Page 9 - Nepal Destination Guide - Alluring Asia

ETIQUETTE The Nepalese are very polite people. Handshaking is customary for both men and women upon introduction and smiling is definitely a national tradition. There are a few taboos - The use of the left hand to give and receive as well as crooking your finger to call someone are considered impolite. Improper dressing is probably the most significant and visible faux pas committed by visitors. Modesty applies to men as well as women, but women should be especially careful to cover the upper arms and legs and avoid tight or revealing clothing. When entering homes, shoes are usually left at the door. The same applies to temples and monasteries, especially if the shoes are leather ones. Watch what others do. Children can become veritable pests in their desire to pose for photography, but it's polite to seek permission before photographing an adult: by smile and gesture, if not verbally. Don't sit or stand on statues, chortens, chaityas, prayer walls or any vaguely religious object. Among Hindu castes, cooked food is a primary vehicle for Buddhism maters here and pervades every aspect of daily life. When visiting a temple always ETIQUETTE walk clockwise around Buddhist stupas, chortens or mani walls. Always remove your shoes ritual contamination. Any food or utensil that touches the The Nepalese are very polite people. Handshaking is lips is juto, ritually impure, and should not be given to before entering a Buddhist or Hindu temple or sanctuary. There are many rules, but they are customary for both men and women upon introduction and anyone else. Empty glasses and dishes should be placed on constantly repeated, so you won't make any mistakes. If you do, the Bhutanese will forgive smiling is definitely a national tradition. There are a few the ground, away from cooked food. you if they see you are trying to be reverent. taboos - The use of the left hand to give and receive as well as crooking your finger to call someone are considered impolite. Drinking chang or butter tea in a Sherpa home is a ritual in It's the custom to give a white scarf of khata to a Buddhist abbot when you are introduced. Improper dressing is probably the most significant and which a quest's glass is refilled (or at least topped up) at least visible faux pas committed by visitors. Modesty applies to three times in the course of the first few minutes. Pace You may be subjected to a rapid barrage of questions on personal subjects. This is not men as well as women, but women should be especially yourself and allow the server to do his or her duty. considered rude, but if you feel it is you can change the subject, or start questioning the careful to cover the upper arms and legs and avoid tight or questioner. revealing clothing. Body language can be confusing. Bobbing the head from side to side signals agreement, not 'no' and when a Nepali Among Hindu castes, cooked food is a primary vehicle for ritual contamination. Any food or When entering homes, shoes are usually left at the door. The waves 'come' it looks as if he saying 'go'. Pointing with the utensil that touches the lips is juto, ritually impure, and should not be given to anyone else. same applies to temples and monasteries, especially if the finger is impolite; villagers use their chins to point. Empty glasses and dishes should be placed on the ground, away from cooked food. shoes are leather ones. Watch what others do. Children can become veritable pests in their desire to pose for Physical contact between the sexes, even hand-holding, is Drinking chang or butter tea in a Sherpa home is a ritual in which a quest's glass is refilled (or photography, but it's polite to seek permission before frowned upon in public, but it's perfectly all right for at least topped up) at least three times in the course of the first few minutes. Pace yourself and photographing an adult: by smile and gesture, if not verbally. members of the same sex. allow the server to do his or her duty. Don't sit or stand on statues, chortens, chaityas, prayer walls As in most of Asia, time is a malleable concept and Body language can be confusing. Bobbing the head from side to side signals agreement, not or any vaguely religious object. Buddhism maters here and promptness is a relative thing. If it does not happen today it 'no' and when a Nepali waves 'come' it looks as if he saying 'go'. Pointing with the finger is pervades every aspect of daily life. When visiting a temple may happen tomorrow. This charmingly, relaxed approach impolite; villagers use their chins to point. always walk clockwise around Buddhist stupas, chortens or can be infuriating if you are waiting for something urgent. mani walls. Always remove your shoes before entering a Physical contact between the sexes, even hand-holding, is frowned upon in public, but it's Buddhist or Hindu temple or sanctuary. There are many It's good to donate a few rupees to genuine beggars, religion perfectly all right for members of the same sex. rules, but they are constantly repeated, so you won't make mendicants, wandering minstrels or the blind, crippled or ill. any mistakes. If you do, the Bhutanese will forgive you if Beggars who harass are a different category, as are begging As in most of Asia, time is a malleable concept and promptness is a relative thing. If it does not they see you are trying to be reverent. children. Many are quite well off, and play 'one rupee, one happen today it may happen tomorrow. This charmingly, relaxed approach can be infuriating pen, on chocolate as a game. if you are waiting for something urgent. It's the custom to give a white scarf of khata to a Buddhist abbot when you are introduced. Confrontation and aggression are avoided at all costs, and It's good to donate a few rupees to genuine beggars, religion mendicants, wandering minstrels people will go to great lengths to save face and not push an or the blind, crippled or ill. Beggars who harass are a different category, as are begging You may be subjected to a rapid barrage of questions on issue or person to the wall. Polite persistence may calmly children. Many are quite well off, and play 'one rupee, one pen, on chocolate as a game. personal subjects. This is not considered rude, but if you feel make it clear you're not interested in the object they're it is you can change the subject, or start questioning the shoving in your face. Confrontation and aggression are avoided at all costs, and people will go to great lengths to questioner. save face and not push an issue or person to the wall. Polite persistence may calmly make it clear you're not interested in the object they're shoving in your face.