What Travel Teaches You - that everybody is different, from chopsticks to banana leaf plates

 

My Facebook friend learned about aesthetics in hotel management. What were the aesthetics? Let me guess. Flower arrangements. Cleanliness. Calm. Theme. Declutter. Privacy. 

What style? Warm colours. Seasonal. Variety. Harmony. 

Chinese

The Chinese like the colour red and water features and Feng shui ...? 

Japanese

The Japanese are minimalist and four seasons. 

British

The British go for understatement and tradition. 

Arabs

Arabs from rich countries such as Dubai want everything ultra modern. Brand new.  No interest in art deco. As for the fifties. Horror! They like lots of empty space, like a desert. 

The military want everything matching. My army tenants wanted dinner sets of 12 pieces in plain colours, brand new. 

I am happier with bohemian style, a restaurant where every chair is different, the modern coffee bar style, every cup different, Odd Sock company. Two different ear-rings, same materials and same colour but different styles.

 In the old days everything had to be symmetrical. 

Moslems think everything should have a flaw because only God can create perfection. 

Some people want a school uniform. Others like everybody to wear something different.

Decor Colours

The Victorians opted for dark colours, black and plum. That way smoke from candles and the coal fires in the fireplaces would not create dirt which showed. 

Wedding Dress Colour

Wedding dresses were dark when you only bathed and changed your clothes once a week. In the 1800s, Charlotte Bronte had three dresses, one for weekdays, one for Sundays, and one for weddings and funerals.

Knives And Forks

What  travel teaches you is that everybody is different. In England we eat with a knife and fork, a spoon for dessert. 

The Americans put down the knife when eating.  They transfer the fork into their right hand.

The Americans have their leftovers wrapped up to go. Traditionally, the British would frown at such an idea.  But now the trend is swinging the other way. Anti-waste.

The Chinese do not use a knife at table at all. To them it seems dangerous and aggressive, a bad omen. They use chopsticks.

About the Author

Angela Lansbury is a travel writer and photographer, author and speaker, fashionista. Please share links to your favourite posts or one or more of the blogs

travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

How To Photograph And Video Your Inaccessible Destination and On Holiday

First, start with the end in mind. Are you planning to video yourself for your family or the public?

Plan your destinations and inform your guide of your intentions. I have been on many trips where the guide has decided to cut out the one place which was the purpose of my trip.

I wanted a photo of the statue of Robin Hood for my article on Nottingham. The statue was in the centre of the city and it was sunny.

However, the guide said we had no time and could take it another day. On day two we took a different route. One day three it was pouring with rain.

Arab
When I was writing for an Arab publication, my family decided that it was too far to drive to the home of Lawrence of Arabia in Southern England.'Anyway, it's closed at the time we would arrive," they argued.

I insisted on going. At least I could get a picture of the outside of the house and my impression of it and whether my readers would similarly have to set off early in the day to be sure of getting to a remote place during daylight in winter during the short days.

I got my photo of the outside of the house . Also the road where he was supposed to have fallen off his motorcycle. Plus some plaques about him along the way. I read up about his life. I followed up with a phone call to the owners of the property to check what remained from his time, what tourists could and got not see. I checked opening hours.

Jewish
On another occasion I was writing for a Jewish publication. I wanted a photo of a synagogue in Shanghai. The guide told me it was closed and not accessible.

I insisted that I would photograph the street name and photograph it from a distance and describe the area. When we arrive, a guard tried to stop me entering.

However, he did not speak English and I did not speak Mandarin, so I walked a few steps past, took a very quick photo and returned, bowing and thanking politely.

Romania's Ionescu
It was shut. However, from the gate you could get a good view of the house. Photo number 1 Outside was a heritage plaque. Photo number 2. A photo of my music box playing the anthem he wrote. Picture 3. The man's face in a photo in Wikipedia.. Photo 4. His statue outside a convert hall or museum in the capital of the country. Photo 5.

Author
Angela Lansbury
Travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.