Left Isn't Right and Other Lessons Learned

Jenn using her Dirty Hand to Eat. Bad Jenn...Bad.We expected to learn a few lessons as our travels progressed.  Below is a sample of those that have recently come to our attention:

1. Left Isn't Right - In Asia left hands are often used for what might be referred to as "dirty work" and should never be used when eating.  Jenn is left-handed and tries to limit the use of her dirty digits when dining publically.
2. Electricity 101 - Plugging a 110 volt surge protector into a 220 volt power outlet will not offer the desired protection for your electronics, and may trip the fuses in your hotel room...and result in a puff of smoke...and a burn mark on the socket.  Enough said.
3. Liquids May Be Too Hot to Handle - Remember the McDonald's coffee in the lap incident in the US?  It has nothing on KL's hot tea on the hand incident of 2014.  It caused a real "sensation".
4. Crazy People Exist Everywhere - Sadly, we've encountered them in Hawaii and now Singapore.  :(
   The good news is, for every looney there are 10 amazingly nice people we encounter during our travels...Maybe even 11.
5. Spontaneity, Pshhh...Forget That - As much as we try to "go with the flow", airlines and the countries we visit have a different plan.  We have to purchase return or onward airline tickets more often than not in order to be allowed into several countries.  The welcome is something like, "We are glad you're here.  When are you leaving?"

We expect to learn more lessons as our travels continue.  What travel tips have you learned in your adventures that you'd be willing to share with us?

Comments

[Michael]

You're becoming true citizens of the world!!! ;)

[Ron]

Remember to look the opposite way for traffic when you cross the street compared to what you are used to in countries that drive on the left. Look right first, not left...

[DINKS Travel]

Thanks Michael! We certainly are learning a lot quickly. I hope you and Clarann are doing well!

[DINKS Travel]

Thanks for the tip Ron. We find you have to look both ways multiple times and sprint like crazy to still not be killed by the oncoming vehicles. It's kind of like playing Frogger. :)

[Steve]

If you end up in one of the countries with a strong Muslim culture, remember that the left hand is dirty. When I worked with the Pakistanis, they were very offended if you tried to hand them something with your left hand, especially food.

[Diane Pecoraro Coradlo]

Great post! I second the advice to look RIGHT. I was almost hit by a double-decker bus in London upon my very first attempt to cross a road there. I was pulled back onto the sidewalk by my rucksack and the bus whizzed by my nose. And I knew I was supposed to look the other way, but habit was just that strong. On a totally separate but also near-death note, I was medevacced out of Mongolia as a Peace Corps Volunteer because I was investigating a mystery bottle that appeared to be aspirin... but turned out to be lung-burning hypochloric acid tablets. I only found out recently just how close I was to death on the chartered flight that took me to South Korea for a week-long hospital stay. (Apparently you feel very relaxed before you die from slowly not getting enough oxygen, which makes you think you are going to be *fine*... nope, exact opposite.) Anyway, just be safe and don't ever forget you aren't in the US.

[DINKS Travel]

Diane - Welcome to the dialog, it's great to hear from you! Thanks for the first-hand travel advice. As tough as it is as a pedestrian, it's even harder to be a driver on foreign roads. We're continuing our travels in New Zealand and I've been driving on the left side of the road from the right side of the rental car for several days - It takes a bit of getting used to. Jenn laughs it up every time I turn on the windshield wipers when approaching a turn (the turn signal's on the right side of the steering column, but I reach left out of habit).

Remember, the first thing you should say once you regain consciousness after getting hit by a double-decker bus is, "Yah, but you should see the other guy!"

Based on your advice, I've been careful not to spend too much time investigating unfamiliar pills. Someone at the airport gave me a big duffle bag full of them and asked me to carry it through customs...I told the guy, "hey, as long as I don't have to sniff, taste, or touch the stuff!"; he was cool with our agreement.

Cheers to you and yours. :)