"Everything is closed at the moment, but the big Buddha is awesome!" (Bangkok)

That's the general idea, it seems. Everywhere you go, there's a "helpful" stranger or TukTuk driver trying to steer you towards a scam involving the next step in a convoluted ploy involving jewellery sales through a chance encounter with a well-connected stranger at the "Big Buddha." It always starts with someone asking where you're going, then saying "Oh, that's closed right now (for some random reason), but you should go see the "Big Buddha"." I must say that all of the "closed" attractions that we saw were pretty cool. I wonder what they would have been like had they been open?

Though guidebooks and warning signs posted at hotels and attractions offer plenty of information on these types of scams, the scammers still try, so it must be pretty lucrative and they must get a few takers. I'm just surprised they haven't moved on to something new, since what they're doing seems to be common knowledge. Still, I sure hope I get to see the Big Buddha!