to say 'hello'. I always thought it was the polite thing to do :)

Seriously I do know what you're on about, it's changed here too. As for the stopping to help thing, I always stop and at least ask if they're ok or if I can help because I'd like to think if that were me stopped/broken down that somebody would do the same for me. :)

The waving thing used to bother me but I've stopped caring now if they don't wave back. Some might not see you, others may just be obnoxious but I suspect the main reason people don't wave back is because they are completely oblivious to what's going on around them :mad: ever tried to overtake ma and pa doing 70 on the highway with their van? Or travellers in a wicked camper type thing? Sometimes no matter how much warning you give some nearly run off the road in surprise when you overtake! Try doing it in a truck, that's another experience again! :eek:

Right, I feel better now! :D

[V8Ian]

We left home Tuesday last with van in tow and I reckon I get at least 85% success with wave backs. We've stopped three or four times for people broken down, no help required and given one fellow a lift into Alice so he could organize recovery for his three wheeled trailer.
My biggest gripe is people who don't slow down when passing on dirt roads. :mad: We stayed at the Gem Tree last night and from there to the highway is single lane bitumen. When driving road trains I expect the black, but in a car I'll give oncoming traffic a kilometre warning and get off; even calling them on the UHF telling them to stay on the road. Most still fly past me at 100 kph with two wheels in the dirt spraying rocks everywhere, even though I'm stationary. :mad::mad::mad:
I say g'day to everyone and find 99% reciprocate pleasantly.

[jerryd]

G'day Ian.........hope the trips going well, here's a few waves for you ;)

[olbod]

I wave, I offer to help, I dont go ouy of my way to be rude, I just go on my way.
To be fair to some of those inexperienced travellers when approaching Indigeous folk at times.
Mostly city folk can be very wary.
In certain towns particularly outback NSW the black youth are very aggresive and can vandalise and intimidate travellers.
City people cant handle that and these sort of experiences are noted, passed on and shared on the net.
Its a shame because it is not the way it should be and those black youths are letting their side down.
Some white honkeys are no better with their attitude to the indigenous
people, these are the ones that I target and show my contempt to.

[2stroke]

Back in 1990 I remember stopping for 2 middle aged aboriginal fellas broken down in a HK wagon at the T section on the Yulara - Uluru road that goes to the Olgas. Gave them a jump start and diagnosed a dead regulator for them. Even back then the road was by no means quiet, vehicles driving past every minute (windows up, looking the other way). So I asked them how long they'd been there and he just shrugged his shoulders and said "all day". Must have been at least 3.30 pm.

[bob10]

Just spent a couple of days in the bush, no tv, or radio, to get away from the news for a while. Decided to take the Manumbar to Kilcoy road, 88 k's of gravel, as opposed to the Burnett hwy, Nanago etc, to Kilcoy. Passed a brand new Jeep, on a side road, with the bonnet up. Turned back, asked the Lady if all was ok, got the " we are just pumping up tyres" reply. [ I knew that , just wanted be a good neighbour. :angel: ] Bob

[PhilipA]

After now spending a second full week in Kununurra in five years , stuck awaiting parts both times, I can understand somewhat some of the fears of grey nomads of locals.
There is a sign on the door of the Coles arcade.
No drinking
no hanging about doorway
no humbug
no drunkeness.
I was telling of my stay to a friend who had done the Kimberley on an APT tour. They walked from their motel to the pub and wanted to buy a slab.

The bottle shop bloke would not sell them one unless they came in a car as he reckoned they would be knocked over for the grog before they got back to the motel.LOL They were also closely followed when walking up the street .
Alice is similar and last time I was there about 4 years ago, I noted a paddy wagon, then 2 police horses , then all the security staff from coles come out into the car park just on 2Pm when the liquorland opens. I said to the security guard( who was the same Coles bloke in Sampson and Delilah movie ) why :didn't he trust the tourists?
He replied that they were there to ensure cars were not broken into for grog, and advised us to do all our other shopping before buying grog or it would be gone when we came back.
So there is quite a strong basis for the fear of some grey nomads and unfortunately all locals get blamed.



Funny I have never had any trouble anywhere as I usually go over and say G'day mate how are you and that tends to either start a conversation or just raise a g'day back.

I remember a woman in Katherine almost fell over with I assume fright when I went up and asked her directions as my conclusion was that it was very rare for this to happen.

But I must admit I sometimes get nervous in some situations eg walking through a park in Katherine on dusk where there are several male "circles" with a dozen occupants who are really drunk. But so far so good.

Regards Philip A

[2stroke]

If it was a bunch of drunks fighting I'd have kept driving, whatever colour they were. And Alice after dark...

[bob10]

Keep out of the long grass in Darwin, you may meet the long grass people. Back in the 80's, they had spears, & nullas. & lots of grog. Not a good combination. Bob

[V8Ian]

This morning I was at Ayres Rock before sunrise. I have never seen so many rude people in one place and they were all Asian. I stand aside when people are taking photos and offer to take photos of couples, with the attraction in the background, with their cameras so they can have a picture of both of them.
The bus loads of Asians who arrived after us, pushed and shoved to the front and knocked me while I was taking pictures. They also totally lack consideration, walking in between your camera and the object you're trying to capture.

My hit rate with returned waves dropped to about 20% between The Rock and the Highway, but if I discount the Thrifty Camrys and Corollas it would be about 70%.

[BMKal]

This morning I was at Ayres Rock before sunrise. I have never seen so many rude people in one place and they were all Asian. I stand aside when people are taking photos and offer to take photos of couples, with the attraction in the background, with their cameras so they can have a picture of both of them.
The bus loads of Asians who arrived after us, pushed and shoved to the front and knocked me while I was taking pictures. They also totally lack consideration, walking in between your camera and the object you're trying to capture.

My hit rate with returned waves dropped to about 20% between The Rock and the Highway, but if I discount the Thrifty Camrys and Corollas it would be about 70%.

Found exactly the same thing on the Great Ocean Road a little while back Ian, when a busload of Japanese tourists arrived. Their "tour guide" (possibly the only one in the group who spoke any English) told me that I could not walk out onto one of the boardwalks as his group was going to be taking photos out there.

He got a rude shock, didn't he. Was very bloody lucky not to have been thrown over the side of the boardwalk. ;)

[Bigbjorn]

I hadn't stopped in Katherine since about 1985. I have rellies with a property out of town some 40 k's. One died in 2007 and I went to the funeral. I asked the widower which pub were we all going to for the wake. He was horrified and informed me not to go in a Katherine pub as whites don't drink in the pubs, too dangerous. We were going to the golf club.

[460cixy]

This morning I was at Ayres Rock before sunrise. I have never seen so many rude people in one place and they were all Asian. I stand aside when people are taking photos and offer to take photos of couples, with the attraction in the background, with their cameras so they can have a picture of both of them.
The bus loads of Asians who arrived after us, pushed and shoved to the front and knocked me while I was taking pictures. They also totally lack consideration, walking in between your camera and the object you're trying to capture.

My hit rate with returned waves dropped to about 20% between The Rock and the Highway, but if I discount the Thrifty Camrys and Corollas it would be about 70%.


There the same reason I don't go to the australian war memorial used to go once a year but it just got too much rude disrespectful people

[bob10]

There the same reason I don't go to the australian war memorial used to go once a year but it just got too much rude disrespectful people


That is disappointing. Haven't been there for about 20 years, and really looking forward to visiting again. Rude, disrespectful people seem to be the norm nowadays, Bob