Scuba Travel Ventures, Inc. News

Mind your shoes and feet

After Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi's threw his shoes at President Bush, the commander-in-chief said he wasn't insulted. He should have been. In Arab countries, the soles of the feet are considered impure; flinging a shoe is no better than throwing offal. Buddha, too, taught that the feet are the lowest part of the body—physically and spiritually. Therefore, in most of Asia, showing the bottoms of one's feet, even accidentally pointing a foot at someone, is a grave insult.

Don't use your left hand

In the Middle East, South Asia and even parts of Africa, the left hand is reserved for sanitary practices. One must never touch food with it (or goods in the market, or strangers). In India, the tradition crosses into religious practice. During Hindu prayers, the prasad—or, gift—is received only with the right hand. For Muslims, too, right-handed eating is more than a simple matter of cleanliness. According to the Koran, "Satan eats and drinks with his left hand."

Always toast with eye contact

Just as a handshake is said to have originated as proof that your companion wasn't concealing a weapon, so goes the rumored origins of toasting by robustly clinking mugs. If a would-be assassin has poisoned a drink, he will be reluctant to see his drink mixed with his target's. Some cultures have gone even further. Drinkers in many European countries must prove their sincerity by looking into every other drinker's eyes during the toast. At a large table of friends, the process can take awhile, but failure invites a dire consequence: seven years of bad sex.

Never insult the royal family

Just ask any foreigner who's been to a movie theater in Thailand: The royal family is held in high regard. Before a film begins, patrons are asked to pay their respect to the king while a short reel about his life is shown. Failure to do so can result in criminal charges under "lèse majesté," or injury to the royals. As Harry Nicolaides found out, the law is often at odds with Western expectations of free speech. In 2008, Nicolaides was sentenced to three years in Thai jail for criticizing the monarchy in a book. He was eventually pardoned—after spending six months in prison.

Silence your nose

While China is renowned for its public expectoration, just across the sea South Koreans are more mindful of their phlegm and spittle. Even the slightest sniffle at the dinner table will paint you as a barbarian. This can be a tough trick for foreigners whose palates may not be ready for the omnipresent spicy gochujang sauce. Still, when you feel a sniffle approaching, excuse yourself and head to the bathroom. In Japan, using a handkerchief in public is also considered rude.

Manage your chopsticks

There's more to expert chopstick usage than simply getting food from plate to mouth. Chopsticks aren't meant to push bowls or plates around. Rarely are they used to pierce food, and morsels should never be passed directly between two sets of chopsticks. The most crucial misstep foreigners can make is improper placement. Chopsticks should never be placed vertically; say, in a bowl of rice. The two sticks will resemble incense used to honor the dead, and you will have invited death to the dinner table.

Go ahead, hold his hand

Even the most open-minded visitors to Middle Eastern and Arab countries are surprised by the close physical contact between men. "Arab men may be seen walking hand in hand," says Alinda Lewris, founder and executive director of the International Association of Protocol Consultants and Officers. "It is considered a sign of kinship and does not imply any sexual connotation." So, when your new Arab friend clutches your hand on the way to afternoon tea, give him a squeeze back. He's just being friendly.

Be quietly grateful

It runs counterintuitive to Western upbringing, where "please" and "thank you" are often the first pleasantries we learn as children. But thanking your Arab and South Asian hosts may lead to awkward moments. Thanking your host too much suggests they've done more than what was expected, that they deserve kindness. For them, being a generous host is standard practice. It's a useful lesson to learn. As one expat living in Goa says, "I have felt far more integrated since I dropped all the 'please's and 'thank you's, and [I] certainly attract far less curious looks."

Don't touch heads

The top of the body, too, carries its own importance in many parts of the world. In countries where Buddhism flourished, even generations ago—and those of Southeast Asia in particular—the head is said to contain one's soul. Noted travel journalist Everett Potter found out the hard way when he "patted someone on the head in Thailand, and realized with horror as I did it that I was committing a real faux pas." The head is sacred; don't touch it.

Don't shake hands across a threshold

In Mediterranean countries, even strangers kiss one other on the cheek; in Japan, bows are exchanged. In Russia, there's just one rule to remember: Never shake hands across a threshold. Says Matt Taibbi, Rolling Stone contributing editor and longtime Moscow resident, "Shaking hands 'cherez porok' is a major no-no. When I went to college there and tried to introduce myself to my teacher, she flipped out."

1. Check In Online

The line at your airline's check-in desk or kiosks can be long and aggravating. Consider checking in online and printing your boarding passes at home. Then, once you get to the airport, you can quickly check your bags or, if only taking carry-ons, head straight to security.

2. Sign Up for Email or Text Message Alerts

There's nothing worse than arriving at the airport only to discover you'll be delayed for a while. Signing up for email or text message alerts is a great way to stay informed of any itinerary changes affecting your trip. While it would be great for customer service to get in touch to inform you of such changes, in this day of cash-strapped airlines operating on short staffs, it's highly unlikely.

3. Make Sure All Gifts Are Unwrapped—or Ship Them Ahead of Time

During the holidays a few years back, my friend's mother and cousin were traveling together for their annual family reunion. At the airport, her cousin asked her mother to watch his bag of Christmas gifts while he went to get a snack. Thinking she'd be helpful, she decided to go through security with the packages. An official, curious about the (wrapped) gifts, asked what they contained.
"I don't know," my friend's mother honestly replied. "Someone gave them to me."

Needless to say, she was detained until the cousin returned, the packages were unwrapped and rustled through for contraband, and a situation that could have been expedited got dragged into a prolonged affair.

Long story short: If you're bringing holiday gifts to the airport, make sure they're unwrapped and keep all of them with you at all times. Or, better yet—save everyone a lot of hassle and get them shipped to your destination in advance.

4. Know Your Airline's Baggage Policies and Be Prepared

The days of arriving at the airport, checking your bag with ease, and moving along to your gate are long over. Many carriers have now implemented first- and second-checked-bag fees; you may also find additional penalties for your bag's weight or size. Additionally, if you're transporting something unusual, such as skis, antlers, or the like, expect to be socked with an additional fee. The best tip? Know what you'll be paying before you go, so there are no unnecessary surprises, conflicts, or negotiations once you get to the check-in counter.

5. Have All Contact Information Handy

If you do find yourself delayed en route, make sure you have all customer service phone numbers easily accessible. You'll want to have the number for your airline, hotel, rental car, and tour operator ready in case you need to update your arrangements on the go. And if you're at the airport already, get in line while also calling customer service to stay ahead of the game and minimize further delays.