After traveling in Asia for the last 9 months I’ve come up with an observation. I’m not sure if I’m the only person who feels this way or if other travelers share my same bit of humor about it.

Here it is. In countries that are not native English speaking there is a common rhythm the touts use to sell their products or services. It goes like this, “Hello ____” and you fill in the blank with whatever they are hawking. After hearing these cries for months, it is starting to sound like they are calling me by name, my name being their product.

For example, recently in Varanasi, India nearly all tourists take a boat ride on the Ganges River. Walking along the waterfront you hear “Hello Boat” repeatedly during your stroll. In Varanasi my name seemed to be Boat.

I’ve been Boat in a few places we’ve visited. I’ve also been nearly every fruit you can name and also some you can’t. In Siem Reap I was Postcard for a few days; Chain on nearly any train in India. The name Tuk Tuk has been popular in numerous cities.

Since arriving in India I’ve been particularly famous, because when touts start their speech they ask your country and you name. When I tell them Don they are taken aback. Right now the movie Don 2 is in theaters, the sequel to a fan favorite film staring India’s leading man, … The young men are especially happy to have met someone by the famous name, Don.

Getting back to my ever changing name, I often wonder if I’m the only one who hears the calls like this. I’ve asked a few fellow travelers and there have been mixed responses. Either way it’s my own little joke everywhere we go and I find myself getting a chuckle when it’s an alias I’ve never used before.