Tips on chatting to strangers

You get numerous opportunities to talk while traveling- ask for directions, ask for suggestions, and ask for experience. However, if you're sky and inexperienced, you probably don't have the gut to talk to strangers around you. Plus, you probably don't know where to start the conversation. Here is one trick: Draw the attention of others and make them want to start the opener by themselves. This will solve all the problems since you're now worry free about which topics to initiate a conversation. All you need to do is replying correctly and keep the conversation going. But, what can you do make people nearby to talk to you?

Here are some tricks:

Be helpful and polite:

Remember: One never say no to the innocent helpers. I saw an old lady dragging her huge luggage rushing toward the incoming train and, as the only young guy available at the moment, I volunteer to upload her luggage onto the train. After she expressed her gratitude, we naturally start to chat on random topics. She turns out to be an experienced tour guide around the world and shared with me her trips to Africa, China, Europe and even Antarctic.

Me: Antarctic, where is that?

Old lady: Antarctic is the south pole, the opposite of Arctic.

Me: Ohhhh... why tourists are interested in visiting Antarctic? It must be freaking cold out there.

Old lady: Penguins and dolphins. No bears, though.

Bring crazy stuffs with you:

On my way back home from Vegas trip, I carried the insane 100 oz bottle on my shoulder. Three funny anecdotes occurred.

During the flight, the flight attendant was obviously shocked by the bottle.

Attendant: Do you want to fill this bottle up with coke?

Me: Vodka with coke, please.

On the air train, an old guy came in and stared at my bottle

Old Grandpa: You must had a lot of fun with this. BUT, can you remember?

Me: Hahahahaha...

On the train back, one of the ticket checker pointed at the bottle and talked to his partner

Ticket Checker: I think he found my shot glass

Me: Sorry, that's my shot glass sir. I drank two or three shots per day to keep my awake

Bring high tech gadgets with you:

Nowadays, everybody loves newly-released products. The curiosity triggers the conversations. While I was playing around with my iPad2 in the plane, a middle age guy next to me start the conversation and he turns out to be a high-tech fan.

High-tech guy: How do you like your iPad2? I've ordered one yesterday.

Me: Yeah, it's pretty easy and convenient to use.

Later on, he showed me his iPad 1 and Pandora made by Motorola. We exchange ideas about the performance of each pad from difference companies and compared the pros and cons of each type. The conversation lasted for an hour or so. His wife also joined the conversation along the way and treated me and my friend her homemade cookies.