There are always certain taboos when you visit a new country. The culture shock, or culture clash as some might say, can frequently take you by surprise. Nothing seems as embarrassing as getting shamed or laughed at in public places for doing the unspeakable. India, a cultural hodgepodge of individuals, travelers and languages catches the backpacker and globetrotter off-guard countless times per day. Avoid getting the dishonorable stare (or earthshaking bowels) or even the public finger point by using these simple DON’TS while in India.
7 - Don’t Eat Peeled Fruit
When you visit some of the public restrooms in India, you’ll wish to stay as healthy as you possibly can for as long as possible. One of the approaches to avoid earthshaking bowel movements is to heed the traveler’s ubiquitous warning: Don’t eat already peeled fruit. You are able to offer the peeled fruit to friends for any cruel joke, but don’t eat it yourself-unless this friend is going to be your hostel mate! Or, a great way to test your food is to give it towards the said friend and wait Twenty four hours. If they turn out OK, chances are you’ll be OK. India’s bacterium doesn’t play favorites. If you purchase and wash peel-able fruit yourself, then probably it will treat you A-OK.
6 - Don’t Drink the Tap
Should you wouldn’t drink the water from your home toilet, don’t trust the plain tap water in India. Often the water pipes here happen to be stewing under the baked earth for many years. Though the water is treated, the pipes contaminate water well before the tap. If you’ve ever needed a great enema, this may be one way to cleanse your personal backed-up pipes. Oh, another cruel joke: Add plain tap water to your friend’s bottled water; just a smidgen is going to do. After the eruptions pass, make sure to say, “You’ll need to make sure the bottle cap is attached. Many of the places refill the water bottle for re-sale.” Chuckle deep within yourself while you turn away. (Rethink this if, again, said friend is the hostel-mate.)
5 - Prance Around inside your Shoes (slowly moving away from doo-doo talk)
Much more India it is considered a discourtesy to put on your shoes in the home or perhaps a place of worship. Shoes in the street do not belong in your home in India (and many other areas of Asia for that matter). If you step in excreta, though, be sure to fix it off before going anywhere. A stick or bit of rubbish will do, but don’t ensure that it stays stuck to your shoes for very long periods of time. Contrary to popular belief, it will not harden after which not smell. It always smells. (Scatological talk is simply so easy.)
4 - Acting Out a Sexual Fantasy in public places
If you’re a woman, and obviously drunk, it's not OK to pole dance around the bus or metro. If you're a man, and obviously drunk, it might be OK to pole dance around the bus or metro (truly it’s not OK). If you are together with your partner, man or woman, be sure that you don't practice your bedroom fantasies in public places either. The act, discussion, talk or rhythmic motions of copulation aren't kosher public expositions. A peck on the cheek or grab from the cheek for that matter, if done very slightly, might be admissible but get it done quickly.
3 - Try everything With Your Left Hand
The left-hand in many cultures is considered a wicked, well kind of, thing. If your friend is stupid enough to be seduced by everything you say by now, you might want to tell him that things are done with the left hand. The left-hand, however, is reserved for drinking portions of water at the table and looking after bathroom functions. Yes, you have to still wash it while you won’t be eating with it!
2 - Inquire about the Meat Special during the day
Be sure not to go into every restaurant using the intentions of asking exactly what the meat special is for your day. Depending on where you’re at in India, so many people are strictly pescatarians, vegetarians or a mixture of both. If you are a person who cares little about feelings or culture, then blare out that you'll require this and that, making orders difficult and owners nervous. Getting kicked from restaurants makes for some fun story telling in the bar later anyway. Don’t be a fool.
1 - Ask for a Beefy Steak
Should you come to India and don’t realize that cows are sacred, you very well may really be an idiot. One of the worst things you can do is to chase the cows that linger within the streets or try to have them angry or aroused - not really for a cool picture! The cows are thought treasures and cannot be harmed under Hindu belief. Ergo, leave the cows alone and don't induce excitement. And, don’t request a hamburger; don’t ask where the closest spot to get a burger is; and, don’t keep requesting a hamburger at restaurants. If you would like beef, go to Texas. If you wish to experience culture and humble cows, go to India.
