Permatourist
Home is where you land
Beware of the Buenos Aires Mustard Squirters!
Mar 4th
I had visited one of my favorite cities, Buenos Aires, dozens of times before without incident, but this particular trip at the end of February, 2010 was to prove different. Barely had I left my hotel to venture out in the Plaza Congreso, a small backpack containing my laptop computer and digital camera slung over one shoulder, that some band of miscreants attempted to turn my holiday into a fiasco. Suspect number one, a young man, approached me in the middle of the square and asked me for the time, oblivious to the obvious fact that I’m not wearing anything on either wrist. I shrugged and continued walking at my usual rapid pace. A little further ahead I noticed the same fellow running by my side and then turning away.
A few more steps and a very old man taps me on the shoulder and tells me I have something on my back. I stop and reach behind me, touching my lower back and looking at my hand, now smeared in bright white paint. What the…? I didn’t go anywhere near any painted surface and the many pigeons in the vicinity don’t typically poop paint. An instant later an elderly woman appears on the scene proffering tissues to clean the offending material off my person. I tell her “no thank you”, which is when their little plan began to unravel. That, and a passerby who told me “Beware, that’s how they rob you”. I then glanced over and saw both elderly phony Samaritans standing together, looking like deer caught in the headlights.
I quickly returned to my hotel, furious that I had almost been mugged. The only other time something like this had happened, and I had also had managed to escape any loss, was when street urchins accosted a girlfriend and I on the streets of Rio de Janeiro. After changing out of my clothes, which had a white streak from top to bottom, I returned to the square in an attempt to identify the thieves to the police. However, none of the many federal policemen in the area would accompany me and after milling around in the park for about 15 minutes and seeing that the culprits were nowhere to be seen, I gave up waiting for the phantom foot patrol the other cops had supposedly radioed.
After speaking to a fair number of people living here, it became evident that the robbers’ scheme is a popular one in this city, although they typically squirt you with mustard rather than paint. I’m certain now that the lad who asked me for the time was the one who “marked” me (as I mentioned, I walk fast), and the two seniors attempted to distract me, which would have resulted, had they been successful, in my backpack or wallet, or both, being lifted. I was targeted because I was alone, as such a scheme could not work if the victim was accompanied.
The “helpful citizen” distraction scheme comes in many different forms, this being just one of them. Sadly, you have to be suspicious of anyone offering help you didn’t ask for.
Quick Guide to Montevideo
Mar 1st
South Americans often refer to Uruguay, that small country sandwiched between giants Argentina and Brazil, as the “first world of the third world“. I don’t share that opinion as you can plainly see there’s still far too many people living in extreme poverty in this country, but it is, de facto, the most stable democracy on this continent.
Just last week I made my way from Santa Fe, Argentina, to Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital and biggest city. I had visited Uruguay before, a few years earlier, but I had limited myself to Punta del Este, the country’s premier vacation destination, and Colonia, a well-preserved colonial city. Travelers often overlook Montevideo as it’s not a very touristic city, but it appears to be on the verge of a renaissance, finally recognizing the potential of its vast historic district, the “ciudad vieja”, in the port area. Countless old buildings are being renovated and new pedestrian malls are being created. Not too long in the future, this part of town could become as popular as Buenos Aires’ fabled San Telmo.
For now, Montevideo’s downtown is rather gritty, almost every building and monument suffering the indignity of ugly graffiti, and its streets are populated by a large number of beggars. The avenida 18 de Julio, the main commercial street, reminds me of avenida Santa Fe in Buenos Aires. Its sidewalks are bustling with activity during the day, but as soon as night falls, it transforms into a lifeless landscape. Locals warn you not to walk the streets at night, but that’s good advice anywhere in Latin America, not just here.
While Montevideo may at first appear as a kind of mini Buenos Aires, comparisons quickly end when you discover it has a large number of white sand beaches stretching eastward from just outside the port at Pocitos, as well as a coastal walkway that seems to go on forever. The salty water lapping the shore here is milky brown, as it’s still the river Plate (rio Plata) loaded with mud and sediment from sources deep inside South America, but local authorities certify that its safe to bathe. With its long rows of apartment buildings facing the Rambla (the coastal road), some beaches are reminiscent of Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana, minus the mountains. Curiously, there’s virtually no shops or restaurants along the Rambla. You’ll find those usually a couple of blocks in.
One of the aspects of Montevideo, and Uruguay in general, that can be considered “first world” are its prices. Things are more expensive here when compared to other south American nations, and even more so if you rely on the US dollar, which has fallen from 24 Pesos per dollar to just over 19 in the last year. Wages, however, are only slightly higher than in other South American countries.
Quick Facts:
Language: Castilian Spanish, virtually identical to that of Argentina.
Electricity: 220 volts. 2 round peg sockets or 2 slanted plus 1 vertical (same as Argentina).
Meals: Expect to spend at least 200 pesos (10 USD) per person for an ordinary meal. Cuisine is almost identical to Argentina’s. The national dish is the “chivito”, which can be as simple as a piece of steak or as crazy as a huge stack of wildly different items inside a hamburger bun.
Taxis: taxi meters don’t display the fare, but rather a number that has to be looked-up in a table (“tabla de tarifas”) in order to determine the cost. Taxis must have the table displayed in the passenger compartment. If one doesn’t, you might want to wait for one that does. A typical medium distance fare, say from downtown to Pocitos, would be around 5 dollars (100 pesos). Fares are about 25% higher at night (different table).
Public Transportation: There’s no subway, just buses, which are modern and cheap: fare is 17 pesos.
Cheap hotels: There’s plenty of hostels, but if you want a room with private bath, it’s more economical to stay at a hotel downtown, for rates as low as 45 USD per night.
Getting there: Direct, long distance flights to Montevideo are a rarity. Most travelers prefer to combine a visit to Uruguay with Argentina, typically crossing the river Plate from Buenos Aires in Buquebus, the high speed ferry service (about 90 dollars per person) if you book early.
ATMs: More like Brazil, where few ATMs support foreign debit cards. If your provider’s logo doesn’t appear on the list (say Cirrus,Plus or Maestro), find another machine. ATMs typically dispense Uruguayan pesos and dollars.
Internet: Most restaurants have free wi-fi, and do most hotels and hostels.
International calls: There are a few calling centers, but be forewarned that long distance calls are very expensive, as are calls to local cell phones. You might want to use Internet telephony, say Skype, if the wi-fi bandwidth is good enough where you connect.
Apartment rentals: If you’re planning to live here, the best areas are along the Rambla, from Pocitos to Carrasco, the latter being far more expensive. Rents are higher than in many similar sized North American cities. A very ordinary one bedroom apartment would rent for 500 dollars, while a 2 bedroom would set you back about 700 USD a month. Rents are almost always quoted in dollars and sometimes even paid in that currency. Shared costs, such as heat and water and condo fees are typically charged separately. Unlike Argentina, you don’t require guarantors, just documents proving you have sufficient income (bank statements, letter from employer), but you have to post a monetary guarantee equal to five months’ rent. These funds are placed in a special bank account which both you and the owner must sign for to withdraw funds from at the end of the lease. Rentals usually include no appliances at all except a small water heater. A few furnished apartments can be had, but for more money.
Tipping: Most Uruguayans aren’t good tippers, but as a foreigner you should remember that people here earn only a fraction of what they would in the first world (the real one), and be more generous!
Tourist Traps: There really isn’t any, but prices do seem excessively high in the port market (mercado del puerto), since Anthony Bourdain featured its eateries on his TV show.
Entertainment: No specific entertainment area, although there’s a few discotheques in Pocitos and a handful of bar/restaurants that stay open at night on the Sarandi pedestrian mall. Best way to find live entertainment venues is via the local newspapers. Carnival period lasts virtually all of February. Movies are generally subtitled rather than dubbed. Matinees cost about 5 USD per ticket. There’s an opera near Independence Square, the Solis theater.
Earthquake: Chile Now Off Your Itinerary
Feb 27th
I’m currently visiting Buenos Aires and woke-up to the news of a 8.8 (Richter scale) earthquake overnight south of Santiago, in neighboring Chile. I’m watching TV Chile, and it’s evident that the damage is extensive in the capital and surrounding area, as you might expect, and travel in or out of central and southern Chile is virtually impossible. Flights are being detoured to Mendoza or other Argentinean cities. Not a nice parting gift for outgoing Chilean president Michele Bachelet…
The Medical Tourism Check-Up
Feb 12th
There’s an old story still going around about doctors in poor countries re-using syringes and even bandages. It’s a myth. If it ever did happen, it was in some remote outpost, and even then I would still doubt it. Fact is, medical schools in large cities across the developing world turn-out highly skilled doctors and the facilities they work in are often as good as in any in the developed world. The major difference is in what it costs to be treated by these doctors and those hospitals: a fraction of what it does in the United States. Furthermore, the cost of medications is also vastly less than in the US, and can usually be bought without a prescription.
It’s no surprise, therefore, that medical tourism is all the rage, especially in areas usually not covered by insurance plans, such as plastic surgery. Flip through the pages of the on-flight magazine on any plane bound for Buenos Aires and you’ll notice the abundance of ads by state of the art plastic surgery clinics. Learn to dance tango and get a face lift! Just how big is the cost difference? A heart bypass surgery invoice for 140,000 USD in the USA might only be 20,000 in Mexico, 10,000 in India, or 9,000 in Thailand. A face lift would set you back 15,000 dollars in America, while only 6,500 in Costa Rica, or 5,000 in South Korea. Even after you factor-in your return airfare, hotel, food and the rest, you still come out ahead and you get to spend time in an exotic locale!
Medical insurance is also generally less expensive and more generous in its coverage than in most developed nations that don’t provide universal medicare. There’s usually a free government-run public insurance plan, but it’s almost guaranteed to include the lowest level of care. Instead, if you’re gainfully employed in your new country, get hooked-up with your employer’s health plan, which will be inexpensive and offer complete coverage. For example, Sura, a health insurer in Colombia offers a plan through employers which covers even medications and dental work for as little as 40 dollars a month for the entire family of the insured. There’s usually a small user fee for each service performed, but it rarely amounts to more than a dollar. There’s also private insurance plans which are much more costly (but still less than in the US) but will give you priority care (no waiting!) in the top hospitals and clinics.
Why does medical care and medicine cost so little in developing countries? First and foremost, because the cost of living and wages are much lower, but also because malpractice insurance isn’t a requirement or is inexpensive since patients aren’t as likely to litigate, and finally because the medical industry’s profits aren’t so hefty and protected by lawmakers greased by lobbyists. Just to mention a couple of advantages for the user: generic versions of drugs are more freely produced and distributed, and experimental treatments are readily obtained as they aren’t blocked by laws.
However, the lure of cheap medication and surgery comes with a warning label: Stick to the reputable clinics, many of which cater in large part to medical tourists, and don’t get your drugs from just any dispensary, lest you want to run the risk of a botched operation or ingesting bogus medicine.
The Art of NOT Complaining
Feb 11th
A family of four, including a toddler and a newborn baby, enters a cinema for a late show. The movie is rated PG-13 and the baby soon begins to wail thanks to the booming Dolby sound, while the bored toddler tears around the theater. None of the dozens of other spectators complain. A neighbor throws yet another loud party which is still going on after sunrise. Nobody complains. Another neighbor starts an illegal auto body shop on the street, spraying toxic compounds and paints into the surrounding air. Nobody does anything to stop him. A taxi driver talks on a cell phone, music blaring on the radio, all the while going at top speed. His customers don’t protest.
What is going on here? If it was the United States, these boors would meet with loud protests almost immediately, and maybe a visit from the authorities. But this isn’t the US. We’re in virtually any country in the developing world, where complaining typically isn’t part of the culture. The reason behind such tolerance is usually because it is seen as uncouth and even dangerous to complain. You don’t call the police because they’re likely corrupt and if they do come, they’ll do nothing if the wrongdoer pays a bit of hush money (it need not be much).
If you express your discontent, there’s a good chance you’ll be ignored or the offender will spew profanity in your direction. In some cases interfering with your neighbors, whether you’re right or wrong, could result in retaliation. In a place such as Colombia, the thinking is that the person you go up against could be connected to criminals, which could lead to serious consequences. In any land where the law is weak, self-preservation dictates that you take a deep breath, stay calm and endure!
As a foreigner, I’m even less likely to complain than the locals are! I’ve learned that if I object to something, I’m likely to get the “stupid gringo” response. More importantly, I’m a stranger in a strange land, and the word of a local will always carry more weight than my own. A mere accusation against me could result in my incarceration in squalid conditions, as the rule is typically “guilty until proven innocent” rather than the other way around. We “gringos” too easily escalate the most trivial disputes into heated legal battles. When you’re in a developing country, you won’t have the same latitude or protection, so once again, grin and bear it!
Whether you’re living in a far away land or just visiting, do as the locals do: bite your lip and walk away. Enjoy what’s best about your host country, but steer clear of any potential trouble.
Is your Web Site Censured in China?
Jan 31st
There’s still a lot of people out there who don’t realize China isn’t a democracy, perhaps confused by its booming capitalist economy that’s expected to replace Japan this year as the world’s second biggest in terms of GDP. China doesn’t have elections, has no freedom of speech and, of course, censures the Internet.
Recently it backed away from requiring that all computers have its Green Dam software installed, a content control system. Perhaps the embarrassing public revelation that Green Dam contained code copied from Net Nanny, a commercial Internet filtering program, and the subsequent law suit filed by the publishers had something to do with the about face.
However, Green Dam wasn’t absolutely necessary for the Communist party to achieve its aims, it was just an additional measure to restrict what the Chinese view over the Internet, and perhaps a way to identify subversive citizens. The fact is, what you can see in China is already controlled via the Internet service providers as well as content providers who cow-tow to the party’s policy, lest they be summarily unplugged and prosecuted. Industry insiders refer to the censure system as the “Great Firewall of China”.
Go to a cybercafe in Shanghai or Beijing and try accessing YouTube or Facebook, and you’ll get “server cannot be reached”, or maybe even some Chinese web page that has nothing to do with these sites will be returned. Then try searching for “Dalai Lama” on Baidu, the country’s most popular search engine, and the results will be for web pages that condemn the exiled Tibetan leader. That’s just a tiny sample of what the Chinese government deems as inappropriate content.
Google China made headlines by announcing it would not filter search results as required, threatening to abandon China if the authorities tried to force them to comply. Very noble on Google’s part, but if you’re in China, clicking on the search result links won’t take you to the banned sites. I’m not sure if Google’s cached versions would still be accessible. Note that Hong Kong ,although administered by the Chinese government, isn’t subject to censure.
how can you find-out if a web site, perhaps your own, is on China’s restricted list? One way is to type the domain name in the form at http://www.watchmouse.com/en/ping.php which will try accessing the domain through a large number of places, including Shanghai. Here’s a few top domains I tested and what transpired through a Shanghai isp:
myspace.com – Not blocked
cia.gov - Not blocked
hrw.org (Human Rights Watch) – BLOCKED
dalailama.com – BLOCKED
wikipedia.org – Not blocked
Wikipedia page about Tiananmen Square protests: BLOCKED
falundafa.org – BLOCKED
wsj.com (Wall Street Journal) page about Uighurs’ protests: Not blocked
From these results we can conclude that while a web site itself isn’t blocked, any pages it contains which refer to subjects the Chinese government is sensitive about may be censured, although they appear to not have the means to catch all of them. If they could, there’s no doubt that they would!
10 Top Reasons for Moving to the Developing World
Jan 30th
The developing world conjures images of poverty, violence and corruption. While its true that there are quite a few problems in that other world, nowadays there are parallel societies within it that offer all the amenities of “first world” living. Here’s ten good reasons why pondering a move to a developing country might not be so crazy…
1. You will Escape from Winter: Most of the nations in the tropics are poor, yet are blessed with year-round sunshine and warm temperatures. Most of us dream of lying on a beach in front of a turquoise sea. Why fulfill that wish only during vacations when you can live it every day of the year? As a Canadian, never seeing another winter was enough to get me going!
2. You will Live Cheaply: Most things cost much less in developing countries because incomes are only a fraction of what they are in developed nations. A 40,000 USD a year income is not much in the USA, Canada, or Australia, but it could represent a fortune in poor countries, affording you a very comfortable living. Your medical bills will also be just a fraction of what they used to be. Imagine being able to buy a condo apartment in a major city for just 40 or 50,000 USD!
3. You will Abandon Boredom: Let’s face it, for many, privileged life consists of working, eating and sleeping. Move into a country with a completely different culture and way of life and you’ve certainly given the old routine a swift kick!
4. You Could Pay Low or Zero Income Taxes: You can live in your new country and not pay any income taxes if your money is not earned locally and your country of origin doesn’t require you to file returns if you are not a resident and have no income there either. To boot, a lot of third world countries allow you to stay for up to three months at a time with no yearly limits, so you could reside there yet still be a tourist in their books (a permatourist in my book!)
5. You will Become the Interesting Guy/Girl: Back home, everybody will be talking about you for being so bold and adventurous, while in your new country you will likely be the exotic one all the locals chat about. That was not what motivated me, but it’s absolutely what happened! Additionally, living abroad gives you a lot to talk or write about.
6. You will Grow as a Person: Unless you are so self-centered you cannot see beyond your nose, you will learn to count your blessings and put the trivial in its proper place. This will invariably happen when you witness firsthand how the rest of the world exists. Also, you will likely learn to relax more and enjoy your life, once you acquire your new sense of perspective.
7. You will Meet Real People: Sincerity often goes out the window in a dog eat dog society where almost everybody is bent on accumulating personal wealth. In your new country, you are likely to encounter many genuine, down to earth people who work themselves to the bone yet value their families and friends more than anything.
8. You will Become Fit: Your diet might currently consist of canned and frozen goods, as well as eating in junk food restaurants. You likely will not be able to maintain that deadly routine in your new country, where the grocery list is primarily fresh produce and meats. Most frozen or canned goods are much more expensive than in your home country, and fast food is not as readily available as well as pricier. Lastly, hot weather is not conducive to eating a lot of fatty foods, and your cold weather body fat will be physically transformed into the thinner tropical type.
9. You will be Inspired: A change of venue almost always leads to new ideas. Perhaps you will finally write a book!
10. You will Relax: The developed world tends to be over-regulated and complex, which may make you feel suffocated, whereas in this other world things are far simpler. You can often do as you please without hindrance. This can also be a negative, but if you’re seeking freedom, maybe you need to make the move!
Of course, the decision to switch countries rides on more than just a whim, as you do have to support yourself. Ideally, your work is Internet-based, or you have a large bank account. Getting a job in your new country will likely mean a big income drop and longer hours. So, if your situation allows you, there is no reason why you too cannot become a “permatourist”.
Argentina’s New Tourist Tax Targets Canada, Australia, and USA
Jan 15th
As a result of yet another ill-timed law passed by Cristina Kirchner’s government, travelers visiting from Canada, the US and Australia are now required to pay a tourist tax upon arrival in Argentina. The law went into effect late in December, 2009, and has raised grave concerns from the Argentinean tourist industry, already reeling from the effects of the last recession.
US citizens are asked to pay 138 USD for the right of entry. Although the fee is collected once during the lifetime of your passport, this isn’t a visa, and it isn’t clear how it is tracked by Argentinean authorities. Meanwhile, Canadians will be the hardest hit, since they have to forfeit seventy US dollars each time they disembark in Argentina. Australians are bilked for 100 USD. The amounts can be paid in US currency or the equivalent in Argentinean pesos. Note that this new tax is in addition to the departure tax you have to pay upon leaving. If you have dual Argentinean citizenship, then you’re exempt from paying the new tax.
The explanation given by the government for this new policy is that it’s an act of reciprocity for the costly and complicated process imposed on their own citizens when they apply for a visa to one of the three countries. Brazil was one of the first to impose reciprocity several years ago, although I should point-out that what you get is a real visa, good for five years. It’s absolutely true that Argentineans are discriminated against by several economically rich countries, and the fees they’re charged for their application isn’t refunded if it’s refused. I agree this is unjust, but on the other hand, before the 2001 economic meltdown in Argentina, visas weren’t required of them – this changed when the flow of illegal immigrants from Argentina became an exodus of millions.
The real concern here isn’t whether this policy is justified, but what effect it will have on the already battered economy, where tourism is one of the most important sources of growth and foreign income. If you read the postings on this subject in online forums, you get a definite sense that the sector will take a big hit, judging from the virulent reactions of would be travelers to Argentina. If an American family of four was planning to go to Buenos Aires for a once in a lifetime vacation, they might reconsider upon discovering that their tab just went up by 552 dollars.
This tax will also have a negative impact on neighboring countries, particularly Uruguay. Many combine their visit to Uruguay with Argentina, typically landing in Buenos Aires, then traveling by Buquebus to Colonia or Montevideo. If you’re a Canadian, are you going to visit any neighboring countries knowing that you’ll be tagged for yet another 70 dollars upon returning to Argentina? The same problem arises for Canadians living in Argentina who have to renew their 3 month tourist visa, typically by crossing over to Uruguay for a brief visit. That, my friends is at least 280 dollars a year!
Currently, the tax is only collected in Ezeiza airport (Buenos Aires), probably because they haven’t fully worked-out the logistics of collecting the fees country-wide, but their plan is to extend it to all entry points, be it by land, air or water. The Kirchner administration predicts it will collect forty million dollars a year from this tax, but that is probably very optimistic in view of the dampening effect it will have. More importantly, the tourism industry will lose ten times that, thus making it a net tax revenue loss.
The Kirchners are almost guaranteed to be voted-out in the next presidential elections, so we can only hope that the next government reverts this law.
Gringo Discrimination Alert!
Jan 11th
Imagine going to a restaurant and being handed a different menu than other diners. The menu is identical in every way to the others, save for the prices, which are three times higher. This would never happen in New York, Toronto, or Sydney, but it happens routinely in Cozumel, Mexico, and a lot of other places in the developing world. The reason you were given the pricier menu is that you were deemed to be a foreigner from your appearance. If that isn’t discrimination, what is?
This unjust practice isn’t limited to restaurants. It’s also commonly used to gouge foreigners for a hotel room, entrance fees to national parks, and even for airline tickets, to name a few. For example, virtually every quality hotel in Buenos Aires (Argentina) will charge a room rate that’s higher for foreign nationals. Aviatur, one of the biggest tour organizers in Colombia, also pumps-up rates charged to foreigners and will still do so even after you produce your legal residency card. It’s also routine for national parks in Mexico and Colombia to charge higher gate fees to non-nationals. I’m only giving examples that resulted from my own experiences, but I suspect that this money grab isn’t limited to the locales I mentioned.
Businesses who engage in such ludicrous behavior may actually be violating local laws, but as enforcement of such regulations is usually very poor (and corrupted) in the developing world, they do so with virtual impunity. The one situation that made me most furious amongst all was that Lan, the big South American airline, charges higher airfares for foreigners traveling within Argentina, where I reckon they’re permitted to do so. I will think twice before flying with them again!
There are some things you can do to defend against such practices. In the case of the restaurants, ask them for the “menu local” (local menu), which is what the other patrons have in their hands. Point-out in a friendly way that you’re a resident if you need to, and if you’re rebuked, just eat elsewhere, no matter how great their shrimp cocktail is! For hotels, have someone who’s a national reserve for you, and avoid using credit cards, which would identify you as a foreigner. If you’re given a rough time, ask for the manager and nicely request that you be treated fairly and pay the resident rate. You could try the same strategy with the airlines and other types of businesses, and if you know that what they’re doing is illegal, you could bring up that fact to great effect. I would be very careful not to escalate the tone of any dispute, especially with those who handle your food!
Adapt or Leave
Jan 10th
Culture is everything in a human being. It tells us what’s right and what’s wrong, and never can we escape the culture we grow-up with. In order to be a successful permatourist, you have to be flexible in your belief system. Like it or not, the cultures you’ll adopt will probably conflict with your own. Embrace those differences — never view them as defects of your host culture, or even worse, as barbarisms. Here’s a few areas where you’ll have to be minding your P’s and Q’s…
Treatment of animals:
A lot of societies treat animals in a manner that may shock your sensibilities. Pets are unkempt and left to roam the streets, or abandoned outright when the owners move. For example, in Argentina the streets are filled with abandoned dogs. Other animals may be slaughtered for meat in the most unsanitary and inhumane way. For instance, Colombians have a tradition of butchering pigs on the street during holidays, even though the practice is prohibited.
Environmental Pollution:
In most societies, people have no qualms whatsoever about throwing garbage on the roads, in a field or in a river, even if trash receptacles were close by. The answer I usually got when I asked them why they did this was simply: “It’s garbage!”. The curious thing is that most often these people keep their own homes quite tidy. A person’s social standing doesn’t necessarily change this behavior. Meanwhile, few businesses pay heed to the environment, taking advantage of weak regulations and poor enforcement. Industries spew poisons into the air, ground and water without any treatment, often in highly populated areas. Cottage industries, such as impromptu auto repair shops, aren’t any better, often operating illegally on residential streets.
Noise Pollution:
Loud all night street parties; roving vendors advertising their wares with the help of loudspeakers; barking dogs, squawking parrots and roosters singing at all hours; scores of dilapidated vehicles chugging and coughing along — This is the constant cacophony in countless towns and cities in the developing world. Somehow the local people never complain, no matter how loud it gets.
Hygiene:
Bathing every day isn’t an option in places where water is scarce, while in others it isn’t a tradition even if water is abundant. Thus people’s body odor can be rather overwhelming in such places, but not offensive to them. For the same reason, clothes might be worn for many days despite the intense heat in some countries.
Unhygienic food preparation is often a problem. Even washing and disinfection of fruits and vegetables can be viewed as unnecessary. Natives might not suffer any serious effects from contamination, from already having built some immunity or from harboring vast colonies of parasites in their digestive tracts, but you, the newcomer, might become deathly ill, on the other hand.
Courtesy:
If you’re used to hearing “thank you”,”please” and “excuse me” when the situation calls for it, don’t expect the same when in a foreign land. It doesn’t mean they don’t feel appreciation or regret, but rather that it’s not something they normally vocalize.
Treatment of Women:
It might be 2010, but in many parts of the world, women are a very long way from being emancipated. Of course, this is horribly wrong, but if you think you can change local mores, think again. Your intervention could get you in trouble fast.
Driving:
Driving is highly dangerous in a lot of places in the world. There often seems to be no respect for the law, and when the police do clamp down, a small bribe will usually make them forget even the worst offenses. Add to that vehicles and roads in poor condition and you’re better off not driving at all.
