Traveling is a great way to learn about other cultures and grow your understanding of the world as a whole. Getting outside of your own comfort zone and going somewhere else is an amazing experience, though parts of it can be quite shocking.
Every country has its own set of rules, laws, and social norms, many of which you'd never know until you experienced them yourself. These are some of the things that are shocking to tourists when they travel to different countries across the globe.
Window Shopping Can Get You Yelled At In Thailand
If you look at an item in a store for a long time, but don't follow through with a purchase because you don't like it, the owner might get openly aggressive and yell at you.
Eat The Right Way
In countries in Southeast Asia, people eat with their right hands. The left hand is reserved for "toilet business", so avoid being laughed at by keeping your left hand far away from your dinner.
Cash Might Not Be All That Useful In Scandinavia
Many Nordic countries, including Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, have been moving to decrease cash use and are almost completely cashless. In many stores, the only way to pay is by using credit.
It's Only Up From Here, But It Will Cost You
In Georgia, the elevators aren't free to use when going up. It doesn't cost a lot, but if you don't have any coins on you, you have to use to stairs. It's normally alright, but not so much fun when you're carrying bags.
Pedestrians Beware In Vietnam
During peak commute hours in Vietnam, cars will drive on the sidewalks. Similar to how cyclists in Germany will use sidewalks, they drive at really fast speeds and will go straight through crowds of people. Move slowly and you will be yelled at.
Put Your Camera Away!
In Egypt, it is strictly forbidden to take photos of military objects and government buildings. You might think a photograph can't do any harm, but you will go to jail if you're caught snapping a pic.
Muscle Up Before A Trip To India
When you go to stores in India, there is no such thing as an organized line. Whoever is the strongest and can push their way to the front gets to make their purchase.
Please Don't Sit Next To Me!
Norwegians really love their personal space and don't like to be close to strangers. On public transit, people will opt to stand rather than sit next to or face-to-face with someone they don't know.
Mind The Gap And The High Costs
When traveling within the United Kingdom, get ready for public transit to be a little more expensive than you're used to. A single trip on the London underground train costs £4.90 ($6.30 USD)
Shoes Off, Please!
In Thailand, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian countries, it's customary to take off your shoes before entering any building. However, it can get quite tiresome to take off your shoes every time you go into a shop, so choose wisely!
Restaurants In Italy Include Service Fee In The Bill
While we're used to the tip at a restaurant being up to us, restaurants in Italy don't use the practice of tipping at all. The service fee is included in the total cost of the meal.
Make Sure You Have Google Translate Ready In India
A rickshaw in India might severely overcharge you if you don't speak Hindi. In the southern states of India, itineraries and bus numbers aren't listed in English, only Malayalam and Kannada.
Grin And Bear It
In Spain, if a police officer comes to confront you, you might have to pay a €500 fine if they feel like you weren't respectful enough to them during your interaction.
In Israel, Your Boots Are Made For Walking
During Shabbat (the Sabbath), which is the "seventh day of rest" in Judaism, public transit isn't available. The only way to get from one place to another is by cab or by lacing your shoes up and walking.
You Can Be Denied Entry To Australia Based On Where You've Gone Swimming
Australia has a delicate ecosystem due to its isolation and distance from most other continents, so they're very careful to make sure nothing that can damage the wildlife enters. Swimming in freshwater bodies where you could be exposed to bacteria can lead to denied entry.
Zones Are Nothing To Play With In Berlin
The underground train system in Berlin is divided into zones. If you go into a zone using the wrong ticket, you can be fined €80. You buy the tickets from a vending machine and have no one there to ask for help, so look up the subway map ahead of time.
What Does France Have Against Hot Popcorn?
The best part of going to any movie theater is getting a bag of freshly made hot popcorn to snack on. Apparently, the French disagree because you're only able to buy cold popcorn in France.
Get Your Head In The Game
Depending on the context within which it's used, one head movement that Indians make can mean either "yes", "no", or "I don't know". Good luck trying to decipher which one they mean.
When In Rome, Drink Coffee Instead Of Tea
In Italy, people don't really drink tea. If you order tea at a restaurant, a teabag will cost about €3, which is enough to buy two boxes of tea in the supermarket. Go with the flow and order coffee.
Rules Were Made To Be Broken
In countries like Bulgaria, Montenegro, and Georgia, driving laws are often broken. Drivers in these countries are generally aggressive, which can make it intimidating for a foreigner who doesn't know the streets well to try and drive.
Beware Of Pricing In Europe
In many European shops, sellers don't put price tags onto the merchandise. They are about to make money on tourists by making up prices on the spot. Try checking multiple stores to make sure you're not paying double what you should on souvenirs.
Don't Forget To Tip!
In Western countries and Israel, you're expected to tip everyone for everything: cleaning services in your room, the person who helps move your luggage, the person who gives you a towel at the pool, etc.
Prepare For A Lot Of Sunlight
In Sweden and the Netherlands, it's standard to not have curtains on the windows. Just make sure you don't change in front of the windows and maybe bring a sleep mask if you like to go to bed early.
Don't Litter In Singapore!
You should never litter in general, but the stakes are a bit higher in Singapore. You can be fined $400 for throwing a cigarette butt or chewing gum on the ground.
When In Doubt, Carry TP
In many countries, including India and rural areas of South America, toilet paper isn't available in all the bathrooms. Make sure you carry some on you to avoid a rather unfortunate situation.
Foreign Medical Care Might Take You By Surprise
In the United Arab Emirates, doctors tend to over prescribe antibiotics. You could have just a runny nose or a headache and still receive a prescription for an antibiotic treatment.
In General, No One Likes A Dead Phone
Before traveling to any country, check to see which type of power outlet adapter you need in order to charge your electronics. There's nothing worse than being stranded in a place where you don't know the language and can't pull up Google Maps.
Metal Detectors Are Everywhere In China
When visiting China, be prepared to have to go through metal detectors all the time, even in the streets. Traversing through downtown, these frequent metal detector checks can get quite irritating.
What's The Hurry?
In many Asian cities, most people aren't really in a hurry. You could be running late for the airport and your taxi driver might just stop and eat some street food for 10 minutes.