10 Commandments Every Indian Must Follow On Travel – Aab Sudhar Jao!

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It is not new that we see most annoying travelers around in an Airplane, In a Bus, At coffee shops or at an eatery. We Kind-of-punch-them in our imagination but cannot do anything in Real.  So why not spread these commandments and make this world a better traveling place.  Here are few that comes to my head,

1.  Thou Shalt Not be Over Friendly with Strangers.

Be it an airplane, train, or road journey – no one likes an over the top lively person especially if traveling with strangers. Having respect for personal space, being considerate about your sitting, rolling back your seat, and tucking away your personal belongings while leaving space for others is something any decent human being should think about.

It is also considered nice if you make polite conversation with your fellow traveler before asking for a favor like a change of seat so as to avoid any awkwardness.

Example: Don’t be the guy who eats away the stranger’s meal when offered a bite.

2.  Thou Shalt Smell Nice on Trips

Smelling nice and dressing well also goes a long way when it comes to commuting. Use body sprays, Deo, Perfumes etc to keep yourself fresh and keep the people around you alive too.

Example : I can never forget the stink of a cool looking man on my flight from Delhi to Amritsar. I felt like observing 2 minutes silence for his family who tolerates him everyday.

3.  Thou Shalt Greet Our Host Properly

It is very important for anyone traveling to any new place to know about its greeting customs. This not only displays character but also shows effort on the part of the person for being considerate towards the host’s country and culture. A nice and friendly greeting if done correctly is an excellent icebreaker for all and opens up communication in an effortless manner. So, be it a business or a pleasure trip, do some research and master that handshake, Namaste, or bow before you visit your new international destination.

Example: Say you’re on a business trip to Japan and there is a certain way to greet people there, ie - a bow and you ignore that on go on with tight hug, the Japanese would reciprocate but you have lost that golden opportunity to make that amazing first impression.

4.  Thou Shalt Respect Host’s Culture

One of the most important parts of travel etiquettes around the world is cultural etiquette. No matter where you are, travelers should always follow the rules of the country and respect its culture even if it doesn’t match their ideology. There should be research and a conscious effort from the traveler’s side to not cause any violation.
Pro tip – dressing, language, and greetings are a few of the things you should concentrate on.

Example: If a place of worship in a country like Bhutan or Bali or even India, demands you cover the lower half of your body and you ignore that and visit the place in hot shorts or something revealing, then yes, you are going against their culture.

5.  Thou Shalt not Crib for Hometown Food when on Trip

Do a thorough research about the cuisine that you’re going to indulge in since everything that you might want might not be available there. Usually, every country has certain food items that are banned and it is only sensible for you to know about them before you go on demanding them like it’s your hometown. It is very important to dine like a gentleman wherever you go. One should always tip the waiters as per the country you’re traveling to. Example: Most of the Muslim countries in the middle east prohibit the consumption of pork so it is only decent for you to not demand it.

6.  Thou Shalt not Spoil Historical Monuments

You have surely seen people scribbling their and their girl’s name on the monuments. This doesn’t make their love eternal, infact it makes them a branded fool. It is enough of “Mai tera hoon Pushpa, I love you” on important buildings. Lets save our historic monuments for out children.

Example :  Go to any monument in India for an Example!

7.  Thou Shalt be Modestly Dressed on Trip

Most of the controversial and important travel etiquettes around the world are related to dressing. Usually, each country has its own set of rules for men and women and they are expected to be followed by foreign tourists as well whether they like it or not. So before you go out in that skimpy outfit or that inappropriate shorts, note that while it may be totally fine to wear it in your country, your traveling destination may not support it. Adhering or modifying your outfit as per the locals is usually the best policy.

Example: While wearing revealing clothes might be fine for women in European nations, it is a strict no-no for Middle East countries and a few Asian countries.

8.  Thou Shalt Ask Before Clicking Pictures of Strangers.

Photography is more like a permission-based manner when it comes to travel etiquettes around the world. Usually, every country has their own rules for it and it mostly depends on the attraction that you’re visiting. There might be several areas, beaches, spots, and places where you might feel like just taking out your smartphone and click that Instagram worthy picture but you cannot. So, to avoid any embarrassment or fines, it is better to read for signs or know the rules of the place before you make that click. Also, while indulging in some random photography, always ask permission from the person whom you’re clicking. It is only decent to do so.

Example: Before clicking pictures of the locals, always ask for permission and never assume for granted that it’s a yes from them.

9.  Thou Shalt Not play Loud music on Trip

I like the song ‘teri Jawaani badi mast mast hai’ but not in public dude. I might find a particular song interesting and smoothening but it may disturb others by the same.  Can we use a headphone instead?

Example: A group of 4 friends were enjoying loud music on Varanasi train. They wanted to pass time as their station was just 2 hrs away. However an aunty on the same train wanted to sleep badly.  What happened next?. Loud music was overheard by a loud slap by aunty. We slept peacefully after that.

10.  Thou Shalt Mind his language on Trip.

You must have heard the term “mind your language” and that basically holds true for every country you visit. While it is okay to swear if something really bad happens to you, but under most circumstances, it’s a strict NO. Also, it is always recommended to learn the local language or at least know its basic terms so as to communicate in a much easier manner.

Example: ‘Fuck-you’ can be taken lightly in few places but be ready for a sore face if you use it in many other places.

it’s a skill that just like good values needs to be acquired but once you do so, it has its own benefits like protection from embarrassing situations, not being a douchebag, respect from locals, and occasional smiles and thankyous.

So what are you waiting for? Lets promise ourselves to follow these commandments before starting our trip around the world. Lets make India proud!