Oh those crafty Burmese children! They have to be the savviest sellers this side of the South China Sea. I am definitely going to miss their antics, pestering, and good-natured humor once I return home from my travels. I don’t think I’ve seen more clever salesmen (and saleswomen) in all of my adventures. These two girls and one boy spotted us approaching the ferry dock in our small truck turned taxi, and as soon as the vehicle slumbered to a stop and the engine ceased these three geniuses were giving us pitches as slyly as drunk bachelors handing out pickup lines to a supermodel at a bar.
First tactic: “What’s your name?”. Then they memorized our name, saying it over and over again with each sentence so they could file our name and face in the back of their mind. Next tactic: “Where are you from?”. Finally, the pitch: “Would you like to buy something? Very cheap. I give you good price. Very cheap for you. Why won’t you buy from me? Here, look. Pretty necklace. See, elephant jade necklace. Good for you. I give you cheap price. You want one? You want two? You have a girlfriend? One for your girlfriend? How about your mother? One for your mother?”.
How can you say no to these charming faces? My traveling friend Jessica and I held firm to the ferry boat. We crumbled a bit though and said, “Maybe when we come back we will buy something. But only if you remember us.” Too easy for these professionals. The picture above was taken as we were leaving the dock on our ferry and shows a clearly flustered Jessica. I mean, look at her, she has her purse out already and her grin says it all. They have her, hook, line, and sinker. The kids were still all over us as the boat pulled from shore, saying “We will remember you! Jessica and Brian! We won’t forget. You come buy from us when you get back, OK?”. It was pretty irresistible. As the boat made its way across the river, Jess and I looked at each other, grinning. “Are you going to buy something? I think I’m going to buy at least one elephant jade necklace.” Yep, they had us. But how could you say no to such persistent and adorable salespeople?
After a fantastic afternoon riding a horse cart around Inwa, perusing temples and teak monasteries, we boarded the boat for our journey back across the river. Halfway across and the kids noticed the motion of the boat on the river. They proceeded to take up position exactly as we had last seen them, right at the edge of the dock. We were pretty much attacked as soon as we got within shouting distance. We succumbed like the defeated consumers we were. I ended up buying two jade elephant necklaces and Jess parted with (I think) at least three necklaces. The hardest part? Once we decided to buy something a few more kids came out of the woodwork and asked us to buy something for them. “Why not? One more for your sister? Your brother? Your girlfriend? I give you cheap price. Why you no want to buy from me?” At about $1 US dollar a necklace, it was hard to be firm and say no. Of course, we were no match for these professionals. They saw a myriad of tourists everyday. It was their clever tactics that won the day – memorizing names and faces and relentlessly hounding you to buy a cheap souvenir. It was like stealing candy from a baby. Except in this case we were the baby.