Bad Rubbish

In Chinese: Please do not litter from above

Interesting warning sign sighted from a visit to a Shenzhen mall earlier this year.

Bird Poop Scam in Sweden

View of Gamla Stan, moments before crime

Yes, it happened to me, on my FIRST DAY in Stockholm!

Shocking as it is since I have travelled to a few dodgy countries (Southern Africa, South East Asia, China, South America) I didn't think I would fall victim to these touristy tricks. But I did.

The scam took place on Söder Mälarstrand on Södermalm the same week as the Swedish Royal Wedding, was walking with a non-local friend when we heard someone behind us making a what sounded like someone throwing up.

We turned and the couple, looking like other tourists, frantically pointed to our backs and then up at the tree, we saw what looks like bird poop on our backs and naturally started to panic a bit. The two helpful tourists quickly pulled out a big bag of wet tissue from a backpack and handed the tissues to us, then proceed to help us wipe our backs.

The tourists spoke to each other in South American accented Spanish and I was so happy to meet some South Americans in Europe, after having such a good time in South America 3 years ago, unfortunately I let my guard down while happily chatting away in my broken Spanish.

I had my handbag facing the front the whole time, thinking I was watching it, but it was when I got home I realised the cash in my wallet is gone. The sneaky female managed to slip her fingers into my handbag and took the cash, fortunately no cards were taken and I didn't have that much cash on me. Still, my confidence was robbed and I developed an uneasy feeling each time I venture to Södermalm.

Oh yeah, the bird poop was probably green mustard.