how do you ask?

[RML]

Finally, i have found that when i have my girlfriend with me, people somehow think i'm an okay guy (even with my big beard that is so unusual here), and don't really care what i do.

This is something that I encounter quite regularly as well, with both my wife and my girl. When I'm with my wife no-one will "challenge" me on the why and the what of my shooting pics. When I'm with my girl it's the same but if she's bringing her own P&S as well then people are even smiling (or at least look in "amazement").

In Mongolia bringing along my girl is even better. As a foreigner I'm always a target (there are always people, wherever in the world you go, that think you're rich and soft and thus an easy robbery target) and sometimes I just don't feel comfortable to take a shot. When my girl comes with me all of a sudden there's a much bigger threshold to take for a possible robber as children are considered almost to be holy. There are truly very few people who would actually harm children or an accompanying parent. I can't wait til she grows a little bigger and can come along with me as my assistent. 🙂