I went to a big sale at a bookstore on Copenhagen’s walking street last Sunday. Quite disappointed because there were too many cooking books and diet-how-to books were on sale. Who would need those books? Not I. I never follow any recipe when I cook and I’ve been diet all of my life and I know that reading any how-to diet book won’t help if I don’t move my fat butt to the gym. Anyway, I’ve bought “What next? Surviving the twenty-first century” by Chris Patten back home. Hopefully the book can help me survive the century.

I didn’t bring my car on that day because taking a train was cheaper all I had to do was taking a thermo-can with coffee in it with me and yes, I had to buy a train ticket.

While I was standing in front of the ticket machine and searching for some coins in my oversized bag, a 20 something years old foreigner man was standing next to me and he approached me with English “Excuse me, I’m lost and I have no money. Can you give me some money?” and he opened his hands the same way as many beggars would do.

I looked at him from top to toe and politely said to him “Sorry, No I can’t give you any money” Then I turned back to the ticket machine and minded my business. Before I knew, the man grasped my arm and said “come on, give me some money”

What the hell was that? So I thought. Was that the new method of begging for money!!!?

“NO!” I said and followed with “Don’t you touch me”. Now I faced him and prepared my bag, just in case if anything went wrong I’m gonna hit him with that oversized bag of mine.

He looked at me and said “Why can’t I touch you? You hooker!!!”

Good lordly me, I have been called a ***** but never a hooker. You young man, this wasn’t your lucky day. I thought!!! But before I do anything else the guy ran away.

What next?, indeed.   

What a lowlife ...

I never understood why some of them have to touch people. I won't do it in other countries (I try anyway), but anytime a stranger touches me in that type circumstance in my country, they wake up some time later.

And I don't even carry an over sized bag

it happened to me many times here P'Nicky.....they came to me like normal people on the street, but most of them did the same thing, stopped me and asked if i could give them some money....they broke and needed some money to buy a bus ticket or petrol for their motorcycle to go home...and I used to give them money cos Im afraid they wouldl hurt me, but not much. So, what next (will happen)?

Have a good Tuesday kha.

Not just beggars . . . a well-dressed Thai man tried to pilfer the zippered compartment of my camera bag while I was coming up the escalator at the Klong Toey subway station last Saturday. When I turned to confront him, he got angry and said "just bump," but he ran like hell when he saw that I didn't believe him. It happens everywhere.

Scary, safer in Thailand I think.

Seems like there's a small percentage of border line "crazies" walking around, disoriented with the fast pace of change, they have lost their moral values. These people need professional help, but society is not willing pay for it. You might consider carrying a can maze spray with you. Wish I had a better solution.

Being a Thai, you must be shocked at this kind behavior, the overwhelming majority of Thais treat each other with politeness and respect and would never touch you in negative way.

Bruce:

"Seems like there's a small percentage of border line "crazies" walking around, disoriented with the fast pace of change, they have lost their moral values. These people need professional help, but society is not willing pay for it. You might consider carrying a can maze spray with you. Wish I had a better solution."

Here in the UK we have a shorthand term for that sort, we call them "politicians" :-)

But seriously Nicky, nobody has the right to manhandle people like that - in my eyes you would have been entirely justufued in swinging your handbag round his ear.

yikes. that's freaky.

sorry to hear....I'm sure u must be abit upset to be called like that...

I lived in Morocco for about 2 years and as much as I loved it I never got used to the touching. The first few times people grabbed my arms to talk or whatever I snapped and twice I hit the guy cause I told him let go and he wouldnt. One time they beat me up and another time I won but I learned to tolerate it but never to be comfortable around it.

you must have looked pretty, Nicky. lots of hookers are pretty. whores are not pretty and neither are tramps.

Something similar happened to me in Chicago, but the beggar was a young female. When I didn't give her money, she called me a disgusting old pervert.... Then she ran away....

It makes me wonder... How did she know?

Note to self: My next project is to learn how to kick boxing and I'm gonna kick every stranger who touched me.

Note to Pjack : Too damn funny you said that. The hub said the same.

Note to condotown : You must have looked rich. lots of disgusting old perver are rich. Old pervers are not rich.

Note to soda : No, I wasn't upset to be called hooker. More upset about touching bit. I never like stranger.

Note to laragirl : yes, it was.

Note to Peter : That is what I will do if I fail with the kick boxing project.

Note to Bruce : A can maze spray is illegal here, Bruce as so a small pocket knife. In fact, Danish government take care of those people, if they live in DK legally. They could get salary for just live here and do nothing.

Note to Rob : Yes, I agree. It happens everywhere but hopefully it will never happen to you (and me) again. Do you know how to kick boxing?

Note to Sneaky : Don' you feel like that wasn't begging for money. It's more like beat the money out of us. Stay safe, na kha.

Note to Bobby : I don't think the guy dare to touch any man. For some reason I believe he did that because I'm a woman. Wanted to hit him with the bag badly Bobby but he ran too fast.

Note to Lasse : Yes. I must watch my back when I standing in front of a ticket machine in Copenhagen next time. It's summer and many of them are out and play.

Have a nice day to you all.

What an a**hole....but the world is full of them (I especially learned today :-P )