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This scam again involves being told that something is closed when it
is not, with a view to redirecting the hapless tourist to something
more profitable for the scammer.
This scam started (20 August
2007) before we even crossed the intersection to the Grand Place
corner. Scammer No. 1 told use falsely where the main entrance was and
then "helped" us across the road (it was the giant wooden door at the
very corner of the enclosure - see the photo). The scammers No. 2 &
3 were wearing yellow tops and were wearing official-looking ID badges.
Once
across the road these two told us that the Grand Palace was closed for
two hours (it was after 1pm) because "the monks were praying". Trying
to remember everything that we had read about not believing anybody who
says something is "closed" we resisted their overtures even though
superficially it seemed somewhat reasonable, but strange nonetheless.
In
any case we could see people streaming further up the road to what was
obviously a main entrance and once we got there it was clear that
nothing was closed at all (whether or not the monks were praying). We
noted that the actual closure time was 3.30pm and so if we had listened
to the scammers, we would have returned to find that the Palace was
indeed closed.
So a Golden Rule of Bangkok scamming was again confirmed - Don't believe anyone who tells you that something is closed it's almost a certainty that it is not - you have to find out for yourself.
One
other little tip not actually a scam, but occurring at the same site.
"Don't buy an item from the first person who offers it to you". It
almost certainly will be available further up the road, and the first
price will 'always' be higher. You can always go back and buy if that
is not the case. In this case it was hand-made parasols - initial price
was 400Baht, further up the road a stack of them for 100Baht (and
barter anyway at that price).
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