Idle banter forum

Do blondes get more attention?

aepowers

newbie
Posts: 1

I'm planning a trip throughout the whole of southeast Asia this fall. My question may sound silly, but I am legitimately concerned about this. I am a very tall woman (almost 6') with VERY light blond hair. I receive a lot of attention at home in the USA...I'm wondering if I should expect to receive any extra attention (good or bad) due to my appearance. Has anyone with a similar look gone backpacking and had any issues? Should I consider covering my hair, wearing hats, etc., so I don't stick out like a sore thumb? Or are the Asians pretty used to us westerners by now and they won't think twice about a tall blonde wandering around?

#1 Posted: 11/5/2009 - 22:51
brucemoon

mahout
Posts: 1941
Located in:

aepowers

I suggest the fact that you are tall and American will stand out more than hair colour.

Being tall will mean that you will easily be seen by touts looking for business. Being American will mean that as soon as you open your mouth the touts will expect you to have plenty of money to pay high prices.

That said, most places you go to will have seen so many varieties of westerners that nothing will surprise them.

As always, respect for their culture (eg. long sleeved garments in temples, etc.) is the primary issue.

Cheers

#2 Posted: 20/5/2009 - 15:06

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An Australian Veteran globetrotting...
Joshq

backpacker
Posts: 16

aepowers

I have the same problem when I travel anywhere. I too am really really extremely goodlooking. The good thing about it in a foreign destination is that people pay me to eat in their restaurants and drink in their bars. I sympathise with you on this matter and can assure you that being really really extremely good looking will not be a problem when you travel.

The only people you'll have to watch is the other foreigners in the bars..

Enjoy your trip!! :)

#3 Posted: 20/5/2009 - 20:09
brucemoon

mahout
Posts: 1941
Located in:

Josh

What's going to happen when age sets in?

tic,tic,tic....

#4 Posted: 21/5/2009 - 05:09

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An Australian Veteran globetrotting...
idreamofdur-
ian

som tam seller
Posts: 561
Located in:

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Hey aepowers,

Well, of course everyone is going to stare at you, but that's about it. It's very unlikely anyone will say anything (to you, in English).

Enjoy the trip and your temporary celebrity!

// blond, green eyed, and speaks enough Thai to know when people are saying she looks like a ghost :o

#5 Posted: 22/5/2009 - 03:06

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MADMAC

mahout
Posts: 3999

Songkran - watch it during Songkran. I have a German friend of mine, very tall, very blond, very busty... and she was all but assaulted. We had to move her to the middle of the pick up and surround her, every Thai man was dying to touch her breasts or kiss her... And this was in provincial Thailand.

I have another blond friend (not tall, and not particularly attractive) and she LOVES it here (comes to visit all the time). She picks up a different Thai man every vacation. She really enjoys the attention that she does not get at home.

So you should expect a lot of attention and drunk Thai men (of whom there are a great many at night) will certainly be amorous, but usually fun and OK about it.

As for other tourists, I can't say. We don't get hardly any out here.

#6 Posted: 10/6/2009 - 01:53

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Victory in Pattani
tropixblue

newbie
Posts: 4

Your height & hair may draw some stares but what you wear and how you carry yourself will usually determine what kind of attention you get & this probably applies to most women anywhere: Intimidating (cap & dungaree), sexy (low cut, slinky, bare back or mini skirt) sloppy (baggy faded t-shirt & jeans), ordinary (button up blouse & loose pants) or casually elegant (the way you probably usually look). I would say be natural & exercise common dress sense. You wouldn't want to ruin your holiday being paranoid about your physical stature.

#7 Posted: 14/12/2011 - 00:14
tezza

under-employed
Posts: 904

I'm not blonde and I gotta fight little old ladies off with a baseball bat.

#8 Posted: 19/12/2011 - 03:49

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truecompani-
on

longtail driver
Posts: 5
Located in:
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God has given diff. look and features to all human being and so there is always attraction between two opposites. You are bound to get bit more attention due to your ht. as you will stand out in the crowd. Take it easy and be street smart to enjoy your trip abroad.

#9 Posted: 31/1/2012 - 10:16
altmtl

adventurer
Posts: 460
Located in:

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As a white/semi blonde male with a certain particular feature, I get starred at a lot, and get far more attention then I'm looking for from locals, thankfully I don't understand a word they're saying...

#10 Posted: 31/1/2012 - 22:04

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MADMAC

mahout
Posts: 3999

altmtl
The things my neighbors ask me - it's like a locker room full of guys asking you about the girl you went out with the night before. It never ceases to amaze me.

#11 Posted: 1/2/2012 - 05:18

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Victory in Pattani
neosho

adventurer
Posts: 307

Same here Madmac They can get fairly personal on some of their questions. I've had people want to touch my beard or arm hair at times. While I was in China , I had a guy kind of get in step with me and was just comparing height and stuff.

#12 Posted: 1/2/2012 - 18:53
MADMAC

mahout
Posts: 3999

One of my neighbors is a Vietnamese lady. Very gregarious, early 50s, good business woman. She will say things like "Did you boom boom (my wife) last night" and make a hip thrusting motion and cackle insanely. Another friend of my wife's will come over and start patting my ass and tell my wife "I like his ass" - like I'm a dog or horse being checked out for physical qualities. And these are normal, middle class Thai ladies - not ex bar girls or something. It's just unbelievable. But it is funny too.

#13 Posted: 1/2/2012 - 21:46

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Victory in Pattani
MADMAC

mahout
Posts: 3999

When my wife and I got married in the village, her mother actually asked her "Is it true Falangs have big dicks and are better in bed than Thai guys?" It reaches the point of being so over the top that it's bizarre. Definitely a different culture.

#14 Posted: 1/2/2012 - 21:56

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Victory in Pattani