Never: cultural rules vol. I

Never:

When you visit Asia never touch someone´s head. The head is considered to be the most important part of the body for Buddhist and Hindu and by touching it you are doing something very rude. So when a little child passes by you playing around don´t touch his head, it would be considered a serious offense.

Never:

Take a photo without asking permission (that personally I wouldn´t even ask) to an Arab woman wearing the veil (burka – niqab – chador) it is considered to be extremely rude. If you take a photo you better be a married woman and if you ask for permission you should also be a married woman.

Never:

Walk into a temple of any sort in the Buddhist, Hindu or Muslim religion wearing your shoes. Also don´t enter the temple with shorts or micro shorts. The most probable thing that will happen before entering is that staff will provide you with a sort of veil or disposable medic pants to enter.

Never:

Take photos inside of the Buddhist, Hindu or Muslim temples without asking permission first. Some places are holy and it is considered to be extremely rude to snap a picture so don´t take it personally if you pull out your phone that the guard tells you (sometimes not in a very kind way) to store back your phone.

Never:

While visiting India shoot a photo of the ceremony of an open crematorium, it is not nice or polite to take a picture of someone else´s love one dead body just to have a postcard of your holiday and it´s also considered to be very rude for the family.

Never:

Talk and ask directions to an Arab woman wearing the veil (burka – niqab – chador) the most probable thing is that they don´t reply back and if they do, it wouldn’t be pleasant for her or her spouse. If you are a woman it is okay; if you are a man, it´s not. If you are a man and don´t have any choice don´t stare or do much eye contact, just ask and stare at the map or the street.

Never:

Make a comment or stare in a bad way if Thai, Indi, Sri Lankan, Indonesian or barf while they eat. It´s just a common thing for them.

Never:

Enter a house in Japan or South Korea without taking your shoes first. It doesn´t matter if you are wearing the last Christian Louboutin or Nike, chances are higher to be hit by a bus than someone else stealing your shoes.

Never:

Ask were gay clubs or bars are in an Arab country. It is illegal and punishable by law to be gay.

(I don´t own the above picture)