When we arrived in Thailand, we noticed strangers taking pictures of us. It is almost always the kids that attract attention, although I have had my photo snapped while running and working out in a gym. Sometimes it is locals taking the pictures, other times tourists. Some will try to hide the fact that they are photographing us, others will ask us to join in with them. Ethan once had three Japanese tourists stand feet from his face and snap about a dozen photos. Logan had a woman take pictures of her throughout a meal in Hoi An. We have had more videos taken of us walking down streets than I can recall. The photos happened so often that Matthew eventually started to capture a few of his own.
Most of the group of Vietnamese students above was too embarrassed to ask for our photo, but once the girl in red did, they all jumped in.
We were taking a picture of Logan and Ethan near Luang Prabang, Laos when the group above saw them. They literally sprinted back to join them and take pics of their own.
Above was a group of Chinese tourist in Vietnam. They were in front of us in line waiting for entrance to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (long story, we never saw it). They took a series of photos with them and us in many combinations. After reviewing the first set of photos, they perfected their poses in a new series, this time with a focus on Logan as the star.
On our trip to Ninh Binh, Vietnam, we couldn’t walk 10 feet without a request. The group below asked to have Logan in a photo. Then they saw Ethan, and all chanted, “the boy, the boy!” So we called him back to join in.
I cannot imagine how many photos our kids would have endured if we had traveled when they were still little and had blond curls.
Matthew took the photo below in Thailand. We know not to take pictures of monks without asking, but in Matthew’s defense, this monk snapped a picture of Matthew too. And on our day back in Chiang Mai when we went to the ‘monk chat,’ the young monks were whipping out their phones left and right to take pictures of Ethan and Logan.
Matthew asked to take the photo below after reading the man’s hat. It is unclear if he knew what the hat said.
Very funny! What is with the peace symbol? Do you know what it means to them?
Seems to be peace. Many of the tourists here do a series of photos with peace, love signs, look off in the distance, pose from the side, various facial expressions etc. It is an impressive effort.