Places

Airports are their own separate world with their own rules, drama, confusion, and failures. It’s there that people sometimes find their love, cats, pieces of gold in wigs, and skeletons in bags.

We live in a big world, with a myriad of cultures and habits we may find a little strange at first. For instance, in Iceland, Christmas Eve is all about exchanging books and spent reading in a cozy nook with some chocolate. While we all love an iced drink to cool off from the heat in the summer, in some Asian countries, water is nearly always had hot, never mind the weather. The thing is, a lot of these habits have solid scientific backing.

Around the world, people just have their own way of doing things. So it comes as no surprise that certain things that you don’t normally pay attention to, even simple things you do when going to a restaurant or going shopping, might actually be considered offensive or strange somewhere else. In fact, some things that you might find offensive, like yelling or throwing a tantrum in public, might actually be considered polite or normal in another country.

Japan’s intricate web of social conventions and behavioral norms can perplex first-time visitors, who often stand out due to seemingly minor cultural blunders. While the Japanese tend to be understanding of well-intentioned tourists inadvertently breaching their etiquette, it’s better to familiarize oneself with these nuances to avoid any misunderstandings.

In the 21st century, many travelers don’t want to just lie on the beach but they also want to learn the culture of the country and its people. You can always expect to make interesting discoveries, especially if it is in an authentic place like Japan.

Many people associate the United Arab Emirates with sheikhs, white beaches, and luxurious hotels. But not all that glitters is gold. Sometimes, it’s so much more interesting to see the hidden side of the country that isn’t described in the tourist guide books.

French women have long been famous for their unique, sophisticated style, and their feminine looks are always admired by foreign women. Many things have changed over the last century, but the way European women carry themselves, both in terms of fashion and manners, continues to delight masters and admirers of feminine beauty.

There are more than 200 countries in the world and the residents of each region have their own customs and traditions, as well as simple everyday habits that differ them from other nationalities. It’s always interesting to study these differences and find out about the ordinary things that can perplex the inhabitants of all other countries.

Japan is a country of high-tech where comfort and convenience are really valued. Smart toilets, fast trains, vending machines — these are only a few of the things that pop up in our minds when we think about Japan. But it seems that there’s no limit to the creativity of the Japanese, and they continue to impress the world with their inventions.

There is a saying, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do,” so when we go to a different country, we follow the rules of this country. However, the differences in mentality and culture can be pretty shocking, even for the most experienced travelers. And if you don’t know the local rules, the least that can happen is that you confuse the local people, and the worst — you could get a fine or even a prison sentence.

From tall and slim to petite and curvy, women across the globe come in all shapes and sizes. So it’s no wonder that every country has its own beauty standards that usually stand apart from the others. And, among them, some nations have such an uncommon way of seeing beauty that it just leaves us speechless.

When visiting a new country, we are often really surprised by the local traditions, languages, or other everyday things. The surprises can be pleasant and not so pleasant, but they are always a part of visiting new places.

All nationalities are beautiful in their own ways, because nature gave all of them their unique appearance. But still, the internet resource for travelers, Big Seven Travel, decided to do a poll and find out which nationalities are believed to be the hottest. 1.5 million people took part in the poll and the website made a list of the 50 most attractive nationalities.

We’ve all dreamed of visiting the Arctic and witnessing the natural wonders of polar bears frolicking on ice floes or the aurora borealis dancing across the sky. Well, sorry to break it to you, but you won’t find any tourists flocking to Antarctica anytime soon. Why, you may ask? Let’s dive into it! First off, where is Antarctica? It’s located in the Southern Hemisphere, specifically at the South Pole.

We may live in simple apartment blocks or townhouses, but some people just love to stand out in everything, including their "castles." We at Bright Side have made a list of the world’s most unique houses that you’d want to live in. Check them out below.

There are some traditions that have not gotten lost in time and are still respected. Every country and culture is different from one another, and India is a great example of this. People behave, eat, and even dress differently. They have their own traditions and customs, and as tourists, these need to be honored. And this is exactly what we’d like to bring forth in this article.

The name of the country itself hints that the climate there is not very warm. And this is where all of its charm is hiding: it’s like the Snow Queen looking at you with her cold piercing eyes. And you can spend ages looking at this country: the waterfalls, the rocks, the volcanos, the beaches with black sand, and 8 months a year when you can see the Northern Lights. All these things make Iceland a country from a parallel reality that anyone would love to go to, at least for a little vacay.

Although the idea of beauty is universal, it can appear in many shapes and forms. Its definition has often changed through history, and its standards can vary drastically across cultures and countries. In Western countries, straight white teeth, plump lips, and long hair have been the epitome of beauty for a long time. But there are groups of people and ancient tribes across the globe who redefine beauty norms. Using various inventive techniques, they break the mold and create their own rules. And quite often, their inventiveness becomes an inspiration for the rest of the world too.

It can be tough navigating unfamiliar cultural norms, especially when you don’t want to offend anyone or ruin your trip. For example, in some Asian countries, it’s considered impolite to point with your index finger. To help you have a smooth trip, we’ve compiled a list of 10 cultural mistakes to avoid.

There are many objects and places on Earth that confuse scientists and ordinary tourists just by their sheer existence. Often, our distant ancestors puzzle archaeologists with their mysterious structures that seem to be inspired by nature itself. But even nature can trump our imagination.

Among the many traditional monuments and statues you can find in almost any town or city in the world, there are those whose sculptors appear to have departed completely from convention.

The old adage, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do,” still holds true everywhere. When you are traveling abroad, you do your due diligence and figure out all the “do’s and don’ts” of the country you’re visiting. But, it is more crucial to know the don’ts, since that knowledge will keep you away from any controversies and embarrassments and will keep you on the safer side.

When hearing the words “Parisian woman,” we usually imagine a gorgeous lady in a little black dress with a red beret on her head and elegant shoes on her feet. However, these days, this stereotype has significantly faded, just like your perfume at the end of a working day. Today, French women appreciate comfortable clothing, like to appear in public make-up free, and opt for comfortable sneakers instead of stilettos.

Every tourist knows that South Korea is like a whole other planet. And while some things are obvious right away (for example, some exotic foods), others are things are known only by those who have experienced living there. This includes beauty standards, how children are raised, and college educations.