Avoid These Kathmandu Street Scams! - Durbar Square, Nepal 🇳🇵

KATHMANDU, NEPAL: Kathmandu Durbar Square was our destination. Could we make it there without being preyed upon by the relentless street hustlers and scammers of Thamel?
Come with us and see how you avoid these Kathmandu street scams.
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[@TheWanderLife]

Thanks so much for watching everyone! What scams and unusual cons have you encountered during your travels? 🤠

[@munmunhazarika5247]

There is tragic aspect to the KUMARI custom... The girl is selected from a low caste. The young girls when she starts mensuration, her time as KUMARI is over. A new young girl is chosen. The saddest part is the girl who completes her KUMARI term , she is socially ostracised, not married by any boy. Most retired Kumaris end up being prostitute. Check out " Devadasi " Custom in India.... Basically young girls from low caste is offered to d temple, and low caste family are allowed to enter d temple (usually low caste peaple are not allowed in temple in old days)..... The devadasi is often raped by temple priest.

[@TheWanderLife]

@@munmunhazarika5247 How come the girl is ostracised when she stops being the Kumari?

[@munmunhazarika5247]

@@TheWanderLife she remains unmarried rest of her life!! In India most marriages are arranged,and d girl being virgin is a must or it would mallign the reputation of the groom's family.

[@kidsnetsoft]

I think the guides we had took us to shops and get a percentage if we buy from them. I think the only scam we fell for was the "student art studio" By the end of our trip, we were much more savvy about possible scams and we didn't have a hard time saying no.

[@TheWanderLife]

@@kidsnetsoft That's exactly it! Those sneaky art school conversations are quite tiring after hearing them repeatedly for days, weeks and months eh. I feel bad that this is what people must do to put food on the table but for sure it's unwanted as a visitor. We started out chatting with everyone that approached us but by the end, we could sense if it was going to be an art school scam, or worse, leading to the question of drugs.

[@prasannaprasantbashyal2615]

As you know Nepalis is near to India and china almost many Scammwrs may be from india coming ko Kathmandu bro As you know Nepal is near to India border.... As you know Indian Donot required border Visa and passpord system...... Many Scammwrs are from india as india has many poor people as well rich too But..... Nepal provides you greatly food, culture, traditions, Treking agencies, trekkers, world mountains, hikes ne0al can give you world 8 highest peaks in planet you will feel amaze As many people I'm world they just had a dream to hike and climb mountains Everest including mahgapuchrey...... And all many had climbed up to submit Jaya nepal hope...... You can give suggestion to nepal as a improvement But Nepal is beautiful bro Jaya nepal

[@TheWanderLife]

To be honest, the majority are not very good at what they do - they're easy to spot and just more than anything, a nuisance and frustrating having to constantly deal with them, particularly around the central area of Kathmandu. I respect the grind that they put in, I'm sure many would make great salesmen in the right environment, but it's just annoying getting hounded every day. It really surprises me that you can walk the streets of Thamel and spot the same guys, in the same spot, incessantly following and bothering people, offering them drugs etc, yet the police seemingly do nothing. Nepal does a great job of presenting itself as a mecca for trekking to the world, but if it wants to improve and continue to attract new visitors, it has to clean up the streets as well as the mountains.

[@tonyhanley9458]

Seems they got=a knowledgeable guide at least. The tree used to build that temple must of been one hell of a big tree. A giant tree from the past.

[@roniishrestha2833]

If you are scam in kathmandu then remember to find out where are they from .Please . Because many scammers in Nepal are from China and India

[@TheWanderLife]

Yea it's happened all over really, but mostly in Kathmandu. We've been long enough now to see them coming, but in your first few days when you're new, it's easier to attract their attention. Just came back from lunch, and in the 10 minutes walking back I was approached and followed 3 times. Can be quite exhausting at times and hard to remain calm

[@medhavipant1567]

OMG, I hope you didn't really mean that.... Sounds so racist.

[@David-pv5cj]

Apparently, in your mind, it makes sense that someone from China, one of the wealthiest countries in the world and a million times more developed than Nepal, is going to uproot their entire life and travel to Nepal, one of the poorest countries in the world, to scam people for a living. Make it make sense. No wonder Nepalese have the lowest IQ in the world.

[@elijah7387]

Why would a Chinese person travel to a third-world shethole to scam money from destitute Nepalese and stingy backpackers? That’d be like trying to squeeze water from a stone. Third-world slum dwellers are so delusional, it’s actually amazing to witness. Where does this self-confidence come from?

[@ivanh420]

Saar pls be careful saaar, Chinese ppl arr leaving their clean, developed, prosperous first-world country to live in Nepal, which is a backward landlocked kountry with no future, just so that they can make one cent a day scamming brown poverty ridden Nepalese saar, trust me saar🙏🏾

[@poonamgurung2149]

Please donot give any money for free for anyone because they will keep begging for free money just like that. Beside that the architecture looks stunning.

[@TheWanderLife]

We try to give what we can to those in real need, meaning those that can't work due to illness or disability, but we don't to those who make a living by begging or those that are affiliated to a network in anyway (children etc)

[@GlobetrotterGary]

x5 times I had those scammers approach me in one hour ... practice English, come to the temple, blah blah ... scam central!

[@TheWanderLife]

Yea they’re pretty persistent eh

[@dnbtravels]

Nice one guys 👌👌, Kathmandu looks completely different than other capital city's but definitely worth to visit, thanks a lot for sharing your experience, have a great day and take care

[@TheWanderLife]

Oh for sure it is. It's crazy, chaotic, noisy, aggravating at times, but a heck of a lot of fun. Most people cruise on after a couple of days, but there's certainly a lot here to explore if you want to get deep into the place. Thanks so much for watching and coming along 😀 Cheers, Wayne

[@dnbtravels]

@@TheWanderLife ✌✌take care guys

[@MyTravelChannel-RO]

Great video and wonderful walk! An excellent movie creation! Thank you for sharing all these beautiful memories and I am happy that you allowed me to accompany you on this beautiful visit! 👍

[@TheWanderLife]

Thanks so much for coming along on the adventure! 😀Wayne ✌

[@aatravelling7625]

Absolutely awesome place! We must visit some day! Thanks for the tour. Big Like + new friend.. Have a nice weekend!

[@TheWanderLife]

It's a beautiful country. So much history and culture everywhere you look. Shame about the odd nuisance in the city, but it's to be expected I suppose. Thanks so much for coming along. Have a great one 😀 Wayne

[@charmingnaturerk2855]

Super 👍👍I really appreciate your work ✌ have a great day with full of happiness and success 🙌

[@TheWanderLife]

Thanks so much for watching! Have a great day! Wayne & Xiomara 😀

[@chrisparker9740]

Take your passport and a passport sized photo and you can enter the square for the duration of your stay and only pay the one time. otherwise you have to pay everyday you go. even if you're just cutting through.

[@terere8323]

Forcing you to pay 1000 to continue walking down the street is a scam itself.

[@TheWanderLife]

No comment 😂

[@sauravana]

2:31 he is from india...they r good at scamming ppl.

[@TheWanderLife]

Yea, I've been to India before and got scammed a couple of times. Fortunately it happened and so now, it's easier to see them coming. Was literally just talking about this with Xiomara, because India is our next destination, so best to be prepared for what's to come

[@sauravana]

@@TheWanderLife all the best then for ur india trip...😁

[@danny-tf6bb]

Nepalis are good at racist comments.

[@preety8651]

Open boarder between Nepal and India should be closed. There are many indian come just to beg and this has been big problems here.

[@TheWanderLife]

Was quite surprised to find out about the border/immigration arrangement between Nepal and India, but I suppose much of it is political. Certainly saw more signs of it in Lumbini near the border

[@PartTimeTravellerChina]

Nice video Really enjoyed watching this ❤ my dear friend Thanks for sharing ❤👍👍👍👍👍❤❤❤❤❤❤🌹

[@TheWanderLife]

Thanks so much for coming along on the adventure 😀 Wayne

[@kidsnetsoft]

I wished I watched this before I went to a "student art studio". The guy who sold us the painting was a "shark".

[@TheWanderLife]

Was this in Kathmandu as well? Very sneaky and forceful aren't they! Fortunately for us, due to how we travel, we have no option to collect things as we go or send them back home, so it's an easy reason for us to not go, but I can certainly see how many people with good intentions are pulled in

[@riobaliairportdriver5559]

That tour guide at the square chewing gums when talking with tourist? 😂 I will get my license revoked if found doing that.

[@TheWanderLife]

Really? 😢

[@riobaliairportdriver5559]

@@TheWanderLife yeah.

[@aravind4090]

Love from Kerala, India 🥳🤩😉😝

[@TheWanderLife]

Amazing place! Hope to be back there in a couple of months time 😀

[@amrutanshusahoo6575]

Guys your vlogs are amazing...Keep it up....

[@TheWanderLife]

Thanks brother! Appreciate you coming along on the ride! ✌Wayne

[@amrutanshusahoo6575]

@@TheWanderLife Welcome guys... Enjoy your trip.. Come to Odisha...Come to India...

[@TheWanderLife]

@@amrutanshusahoo6575 India is our next stop. Very possibly will be coming in the next week or so 😀

[@amrutanshusahoo6575]

@@TheWanderLife All the best... Come to Odisha...India...😁🤘🌟🪄🎉

[@TheWanderLife]

@@amrutanshusahoo6575 Have never been to that eastern part of India before so will actually be quite keen to make my way over to that side eventually. What places should be add to our list for Odisha? ✌

[@poonamgurung2149]

There is ridiculous system in Nepal that is called ticket for only foreigner. I have never liked that system. Please enjoy😂

[@TheWanderLife]

Yea, it's much the same in many countries. I understand and feel very frustrated at the same time. If 95% of the visitors to a place were foreigners, and they wanted to make it more appealing to locals, I would understand. Mostly though, it's mainly locals with a handful of foreigners so to me it doesn't make much sense.

[@LamaZopa2012]

Thanks for sharing but I didn't think there were "so many scams"... what about the 'baby needs milk' scam or the 'rickshaw scam.

[@TheWanderLife]

I personally didn’t encounter that scam in Kathmandu, however I did in India (it’s in my Varanasi video). It’s ‘so many scams’ because we kept encountering these same ones relentlessly again and again. Approached incessantly everyday about art schools etc

[@LamaZopa2012]

@@TheWanderLife Ah I see... Yes the thangha painting schools are a very popular trick. The difference I found between Nepal and India is that Nepalese are much more chilled.. You dont need to be aggressive with them.. just say "Thanks not today but maybe tomorrow" Whereas in India they are much more confronting do you think?

[@TheWanderLife]

@LamaZopa2012 Well, it’s hard to say somewhat because I suspect that many of the scams presenting themselves in Kathmandu were actually by Indians - that’s not to say I think Indians are scammers, merely that the individuals who approached us were often Indian. Nepal as a whole though was certainly much more chill and less of a challenge with fraudsters and tricksters. The drug guys in Thamel were annoying as hell, but as you say they were pretty easy going when you tell them no (for the 20th time that week 😂)

[@motionenglish5268]

I'm too a student and hopefully I'm 101% sure you're not ganna disappoint me when you visit India next... I'd like to talk to you for an hour while having a coffee with you & will prove to you that I speak English better than you...& by the end of the day I'll take you to my home for a dinner party for sure... Believe that ✌️

[@TheWanderLife]

We'll be in India very soon. Possibly even as early as the next week or so. Will be happy to grab a coffee with you if we're in the same place. What part of India are you in?

[@motionenglish5268]

I'm in Rajasthan ( India ). I can't explain this to you in words that how excited I really am to meet you Sir. I'm too much overwhelmed.. I'm sure as hell don't care how many dollars do I spend..i am ganna meet you.

[@TheWanderLife]

@@motionenglish5268 Yea I've been to Rajasthan before (Jaipur, Udaipur, Pushkar etc) Incredible part of the world. Will for sure be in Rajasthan again when we come soon. Will likely head to Rishikesh first, then Armristar and from there, probably down to Jaipur, so we'll see😀

[@israr144]

@@TheWanderLife please try to avoid Delhi city in India. plenty of negatives. haven't seen any foreigner like Delhi. most of Indians don't like Delhi. Delhi is less than 0.03% of India by area. so you have whole of India to see even you avoid Delhi.

[@TheWanderLife]

@@israr144 Hey Israr! I've been to Delhi previously and yea, it was quite the battle. That being said, I think that there are stories to tell from every place. I'll definitely spend 2 or 3 days there, but that's all, then I'll move on. Hoping to be able to reach each corner and see different parts of India. The last time I went, I started in Delhi, worked my way through Rajasthan and then down to Mumbai, Goa, Hampi, Kerala etc. Looking forward to a great adventure. Any top recommendations?

[@beingme2345]

Are you open to business enquiries via email?

[@TheWanderLife]

Feel free to email

[@surajmeche5648]

Hope you enjoy the weekend

[@TheWanderLife]

Thanks Suraj! You too!

[@arjunmagar3594]

The all the guys who are scamming you are not nepali they are indian because of the open border all the indian can come in Nepal with out passport all the people who scam in Nepal are indian people

[@TheWanderLife]

Hey man! I can’t comment on that, but I understand it’s a divisive issue in Nepal for sure

[@yousifyoukhana2418]

❤️🌹❤️🌹❤️🙏✝️🙏

[@Rihan7481]

Good job 👍

[@TheWanderLife]

Thanks Rihan! Hope you're well 😀 Wayne

[@salinaKc-c2r]

Indians!!!!!😢😢😢

[@mutfaklayasam]

Perfekt nice Video süper 👍 👍 👍

[@TheWanderLife]

Thanks so much 😀 Wayne

[@dumbellcrunches9049]

🤎🤎🤎 nepal 🇳🇵

[@TheWanderLife]

Thanks for watching 🥰

[@bikasharyal4553]

gateoute from my country

[@TheWanderLife]

Excuse me?

[@beautifulera8246]

@bikasharyal4553 what the f**k are you saying? Let him be enjoying his trip bro.

[@shreerajpaudel5168]

Your video title is very Negative. I saw your Sarankot video where you say " everything is close" where you could have said " we came at the wrong time" or " It's Deepawali and everything is close" or something like that... I also watched "Kathmandu this is bad" where you could have said " we didn't expect this in Kathmandu" or " See what we encountered in Kathmandu" etc... I don't know why people choose negativity for popularity... You are being just an Attention seeker. Every place has good and bad people but it depends on which aspect you choose. I have watched over 1000 videos about Nepal Vlogs from several KZbinrs but you guys are overly exaggerating. Your thumbnail is also misleading again- I don't know why you want cheap views? You can make good content and get better views too. I suggest you watch DAILY MAX, WORLD NOMAC, WILL'S WHEREABOUTS, GABRIEL TRAVELERS, BACKPACKER FAMILY, and many more which have thousands of subscribers to know more aspects. If you decide to be scammed; yes there are a lot of scammers everywhere in the world but if you choose to be in an exemplary scenario, there is a lot too. Most of the Scammer in KTM are from INDIA, you will know if you dare to ask them where they are from. However, I hope you have a wonderful time there. but remember that it's not good to spread negativity about any place to gain some attention and subscribers. Enjoy your time there, and wish you good luck.

[@TheWanderLife]

Hey Shree! Thanks for your in-depth message and taking the time to get in touch. I would agree that the titles and thumbnails can appear so, but I think the overwhelming message of the videos is that of positivity. Yes, there are things wrong in Nepal, as there is everywhere, and I've tried to highlight some of the things that I found at the time, but also, I've spent a lot of time showing what a great country Nepal is. We spent almost 3 months in Nepal and these videos were essentially right at the beginning, not only when we were new to Nepal and the nuances of navigating the country, but also new to making videos. I hadn't really made a travel video for 4/5 years at that point so it's a case of learning all over again, how to make it and how to reach an audience. In many cases, the titles and thumbnails have been altered and edited depending on how it engages and what results it brings forth. For instance the Monkey temple video was not getting any traction at all and so I changed the thumbnail description and it immediately changed. The title isn't in my opinion misleading, because I detail an important issue in that video, but at the same time, it's not the sole focus, in fact it's about the wonderful temple. I think you'll find that I have an enormous amount of great things to say and express about Nepal, but of course, this is a learning curve for me too and so you can always be doing things better, which is why I'm thankful for your effort in highlighting what you see. It's a journey we're on and hopefully get better at. If you have any other feedback, would love to hear it! Thanks, Wayne

[@shreerajpaudel5168]

@@TheWanderLife I can see your frustration that you are not being able to get attention as much as you want. You wanna create attentive thumbnails, I understand that but you can get permanent attention with positivity rather than short-term attention from negativity. I have been following your channel not just in Nepal but from Cambodia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka also where your thumbnails are misleading. I was watching carefully when you posted the first video of Kathmandu with " scammed already?" on thumbnails where that street food seller was not doing any scamming, he was not good at English and that's not his fault, you were not being able to take his message in a better way. I can clearly say that you are also scamming the viewer by putting incorrect and misleading titles and thumbnails. I am from UAS and have been to Nepal, India, Thailand, and Srilanka many times- I know there are language problems, trash on roads, poverty, and many other problems but SCAM is not the right word to explain such a situation. I got to know that you are planning to visit India soon, good luck over there too. BUT PLEASE DON"T SCAM YOUR DECENT VIEWERS WITH MISLEADING TITLES AND THUMBNAILS, THAT'S A MAJOR SCAM.

[@TheWanderLife]

@@shreerajpaudel5168 Curious to know what you find misleading about the titles of the videos from Cambodia, Thailand and Sri Lanka? Genuinely interested to hear your opinion on that because I don't see anything there that wasn't the reality of the video. As for the street food vendor in Kathmandu, that gentleman spoke adequate enough English to be able to say 400 and to use his hands to show 4. He overcharged us and took advantage, but you'll also see if you watched properly that I took responsibility for that happening by saying we didn't take the step of confirming the price beforehand, thus advising the audience to do so in this case themselves, otherwise leaving themselves open.

[@everymail7412]

@@shreerajpaudel5168 Not that it matters, but i was on a solo trip to Nepal in 2019. Walking around Thamel was a nuisance, and the main squares almost a nightmare. Instead of looking at ancient marvels and perhaps learning a thing or two, i had to spend 90% of my energy fending off: painters, guides, trekking guides, drug sellers. Sure people were friendly, and actually helpful. But god damn - if it is not scamming, then at least very deceitful. Final nail in my perceptual coffin was when i decided to talk and then enter into a VERY solid looking office of a Trekking business on the street. I wanted to know details about one of the treks. We talked, and a man behind a large wooden desk, in a large leather seat, pointed to a massive mountain panorama and proclaimed that "this is the view you will see when trekking". I pointed out, that this view was from another trek (different fucking mountains). The sellers just brushed off that fact as if it was not important. THIS is the general experience with all local services for me. Perhaps I am at fault, but i'd rather suspect, that the only way to disregard such behavior is either: being gullible or just ignoring it; and i am unable to do either :)

[@everymail7412]

@@shreerajpaudel5168 Oh and by-the-way. I had a Kumari guide (he was so similar to this guy, that it may as well have been the same person) come to me, offer me a tour, i declined (i just don't trust him), but i sat near the entrance with him and had a chat. Well, fuck me, but in the end he started talks about hash and weed and that he knew people who could get me some. So ye, go figure.

[@MyTravelVanz58]

It's looks beautiful out there.... Amazing to see other cultures.. great walk my friend. Big thumbs up 👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿

[@TheWanderLife]

It really is. I mean Kathmandu is a noisy, crowded city like many others around the world, but the culture and history is so rich. Once you get out of the city, it's incredible to see the landscapes here. Thanks so much for coming along 😀Wayne