Until recently not many would’ve thought of
luxury travel as an agent of world peace and understanding. Even now this
aspect of travel hasn’t quite rung a bell, generally speaking. Are tourists
responsible for more than their luggage when they travel? Yes, of course, a
whole range of things from toddlers to passports.  But, world peace? Surely you can’t hold them
responsible for something so intangible and more at home in the realm of
political diplomacy, especially when all they want is to leave responsibilities
behind and have some unrestrained fun. Well, luxury travellers are certainly
not expected to transit in the Middle East and start negotiations before they continue to the warm tropics to
work on a tan. The point here is that an understanding of the people and the
culture you would be interacting with at your luxury travel destination is a
great way to enhance the trip.

These are the days when luxury travel to
exotic foreign locales is a matter of routine for most people. Oddly enough the
search for the exotic often takes one to far flung corners of third world
cultures totally alien to the visitor in terms of language, customs, and
etiquette. Some take it in their stride and blend in effortlessly with an open
mind and have the time of their lives. They are eager to learn more about the
host culture and come away enriched and enlightened in more ways than one; go
native, as it were.  There might even be
an invaluable exchange where the host steps out from behind their cultural
curtain and greets you with a hand shake as you bow with a wai greeting. Worlds
meet and a relationship is born. It might not be a momentous occasion marked by
clashing cymbals and trumpet calls. But from the perspective of luxury travel
this may easily be considered an achievement that bodes well for us human
beings who sojourn in troubled times.

People are different. What makes them
different is not colour or creed, but customs and culture. This is indeed a
difference to be celebrated. How horribly boring would it be if the whole world
had toast for breakfast and wore black suits? It is the unique customs and
culture of a people that gives them an identity and sets them apart.  It is an understanding of these mutual
differences that bring people together. The easiest way to achieve this would
be to wise up on local customs and etiquette while browsing for top attractions
and things to do at your luxury travel destination. It can be quite a
revelation.

Differences in culture and customs become
more pronounced as your luxury travel presses eastwards. With the changing
landscapes come strange etiquettes which will certainly throw the first timer.
For instance, in Thailand and in most Southeast Asian countries which are popular luxury
travel destinations, it is considered awfully rude to touch anyone on the top
of the head. Even brushing against a head by accident entails profuse
apologizing. Same applies to pointing your foot at anyone while seated. It is
an insult; plain and simple. Thais shake hands as greeting, but it would be a
loose, limpid clasp rather than a warm grasp. Any form of aggressive hand shake
is considered extremely rude; think arm-wrestling. So think twice before you
grab hold of a Thai hand and pump enthusiastically.

Travel broadens the mind as well as your circle
of friendships. Chances are high that while on vacation at your luxury travel
destination, you might come across some individual or family who went out of
their way to help you, befriend you, or save you from dire straits. It is only
natural that you want to show appreciation by presenting a gift. An expensive watch,
perhaps, or a bottle of wine? An exquisite leather handicraft should do nicely
to convey warm appreciation. Think again. You do not gift clocks, watches, or
any time pieces to Chinese people; it’s supposed to bring bad luck. You do not
gift wine to Muslims; they do not imbibe. You do not gift leather to Hindus;
the cow is sacred to them. Well, there’s always chocolates!

Often luxury travel isolates tourists from
local culture or presents them with a highly sanitised or anglicized version
that might lack authenticity. This can only be considered a huge loss as far as
cultural enlightenment is concerned. You have been fed a bite-sized version of
what could’ve been a delightful gourmet experience. The chance to learn and
understand various cultures and why they do what they do is invaluable and to
be grasped with both hands when available. It is a chance to lay down
prejudices and see with new eyes. For beneath the various skin tones, we’re indeed
driven by the same needs , foremost among which would be the need to be
understood.

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Tags: ambassadors, curtain, gre, hand shake, host culture, local customs, luggage, luxury travel, mantle, nuances, passports, peace and understanding, political diplomacy, third world, toddlers, travel destination, wai, warm tropics, world cultures, world peace

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