Take Time Out at Tadoba Tiger Resort to Appreciate How Business Travelers Can Bridge Cultural Gaps

Travelling on business can end up being extremely tiresome if you need to do it very often and that too across time zones and ethnicities. Apart from the sheer physical toll that it takes on travelers, those who visit different countries also need to take care that the cultural divide is bridged appropriately and their counterparts in the foreign countries accept them with grace. Business travelers live in perpetual fear of committing gaffes that could throw a spanner in the works as far as office work is concerned.

The Reasons Why Business Travelers Should Pay Attention to Cultural Gaps?

The worst mistake that people travelling on business can make is to assume that the folks they will be interacting with think, behave, and communicate in the very same way as they do themselves, and that they have a similar approach to conducting business. Regretfully, this is quite far from actual reality. Cultures across the world have their own distinct way of behaving and appreciating things. This starts with apparently simple things like greeting the people being visited, the sort of apparel that is considered appropriate, the language and its delivery, the type of gifts that are acceptable and of course, what and how food is partaken. Unless you do proper research on these aspects, it is quite likely that you will commit a blunder.

Some Common Cultural Gaffes – Body Language

As a typical westerner, you would think nothing of offering your hand for a firm handshake, look the person directly in the eye, and offer him your business card with one hand, but in many cultures, especially, Asian, this could send down very bad vibes as they would expect a gentler and more ceremonial handshake or even a bow with eye contact anything but direct. Business cards too are offered with a bow and with both the hands. You will be expected to exchange pleasantries and establish relationships before getting down to business.

In many Asian countries, the left hand is considered unclean, so eating, greeting and touching should always be with the right hand. It is best not to point and definitely not the done-thing to indicate anything with your leg or feet. Crossing legs is not acceptable in many cultures, especially in Japan, where it is considered very rude. Be careful of using informal expressions such as a “thumbs-up” because people may not be familiar with it and interpret it differently. Backslapping should be completely avoided as it is considered too familiar.

Some Common Cultural Gaffes – Apparel & Dressing

In many Asian countries like India and Thailand as well as Russia, you should take care to remove your shoes before entering your host’s home. It not only helps to maintain cleanliness but indicates that the outside world is being left where it should be. In most Asian and Arab countries it is not appropriate to have your legs exposed, and if you are female, then you need to keep yourself covered up very well. Unless you are sure of the occasion, avoid dressing too casually. In China do not wear white, it’s the color of death, and in Malaysia avoid yellow as it is reserved for the royalty. Dressing for wildlife safaris, however can be quite different – read about what you should do on http://tigersheavenresort.co.in/

Some Common Cultural Gaffes – Food

Food and eating habits are so different in many countries that it is best to take the advice of a friendly local to prevent a serious blooper. Remember while beef is okay, pork is a strict no-no in all Moslem countries and even in many parts of India. The Japanese and the Chinese have elaborate tea drinking ceremonies and you need to keep a sharp eye out as to how it is being conducted. It is best not to speak during a meal, unless your hosts themselves are encouraging it. Eating sparingly is always a good idea but don’t eat so less that your hosts think that you don’t like their food. Alcohol can be a big issue in most countries; in many places you are not expected to consume it while in Russia you can go completely wrong if you refuse a shot of Vodka!

Consequences of Committing Cultural Gaffes

While earlier if you had committed a blooper you would have been really looked down upon, with globalization there is increasingly familiarity with the customs followed in various countries. Small mistakes are easily forgiven but the consequences of your actions that cause the hosts to lose face can be pretty severe. Hence be sure to read up specifically on the customs of each country that you visit and if possible try and be accompanied by a local who will steer you away from severe damage.

 

Author bio: Isabella Rossellini is a very well-known nature conservationist. An expert on the subject, she travels the world sharing his experiences. You can read more of her articles on http://tigersheavenresort.co.in/

 

GOT A BREAK?

Visit Goa with your friends and loved ones & experience its fabulous weather, warm hospitality, beauty of lush green nature & exciting cools of sprawling beaches with comforts of cold beer, cartwheels & cozy warmth of the bonfire.

REACH GOA-

 

Goa is excellently connected with all other Indian states by air & train services. Visitors from Southern states have additional benefit of luxury bus services at moderate costs. Dabolim international airport at Vasco Da Gama benefits the foreign tourists.

GET ACCOMMODATED

 

You can get world class accommodation with attractive discounts in various starred hotels in the city & along the lively expanse of beautiful beaches. In the off season, especially during monsoon, the offered discounts can go upto 50-60% due to less number of foreign tourists. A popular hotel in Goa is Hard Rock Hotel at Calangute beach. You can saturate yourself with a new and refreshing lifestyle at this place.

JOIN THEM

Goa has diverse cultures with various festivals & traditional Latin Carnivals, that are usually celebrated together by people of all faith. They welcome & enjoy with the tourists who can also join their celebrations.

VISIT

 

 

# The beautiful VAGATOR BEACH where Arabian Sea merges with famous Chapora river waters. Other prefferred beaches are: CALANGUTE, BAGA, CANDOLIM, BOGMALO etc.

 

# While at CHAPORA FORT, take a “Dil Chahta Hai” selfie when the weather is cloudy. It can be an exciting experience.

# Wildlife sanctuaries-

MHADEI: famous for Bengal tigers,  BHAGWAN MAHAVEER & MOLLEM  NATIONAL PARK: famous for Dudhsagar falls & trekking,  BONDLA: famous for deer park & mini zoo.

# Beautiful lush green Paddy fields, Spices plantations & a Cashew Distillery along the verdant valleys of Savoi-Verem premises are worth clicking.

CELEBRATE-

#’Fenni’ is the world famous local alcohol. Men jump into wells to fetch “fenni” during the  FERTILITY FEAST OF SAO JOAO/ ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST which is celebrated on June 24.

#Men sing & dance while sailing rafts into the rivers during FESTIVAL OF ST. PETER & PAUL which is celebrated in July. Floating colorful stages are erected in the rivers and many cultural programs are organised.

#The BONDERAM FESTIVAL is all about famous local Bands performing with vigor & parading with vibrant multi colored flags. This festival is celebrated in August every year.

GO MORE AROUND-

*Margaon, the 2nd largest city, is the commercial capital of Goa.

*Ponda, 28km away from Panaji is cultural capital of Goan Hindus & is called the land of temples.

*Mapusa is the city where vendors from all over Goa come to sell their goods on discounted price.

*Velha Goa is the old Goa- was capital of Portuguese till 18th century- situated on the banks of Mandovi river. It has world heritage sites and is known for Churches Bascilica, St.Caetano se Cathedral & Church of Assisi.

GOING GOA WITH FRIENDS? Well, well!

ENJOY & PARTY-

 

Rent Scooters @₹200-300 to ride in group along the city & other places and enjoy the visit to your utmost satisfaction. During the monsoon, the raindrops splashing across your faces while you cheerfully drive through the stimulating wind- would be an experience of the lifetime. The music at Park Hotel in Calangute is an ideal indoor partying place but partying outdoor in the evening on the sprawling sea beach & feeling the soft warmth of the bonfire while relaxing on the cartwheels around & leisurely sipping on the cold beer is most enjoying with a group of friends.

VISIT GOA TO HAVE THE BEST TIME OF YOUR LIFE…

Written by Uday Prakash Sinha, a hobbyist blogger and a voracious tourist. Uday is a retired civil engineer and is quite active with political reading and tweeting. You can reach him at @udaypsinha

Kiran Bedi appointed Puducherry Lt. Governor

New Delhi/ Port Blair, May 22: President Pranab Mukherjee appointed Kiran Bedi as the new Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Puducherry on Sunday. A Rashtrapati Bhawan communique said here the appointment would come into force from the time she assumes office.

Currently, Lt Gen A.K. Singh (retd) holds the charge in addition to being Lieutenant Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. He was given the charge in July 2014 after the Narendra Modi Government removed Virendra Kataria, former Punjab Pradesh Congress chief, from the post.

In the just concluded elections, the Congress-DMK combine won majority in the 30-member state Assembly, with the Congress winning 15 and the DMK 2 seat.

The country’s first woman police officer had unsuccessfully contested the Delhi Assembly elections as the chief ministerial candidate of the BJP. Not only she lost in the Aam Aadmi Party wave, the BJP could win just three seats in the 70-member assembl