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 White woman discrimination in Nepal

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Posted on 10-25-13 8:04 AM     Reply [Subscribe]
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Being treated differently in Nepal & being refused from Hindu temples

I thought I would share some of the negative experiences I had as a foreigner while travelling throughout Nepal last year.

I feel sharing my experiences may help other foreigners to understand certain behaviours before they travel to Nepal.

Even though  it’s common for many tourists to be overcharged and ripped off whilst travelling through Asia, I must admit it was pretty ludicrous in Nepal.

It first started on one of my first shopping trips to a scarf shop in Thamel.

The price the man gave me for a handmade shawl was around $30 AUD. I left the shop and told Rabindra the price outside.

Two minutes later Rabindra went in and the salesman offered it to Rabindra for $6 AUD. So I figured this is how it was going to roll in Nepal…but that wasn’t so bad.

This was virtually repeated during most of my 6-week trip to Nepal. I don’t mind paying extra to support small shop owners -and let’s face it our dollar is worth much more than the Nepali dollar- but it riled me up when I would have to wait and hide around a corner and get Rabindra to do the shopping for the stuff I wanted to buy.

It was also pretty ridiculous having to hide in a nearby shop or street when Rabindra or his brother were negotiating our taxi fare rate across Kathmandu. It seemed every single time they saw me the price would magically increase so to get a fair price I would have to hide somewhere away from the taxi, it was pretty stupid!

Another thing that annoyed me was the fact that entry prices to museums, parks etc had two prices- a local price and a foreigner price (which was usually 500% more than the local price).

Because I was travelling with locals, it was a bit different than if I was travelling with other tourists. We could go and pay the entry fee and it would end in a big argument with the guards because Rabindra tried to argue I was a local- even with my red hair and fair skin obvious to everyone!

The arguing was not all about money. It was a matter of principle. In fact, it was about equality.

Rabindra would say: “mero budi nepali ho,” “wahaako nepali passport ho” roughly translated to “my wife is a nepali”, “she has a nepali passport.”

The guard would look at us and refuse and more arguing would ensue (even one time we got pulled into a special room – gasp-). Eventually they would let me in on the cheaper price, mostly because of Rabindra being so tall and towering over the top of them!

The common situation was us rocking up together with mummy, dad, rabindra, rabindra’s  bhai, didi, aunty and cousins all in tow and being told “that’s 50 rupees each – but hey—whose this foreigner? Let’s charge her 500 rupees!”

It’s pretty degrading to be singled out every single time and I got sick of preparing myself for another long argument of Rabindra v The Entry Guard at every new place we went.

It happened at the museum in Pokhara, the Mankanama Temple cable car, the elephant breeding park at Chitwan, the main entry of the Pashupatinath temple and a couple of other times.

But the next examples are even worse.

One day we went to Bhakatpur, and for those not familiar with Kathmandu- Bhakatpur is a public space in an outdoor area.

Yes, the area is heritage listed but it’s still a public place which has shops, temples and normal buildings around it.

To me, it was any normal, outdoor public place in Nepal. As we approached the entry in our vehicle, the guard saw everyone in our Jeep and thinking they were all Nepali, he started to wave us through without having to paying anything. But then he saw me in the back of the Jeep and asked the driver to stop.

He then told the driver it was free for all 7 Nepali people in our car but I would have to pay $30USD to enter a public place.

By this time, I’d really had enough. It was bad enough having to pay a different “foreigner” price at private companies but this was a public place and there was no cost for Nepalis.

For about 20 minutes my Nepali uncle (who is actually my friend’s father-in-law) argued with the guard about how discriminatory it was before I finally got let in at no charge.

He has travelled throughout Australia and other countries and said it was a disgrace that that happened to me.

But more discrimination was yet to come.

While I was in Nepal I rolled my ankle and had to get x-rays. Our friend went to a doctor’s practice in Pokhara and asked how much it was for an ankle x-ray to see if my foot was broken.

Our friend returned and told us the price and that he had booked an appointment for me in the afternoon.

When we went back that afternoon, the receptionist told me that an x-ray on my foot would be almost four times the price my friend was originally quoted.

Straight away we knew it was because they saw me and thought they would jack up the prices.

My friend had a boisterous argument with staff at the practice and roughly translated he said something like “She doesn’t have a f***** iron leg mate”!

Suffice to say it was a bit of a drama.

But actually my most negative experience that really made me upset was when I was refused from every Hindu temple I tried to enter.

It happened on three occasions- twice in Kathmandu and also in a very remote region of the Himalayas.

Before entering these temples, it never once crossed my mind or Rabindra’s mind, that I would not be allowed in.

When I went to enter the guard would tell us it was not their policy to allow foreigners (read: white people) inside temples.

I guess it’s because most of us ‘white’ people eat beef and cows are the Gods of Hindus. It may also be because many believe you are not a true Hindu unless you are born a Hindu, and you can’t convert to Hinduism.

It made me think about the many cross-cultural relationships in the world where one partner really respects and begins to follow their partner’s religion/culture. If you were serious about the religion and this happened to you, it could cause problems in your relationship.

It also made me think about the genuine ‘white’ Hindus who have converted to Hinduism and may practice the religion much stronger than other ‘brown-looking’ Nepalis.

What about if we have kids and they have white skin but they have been brought up as Hindu? I wonder what the guards would do then.

Anyway, the first time we went we didn’t want to make a scene so I just waited outside by myself while Rabindra and everyone else went inside. I wasn’t that affected by it.

The second time I could tell it really upset Rabindra. I was also sad and he only went inside for a minute or two before leaving and coming outside.

Rabindra confronted the guards on the second two times and made a very important point.

He said to the guards:  “look at my face. How do you know I am not a Nepali Christian or a Muslim. You can’t tell by the look of my face just like you can’t tell by the look of her face what she is. How do you know I don’t eat beef?”

I was really proud of Rabindra for sticking up for me and he made a really strong point to both guards.

Yes, they don’t accept foreigners but why? Is it because we eat beef? Or is it because we have white skin even though Hinduism may be all we’ve ever followed.

The policy of rejecting foreigners is extremely flawed in Nepal. While I can understand them not wanting non-believers in their temples, people who ‘eat’ their Gods, their policy is blatantly racist as you can’t tell by the look of someone if they are of one religious persuasion or another. For all they knew, Rabindra could have been a beef-eating Christian!

The funny thing is that as a result of all that rejection in Hindu temples, I was whole-heartily welcomed in every Buddhist temple. Rabindra now jokes he is a Buddhist not a Hindu as it is a much more accepting religion, and I have to agree.

So, there you go, I experienced plenty of discrimination whilst in Nepal.

I made some poignant points to Rabindra and my other Nepali friends which I hope is shared amongst other Nepalis in the world.

  • In Australia, Asians or other “foreigners” would never be singled out and expected to pay a separate, inflated price simply because of the colour of their skin. In Australia this would be called blatant racism.
  • Public places in Australia (except for events that are held in public places) do not have a guard at the front picking and choosing who looks “Australian” and who does not. I have never ever heard of someone letting in Aussies for free and charging a price for different looking “Asians” , once again a case of racism.
  • In Australia, whilst shopping in most stores, tourists will generally pay the exact same price as a local. No bargaining over here.
  • And lastly, even whilst I am certainly not a religious Catholic by any means, no Catholic church would ever refuse any man or woman from entering their church (unless they were dangerous, drunk, violent etc)- no matter whether their skin was black, white, blue or green.

No double standards in that regard.


 
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Posted on 10-25-13 4:42 PM     [Snapshot: 720]     Reply [Subscribe]
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Vhotee
You are using the words "uptight" and "insecure" too loosely, maybe they apply to you more?

I am not saying YES and NO at the same time, read what I wrote again. Point I am making is while she has raised some important issues, her bigger point bashes Nepal and that's unwarranted. Issues are everywhere, we aren't saying we don't have one. We accept that those are problems and we have to work towards resolving them; but don't paint the picture as if that's all we have to offer. If a foreigner (intended audience, mind you) reads this article what kind of image would they have about Nepal? You don't have to accept every charges thrown against you even if few of them are valid, that's not saying YES and NO at the both time.

You talk about tourist extortion, go visit Egypt or Delhi once and you will know what extortion is. I didn't say we are holier-than-thou but we aren't the bottom of the barrels that this post paints us to be. We have many things to improve but we still have tonnes of things to offer. Just because you are frustrated with Nepal and Nepali, don't go out venting your frustration agreeing everything anybody with 0 history about Nepal tells you.
 
Posted on 10-25-13 4:52 PM     [Snapshot: 731]     Reply [Subscribe]
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http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NtobzP-fTzA/UTYaIlOLQfI/AAAAAAAAAls/5Ng51wofI8w/s1600/2013-03-02+16.38.07.jpg
 
Posted on 10-25-13 5:12 PM     [Snapshot: 747]     Reply [Subscribe]
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 Cheap sss aussie biatch, definitely tourists should be charged xtra. They come from privilege country.
 
Posted on 10-25-13 5:42 PM     [Snapshot: 760]     Reply [Subscribe]
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Kiddo,

You're being too nationalist and not looking from her perspective. Just because she pointed out in a blog does not mean it happened to her only. How many of these tourists have faced bitter experience and not bothered to mentioned at all (not everybody writes a blog) in the past. Many, of course. Most Westerns just sympathize with the misery of our country and forgive the experience, at least it used to be like that. But now with the blogs, social media and instant news feedback, those days are numbered. We will hear more and more about what you might think a "small problem" from people visiting our country instantaneously. Wait till a "A" lister Hollywood celebrity tweet a negative experience about Nepal. His/her followers (millions) will voice their opinions and we will see more drama from our emotional fellow countrymen. Multiply that with news and media coverage, many of us will have heart attacks because of our low immunity to hear constructive criticisms. That day is coming soon my friend. If twitter can bring revolution in Egypt, it can also bring damaging consequences in other countries. So, be thankful this women is not Angelina Jolie. Now go bash Hollywood if that makes you happy.
 
Tourists have been raped, robbed and murdered in Nepal. Now go ahead and compare us with another country if that will make you happy. Regardless of your comparative satisfaction, we are a 'tourist' nations and we cannot let such things to happen. We have more things to loose than Syria in terms of tourism. "It happens in Egypt" is not an excuse, let alone an answer. They are having gang fight with the tourists at Mt. Everest, take that for a sign.
 
And seriously, why do we have the tendency to compare us with other country to make us feel better. Looking at a bigger pile of shit and becoming happy that we are a smaller shit does not make us a better nation. It is still a shit. Can't we rise up and become something else beside 'shit' like the others. For those who say her comparison with Australia is not fair, what do you expect her to compare with...Timbuktu? She's comparing hers and ours.
 
"tonnes of things to offer" re....like what? Buddha and Mt.Everest? Call me an idiot or unpatriotic SOB, but atleast I'm realistic and not emotional. 


 
Last edited: 25-Oct-13 08:16 PM

 
Posted on 10-25-13 6:16 PM     [Snapshot: 840]     Reply [Subscribe]
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 Mampakha guuuvotee
 
Posted on 10-25-13 8:21 PM     [Snapshot: 922]     Reply [Subscribe]
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I agree with R Shrestha, Western countries charge fees three times higher to international students than to their own citizens. Where is outrage? Its sad we still don't allow other religion to enter our temples while all churches have very welcoming environment. I volunteer in couple of local churches and I am not judged by religion. 
 
Posted on 10-25-13 9:07 PM     [Snapshot: 999]     Reply [Subscribe]
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I just looked at my college fee structure I found I was paying $300 international student charge per semester.I was also paying around $12,000 per semester which is 3 times higher than American.Oh wait they made new law in Texas that we have to renew our license every year .So American renew every 5 yr and pay $25 but we have to pay $25 every year so we paying 5 times higher than them.
 
Posted on 10-25-13 10:17 PM     [Snapshot: 1072]     Reply [Subscribe]
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This is a genuine issue and I agree with this Aussie Lady. We are more racist than Southener in US. When my friends (from US) visit nepal last year, i found myself in a very difficult situation. Besides unfair prices in each and every store, the most disgusting thing is the mentality of nepali people towards the white skin...... because of watching too much porn and thinking all the white people are porn star. 
 
Tourist places like trekking routes, thamel, lakeside in pokhara are not as bad as the rest of Nepal. If we want to generate revenue from these tourists, we have to treat them with respect and not try to screw every one of them.

Also, to all those friends, please think before defending these unjust acts just for the sake of an argument, because we might be the victim of our ignorance. 30 lakhs Nepalese live in foriegn countries, bad image can cause misery to us all. 
 
Now, I really think twice before calling someone to visit Nepal. 
 
Morale of the story: You need to be an honest businessmen not a horny fraudster. 
 
;) ;) ;)
Last edited: 25-Oct-13 10:26 PM
Last edited: 25-Oct-13 11:21 PM

 
Posted on 10-26-13 7:31 AM     [Snapshot: 1276]     Reply [Subscribe]
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कमाउने मौकामा कोहि पछि पर्दैन |
 अमेरिकामा ४ -५  जना भन्दा बढी रेस्तुरांटमा गए , टिप् राखेर बिल दिन्छ , हामि पनि एक्स्ट्रा २० प्रतिसत तिर्नेमा परेका थियौ, परेर चेतियो |  सोधे पछि सत्य कुरा बताउनु पर्ने हो त्यो टिप्स जोडेर राखेको छ त्यो अबस्य पनि रिप अप हो |
नेपालमा गोरो छालाकै के कुरा कस्तो लुगा लगाएको छ र बोलि कस्तो छ : दुइ कुरा ले पैसा कति कमाउने तय हुन्छ | मेरो श्रीमती कुर्ता सुरुवाल लगाएर सहर छिरेछ , पसलेले दिदि हरु पोखरा बात आउनु भाको हो भन्यो रे किन भन्दा एस्तो ड्रेस काथ्मादु मा लगाउन छोडेको बर्सौ भै सक्यो रे ?
बिक्रेता हरुको भित्रि चक्षुले कसलाई कति मूल्य भन्ने कुरा गाइड गरेको हुन्छ, बिक्रि गर्ने सामान को मूल्य त्यो हिरा किन्न जानेलाइ जस्तो हो | जसलाई जति चाहिएको छ तेही कुरा बुझी मूल्य भन्ने हुन् , जति कमाउन सक्यो तेती बेस |

 
Posted on 10-26-13 3:31 PM     [Snapshot: 1453]     Reply [Subscribe]
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The lady is completely wrong.
Nepal is not what she is claiming it to be.
Nepal is the best place in the world.
We don't need to change anything.

Vhotee, I think this is what you are reading off my post, so there's no point arguing further. If somebody is focused on hearing on only one point, what's the point of even discussing it? Yes, I am a patriot and I think she lied, happy?
 
Posted on 10-27-13 3:38 AM     [Snapshot: 1695]     Reply [Subscribe]
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Kiddo
The tone and your words have changed, but the underlying message is the same. Thanks.
I've provided plenty of logical explanations why this lady is right. Reading back all the things you've written, you barely made a case. Dude, I'm up for a healthy discussion as long as there is a logical and rational explanation to prove it. Why is this woman wrong? If she is not wrong, what is your explanation for your 'but' statement which obviously is your motive. I'm ready to face you with anything you got on this subject of discrimination and extortion of tourists in Nepal. Bring it on. Otherwise no need to continue this discussion. People have started to divert this discussion to tuition fees, soon Buddha and Mt. Everest will come up.
Anyway, thank you. May peace be with you.
 
Posted on 10-27-13 7:54 AM     [Snapshot: 1736]     Reply [Subscribe]
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I think if we were in her shoes we would complain too. Imagine being charged more at malls for being a foreigner in the US. Imagine having to ask american friends to buy for you since they get it cheaper? Imagine being not allowed to a popular event because of the color of your skin.

These are outright discrimination and the blogger has every right to express her dissatisfaction with the prevalent practices in Nepal. I have felt some people riding high horses in this thread by not accepting the truth for what it is. Without having to say it, there are always good things and bad things. Most good things we take for granted but when faced with bad things we exercise our right to complain just like she did, and that's the end of the story. The moral of the story is that Nepali practices are backward and discriminatory. What is the point in being defensive about a true fact?

People have brought up tuition fees fo International students, but are you talking about State university where out of state students pay more? If that is what you are referring to then, even out of state Americans have to pay more and not just international students. Having to renew license is probably for reasons of homeland security - in order to track foreigners, so that is something that can be justified. But the Nepali practices that lady brought up should not be justified.

 
Posted on 10-27-13 11:04 AM     [Snapshot: 1824]     Reply [Subscribe]
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I agree with the blogger about difference in prices to visit public monuments. And I also agree with her about having to pay to enter into places like Boudhanath, Bhaktapur and all other durbar squares. It just does not make any sense to me. You can go around Eiffel tower and Louvre for free. You only pay if you have to enter these sites. The jacking of taxi fare is a rip-off that even we Nepalese face in Nepal. So she is not alone in this. But I do not agree with her on prices of regular things one can find in a store. Nepal’s market does not work in “fixed price” manner like they do in developed countries. We have to negotiate and bargain for prices for almost everything. This happens in a lot of other countries more touristic than Nepal. So the only way to deal with this is having a lot of patience and confidence. You need to develop a bargaining skill. It is tiring and at the end of the day will drain all the energy off you but this the only way, if you want to get something at a reasonable price. Some of my European friends who have travelled a lot and are very good at bargaining have got better prices than me for the same article in Nepal. But I have seen many Americans and Australians not being as savvy as their European counterparts. May be it is the lack of history and culture.
Last edited: 27-Oct-13 11:04 AM

 
Posted on 10-29-13 10:14 AM     [Snapshot: 2367]     Reply [Subscribe]
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There are many things which are wrong with our society but unfortunately we need someone else to point it out. We already know it's bad but we do not acknowledge it. It is high time to do away with such restrictive blind rules and practices.


 
Posted on 02-08-14 6:01 AM     [Snapshot: 3194]     Reply [Subscribe]
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while talking about only this, means that lady didn't visit real nepal. we nevva descriminate between nepali n foreigner. we love to see them n always we welcome them in our country. she said she was looted by shpkeeper in thamel bt foh me shopkeeper jst doing there job n thats it. because sumtimes life shows different experiences n we have to accpt them. i dont wanna talk about my country religious, that's holy n always remain. u people always talk on this why we stop u to enter in our pasu pati nath mandir or other temple because we scared from cow's beef n we thought all foreigners eat cow's beef bt may be some are not. i'll not tlk on this more bt for us cow is holy animals, we worship cow n we call (devi) to cow. i hope u understand so dont judge it, it's right or wrong, u people are not a jesus christ to give ur judgement. n also who the hell u are to tlk about castism happns in our country, this is our country we are facing this problm, u are not n we settle it one day jst give us some time. this status shows only negativity of nepal n nothing else. you have to understand our thinking way n ur thinking way cannot be same. i knw for us u people are so modern n advance nd for u guys we re so low thinking people bt thats a apart of a life. i'll only say love nepal,visit nepal.
 
Posted on 02-08-14 7:24 AM     [Snapshot: 3241]     Reply [Subscribe]
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Discrimination is a fact of life. Even people against discrimination like pretty and beautiful girls so they discriminate against the ugly ones. So grow up.

 
Posted on 02-08-14 9:11 AM     [Snapshot: 3310]     Reply [Subscribe]
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This is no news.
 
Posted on 02-08-14 7:28 PM     [Snapshot: 3614]     Reply [Subscribe]
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First of all this 'Tourist' price being charged is a form of TAXATION by govt...foreigners subsidizing locals... Its everything from hospital, airfare, attractions.. its not meant to be discrimation but it seems like it only,
 
Posted on 02-09-14 12:03 AM     [Snapshot: 3709]     Reply [Subscribe]
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Vacation starts when you step on board and so the discrimination, be discriminated in economy class and be priviledged in business class, think what you choose to. 
Didn't read the whole damn thing, but scanning few lines led me to believe that some spoiled aussie brat was whining about the way she was being charged( I wouldn't even dare to say the word 'treated', ask those mexican-illegals what's the definition of 'being treated' is or ask even our own brothers n sisters working in middle east, they know the real meaning) for shopping. She shouldn't act like she's one of the natives and hope to get  the price at which natives buy.

Every one of us punching those keys on keyboards talking for this lady must know, when you were first enrolled in your universities abroad, you were charged based on your geographical status. If you are a resident, fees are different than if you were international. Should we call this discrimination? Tourist and local fares are everywhere. That's not a discrimination. She's one of a kind, who would buy handicraft for 20 rupees in third world and sells it at her first world for 200 dollars. Her expectation to be treated same as local and judging every aspect of life in foreign land and a thing she spewed is nothing but delusional and hilarious.

She must be a jew.(is it discriminatory? lol.. sorry definitely pun intended).






 
Posted on 02-09-14 1:33 AM     [Snapshot: 3743]     Reply [Subscribe]
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well said Bittertruth... and to that White priveleged girl i have 1 message for u.. if u are nepali.. why dont u carry your Nepali citizenship ID or passport.. if u show that u r nepali, surely they cannot charge u tourist price.
 



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