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12 Things You Don’t Want to Be Caught Doing in Foreign Lands

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wakingdream	Jan 1 2009, 09:40 PM Post #1
Rolling Stone Group: Local Expert Posts: 5853 Joined: 18-August 06 From: Guelph, Ontario Member No.: 13336	We all have ideas and advice about what we should do while away on a journey but how about the things we shouldn't be doing?! Here's a starter for us; 12 Things You Don’t Want to Be Caught Doing in Foreign Lands Disparaging the royal family in Thailand Showing affection in Dubai Smoking in Bhutan Tagging in Singapore Romancing a local in Iran Carrying a firearm in El Salvador Running drugs in Indonesia Slaughtering a cow in India Naming a teddy bear “Muhammad” in Sudan Trafficking in cultural antiquities in Turkey Taking a nip in Saudi Arabia Breaking and entering in the U.S. Okay, well, some of these you really shouldn't do anywhere! I'm quite confident we can come up with a pretty great list of our own! Add yours here! -------------------- ~Susie 'Yesterday's the past and tomorrow's the future. Today is a gift - which is why they call it the present.'

aopaq	Jan 2 2009, 09:56 PM Post #2
Tripper Group: Local Expert Posts: 1919 Joined: 31-May 06 Member No.: 893	Offhand, I would think that wearing a t-shirt saying "I Kurdistan" in Turkey or "I Tibet" in China would definitely not be a good idea. Oh, and one should remember that taking photos of or around any military installation anywhere in the world is a wonderful way to enjoy a long discussion with local military folk.

starlagurl	Jan 6 2009, 09:17 AM Post #3
Rolling Stone Group: Local Expert Posts: 14509 Joined: 5-November 07 From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Member No.: 103914	Ha! Yeah, and also taking lots of photos in subways or large bus stations will get you kicked out too! Buying drugs or getting involved in criminal activity is a bad idea anywhere usually. -------------------- My most recent blog: A trip to Toronto that turned into a trip to Niagara

darrenstravels	Jan 6 2009, 03:17 PM Post #4
Tourist Group: Members Posts: 572 Joined: 12-April 08 From: County of Kent, UK Member No.: 167016 Nominate me as a Local Expert	Yeah, I wouldn't advise wearing an "Up the IRA" t-shirt in London, or any garrison town in England - some things won't be forgotten. Or football colours of a rival team in a certain teams pub. Read an article today about photographers being arrested under anti-terrorism laws here in the UK, after photographing buildings close to police stations, railway stations, government offices etc. I repeat, that is buildings that are close to those offices, let alone actually photos of the offices. So clearly, don't do that. -------------------- Thailand, Laos and Cambodia 2010

findingnine	Jan 7 2009, 03:05 AM Post #5
Rolling Stone Group: Local Expert Posts: 4705 Joined: 24-August 06 From: Ottawa, Ontario Member No.: 14300	QUOTE(starlagurl @ Jan 6 2009, 10:17 AM) Ha! Yeah, and also taking lots of photos in subways or large bus stations will get you kicked out too! Buying drugs or getting involved in criminal activity is a bad idea anywhere usually. What?! Ok, first point, Is there a story there? Cause it kinda feels like there's a story there. Second point, I mustuv misread the second point 'cause I'm pretty sure I read right who posted it. -------------------- This is all I got. I couldn't make this up

starlagurl	Jan 7 2009, 08:00 AM Post #6
Rolling Stone Group: Local Expert Posts: 14509 Joined: 5-November 07 From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Member No.: 103914	I have gotten kicked out of numerous subways and bus stations, shooting news footage and interviewing people for student projects... yep -------------------- My most recent blog: A trip to Toronto that turned into a trip to Niagara

papayaprincess	Jan 4 2010, 04:57 PM Post #7
Wayfarer Group: Local Expert Posts: 45 Joined: 31-May 06 Member No.: 898	Hey, Another weird one is wearing camo or military garb (Zimbabwe, Barbados, etc).. it's a strange rule, but it exists in several countries. Cheers

skylab	Jan 5 2010, 01:37 PM Post #8
World Traveler Group: Members Posts: 1042 Joined: 19-August 08 From: Buenos Aires Member No.: 228012 Nominate me as a Local Expert	Don´t take pictures of a lady-boy... Unless you really dont want your camera anymore.. -------------------- DJSkylab.com: My blog :) ArtOfBackpacking.com: Backpacking Independent International Traveler Facebook "They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." -Andy Warhol "My body has certainly wandered a good deal, but I have an uneasy suspicion that my mind has not wandered enough." -Noel Coward

starlagurl	Jan 5 2010, 01:40 PM Post #9
Rolling Stone Group: Local Expert Posts: 14509 Joined: 5-November 07 From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Member No.: 103914	Really! I did! But he was doing a show. -------------------- My most recent blog: A trip to Toronto that turned into a trip to Niagara

kilgiraffe	Jan 23 2010, 08:02 PM Post #10
Expeditionist Group: Local Expert Posts: 209 Joined: 7-July 09 From: Barbados Member No.: 285187	QUOTE(papayaprincess @ Jan 4 2010, 09:57 PM) Hey, Another weird one is wearing camo or military garb (Zimbabwe, Barbados, etc).. it's a strange rule, but it exists in several countries. Cheers Yes, I'm all too familiar with that law.. Something to do with impersonating the military? Although it has to be said Barbados doesn't exactly have a military worth impersonation, hehe.. They are oddly strict about it, though.. -------------------- Sarah: Little girl, big dreams. Currently living in Scotland British born, Barbados raised, slowly but surely getting out there. One day.. Next trips: Australia Late March-April; Europe Late June-Mid August

corinneconley	Jan 31 2010, 02:13 AM Post #11
Expeditionist Group: Local Expert Posts: 222 Joined: 7-January 10 Member No.: 638491	QUOTE(aopaq @ Jan 2 2009, 10:56 PM) Oh, and one should remember that taking photos of or around any military installation anywhere in the world is a wonderful way to enjoy a long discussion with local military folk. This happened to me in Morocco... The rule of thumb I learned there is that if there are military guards, don't take a picture! Why would they make the buildings so pretty then :-( -------------------- Recent Trips: New Trails: Buffalo National River Upcoming Trips: Oceanside, California (August) Las Vegas, Nevada (October)

danstravelworld	Jan 31 2010, 03:54 AM Post #12
Voyager Group: Members Posts: 79 Joined: 8-November 07 From: Nomadic, but Worcester UK by birth Member No.: 104714 Nominate me as a Local Expert	QUOTE(corinneconley @ Jan 31 2010, 02:13 AM) QUOTE(aopaq @ Jan 2 2009, 10:56 PM) Oh, and one should remember that taking photos of or around any military installation anywhere in the world is a wonderful way to enjoy a long discussion with local military folk. This happened to me in Morocco... The rule of thumb I learned there is that if there are military guards, don't take a picture! Why would they make the buildings so pretty then :-( - Patting people on the head in Asia - Stepping over a mans dinner in Cambodia - Smiling on the tube in London - Smiling anywhere in London

raniroo	Feb 1 2010, 03:49 AM Post #13
Sightseer Group: Local Expert Posts: 946 Joined: 25-September 06 From: Sydney Member No.: 19411	having sex on the beach in Dubai (actually doing anything indiscret or even being too drunk in Dubai!) -------------------- If you really look like your passport photo, you need the holiday! "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain

polydemic	Feb 11 2010, 12:55 AM Post #14
Tourist Group: Members Posts: 586 Joined: 14-July 08 From: Seattle, Washington, USA Member No.: 212482 Nominate me as a Local Expert	Taking photographs on a Sunday, in the countryside of the Netherlands, could raise the ire of local church-goers. Taking off your shirt in public, in Mexico, can draw a scolding from several citizens. Laughing in a mosque, in Isreal or just about any Muslim country, could endanger your life. -------------------- All the earth is my home and each nation a different room in the same house.

barsie	Feb 15 2010, 05:00 AM Post #15
Globetrotter Group: Members Posts: 345 Joined: 8-June 08 From: Chester, England Member No.: 195337 Nominate me as a Local Expert	Plenty of religious places require you to remove your shoes before entering. Taking photos or filming in naughty nightlife areas will often get your camera taken off you. Doing Nazi salutes in Germany. -------------------- Would be life traveler. Visit BackPackingShop

corinneconley	Feb 15 2010, 12:06 PM Post #16
Expeditionist Group: Local Expert Posts: 222 Joined: 7-January 10 Member No.: 638491	... doing Nazi salutes anywhere -------------------- Recent Trips: New Trails: Buffalo National River Upcoming Trips: Oceanside, California (August) Las Vegas, Nevada (October)

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