Cultural Shock in Southeast Asia? Take This Top 3 Basic Rules!
Avoid a cultural shock while travelling to Southeast Asia! We’ve all been there, a moment where you realised that you just embarrassed yourself in the public, or perhaps innocently pointing to the sacred statue and everyone just shocked in silence! Well, understanding which gestures open doors and which accidentally slam them shut is vital. Therefore, learning a few essential social rules is the single best way to move beyond "tourist" status and unlock genuine warmth, ensuring your journey is filled with smiles, not apologies! Here’s the top 3 of the most fundamental and crucial rules to understand when traveling through Southeast Asia: 1. The Dirtiness of the Feet In many Southeast Asian cultures, the human body is viewed hierarchically: The Head is the highest part: spiritual, sacred, and closest to the heavens. The Feet are the lowest part: literally touching the ground, associated with dirt, and furthest from the spiritual realm. Therefore, the feet are culturally deem...