Personally I think your nationality/skin color is a factor in this. I am not trying to make this a debate on race or implying that the locals are racist. IMHO and experiences, I feel that if you Caucasian, you get shown a little more respect than non-caucasian. This probably stems from their upbringing where the domestic workers, maids and labourers tend to be people who are non-caucasian and from poorer countries.

I know a lot of QL members may not agree with me, but if a non-caucasian person did what Frenchieman did. Then the outcome may have not been so favourable.