Peculiar cultural customs you’ll find in Asia – The more you know!

While those who hail from western nations are familiar with the typical handshake, there are a variety of different ways in which an initial greeting is exchanged in Asia.
For example, if you were to visit Sri Lanka, you would be greeted by the bringing together of two hands clasped almost in prayer followed by the phrase 'Ayubowan' which is meant to wish you longevity and good health. If you were to venture further east toward Korea, you would encounter a greeting that consists of a curt bow as a sign of respect.
Something to keep in mind is that while these gestures may seem out of the ordinary to you, it is the norm and it is encouraged to learn about these traits and do your best to reciprocate them as well!

While many nations spend a lot of their days indoors or outdoors in shoes, there is a certain restraint needed when wearing shoes in Asia.
If you are invited into a home in Asia, be sure to take your shoes off at the entrance to avoid bringing in dust and dirt, unless told otherwise by the host. Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that many religious institutions in Asia require that you remove all footwear before entering their domains as a sign of respect.

In many Asian cultures, it is considered to be quite rude to touch the heads of people as it is considered the most sacred part of the body. Furthermore, there is a belief that the feet are the dirtiest part of the body and therefore it should be kept away from the heads of people at all times and should not be used for pointing and touching anything.
If you are staying at any hotels in Asia Pacific such as the Park Hotel Group then you can always speak to the local staff to get a better understanding of what may be considered culturally sensitive.

While in many western countries slurping is considered to be the height of poor etiquette, some Asian countries such as China and Japan look for people to slurp when consuming a meal as it is considered to be a compliment to the chef and a polite gesture.
This may certainly take some getting used to but the thing to keep in mind is that there is a vast chasm that separates western and eastern tradition!

Something that may take some time to get used to is that many Asian nations view public displays of affection as somewhat uncouth and therefore frowned upon. If you are travelling with a loved one, please spend some time understanding the culture you are entering to see if there is anything you may need to know!