Before traveling, it's essential to find out about the laws and customs in the countries you'll be visiting. Most of them are common sense. However, some rules are out of the ordinary and can be surprising, even bordering on the absurd. What do you think of the following?
In the Netherlands, it's forbidden to smoke cigarettes or any other tobacco in coffee shops. Smoking a joint, on the other hand, as long as it's pure, poses no problem.
In Germany, it's illegal to run out of petrol on a freeway. As well as being annoyed by the situation, you'll be fined several dozen euros, as the legislator considers you responsible for not having been careful.
In the UK, be careful when stamping your mail: sticking a stamp bearing the monarch's effigy upside down is considered an act of high treason.
In Singapore, chewing gum, described as a «non-degradable nuisance», is strictly forbidden: purchase, sale and consumption are punishable by a heavy fine.
In Thailand, don't you dare criticize the royal family: not only is there a good chance that the person you're talking to won't appreciate it, but you could also be imprisoned. The same applies if you don't «respectfully» listen to the national anthem.
In Southeast Asia, it's often forbidden to enter public transport if you're carrying a durian. This large fruit is said to taste like heaven and smell like hell. An aroma described by some as akin to a garbage can left out in the sun, or a cheese that's more than a little out of date.
In the United States, more specifically in Alabama, it is forbidden to drive a vehicle... blindfolded.
In Italy, more specifically on the island of Capri, it has been forbidden since the 1960s to wear shoes that make too much noise, such as clogs or high heels.
Giving birth is forbidden in Svalbard. Pregnant women approaching full term must travel to mainland Norway to give birth. The same applies to the dead, who cannot be buried there because of the permafrost.
In Spain, particularly in Barcelona, jogging in a swimsuit is not allowed, even on the beach.
In Sardinia, it is now forbidden to take sand from the island's magnificent beaches. Every year, airport customs officers sometimes discovered more than a ton of sand in holidaymakers' suitcases.
In Croatia, and more specifically in the city of Dubrovnik, the authorities have decided to ban wheeled suitcases from being pulled across the pavement. From now on, remember to travel light, because here you have to carry your luggage.
In Greece, it is forbidden to visit ancient monuments while wearing stilettos. The aim is to preserve the sites.
In the Palau Islands, but also in Thailand and more and more everywhere, it's forbidden to go into the water covered in sunscreen. This is to preserve coral and marine habitats.
In Italy, a man wearing a kilt is liable to arrest. It doesn't matter whether he's wearing underwear or not.
In Japan, if you need information on a bus, it's forbidden to talk to the driver while the vehicle is in motion.
In Jamaica and Barbados, it is illegal to wear camouflage outfits, as they are strictly reserved for the military.
Travelling means meeting different cultures. With its rules, sometimes surprising to us but obvious to the locals or to the environment. Respecting them is essential, but it's also a way of avoiding misunderstandings and problems. A well-informed traveller...
