Category "culture"

What to do in Andorra during the summer? [closed]

I have the opportunity to visit Andorra in the summer (La Cortinada). The Pyrenees look beautiful, but I wonder what else is there to do excep

How do you know if a Japanese person means no when they say yes?

I have come across a few situations when a Japanese person will extend themselves beyond what they probably should to help people. I am often worried when askin

How to avoid the the multitudes during Obon week in Japan?

We're currently planning a trip to Japan. As we realize just now, it will cover the Obon week completely. To avoid getting stuck in the multitudes we try to shi

Where can I have a genuine Ainu cultural experience in Hokkaido?

During my next trip to Japan I may end up in Hokkaido. I've read something about this mysterious indigenous group called Ainu/Aynu/Aino/Ezo, but I must admit my

Celebrating birthdays without family in Japan [closed]

I'll be celebrating my birthday during my trip (solo) to Japan. Apart from special year birthdays (eg 3, 5, 7 years of age), is there anythin

Where can I socialize with young Japanese people?

One of the things I like about travelling to Japan is that it's possible, if you know some Japanese, to travel to destinations where your fellow travellers are

Are inexpensive ryokans inauthentic?

A lot of people I talk to, including Japanese and non-Japanese, claim that ryokans are expensive. Once, when I discussed this further and said that some places

Is there animosity between people from northern and southern Italy? [closed]

In an episode of "The Sopranos", the protagonists and his entourage (Italian Americans from Napoli and Sicily) react strongly to examples of I

Is brushing your teeth in the public toilet a culture specific activity? [closed]

I have seen on a number of occasions in Australia of people brushing their teeth in a public toilet, whether it is in a library or office buil

How can I avoid or minimise haggling without causing offence?

I'm visiting Dubai soon (although I'm happy to keep the scope of this question wider), where I think haggling is a standard expected part of buying many goods (

Pacific islands where you can see natives who don't wear clothes?

Jacque Fresco once mentioned that he find naked people in Tuomoto when he was living in South Pacific for 1 year. But that was in the 50's, so a lot has probabl

Bargaining at street stalls and secondhand shops in Mongolia

I love books and I especially love used books. I've discovered to my surprise that Ulaanbaatar has quite a lot of used bookshops. But when I ask the price of a

"Cheek kissing" between men in Mongolia

This afternoon in Ulaanbaatar I was sitting in a coffee shop in a shopping mall trying to make the best of the flaky Wi-Fi there. A local guy who was obviously

When to hug, kiss, shake hands, or even "fist bump" in Europe?

I have to ask this because I'm Asian and we don't do any of these things there. I have been living in the UK and Germany for a while and I still can't understan

How to deal with flight attendants behaving unlawfully?

How do travelers deal with flight attendants who conduct themselves unlawfully (racist/homophobic/etc)? I have seen and even overheard flight attendants discus

What does this long yellow sign mean in Indonesia?

When moving around Indonesia, I have noticed that some houses have this sign sometimes: What does it mean? Is it just a decoration or does it have some meani

Mixed-gender naked swimming pools in Finland

I've just read about Yrjonkatu, which is a Finnish swimming pool where nudism is allowed, but only on separate days for men and women. Are there any pools in F

Where is the most city culture rich places in Southern California?

I'm a country bumpkin. I'd take pride in my heritage as such if there actually was any actual heritage to take pride in. :) I'd like to visit Southern Californ

Laptop/mobile device in countries with Sharia

I'm traveling to Iran and i need to bring my laptop. For western standards I do not have anything illegal on my hard drive but since I'm not familiar with the

Are Indians as pushy to one another as they appear to be to Westerners?

So I'm in India right now and and idk... it feels like I can't walk more than a few yards without being accosted by someone trying to get me to ride their auto