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An Excerpt From: How to be the PERFECT Asian Traveller, India & Japan Edition

  • By Sam Nowitall
  • Oct 21, 2017
  • 2 min read

India

1. Do not wear tight or revealing clothing. (Because Indians are super conservative and anyone who shows skin, is asking for it)

2. Do not expect punctuality to be the norm. (Because Indians are always late; IST refers not to Indian Standard Time but Indian Stretchable Time)

3. Do not display your affection in public. (Because only in India, it’s okay to piss in public but not kiss in public)

4. Do not point with your fingers, point with your chins. (Because Indians love to shake their heads and will not resist any opportunity to do so)

Japan

1. Always bow politely whenever you meet, greet, thank, or say goodbye to someone. (Because the Japanese are the most polite humans alive)

2. Make sure to embrace your inner Hello Kitty while you’re there (Because all Japanese love “Kawaii”, dressing up as dolls and speaking in high voices)

3. You should visit Japan in Spring! (Because if you’re not going to see the cherry blossoms, just stay at home)

4. Make sure you try sushi, the essence of Japan. (Because the Japanese eat only sushi all day, every day)

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Seriously tho,

Travel guides often present information from a foreign perspective, in an imposing way. Using phrases such as, “you must” or “you have to,” they tend to prescribe a universalised set of beliefs or actions that one should follow. In reality however, these might not always be truly representative of a particular place. Also, authors of these travel information sources have the power to select what information is presented and how they are presented. In other words, their views are privileged and often taken as the norm. At times, these supposedly responsible guides may pre-construct ideas of certain places, people and cultures for you, before you even visit them. These ideas can possibly influence you in ways that may or may not be accurate/responsible.

Have your perceptions ever been influenced by such guides?

 
 
 

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