Nick is an old Asia hand who writes boutique articles for the places he really likes, like this great little guesthouse, the Ochheuteal Guesthouse, near the beach in Sihanoukville Cambodia. Click there now, and prepare to be fascinated and motivated to grab a ticket!
Before you set out for that holiday or business trip to the South East Asian region, be aware that there are some cultural issues that may impact on your experience. None of these are frightening or off-putting in a big way, just good to know about and expect. Forewarned is forearmed as they say.
Probably the most discussed cultural issue in the bulk of South East Asian countries is the concept of face. Face, and not losing it, is an issue we do not place a great deal of importance on in the west, but be prepared for it in this part of the world.
So what does this saving face mean? It means that when people deal with each other there is a greatly heightened awareness and priority on avoiding a perception of embarrassment or humiliation. This applies to you and to the other parties involved. An example would be a conversation between a student and their teacher. The teacher explains a process, and the student does not understand. In the west this would not be a very big deal at all. The student would be happy to, (and in fact be expected to), alert the teacher that they did not understand, and ask for it to be explained in a different way.
In the South East Asian countries of say Thailand or Indonesia, this type of situation would need to be handled carefully. From the students perspective, they firstly would not want to appear slow or inattentive, and may have an issue in asking for a clarification in the class environment. Also, as they would hold their teacher in high esteem, they would definitely not want to allude that they lacked the skills to explain things clearly. From the teachers perspective, they may find it difficult to accept a student expressing confusion in the classroom.
So in these countries, the student may well hold their tongue and either ask a fellow student, or seek to speak to their teacher in private later.
Another issue on this region that visitors may come across is etiquette at religious places. The term for a temple in Buddhist countries such as Thailand and Cambodia is Wat. When visiting a Wat, be sure to dress conservatively. There is no need to be formal, but please do not go in beach clothes or your short disco dress! Additionally, you will inevitably see a collection of shoes at the door. This is simply as the correct etiquette is to take your footwear off before entering. So if you are planning a day of serious temple visiting, a good tip is not to wear lace up shoes. You will find yourself exhausted by the end of the day if you do.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
Traveling to the United States more and more difficult for Canadians with Criminal Records
By: Jared Church | 30/12/2009If you have been following the news lately, flights to the U.S. from Canadian airports came crashing to a hault with news of the terrorist plot on Christmas Day. One of the consequences of the ever-tightening security procedures on U.S. bound flights is that ordinary Canadians with old criminal records are being increasingly denied entry.
Gay Trips In 2010 To Ecuador
By: Howie Holben | 30/12/2009Although a small country, Ecuador boasts a wide array of geographic and cultural diversity, including a variety of indigenous groups with distinctive cultures and languages. From snow-capped volcanoes and rainforests to tropical shorelines, Ecuador has varying landscapes and climates, making it wonderful for gay destinations or exciting adventures a great idea any time of the year.
The Pushkar Fair, Rajasthan
By: Gaurav Kaushik | 30/12/2009The outstanding Pushkar Mela is held here every year for 5 days in the month of November. This festival is celebrated in the month of Kartik according to the lunar calendar. It begins from Ekadashi and lasts till the night of full moon. It is considered to be auspicious to take dip in this lake during the festival time. The folk dancers and musicians of Rajasthan gather here during this time and add fun to the festival.
Qutub Festival, Delhi
By: Gaurav Kaushik | 30/12/2009The very tall Qutab Minar wears a novel look as the three-day Qutub Festival of dance and music commences, delightful and pleasant tourists from all over the country and world participate in this. The Festival is a combined undertaking of the Delhi Tourism & Transport Development Corporation and Sahitya Kala Parishad. The local food stalls placed within the compound and serve up local cuisine of Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and other northeastern states, adding together to the educational
Onam Festival
By: Gaurav Kaushik | 30/12/2009In Trichur, A lively procession with beautifully decorated elephants is taken out which is a major attraction. People throng at Cheruthuruthy, to enjoy the famous Kathakali dance. The performers of this dance enact certain scenes from the well known epics and other folk tales. The participants are painted in various colors and dance to the beats of different instruments like thakil and udukku.
Onam Festival
By: Gaurav Kaushik | 30/12/2009In Trichur, A lively procession with beautifully decorated elephants is taken out which is a major attraction. People throng at Cheruthuruthy, to enjoy the famous Kathakali dance. The performers of this dance enact certain scenes from the well known epics and other folk tales. The participants are painted in various colors and dance to the beats of different instruments like thakil and udukku.
Krishna janmashtami
By: Gaurav Kaushik | 30/12/2009Some North Indian areas celebrate the Krishna Jayanthi for three consective days whereas the first two days go by in a vibrant manner. A well-liked ceremony, 'Dahi Handi’ takes place that provides the youth to smash the pot overflowing with butter or milk. The similar kind of occasion is celebrated with enthusiasm and keenness in Mumbai and many other cities of Maharashtra.
Krishna janmashtami
By: Gaurav Kaushik | 30/12/2009Some North Indian areas celebrate the Krishna Jayanthi for three consective days whereas the first two days go by in a vibrant manner. A well-liked ceremony, 'Dahi Handi’ takes place that provides the youth to smash the pot overflowing with butter or milk. The similar kind of occasion is celebrated with enthusiasm and keenness in Mumbai and many other cities of Maharashtra.
Making Backlinks Work for Your Website
By: Nick Wood | 01/05/2007 | SEMYes, it is yet another internet term! You are undoubtedly familiar with what a link is in cyberspace, but do you know what Backlinks are, and how they can help you grow your internet business?
Cultural Issues in South East Asia
By: Nick Wood | 30/04/2007 | TravelBefore you set out for that holiday or business trip to the South East Asian region, be aware that there are some cultural issues that may impact on your experience. None of these are frightening or off-putting in a big way, just good to know about and expect. Forewarned is forearmed as they say.
Monetizing Your Website
By: Nick Wood | 30/04/2007 | Affiliate ProgramsWhat on earth does this mean? Well it means introducing advertising to your website to create new channels of income. Let us have a look at the good, the bad and the ugly choices out there.
Health and Safety in South East Asia
By: Nick Wood | 27/04/2007 | TravelMulling over a trip to the exotic delights of South East Asia? Good on you, it is a vibrant and fascinating location. Just take a few simple precautions and you will love it all!
Securing Your Holiday Finances in South East Asia
By: Nick Wood | 26/04/2007 | TravelAre you planning to make a country in South East Asia the destination for your next holiday? Perhaps instead you are breezing through for a few days on your way somewhere else? Whatever the case, let us explore how to get your spending money squared away.
Dealing with Customer Enquiries on Your Website
By: Nick Wood | 26/04/2007 | CommunicationWhatever product or service you market on your website, you undoubtedly receive any number of enquiries from both your existing and potential customers. How well do you handle these communications? Do you even want to receive questions from your web customers in the first place? Sales are at stake here, so let us look at this issue.
Optimising your Page Ranking
By: Nick Wood | 24/04/2007 | Non-FictionSo you have a website? Well good luck to you, and I wish you all the best. No, I'm not being sarcastic, I really do. Lets face it, it is a big wide and cruel electronic world out there, and unless you are one of the big fish, you are one of many thousands of websites created each and every day. See how to change this.
Boutique Accommodation - What to Look For
By: Nick Wood | 24/04/2007 | TravelAre you sick and tired of staying in big international hotel chains? Has the dubious appeal of not knowing wether you are in Baltimore or Bangkok worn thin? Good on you, read on and find out about the hidden gems collectively known as boutique accommodation.