“Bzzt! Bzzzzzzt! Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt!”
I came to know and love this sound at the impressionable age of 18.
The sound of pain. I would even say that it was comforting on some sort of level.
In college I had the opportunity to work as counter help for a local tattoo shop in Austin – much to my parent’s dismay. The experience not only opened my eyes to the world of modification, but started a small obsession with body modification in general. I have two small obsessions in my life – travel and tattoos.
Sure, I may not be super extreme in comparison to most, however, when I leave Austin (7.5 tattoo shops per 100k people), I get stares, comments, or downright dirty looks from people that do not understand. In my safe little bubble known as Austin, Texas, even CEOs have full sleeves.
A stark change has occurred in our travels as tattoos have become the forefront of our conversations with people we meet abroad.
In Japan we got positive comments about our tattoos with locals claiming American “fashion” as the reason we got them. We got to know all about youth culture, their current rebellion with tattoos, and the old school Japanese mafia – more commonly known as the Yakuza.
In London we were mainly ignored until we came to immigration at home in the States.
I forget what we look like to be honest. Shaun has a magenta/pink mohawk (and has for the past 7 years), I have the only really visible tattoos, and both of us are pierced.
And for some reason immigration agents always make me nervous. Our conversation was as follows:
Agent: What was the reasoning for your travels to London?
Shaun: Vacation and to visit some of our friends.
Agent: Friends, huh? Did you smoke any pot while you were there?
Shaun: No.
Agent: Oh, really? Are you sure? Do you have any on you now? If we were to check your bags now would we find any narcotics or paraphernalia?
[Note: This is where it got a bit silly. Shaun is probably one of the most straight laced guys on the planet. Not only does he not really drink (maybe a beer on a special occasion), but he is a non-smoker and is drug free. He is always my DD. I’m his lush wife.]
Shaun: Nothing man. We didn’t smoke anything while we were out.
Agent: I see you have tattoos through your shirt.
Shaun: Yes sir.
Agent: Can I see?
Shaun: [starts lifting up his shirt]
Agent: Okay, nevermind. You guys are free to go.
This was just the start to some harassment we have had to deal with on our travels. We were also harassed by the Border Patrol at one of the immigration check points in Texas on the way home from our road trip. Never tell them you are from Austin. They automatically peg you as a pothead. Oh travel and tattoos, you are so good and so bad to us.
My concern is – how we will be treated as we make our way through Central/South America? Have you ever seen or experienced any issues during border crossings? What do you suggest we do?
That’s really awful how people judge you just because you have tattoos – That would really frustrate me!
I LOVE your 5 year anniversary ones! 🙂
I’ve not got any tats so can’t comment on that particular aspect of customs, although every time I’ve been through US immigration it seems harder than any other immigration 🙂
I do have dreads though, and I was told that this would make my travels harder. In the year I’ve had them I’ve been through customs in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, the UK and China. My passport photo looks absolutely nothing like me any more. I’m delighted to report I’ve not had any problems as yet – although I’ve not been to South America or the majority of Asia with this look so am yet to find out! I should hope that it won’t be a problem though, American immigration does have it’s own little quirks that you may not find elsewhere 😉
I honestly can’t comment on Central America, but I had to comment because I’m currently on Koh Chang, Thailand, and this is THE place for tattooed people! More so than anywhere else I’ve been in Southeast Asia so far. It’s a big hippie island and it seems like most people are covered. Tons of tattoo shops, too. You’d like it here. 😀
Since seeing your pictures I’ve wondered how it will be for the two of you. I guess whenever we travel we have to expect to be questioned about our different-ness and, when you look different from what they even expect, I guess there will be more questions. I wish it all to go smoothly for you and hope that you will write more about it as, you can be sure, that others like you are looking for the same answers! Cheers!
I myself would never get a tattoo okay maybe if I was wasted then maybe…lol jk. I have never seen a problem with them though. I have always seen it as to each their own. Who am I to judge what one does to themselves. I love yalls tattoos and love the pink hair…like A LOT!!! Sucks yall get treated differently because of appearances. I know that feeling all too well cus sometimes I will get treated differently because they know I am gay.
I can’t answer your question, but I just want to say that those skull tattoos? The cutest thing ever. She eve has a bow! Eeeek!!
Holy crap–I can’t believe the guy asked you guys if you smoked pot just because of tattoos! I think we are lucky in Austin that it’s so common to be inked. I guess it is wise to cover up in places where it seems taboo, but I know that would be a bummer since it’s part of your identity!
I’m one of those people who thinks tattoos are HOT but is too chicken to get many. Whenever I see a lady with a full sleeve I always think to myself “daaamn, that’s cool! I wish I could do that…. but I probably never will.”
On the outside I look pretty straight-laced but on the inside I’m all inked up! 😛
I love your ink!! I can’t see you guys having any issue at immigration in latin america. If anything and I say this loosely is that they are more concerned what’s in your bags, not what you look like. That’s pretty brutal to get asked straight out like that by US immigration. I remember crossing US immigration heading to Sasquatch 2 years ago and all they were concerned with was if we were bringing any citrus fruits into the country, no questions about dope… We were actually kinda shocked. No sir, no oranges or grapefruits, hehe.
Dalene and I got some ink done on our forearms when we got back from South America, and I’m already thinking about what we are going to get done for our 10 year this October! Great post!
That is harrassment! I have no idea how you’ll be treated in SA at the borders but I’ll be sure to let you know if we see anyone else being harrassed for tattoos or fashionable pink mohawks! Try not to let people’s closed-minded attitudes get you down. Coming back to NYC from a trip to SE Asia I got harrassed by a customs agent at JFK airport (and I don’t have any visible tatts or anything – I just looked maybe a bit to well-dressed for my age at the time). I’d been to Bali and Thailand and a few times in and out of Singapore. He must have thought I was a drug mule because I got all kinds of questions and the contents of my bags dumped out all over the place. He even picked through my underwear (the pile in the bag, not the ones I was wearing 😉 Needless to say he found nothing, wasted 25 minutes of both of our time and I had the last laugh. Some people are just idiots. It still makes me angry thinking about him though.
No skulls with pretty pink bows here (too cute!) but… I got my first tattoo – at 60! – the morning after I arrived in South Africa (clearly my brain was high on jet lag – but I absolutely LOVE it!) So much so, that got a 2nd tattoo (likewise on the inside wrist like your skulls – ouch!) in Bali. Would have done another in Morocco, but apparently permanent tattoos are taboo there, so I had to settle for “Berber Bracelets” hennaed on my ankles – sigh…
I can’t answer your question, I just wanted to say how ridiculous I think it is that y’all are treated like that by certain people. You are who you are and no one should judge you for it. 🙂 Personally, I think y’all’s skull tattoos are beautifully done! So cute!
Happy (almost) 7 years to you guys by the way! The tattoo pics you posted are really nice. But reading through how the US immigration treated you was really upsetting. I never thought fellow Americans could be so judgmental when they could have merely scanned you guys and your belongings without asking questions.
@Lauren: That is just something that comes with the territory sadly. I knew it going into it due to my wonderful mentors at the shop.
@Laurence: It really is bizarre that I get harassed trying to come home! It will make for some interesting stories if anything happens!
@Kate: If we can get some sort of income in, Shaun and I are planning on hitting up Thailand some time next year!
@Gillian: So far we have only had trouble coming back into the US but I’m sure it will make for interesting times. I told Shaun he has to bring a hat and since we are not bringing the dye with us, it will slowly grow out so it won’t look *as* obvious – lol!
@Jaime: If I had more money I would have more honestly. The funny thing about the pink hair is that the color he is using used to be MY color and he totally hijacked it from me. We can’t walk around with the same colored hair. I don’t want to be that couple. ♥ But I guess if he wants to parade around in pink that is his ordeal. 🙂 I knew I would be treated differently when I got my tattoos. All of them used to be able to be hidden to avoid it. Then, when I realized I didn’t want to work in a job or environment that cared, I went ahead and got more visible ones.
@Jill: Thank you! We wanted to get something together but wanted to avoid the “name curse”.
@Emily: The Border Patrol was actually much worse than the immigrations guy but I could write a novel on harassment lol. I try to cover up when I know it is inappropriate, but we’ll soon see if I will need to during every border crossing!
@Christy: I think tattoos are hot. lol. Shaun wants his sleeve started so he is next in line the next time we have some spare cash. They’re awesome but definitely come with their own quirks as you can see!
@Peter: Thank you! Hopefully it will go smoothly. I have never been asked about fruits or veggies before. They always go straight to drugs with us! I’m also glad to see couples get anniversary ink together. Its cute. 😛
@Andrea: The most I’ve gotten harassed was at a border checkpoint in New Mexico. The guy didn’t believe I was a US citizen and refused to let us go forth because he didn’t believe our story or found holes in it somehow. Luckily he didn’t ask for my papers or I would have flipped my shit.
I don’t think anyone would think we were drug mules. Obviously we are the users lol!
I don’t have one but have thought about it from time to time for the last decade — and I’ve been toying with the idea of getting one before I head home. I know where but not what — and that’s the most important bit!
It sounds absolutely ridiculous how Shaun has been treated…coming home no less 😛 I don’t have a perspective to offer on what to expect on the road, but I trust you’ll let us know what you two encounter. Hopefully you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
@Dyanne: That is awesome that you got a tattoo! When I worked at the shop I saw an 80 year old woman, cursing and all, get a flower chain around her wrist. She had no one to impress and thought it was about time! Better late than never!
@Kristin: It happens. A lot. It is sadly something we just have to deal with. And thank you for your kind words. I love my tattoos. ♥
@Marcello: Thank you! Shaun and I have REALLY bad luck with immigration. I should talk about the time the security in Barbados tried to set us up…
@Heather: I have to get Shaun to be the one to talk to officials. I get REALLY hot headed when it comes to people pressing my buttons so I make him do all the work.
OMG that is so harassment! Although, I have been harassed for being a solo female traveler as well. It was really bad in Mexico once. I LOVE your tats! I’ve got 4 and am definitely going to add to my collection. <3
I have zero tattoos, not even a “what the hell did I drink and who’s name is that” one. so I can’t really relate from personal experience. My brother on the other hand has a lot and I see things like that happen to him. Of course I can’t blame people for judging him, considering some of his choices… I’m not saying it right.
I got dreads and a my first tattoo (small on the wrist) while I was in Thailand and then traveled through Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand again, and then had a Korea layover and a LA layover on the way back home to Canada.
Never did I encounter any problems with my new dreadlock appearance in Asia. I was a little worried about Thailand as from what I could tell was they keep a database of the photos taken each time you go through immigration and compared your current photo to your previous entry and your passport. But they never even batted an eye. Just stamp stamp come on in.
Honestly… through all the border crossings we did on our travels the worse we’ve ever encountered is always the US.
What we found that worked the best: Arrive with a smile and the best presentation you can and keep your head up. Look them in the eye. Do what they say. Say hello in their language if you can. Answer any questions. And then wish them a good day when you get let through. You shouldn’t have any problems. Remember you are bringing their country an economy. They want you in!
Oh and when your landing card asks for occupation always write something in there that is recognized! Even if you are not working that. Putting no job or blogger or traveler or even writer we learned raises eyebrows and dirty questions. Just write whatever job you have previously as current to avoid any extra hassle.
@Andi: It is amazing the things we will put ourselves through all in the name of travel. As for the tattoos, it really is hard to stop with just one!
@Nick: I knew going into it that it would lead to judgments. Living in Austin makes me forget that I even have them. They are so common place and accepted that when I go out it is shocking that I do get treated differently. 😛
@Dee: Thank you for those tips lady! I am going to laugh if the only issues I have coming home are from our home country. Seriously though, I feel like getting home is an aggressive endeavor.
So in love with the anniversary tattoos! So unique and cuuute! You two are an adorable couple, that’s too bad that the border control has to say such ignorant things.
Great post! I have some large tats on my legs had some curious incidents when I was backpacking through Vietnam last year. Mainly people following me trying to take photos and when I was in stores the shop girls never left my side. They always acted like I was going to steal things even though I’m about as straight laced and law-abiding as you can get. It got to be so uncomfortable that I ended up wearing my one pair of pants for a good portion of the trip.
I would think the only issue you would have in S. America is unfortunately having a tattoo and looking like that kind of “culture” – as untrue as it is, is that they have such huge drug issues down there that they may take a few minutes longer with you than others. However, it’s also a huge backpacking environment and so they may see a lot of people who “look” like you. Regardless, have fun and enjoy it. I love having people ask me questions about my tattoos and they’re a great conversation starter. I’m headed to Turkey in May and am interested to see their reactions too – should be fun!
I didn’t have much trouble in Europe last year when Jon and I went for our honeymoon. In fact, the lady that did the uncomfortable-pretty-much-groping-your-boobs security deal gave me lots of compliments.
It is pretty unfortunate that tattoos can be associated to unsavory activities though 🙁 Hopefully there won’t be a lot of trouble when Jon and I try to make it to Japan in the next couple years.
I just got my third done, and I’m already plotting the next one. XD
Really? Some security guys of Barbados tried setting you up? With what?
Tattoos, my next addiction after traveling. Started when I was 18, just a small butterfly on my lower back (cliche I know) and kept adding to it with flowers and such. Mine are all easily covered up though, so I’ve never had any problems (my mom doesn’t even know how much ink I have!) and most people are shocked when they find out. You can’t be the only tattooed, pink haired people to travel through South America, so hopefully you won’t get more than a little extra hassle.
@Christine: Thank you lady! You are so sweet.
@Jodi: It is so weird how people have perceptions of tattooed people being renegades and outlaws when so many of us are quite “normal”. I don’t mind the conversation starter – always makes for good ones. 😀
@Page: Japan is actually really lenient on the tattoo thing since you are gaijin. Just be aware that you may not be allowed in some bath houses.
@M: I actually wrote a post about it for Wed’s post!
@Ali: At first they were all hidden… and then for some reason I stopped caring lol. My mom isn’t surprised anymore (she cried) so I don’t feel as horrible.
I’ve had no problems what so ever and mine are always on show – I just seem to get told by people in small villages I’m very lucky and the odd local pointing on a bus.
I’m in desperate need of a tattoo fix, maybe when I get back to Thailand despite them charging more than my regular guy at home 🙁
@Poi: Right now the going rate for tattoos in Austin is about $150/hour… $100-125 if you know the person (which I know my fair share :P) and everything I want/get is more than a few hours. 🙂 I know I’m going to get one while we’re out. There is a guy in Colombia I’m looking at. 🙂
I’ll look it up right now :/
I’m glad to read the comments and find no one saying “Stay out of Country X, because the tattoos will land you in jail.” At least in Mexico and Belize, I’ve only had good experiences because of my tattoo (only one at this point, sadly), but I’ve never heard of any bad experiences because of ’em in either country. In America it’s different… and you hit the nail on the head with Texas: “Don’t tell ’em you’re from Austin.” Jeez… they need to lighten up on the security situation all throughout the states.
@K: I so dearly love Austin but it really is concerning when I go through border checks when I tell them I live here. The funny thing is that I was harassed about our trip to Cali (didn’t want to tell him we went to Burning Man) by him accusing us that the only reason we went was to obtain a medical marijuana card. My face was like: O.o
Erica, I’m sorry but can’t give you any advice about this – I have no tattoos and only a navel piercing that nobody can see… well at least not at the airport!
But I do want to get a tattoo done after my experience here in Egypt… I might need your advice 🙂
By the way I don’t understand why people still think that “tattoos + piercings = drug addict”… I feel sorry for them. Nice mohawk Shaun! And beautiful 5-years anniversary tattoos – cute 🙂
Erica, my boyfriend has lots of big, visible tatts. I have a few smaller ones and the only really visible one is on my foot. We never had any troubles through Central America – if anything Matt’s tattoos were often a conversation starter! People were always curious. In Asia it was the same – although Matt did get called a criminal once!
@Giulia: I would love to give as much advice as I can! I’m all about education with tattoos. I have a navel piercing too. I’ve had it since I was 18 and even though I’m not as skinny as I used to be, I still love it dearly.
@Rebecca: Thank you so much for this reply! I know that it is quite a niche market of people that would have this certain experience but at least I can hear a few accounts. 🙂 I think I would giggle if I was called a criminal!
I agree that there is a negative stigma against people have with tattoos. I have had to strategically place all mine so that they can be hidden with ease since I am in international business. Unfortunately, I find it is hard to change others perspecitves on them, especially in a short period of time (I am still trying to convice my dad that a back piece is ok).
On another note, do you work or have recommendations for a tattoo parlor in Austin? A bunch of my friends moved down there last year. They are looking to get new work done. I visited a couple when I was there, but I feel recommendations are always best.
@Samantha: I used to have tattoos where I could hide them and then one day I stopped caring (but I’m not going into international business. Great idea to hide them! ♥ ). As for tattoo parlors, I go to Triple Crown Tattoo – Zach did my chestpiece. Scott is well known as well and does quality work. I’ve seen really great work come out of Dove Tail as well – Wendy I think her name is? Not many of the people I worked with still live in Austin.
I don’t know how you’ll be treated in Central and South America, but I have the feeling you’ll be OK . Unfortunately, though, most people who have tattos in these countries (minus Brazil) are on the wrong side of the law, but I still think you should be fine.
LOVE these pictures!! I’ve been questioned to no end by those immigration officials, none of whom could BELIEVE I came back from Costa Rica each time without rum in my bags. I mean, I drink a heck of a lot more than Shaun (as you know!), but not rum! And why would I lie about it? Anyway, I’ll never forget the paparazzi-worthy fan trying to take Shaun’s picture in Vegas, so oh, do I believe you guys get stares. I bet it’s a good way to meet people while traveling though. Anyway, you’ll be fine. If in doubt, remember your straight-laced-looking friend over here got a wrist-slap permanent stamp in her passport for “smuggling” — and I still travel!!
@Fede: I do know about the issues with gang tattoos in Central/South but I guess I never thought I would be associated with that lol! I’m sure I’ll be fine. I think I’m just trying to prepare myself mentally.
@Abby: LOL! We like to travel with our own photographers thanks… I kid. I can’t believe that the officials were harassing you for trying to be honest lol!
It’s sad how much people are judged based on how they look when they travel. I know my brother who is a professional musician came back from touring Asia and was questioned extensively by customs in Seattle. He has long hair and looks like a musician so I guess they assume you are into drugs and getting into trouble. So frustrating, but sadly a part of life.
@Suzy: I’m just happy Shaun isn’t a musician anymore lol!
uggh. yeah. i’m more discretely pierced i’d guess you’d say, but francisco is pretty pierced & tatted. we had no problems in mexico, argentina, uruguay or brazil. hope you two won’t either! too bad they can’t just see you as cute as buttons like i do 🙂
@Lorna: Here is to hoping! And you’re too cute lol!
That is insane, so sorry to hear you guys had to put up with that. I only have one tattoo, I designed it myself of Morticia Addams. A lot of my family dislike tattoo’s, but they respect that I do and want to get more. Someone once said to me ‘what are you going to do when you’re 60 and you have that tattoo?’ This makes me laugh, I’ll be enjoying my life and enjoying the art I chose to put on my body. I hope you guys don’t have any more trouble. Take care 🙂
I think we will look AWESOME when we’re old and covered!