Respect Your Host
June 8th 2011 15:25
:
Tourists Behavior in Malaysia
I have been meaning to write about the subject of the behavior of Western tourists in Malaysia for quite some time, but after a trip into the Georgetown section of Penang I made up my mind to do it today. I have always been taught that if I were a guest in someone else's home that I should dress and behave respectfully. I also would expect anyone who is a guest in my house to feel at home, but still respect my hospitality and dress and act appropriately. Whether or not someone visits another's house or country I feel the same rules of respectability should apply.
Tonight I saw no less than 10 caucasians who appeared to have just crawled out from beneath a rock. They had long, scraggly hair, unkempt beards and clothes that appeared to have been slept in and rarely laundered. They were absolutely disgusting looking and an embarassment to all civilized caucasians. Some of these people appeared to have been drunk and incoherent. Others appeared to be searching out the underlife of the areas frequented by prostitutes. Sadly to say a few of these people appeared to have psychiatric problems. To me all of them resembled homeless people.
I know I am here on an MM2H visa, which requires documentation of financial means to support myself during my stay in Malaysia. Are these people former tourists or MM2H participants who have become indegent or become addicted to alcohol or drugs? Or are they just irresponsibe lowlife who have no respect for their Malaysian hosts.
Aside from these people, whom I observed tonight I have noticed others while I have been shopping or having coffee in my neighborhood. I know these people are definitely tourists, as they seem to be quite unfamiliar with their surroundings. I have seen people shopping or having coffee, wearing undershirts and what appears to be sleep wear. Many are unshaven, which is understandable for someone on vacation. Some of the women I have seen have been wearing halter tops in public. Apparently what they see in the mirror is just the opposite of what I see! Many people are dressed in a manner which would be considered unacceptable attire back in their home countries. So why dress that way here?
Whenever I see people like those mentioned above I feel nothing but shame and hope the locals don't think we are all that way. I just wish that people will think twice about how they present themselves in public here. A reminder to all Westerners that we are all GUESTS in Malaysia and we should dress and act accordingly.
Tonight I saw no less than 10 caucasians who appeared to have just crawled out from beneath a rock. They had long, scraggly hair, unkempt beards and clothes that appeared to have been slept in and rarely laundered. They were absolutely disgusting looking and an embarassment to all civilized caucasians. Some of these people appeared to have been drunk and incoherent. Others appeared to be searching out the underlife of the areas frequented by prostitutes. Sadly to say a few of these people appeared to have psychiatric problems. To me all of them resembled homeless people.
I know I am here on an MM2H visa, which requires documentation of financial means to support myself during my stay in Malaysia. Are these people former tourists or MM2H participants who have become indegent or become addicted to alcohol or drugs? Or are they just irresponsibe lowlife who have no respect for their Malaysian hosts.
Aside from these people, whom I observed tonight I have noticed others while I have been shopping or having coffee in my neighborhood. I know these people are definitely tourists, as they seem to be quite unfamiliar with their surroundings. I have seen people shopping or having coffee, wearing undershirts and what appears to be sleep wear. Many are unshaven, which is understandable for someone on vacation. Some of the women I have seen have been wearing halter tops in public. Apparently what they see in the mirror is just the opposite of what I see! Many people are dressed in a manner which would be considered unacceptable attire back in their home countries. So why dress that way here?
Whenever I see people like those mentioned above I feel nothing but shame and hope the locals don't think we are all that way. I just wish that people will think twice about how they present themselves in public here. A reminder to all Westerners that we are all GUESTS in Malaysia and we should dress and act accordingly.
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Comment by Anonymous
However, I would never consider myself a guest. A guest may bring a gift to his/her host, but doesn't pay. But although people here are friendly and nice, I still have to pay. Thus I am a customer - of all the establishments I frequent, and also of the government.
The US government, for example, treats tourists badly on arrival in many cases (especially LAX), and thus I am no longer a customer there.
I choose which countries I visit depending in part on how they treat their customers. And many people choose which country they live in on this basis too.
However, being dirty and scruffy hardly enhances one's travel experience, so is not particularly wise.