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Golden Rules of Travel Every country has its own customs and traditions for celebrating special events, important religious dates, and national holidays. Each country also will have protocols for greeting others and interacting among them. One must always bear in mind that where there are protocols, there are also pitfalls to be avoided. One may inadvertently offend one’s host, a guesthouse owner, or a potential acquaintance with a gesture or statement which may be considered quite rude in the country concerned, whereas the same gesture or statement back home wouldn’t even be noticed.
Travel guidebooks and online sources of information will provide many details about such things on a country-by-country basis. Based on my personal travels, I have developed the following list of dos and don’ts which I use worldwide, no matter where I am at any given moment. My suggestions will help to minimize any risk of offending someone no matter where you are. They will earn you kudos in some places, and they will go unnoticed in others, but they will never offend anyone.
Protocols Present things to others with two hands. I have learned that in many Asian cultures it is polite to hand things (be they money, objects, food, drinks, or anything else) to another person with two hands. To hand something over with one hand is often considered vulgar and, at times, insulting. So I now generally hand things to someone else with two hands, regardless of where I am. It has become second nature. Most people don’t notice it at all. But others, like the Korean family who owns the deli beneath my apartment building in New York, smile in appreciation. While this may be a nice story for my neighborhood in New York, the matter is far more of an issue in Asia. You should get in the habit of handing things to people with two hands, balanced around whatever item you are presenting.
Never show the soles of your feet. This applies whether you are wearing shoes or not. It is considered highly offensive in a variety of places around the world. Care must be taken not to show the sole of a foot when crossing one’s legs or when resting one’s feet on a stool after a long day of touring.
In “flip flop” countries, be sure to remove your shoes or sandals before entering shops, hotels, temples, private homes, and most other places which have an entranceway off a street. It helps a lot to wear shoes or sandals which can be easily removed when traveling in such places. You will usually see a pile of flip-flops or sandals outside an entranceway; just add yours to the pile!
Cover up! Try not to wear shorts unless it is unbearably humid and sweltering hot. If you are too warm or sweaty in your own clothes, consider buying shirts and pants made locally. They won’t cost much, and, since they have been made by locals for surviving the hot weather, you will be surprised how light and cool they can be. If shorts must be worn because it would be unbearable otherwise, then try to wear a pair which extend close to the knee cap. Short sleeve shirts are usually acceptable on hot or even very warm days. Ladies - you will certainly offend in many countries if you wear a sleeveless blouse, no matter what the weather. In some places it is tantamount to walking around in the buff. And it is not the men who you offend - it is the local women.
Always wear slacks, never shorts, to active temples, shrines, and other religious places. This applies no matter what the temperature or humidity readings may be. This does not apply to such sites if they are no longer used in practice; that is, it does not apply to ancient or abandoned, historical sites.
If you have to guess, walk to the right upon entering a temple or shrine.
Do not blow your nose in a public area. This is especially offensive in Japan, but a good habit to maintain nonetheless.
Never frown, even if you think it may be called for. If you catch yourself frowning, smile right away, and have a chuckle about it. Frowning in Thailand is highly offensive, no matter what the circumstances. Smiling, no matter where you are, will make you new friends.
Tipping Ahhh, tipping. There is no single rule which applies in any two places. In some cultures, tipping is considered rude. Leaving a tip is a sign that you think you are superior to the person for whom the tip has been left. In other cultures, tipping is not only expected but is considered a part of a worker’s basic wage, and therefore the livelihood, of the worker concerned. In those places, not leaving a tip is insulting and affects how easily service staff can make their own ends meet. For guidance on tipping, consult a travel guide for the locale you are in or use online resources.
Bargaining Different cultures have different approaches to bargaining. In much of Europe and North America, the price is more often than not the price. In India and much of Southeast Asia, bargaining is a way of living. Regardless of your location, you will not be able to bargain much at an internationally-branded store like “Nike” or “Diesel”. But when it comes to individual shop and hotel owners, you will have to learn the art.
Bargaining requires patience. You must chat with the shopkeeper or innkeeper. Perhaps you will have some tea with them. Do not be in a hurry. Return to the shop concerned day after day. The price will eventually start to fall. I’m not really good at bargaining because, to be honest, it is an annoying process for me. But for those who love it, there are astonishing deals out there.
And remember, in some territories anything can be bargained. That includes food, drinks, clothing, physical goods, personal services, and even the exchange rates at the bank! If you stay at local hotels and guesthouses, you will more often than not be able to bargain the room rates.
In many places the sky is the limit, so try bargaining the absurd and you may very well find out it is possible. |
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Lake Namtso, Tibet
© Stephen Braun |
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