CULTURE SHOCK CITIES FOR WESTERNERS

Marrakech, Morocco

Divided into the historical city and the new city, Morocco is age-old, mysterious and full of sensory experiences. The actual sights provide your first culture shock, as they appear before you like something out of One Thousand and One Arabian Nights. Go to the central square, Djemaa el Fna, to see snake charmers, fortune-tellers, fire-eaters, acrobats, and dancers performing on the dusty terracotta floor. Just off this arena are a network of alleys crammed with market stalls selling every herb and spice you could ever think of; in fact, the hundreds of different smells can be overwhelming for the uninitiated.What’s more, in the West we pay what’s on the price tag, but in Marrakech it’s the norm to haggle. The vendors can be quite pushy and in-your-face too, which is an intimidating experience for those who are used to doing their shopping at Macy’s.While you certainly wouldn’t go out alone at night or allow little ones to wonder free in Marrakech, isn’t that the same of most cities? Incredible and inspiring, Marrakech is worth the unexpected assault to your senses

Bangkok, Thailand

A huge, sweltering city in Thailand, Bangkok shouldn’t just be your stopover on the way to Phuket. If you can stomach the intense heat and the sheer amount of people, it’s worth staying for a couple of days to check out the sights, such as the Grand Palace and the Floating Market.Underneath all the culture, however, is a thriving sex industry and a network of scamming that is shocking to the average Westerner. While the age of consent for sex here is 15, the age is raised to 18 in the case of prostitutes. Many Westerners have gotten into trouble over this, particularly because in most Western countries the age of consent is 16.

Indeed, Bangkok is a minefield when it comes to what you can do and what you can’t and the punishments are harsh for lawbreakers, particularly Western ones. What’s more, while the policy on drugs in the Western world is increasingly lapse, those found with illegal substances on their person better find themselves a good lawyer or face a lifetime in a cockroach-infested Thai slammer. High-class nightclub-goers should also be prepared for the occasional police raid and drug test.

Cape Town, South Africa

Crowned by Tabletop Mountain, Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa and is a hub of contemporary hotels, trendy restaurants, funky bars, and white-sand beaches. Little by little, Cape Town is becoming the Miami of the African continent. Despite its sleek facade, however, Westerners must remember that Cape Town is part of Africa, one of the most violent locales on Earth. When you leave Cape Town and explore the townships, you should always be accompanied by a resident; wandering alone will only raise suspicion amongst the locals and cause unnecessary uneasiness. Whenever possible, opt for official township tours. When strolling through the town, also be sure to leave your valuables, such as large amounts of cash, jewelery, passports, and paperwork, at the hotel. Indeed, the biggest culture shock here is a subtle sense of discomfort; the city’s people never know when a bout of violence will come.

Havana, Cuba

Still a socialist state, Havana is known for its open-top classic cars, its potent mojitos and its racy salsa bars. To Westerners, it sounds like the recipe for the perfect getaway, but be prepared to deal with some cultural differences in this 1950s-inspired time warp. As a totalitarian police state, the first shock you’ll come across is that the police are everywhere, which can be intimidating for the first-time visitor. Fear not, Havana is a relatively safe place to explore, probably because of the intense police presence.Other than that, American tourists may be surprised that there aren’t loads of U.S. visitors; while Cuba reopened to tourism in the 1990s, the U.S. government still maintains a near total ban. Nevertheless, if you can fly from somewhere else, such as Canada, Mexico or the Bahamas, the opportunity to experience a taste of Latin America is just 90 miles from the pristine shores of Miami.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

As a romantic city characterized by gorgeous architecture, and crisscrossing canals and trams, what could possibly be shocking about the culture in Amsterdam? Despite its fairytale Heidi-esque image, those who aren’t at a bachelor party may be shocked to discover that anything goes in Amsterdam. The underground is brought up to street-level with coffeeshops (all one word) openly selling marijuana and tourists openly smoking it.It’s not only drugs that’ll rock you either -- sex here is unashamed, in-your-face and right around the corner in Amsterdam’s very own red-light district. While prostitution is limited to a couple of streets, there are peep- and sex-show bars galore to feast your sinful eyes on. And if that’s not shocking enough, the oldest church in Amsterdam, the Oude Kerk, is surrounded by window-prostitution where hookers dance provocatively in the window displays. These facts alone earned Amsterdam a place on our top 10 list of culture-shock cities.

Cairo, Egypt

Sprawled beside the River Nile, Cairo, Egypt’s capital, is a place buzzing with 15 million inhabitants. It’s a contradictory city with the sound of prayer competing with loud Euro-trash music and loud students mocking the political police armed with machine guns. Here, you’ll be able to take in the world-famous pyramids at Giza, the Sphinx, nearby Saqqara, and the Egyptian Museum, as well as a host of other national treasures. Despite its sun-kissed, touristy facade, you’ll have to watch yourself here; any controversial anti-Islamic remarks will have you thrown in the nearest clink before you can beg for forgiveness. Women also have to respect that Cairo is a religious city and dress accordingly, and both genders need to remove their shoes before entering a mosque. The most shocking difference in Cario, however, is that men and women aren’t permitted to touch each other in the public sphere. For loved-up honeymooners, this can be quite the passion-killer

Beijing, China

With seemingly every product made in China, it’s hardly surprising that the capital of Beijing is one of the most populated cities on earth. A blur of people, cars, bicycles, neon lights, shantytowns, and skyscrapers, it can be shockingly disorientating for the Western traveler. Those who aren’t used to Eastern city life may also be shocked by the sheer amount of pollution in the air, with many of the city’s pedestrians wearing surgical face masks as they go about their daily business.The driving is crazy too, and reckless driving is commonplace. Crossing the large streets can prove a terrifying ordeal for the Westerner, so make sure you use zebra crossings and make your way to the other side with a large crowd; drivers here won’t stop for you and often anticipate a green light before it happens. With so many moving sights and deafening sounds, Beijing can be difficult to digest, hence its placement on our culture-shock cities list

Delhi, India

Random, chaotic and aggressive, Delhi is the living and breathing soul of India. From the noisy city streets of Old Delhi, where undisciplined traffic weaves in and out of seemingly invisible lanes, to the wide boulevards and manicured gardens of imperial New Delhi, the country’s capital is a melting pot of overwhelming sights and sounds, landing it at No. 8 on our culture-shock cities list. Roads are often left half-finished with big manholes and ditches to watch out for, while no two neighborhoods look the same.We don’t recommend checking into the nearest Hilton, but travelers certainly shouldn’t come here on a shoestring budget. Comfort doesn’t come cheap in a place like Delhi and a lean life here is a lot leaner than elsewhere in the world. Where possible, travel by foot, train or taxi; most buses aren’t air-conditioned and the sweltering 104-degree climate can make traveling in them almost unbearable.

Food is an experience unto itself here too; the curry is different to the Westernized kind you’ll find back home, brimming with spices that’ll blow your head off. Women who visit can also expect to be harassed, either with lewd remarks or by inappropriate touching; to avoid this, it is recommended they dress conservatively. Alien, but altogether fascinating, Delhi’s unruly nature will steal your heart

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Otherwise known as the Kingdom, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, may as well be on another planet -- like so many of our top 10 culture-shock cities. As Saudi Arabia’s capital city, it’s a sprawling metropolis in the searing desert heat, with cutting-edge skyscrapers placed alongside traditional Arabic architecture. As a conservative Muslim city -- more so than Jeddah or Dhahran -- the biggest culture shock you’ll come across here is the lack of individual freedom, particularly for women, who always wear the abaya to cover themselves.When you walk around the city’s malls and residential areas, you’ll come across the religious police, or muttawa, who patrol the streets to make sure the rules of conduct are followed in regards to behavior, clothing and the like. At night, party animals can forget hitting the clubs Dubai-style; drinking alcohol here is strictly prohibited and the security situation makes it almost impossible to really cut loose and relax. Actually, there aren’t any bars or discos in the entire city. A reflection of times gone by for most Westerners, Riyadh must be seen to be believed

Moscow is the historic heart of Russia, brimming with art and architecture. With towering spires and designer shops galore, it has come a long way since the days of the Iron Curtain. Nevertheless, the red city can seem sterile and cold to the Westerner because of its the lack of tourist-friendly conveniences. While luxury goods exist at every turn, finding something as simple as batteries can be a challenge.The same kind of ambivalence can be found on the streets, where well-heeled businessmen and their young brides step out for an evening at the opera at the Bolshoi Theatre, while a beggar huddles in a corner with an outstretched palm. While the Russians aren’t the xenophobes they’re made out to be, they certainly don’t have a welcoming air; like Russian dolls, the people in this city have many layers. Often corrupt, the police here will stop groups of minorities for the simple reason they are minorities. Don’t expect political correctness to be on the agenda here. While this isn’t Disney World by any stretch of the imagination, Moscow is one of the most beautiful, cultured and historic culture-shock cities on earth