Liv & Luv: No Kissing in Public!

Most of us enjoy traveling abroad. Getting to know the local people and their way of life, experiencing different cultures and seeing new places of interest make traveling in a faraway land so exciting.

However, before you start planning your overseas trip, it pays to find out a bit about the local customs and beliefs of the country you are heading to. What may seem harmless and normal in your mother land can potentially cause you unnecessary embarrassment, offend the local people, or worse, put you at risk of imprisonment in a foreign country.

So avoid these travel taboos to ensure you stay out of trouble abroad:

Don’t swear in Australia. Swearing is illegal and if you're the type of person that always uses vulgar language or swears, just keep it to yourself, or you may be fined up to $500.

Don’t wear any form of camouflage in Barbados. It is illegal to do so due to its association with criminals. Any accessories, outerwear or items that you carry cannot be in camouflage. Camouflage in this country represents rebels or robbers.

Don’t get the language wrong in Brazil. The country was colonized by Portugal so Brazilians speak Portuguese and not Spanish.

Don’t bring cigarettes into Bhutan. Your punishment will most likely involve several years in jail.

Don’t say “eh?” after every sentence in an ironic way in Canada. You may end up offending your Canadian friends.

Don’t eat everything on your plate in China. It could mean that the host didn’t provide enough food and you were not satisfied. Leaving a little is fine, even burping after eating is seen as a compliment to the chef.

Don’t walk in the bike lanes in Denmark. You’ll be yelled at or possibly be run over by an angry cyclist.

Don’t put salt on your food in Egypt. Salt is one of the most popular and most loved condiment. However, in Egypt salt bears a great religious significance and was traditionally a symbol of survival. Salt has been used for embalming and dehydration when traveling through the Sahara Desert, thus putting salt on your food is morally wrong and it is offensive, especially in Egyptian homes.

Don’t give scissors or knives as gifts in El Salvador. In the country, these objects are very symbolic, and giving them to someone would mean that you want to cut close bonds or to signify the end of a relationship.

Don’t forget to say hello in France. Whoever you talk to, always greet them first, for example, “Bonjour Madame, Monsieur.” Otherwise, you're subtly showing you feel the person is beneath you.

Don’t talk with your hands in your pockets in Germany. It’s considered rude and it’s also a custom to keep your hands on the table while eating.

Don't use the palm-out, fingers-up "stop" sign in Greece. This gesture is an insult to Greeks - a stigma that apparently dates back to Byzantine times, when shackled criminals were paraded through the streets and gawkers were allowed to smear charcoal or excrement in their faces using their open palms.

Don’t kiss or hold hands in public in India. In some jurisdictions, kissing in public can get you into jail under “public obscenity.” Hugging and handshakes are still frowned upon in most parts of the country among members of opposite sex.

Don’t show the sole of your shoes by crossing your legs to the people around you in Indonesia and most Asian countries. This action is considered very rude.

Don’t give the thumbs up in Iran. The gesture is interpreted as highly offensive and can lead to violence and disputes.

Don’t turn down food in Italy. When someone offers you food or drinks, especially if you’ve just eaten the dish being offered and that was cooked by the house lady, you’re supposed to accept or have a good/nice excuse for not doing so. Refusing is considered impolite or a sign you didn’t like it.

Don’t tip anyone in Japan. Tipping is just not part of the culture. Service at restaurants and hotels will likely be exceptional in Japan, but tipping isn't done; and it could be seen as degrading.

Don't hail a cab or wave someone over to you with your palm facing up in South Korea. That's how Koreans summon their dogs. The proper way to wave is to move your hand up and down vertically with your palm facing down.

Don’t bring marigolds to dinner in Mexico. This flower signifies death.

Don’t touch or pass an object over the top of anyone’s head in Malaysia. This is a sign of disrespect since the head is viewed as the most sacred body part.

Don’t step over people’s legs in Nepal. It is considered very rude.

Don’t bring your own mineral water to Nigeria. If you are ever in Nigeria, you should rely on bottled water purchased from convenience stores since it is illegal to take mineral water into Nigeria, and you will be fined and it will be confiscated. Additionally, bringing your own beer, wine, soft drinks, cereals, fruits, and veggies into the country are prohibited.

Don’t make fun of the Haka in New Zealand. The Haka is part of Māori culture and New Zealanders are proud of this heritage.

Don’t honk in Norway. Honking is only used in an emergency in Norway. Unnecessary beeping might cause panic to drivers.

Don’t smile at strangers in Russia. Russians see it as an intimate gesture that they use to people they know and they are close to. If you smile at a stranger, they might think you are being insincere.

Don’t photograph public buildings in Saudi Arabia. You will almost certainly be arrested.

Don’t bring chewing gum into Singapore. The law in Singapore prohibits and restricts gum chewing because officials noticed a significant amount of gum being stuck on public transportation and cars. If you happen to have some, immediately throw it in a trash bin. If caught, you could be faced with a large fine.

Don’t insult the king or the royal family in Thailand. This can result in 15 years of imprisonment. Moreover, anyone can file a complaint if they ever happen to hear you saying anything bad about royalty.

Don’t refuse the tea in Turkey. It may be seen as rude and you may end up offending the host.

Don’t talk loudly or hold large conversations when travelling on the London Underground in the UK. Talking too loudly in public is sometimes considered offensive and embarrassing.