When In Rome Be A Roman

I've always been a firm believer that when travelling, I should embrace the culture and customs of those that I'm visiting. Afterall, isn't this one of the beauties of travel... learning and trying new things?

Usually, my idea of "embracing" is talking with the locals, trying new foods, and soaking up the culture. But sometimes, not knowing the local etiquette can offend those around you, or in some cases, land you in a sticky situation.

For instance, some customs you may not have known...

* In Southeast Asia, you never want to touch someone's head. The top of the body is considered to contain one's soul, and the head is considered sacred in these countries.
* Always toast with eye contact in Europe... failing to meet each other's eyes is believed to be followed by a bad omen.
* Silence your nose... when travelling in China, make sure you don't sneeze or sniff at the dinner table. (Not only is it bad manners...) but it is considered barbaric. In Japan, using a handkerchief in public is considered rude.
* Drink to the last drop... Soup that is.. leaving the last drops of soup in your bowl in Japan will offend the host, and they would think you didn't like the meal.

So, as much as I say, "When in Rome be a Roman", its not a bad idea to check into the do's and dont's before you head off to explore a new destination. After all, a happy traveller, was a prepared traveller!