One of my funniest travel moments was in the airport at Yangon, Myanmar. You enter the airport and walk past the government money change places (you must not use these) and then head into the main "lobby" where there are velvet ropes set up. Beyond these ropes are about a hundred Burmese women, many in traditional dress waving pieces of paper and trying to get you a taxi. Literally, me and my wife, and a hundred women all yelling at us.

Of course, all you have to do is walk right past all of them to the front door where there is a man in charge of the official taxis. Tell him where you're going and he flags someone over.

Myamnar has quite a few tout-types, but they a bit more interesting. Many are unofficial money changers and many other are offering tours and to be your driver. I'd actually encourage you to take advantage of their services. The kids selling postcards can be relentless though.

I just got back from 5 weeks in Egypt. I had been totally worried about the touts even though I've traveled in places like SE Asia. Really the only place it was bad was in Luxor. My boyfriend would try to engage people so as to not appear rude. I felt this only encouraged them. I'd simply say no thank you and keep walking. If they persisted I ignored them and eventually they went away. I felt horrible to have to act this way, but the touts don't take it personally. The place we had the fewest hassles was the Siwa Oasis . I loved it there!

-TB

I'm a sucker, I can't bear to see filthy children begging. I always give them money, I can't help it. I just try to keep the money in a place where they can't steal it out of my pocket first.....

The worst begging I saw was in St Petersburg (Granted this was in the Soviet Era when all things were supposedly worse), but gypsy children, by the hoard (and I do mean hoards of 10-20) would accost groups of travelers. They would start with the asking, then one or two would hold onto legs and arms. Hands would be rammed into every pockets. It was tough.

Egypt and China was trouble for bartering, not so much with the begging.

Africa was tough because of the abject poverty and sheer masses of people in need.

In the end, you can't give to everyone. If you did the first place you go to will most likely be your last. In Africa we brought pens to hand out. In Egypt/China we said "No". In fact we found the less 'shopping' we did the less problems we had. The only shopping we did was for food in the local markets. In St Petersburg we ran away.

Theres this old story in morocco about an old woman who used to live in Djem el Fna (the main square where the masses flock). Her name was OmJeniah and she walked crippled and bent over a cane with only her hand out. Story goes she used to rush behind unsuspecting people and shout "I am OmJeniah give me your money!" And the scared folks would hand it over just to make her go away.
Now days in Marrakech when a kid is misbehaving you tell them to be quiet or the spirit of OmJeniah will get them.
That kid of gives you an idea of how the locals there see touts and beggers.
My advice is always treat them like the locals do.
Then again if I see someone who is truly sick I usually hand out a bit of cash...stupid heart made of goo.

It depends where you are going in Southeast Asia. More developed countries such as Malaysia don't have hassling beggars. Rule of thumb is where be lots of white people/tourists, there be annoying beggars and touts. (sorry, Pirates of the Carribean still on my mind.. mmmm.. Jack Sparrow..). So places like Siem Reap are notorious for beggars, touts but when you get out of the touristy spots into the more rural/less touristy places in Cambodia, such as Kampot, my favourite Cambodian town, no one hassles you. Ever.

I'd say, remain polite and firm. Never lose your temper because it's just not nice.

Prisa' story reminds me of the time I was in Uganda and this cute kid went up to my American friend and said, "give me MY money!" haha.. or err.. maybe that was a soft attempt in mugging I don't know.. but she laughed it off.

Cambodia was difficult, it wasn't easy to say no to 3 or 4 year old naked children who were begging at 3am.
Also their tuktuk/taxi drivers would drive me mad. On arrival in Phom Penn I was nearly pushed off the boat as there were about 30 drivers waiting in the port and some of them actually jumped in to the boat to grab backpacks and offer their services. I was so pissed off that I refused to take any kind of transport and headed to the nearby restaurant where 4 of them parked their cars and waited next to my table for 2 hours ignoring my wishes to be left alone. The owner of the restaurant came with help and offered to drive me to my guesthouse for 2$.