Here’s the continuation of my post about the places that would most likely give you a culture shock.
5.Amsterdam, Netherlands
For most people, Amsterdam is certainly a place that can rival the usual European destinations such as Berlin, Paris, Rome, and even London. It’s a place where the architecture is simply fabulous and where scientific thinking flourished, but if you look closer, Amsterdam is not really the fairy-tale place that you think it is. Amsterdam coffee shops openly sell marijuana while people can smoke it without anyone making a fuss. If you think Japan’s sex scene is unabashed, wait until you see how freely people watch porn here and when I say porn in Amsterdam, it’s not always about human porn. For some, Amsterdam is a total paradise where they can be freed of the shackles of their own culture.
4.Havana, Cuba
Cuba is to Fidel Castro as Ho Chi Minh is to Vietnam and aside from that, I actually want to think of Cuba as a little island just off the coast of the US that’s just way to different than it’s bigger neighbor. The thing with Havana is it’s a less restricted version of Pyongyang, which I think is not weird but just plain and simple hell on Earth. However, despite of the political tensions that it had with US, Havana is a safe place to explore probably because of the sheer number of police forces scattered all over the city. And if you’re looking for wonderful architectural feats, Havana has a lot to offer to the visiting traveler.
3.Cape Town, South Africa
Before anything else, South Africa is definitely the richest country in the toughest continent to live in and that speaks a lot about the people who live there. However, its capital Cape Town has some weird facts that everyone should deal with head-on. Cape Town is a progressive place no doubt, but just like any other great city, when you go to its far-flung areas you should always make sure that you are accompanied by a local to prevent suspicion from the residents.
2. Bangkok, Thailand
There’s no doubt that a place with smiling people everywhere is something that every traveler wants to visit. Make no mistake about it because Bangkok has a great tourism program that has been pouring money to the country for years and without a doubt, it’s a great tropical destination overall. However, tourism certainly has one glaring drawback and that’s young girls who are usually under the age of consent getting into prostitution. The thing with Thailand is that there is no stigma for women working in the sex industry. Call it culture or whatever, but Thai people would give credit to someone who can feed the family regardless of how the money was earned. The thing is, Bangkok is a great place but something still slips through the cracks sometimes.
1.Marrakech, Morocco
When I ask some of my closest friends about which place they would want to visit next, they always say it’s Marrakech and I am not surprised. The place is a smorgasbord of European and Islamic culture that blend together very well. Basically, Marrakech is a sensory overload of sights and sounds and certainly, there’s no way that you’re going to get bored with this place. However, just like every crowded city, Marrakech is also home to some of the most vicious gangs and robbers present and not to mention the smartest. Be sure to be accompanied by someone when you walk on this place’s streets especially at night.
So there you go the complete top 10 list of what I think are the weirdest yet very interesting places in the world. Every culture is different and if you think that the world has shrunk considerably think again.
