about the number

I wonder how much does number do to your brain, the reason I said this is because of the currency translation sometime dazzle me. It has been 4 days and I still have to pause for a few second to figure how much everything really is.

For example, yesterday we had a big lunch with crab meat fried rice, vegetable, a whole steamed fish with lime and chili jam, shrimp spring roll and a big bottle of ice cold beer. All of the above costs $1,050 baht (thai currency) at a top notch local thai restaurant next to Sofitel Hotel (expensive), and of course Vic is complaining the restaurant is ripping us off. Well I paused for about 5 seconds then realized it's only US$32! And we had the WHOLE fish, steamed fresh for us! In Hong Kong this lunch would be HK$ 500 = US$ 65

As far as shopping is concerned, I always know buying local product is always cheaper than buying something that they have to bring in from somewhere. But crunching the number is still a daunting task sometime especially coming down to night-market shopping on the street, where price is not mark on the product. How much does a product cost solely based on how well you dress on that day / what kind of shoes are you wearing.

Luckily I speak some thai in numbers, and I pretend I am thai by throwing the hawker a very short opening statement in thai: "Hey, how much is this one?"

they would then say a number, $350

my routine is then throw them back a number 50% less and go from there, I usually smile and tell them they are more expensive than the other stand over there, the closing ceremony would be a sentence means "this is my last offer $250." Then they either agree or dis-agree, that decision depends on how well they are doing business on that night, are they eager to make a sale or how busy the market is at that particular moment.

I personally think not many people have the patient to do this, it becomes a lot of work if you are buying a lot of things. The other night I asked a lot but only bought 3 scarf made with Thai silk. I wasn't totally in the shopping mode on that night, it was my second night after arrival and my battery was on low, did not have the energy for further negotiation, better go again tomorrow!