I visited Bondi Beach and the Sydney Opera House today (which will be chronicled later). I came across something amusing and something hella tacky involving mainland Chinese tourists. They're very easy to spot because of the behaviour.
First the amusing part. Remember the picture of Richard Nixon walking on the beach in a suit? Despite what you may think of the man, business wear does not go well with sand and surf. I mean, if you're going to the beach, dress the part! And don't pull off the macho man thing unless you've got a surfboard to stand with!
Of course if this macho man (in leather dress shoes) stood next to a board, it would look silly...
The tacky thing I saw was in the gift shop of the Sydney Opera House. Two mainland tourists (I could tell because of the putonghua they spoke) were taking pictures of postcards. Literally. Holding up the postcards and taking pictures of them with their digicams.
COME ON! If you've got the renminbi to travel to Oz from the PRC, buy the damn thing! It makes you look tacky and by appearance, makes the rest of us (who are Asian) look tacky (even though we aren't)!!!
Grrrr....
On the other hand, while I was picking out some postcards to purchase (not take pictures of) there was a gaggle of Japanese schoolkids. Guys and gals. We had to squeeze by each other because the aisles were small. By force of habit, a quick "sumemasen" came out at the same time an "excuse me" came out of her mouth, followed by a LOT of giggling.
Either they weren't expecting Japanese to be spoken or my accent is really THAT bad! It's probably both, with my command of that language..
Jesus, that postcard thingy by the PRC really makes the rest of us Asians look bad!