The availability of cheap airplane tickets, discount hotel rooms and cheap vacation packages is making Asia an attractive travel destination. If you want to blend in, you should make a point of becoming familiar with local customs before arriving at your destination.
The following are some tips you should consider:
Good boyfriends in Shanghai almost always carry the handbag or purse for their girlfriends.
Shanghainese rarely shop at fake markets around the city. Instead of frequenting tourists traps like Nanjing Dong Lu Pedestrian Street, young Shanghainese prefer to shop in the Luwan, Xuhui and Jianan districts.
In Thailand when a group of Thais go out to drink the bill is evenly split regardless of who has drank the most. It is common for a group to order a large bottle of liquor to share vs. ordering separate drinks.
Foreign tourists in Japan often go to a sushi bar and never order any raw fish. Cucumber rolls, inari rice balls and tamago are considered food for children. Japanese adults eat and enjoy raw flavorful fish.
Japanese do not answer phones on a train. If a call must to answered, custom is to cup your cell phone with your hand and keep it short, saying I am on a train. Will call you back. Then bow to the offended travelers around you.
In Mumbai locals run across streets regardless of the traffic. It is believed that God will protect pedestrians. Also that if you wait for cars to stop you may never make it to the other side of the road.
In Sikkim northern India women generally do not purchase tobacco or alcohol from stores, or drink or smoke in public.
In Singapore local custom is to refer to anyone older as auntie or uncle.
Most locals wear surgical masks in Hong Kong during flu season. People who sneeze or cough in public and are not wearing masks are often given the evil eye by complete strangers.
South Koreans believe that there is a correlation between ones personality and their blood type. Preferred blood types are O, and A/B. www.cheapfares.com