Dealing with Culture Shock? How ?

Do more Research 

Learn as much as you can about the new location before you go. This refers to the positive and negative sides of being in the region or country. From which sides people drive on to local cuisine and culture, sometimes even local religion, it is always good to understand more before stepping into a country. If possible, learn a few phrases of local greetings or daily conversations.

Willing to Learn

Be open-minded and willing to learning. Ask questions. If you are going to a place which has a different language or slang, consider taking a few courses in that language. One of the best way to combat cultural shock is actually to blend in the local scene. Mastering a few local “trick of the trades” will be helpful all the time.

Build new positive friendships

Even if you’ve done really good research, having someone who can help you in avoid culture shock and even coping up with the local pace. Surviving another culture is favourably easier when you have a person to guide you through the new little everyday experiences when you are travelling abroad.

Have an Adventurous Spirit

Eleanor Roosevelt once said “do something that takes courage every day,” . This is especially important for travelers when it comes to Survival 101 in a different culture. The only way to survive out of the monotonous comfort zone is to actually treat every day as an adventure ..

Stay in Touch with Family and Friends

Perhaps one of the most important element of all. This can give you some comfort while away, and it will help you to minimize reverse culture shock when you get back home. Spending some time conversing with family and friends back home will ease the anxiety of adapting to a new culture.

Interesting transports found in Southeast Asia

When travelling to South East Asia, there are certainly tons of alternative methods of transport across. From animal carts to crowded mini-lorries, these transportation are easily accessible to those who visit particular regions in South East Asia. Here are some of the interesting transportation methods.

 Cidomo 

Cidomo is a small horse-drawn carriage used in some parts of Indonesia. In the 1960s-70s, it was the main transport used in Bali, Indonesia. The carriage usually can seat up to 4 persons, with 2 person sitting in the front and 2 in the back. Till now, it is widely found especially in Bali and Gili Islands of Indonesia. Riding the Cidomo exploring suburban towns of Indonesia is definitely an interesting experience.

SongThaew

The songthaew , literally translated to English from Thai as Two Rows. This is a passenger vehicle commonly found in most areas in Thailand and Laos. It is actually a pick-up or a larger truck and used as a share taxi or bus. Nowadays, drivers of songthaew especially in Thailand can communicate with simple English resulting to a lot of western visitors actually use songthaew as a mode of transport in places such as Krabi or Phuket.

Tuk-Tuk 

Tuk-tuks or 'sam lor' (three-wheeled) is found in Thailand. Originating from an old-fashioned rickshaw during the second World War, a tuk-tuk is essentially a rickshaw with a small engine fitted in. Tuk-tuks have become one of Bangkok's most recognisable transportation features, and are still popular among tourists and visitors. The typical capacity for a tuk-tuk in Thailand is two average-size people or maybe three.

Trishaws 

The trishaws found in Malaysia are the cousins of Tuk-Tuk from Thailand. The only difference between them is the trishaws found in Malaysia are pedal-powered. Trishaws are a great way to travel through the historical alleys in parts of Malaysia such as Melaka and Penang. Malaysian Trishaws will usually ferry you through narrow lanes, offering closer view of historical sites at a most leisurely pace.

Xe Bo

Xe Bo is known as the bull cart in Vietnam. Visitors travelling to the outskirts in Vietnam such as Ninh Binh and Tam Coc will always encounter these bull carts. Although not the fastest way to travel through the roads, it may be an unforgettable experience to ride on one of these bull carts. As known, no matter it is one bull or 2 bulls pulling these carts, it will always be the same speed.