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39 Bizarre Things That Seem Normal In Some Countries, But Not In The Rest Of The World
Cultural differences are what makes us all unique and what greatly contributes to the excitement of travelling when you get to discover some particularities of a destination that aren't too or at all common in your home country. Eating rotten fish might sound slightly (and literally) off to you, but it’s totally normal in Sweden. Having two passports from the same country is common in Russia, but might not exist where you live. And the practice of eating fried Mars bars might not be the most popular one in North America, but it’s common in Scotland, or seeing police driving Lamborghini as their work car in Italy might not be seen anywhere else.
Check out the list of some strange things from that are only common in certain countries, vote for the weirdest ones, and let us know if you've experienced them in the comments.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Luxembourg's Public Transportation Is Free
In 2020, the public transport was made free for all locals and visitors alike.
Yvette Desmarais 4 years ago
They are doing this in some US cities as well. Kansas City Missouri has made their public transportation free.
Anna Banana 4 years ago
Some cities in my country have free public transport as well. Not only does it encourage people to leave their cars behind, it's also quite cost-efficient because you don't have to maintain the ticket machines, employ controllers, etc.
Vasana Phong 4 years ago
Was this due to the pandemic or something that was in the works? Very nice of the city
RELATED:
#2
Nepal's Flag Is Non-Rectangular
The only modern country in the world with a non-quadrilateral flag is Nepal and it is said to derive from Hinduism.
Lauren Caswell 4 years ago (edited)
I never knew there was a national flag like this! I must have missed this "Dr. Sheldon Cooper presents 'Fun with Flags'" episode on this ^-^
Idk.... 4 years ago
I have always heard that the triangular shape is supposed to represent the Himalaya’s peaks.
#3
There’s A Lamborghini In The Italian Police Fleet
A few years ago, a Lamborghini was added to the police vehicle fleet in Italy, and it’s probably quite fast and, well, impressive to look at.
Don Golosso 4 years ago
They have a few, three or maybe four. All given as a present by Lamborghini. More a publicity stunt then a real part of their fleet.
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Oerff On Tour 4 years ago
The Italian police use them mostly for transporting donor organs and rare blood types. Most hospitals don't have helipads, except university hospitals. They drive the organs and/or blood to the nearest point where a police helicopter is waiting. Organ transplants are only conducted there, but harvesting takes place in every hospital. 2 are based in Rome, one in Bologna and one in Milan
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
Isle of Man police easily outdoes them with the (ugly) https://www.morebikes.co.uk/news/38382/170mph-cop-car-isle-man-police-force/ --- They also have an Ariel Atom, and an electric bike since years e.g. https://www.carolenash.com/news/bike-news/detail/first-electric-police-bike-goes-patrol-isle-man and in the 90s they rode Honda Fireblades... E.g. here a video of a cop keeping up with a biker then stopping him, all expert riders https://www.thedrive.com/news/3688/watch-this-isle-of-man-bike-cop-slice-up-traffic-to-catch-a-speeding-motorcycle
#4
In Scandinavian Countries, Parents Leave Their Kids To Nap Outside In Cold Temperatures
Most Scandinavian parents think that it's healthier to expose their children to as much fresh air as possible. Therefore, they leave them outside to take their naps.
Mere Cat 4 years ago
A Finn here. I know babies that didn't want to nap inside at all, my sister's kid as one of them. Slept like a dream outside, even in extremely cold weather. And was completely warm and happy when woke up. It's all about proper clothing, sleeping bags etc. :)
Marika Miettinen 4 years ago
In Nordic countries child abductions and kidnappings and such things are quite rare, I at least don't even know of any such cases.
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Honu 4 years ago
In the early 20th century, sleeping porches were a common feature in houses here in the US. It was believed sleeping in the fresh air was more healthy, especially in cases of tuberculosis. They've fallen out of fashion now.
Cain Hargreaves 4 years ago
They were also more common in the southern US because it just gets so dang hot down here. Sleeping outside on a screened-in porch is a lot cooler than sleeping inside when your house isn't air conditioned (trust me, I've done both).
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Chenandoa 4 years ago
Actually, this probably raises their tolerance for temperatures, keeps them from being too warm (hassel to unwrap baby). I have asthma (not bothered by cold), and cold air seems to have MUCH less pollution, aka, is easier to breathe in
Shelley DuVal 4 years ago
Never realised that my asthma IS better now I have moved to a much colder place but you are right, and I have to sleep with the fan on all year round for two reasons, one, its a noise canceller and two, it moves the air around in the bedroom a lot more and feels a lot more colder.
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InfectedVoice 4 years ago (edited)
No problem at all, as long as the hands aren't blue a baby will be fine. we didn't have any heating in our house for the first few years and me and siblings are all fit and healthy with great immune systems and I wear shorts all year round.
My O My 4 years ago
Woah, that must have been reeeeeaaaally cold in winter
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Monica Klint 4 years ago
I am chocked when People dont do that... in Denmark its natural. - but Then again... we have no dangerous animals here.
John C 4 years ago
This "fresh air" thing was also popular in US Cities in the mid-1900s - I've seen photos of "window cribs" that hung outside windows, sometimes high up, and sometimes attached rather precariously...
Mette Olsen Douglas 4 years ago
Yep it was called a "Baby Cage"...it looked really weird but did the trick
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In Japan, Traffic Lights Seem To Be Blue
As the word for green originally didn't exist till later and 'blue' was used to refer to both green and blue, Japan uses the most blue shade of green that is legally possible.
Truth Monster 4 years ago
....because colorblind people can't tell by its position if its "green" or not?
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Samantha PandaNotBored 4 years ago
Why not wait for the blue traffic light to shine.... No instead you took a pic of the amber . 😤
beautiful plumage 4 years ago
"i know! let's illustrate this revelation with a red traffic light! 'cause, y'know... blue."
Martin Forbes 4 years ago
If the word for green didn't exist until later in Japan, which word did they use to describe the colour of the leaves on trees ?
Katherine Heasley 4 years ago
"Ao." The northernmost prefecture on Honshu (Japan's biggest island) is called Aomori. "Mori" means "forest." These days, "midori" is used for green, but old place names weren't changed.
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A Random Panda 4 years ago
Yep. My mom and her Japanese friends call green lights blue lights.
Nikki Owens 4 years ago (edited)
There was no word for "blue" in most ancient languages. In Homeric Greek, for example, the existing colors were classified as: pale; dark; yellow-green; and red. The Egyptians and the Byzantines appear to be the only ancient civilizations that developed a word specifically for the color we call "blue".
Katy 4 years ago
The same character (靑) in Chinese is quite confusing too. It can refer to many shades of green, blue, black. The character started as description of natural minerals/stones which comes in all sorts of colours. Of course both Japanese and Chinese later developed specific vocabularies to describe solely green and black, and this character mostly means blue in modern context.
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Glynna Bowood 4 years ago
That a country surrounded by water and full of forests should not have two separate words for two different colors is astounding! What did they say about the rainbow colors?!!
#6
Bathtubs Made Of Wood Are Used In Japan
The ofuro baths are for sitting and soaking in hot water and are not frequently found around the world.
Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago
Very tiny bath tub. Don't think my fat a**e would even fit in lol.
Daria B 4 years ago
It's not just any wood, my guess is It's hinoki wood, very famous for not rotting (if I remember correctly) and giving the water additional relaxing features.
M O'Connell 4 years ago
Traditionally in the US hot tubs were made of redwood or cypress. That fell out of fashion many years ago in favor of fiberglass models, but you can still buy them.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
My gramps made a bathtub of wood, just to see if he could. He had to cure the wood for a few years first, but it came out kinda neat, like a boat. (It was a gift for one of his sons, who had down's, and loved ships.)
zenitsusunshine 4 years ago
one that i can relate to!!! im from osaka and moved to america a couple years ago :>
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
Where in the U.S. do you live? I understand that Osaka is really lovely.
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Proud gold rose 4 years ago
It looks like my cypress bathtub in animal crossing new horizons upvote if u know
Nikki Owens 4 years ago
We plan on making an ofuro in our Japanese-style house when we build. It's inspired by the Kusakabe residence in "My Neighbor Totoro". :)
K.Kobayashi 4 years ago
A stool to sit on while you wash yourself, and a pail to rinse your hand towel.
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#7
Colombians Drink Hot Chocolate Cheese
The sweet cocoa drink is consumed with savory cheese slices. And if you've tried it, you know that it's quite delicious, but surely not common elsewhere.
danielw 4 years ago
at first, i was picturing something like, molten chocolate (or cheese sauce) blended with hot chocolate and thought it would sound awful. but... the cheese on the side? not so bad.
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Yomaira Wilson 4 years ago
Colombian girl here; we also like dipping our bread on chocolate or coffee. Everyone should try Colombian food; I promise you'll love it!!!
Dilly Millandry 4 years ago
Favourite recipe please? Seeing as travel is off the cards at the moment.
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Sergio Bicerra 4 years ago
In Perú we drink coffee with cheese, just like some people put marshmellows on their hot chocolate.
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
No DIPPING! (I also don’t like my foods to touch.)
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Ron Santos 4 years ago
Smith Island, MD, USA folks put cheese in their coffee then spread it on toast after the cup is empty.
RoseTheMad 4 years ago
In the UK (moreso north of England than elsewhere) we often eat a slice of cheese with christmas cake, so honestly, I'd be willing to give cheese and cocoa a try!
#8
In France, Milk Is Not Refrigerated
Most of the milk sold in France is pasteurised at UHT (ultra high temperature) and therefore doesn't have to be stored in cold.
Badulesia 4 years ago
Meaningless comment. UHT doesn't alter the taste or look. The mainly used milk in France is half skimmed, that alters the taste compared to unskimmed milk if you are used to it. Enjoy this reading ... http://www.economie.gouv.fr/files/directions_services/daj/marches_publics/oeap/gem/produits_laitiers/produits_laitiers.pdf
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Bole Perishon 4 years ago
It is not pasteurised, it is sterilised. Pasteurised milk has to be refrigerated, sterilised doesn't until it is opened.
M O'Connell 4 years ago
At least in the US, that technique is marketed as "ultra pasteurized"
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Night Owl 4 years ago (edited)
same in Croatia and probably all over the rest of Europe too
Load More Replies... Ryan Deschanel 4 years ago (edited)
It is not refrigerated in stores, but most people usually store a bottle in the fridge because it tastes better when is is cold. Anyway, once you have opened it, you must refrigerate it.
Suzanne Haigh 4 years ago
I never refrigerate milk, England, but then I use homogenised
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Stephanie IV 4 years ago
Nooooo! France has lots of different kinds of milk - and a fair share need no cooling. But you also have normal milk that needs to be refrigerated. And that’s still the most common type.
Jayne Kyra 4 years ago
Huh? We do that in Slovakia and Czechia, too. Sell milk in 1 litre cartons, no plastic jugs, in an aisle. (You can even get milk in plastic bags in some places.)
#9
Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu
This place in New Zealand is said to have the longest name and it's 85 characters. Have you tried to pronounce it?
Shelp 4 years ago
Well it seems quite easy to pronounce, consonant/vowel/consonant/vowel etc. Just take a deep breathe and go
BorPand8 4 years ago
It's got 6 vowels in a row, so it's not just "consonant/vowel/consonant/vowel etc."
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Jayne Kyra 4 years ago (edited)
Please enjoy these 20 seconds of Liam Dutton pronouncing Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHxO0UdpoxM
Robert T 4 years ago
Yes, it's a Welsh village on the island of Anglesey. We went a few years ago. This is outside the railway station: 20160430_1...e1ad3f.jpg 
Phendrena 4 years ago
I wonder if it's twinned with Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
Now you're insulting his mother, and you get beaten up by a local overhearing you.
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What's In Your Head? 4 years ago
I always thought the longest name was Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. XD
RoseTheMad 4 years ago
Honestly, it may be long, but it's surely easier to pronounce than Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
Nikki Owens 4 years ago (edited)
It's easy as long as you remember Māori is a phonetic language, including the following rules: "wh" is pronounced like a very soft, breezy "f"; "r" is pronounced as a brief roll/trill and comes out somewhere between a "d" and an "l"; the vowel sounds are all short except for "u": ah, eh, ee, aw, oo. Two vowels together are pronounced as both blended into each other, e.g. "ao" = ah-aw = "ow" (like you hurt yourself), "ea" = eh-ah - "eya", etc.
Duncan Ash 4 years ago
I hope big knees are a good thing in New Zealand because if not they really did my man dirty
#10
People In The UK Have A Competition To Roll After A Giant Cheese Wheel
The annually held Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling is a competition where people race down the 200-yard hill chasing a giant wheel of cheese.
Jayne Kyra 4 years ago
And in 2020 they rolled a Babybel cheese down the hill since the event had to be cancelled.
sonofabass 4 years ago
I thought that was a good joke - but googled it and it's true.
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Andrew Gibb 4 years ago
there is an ambulance at the bottom to deal with the inevitable injuries
Cain Hargreaves 4 years ago
I was gonna say! I mean, just look at some of the tumbles they're taking in that picture.
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Deborah B 4 years ago
It used to be an official thing with an elected MC, but was halted in 2009 due to health and safety concerns, where upon the locals just kept doing it anyway, just 'unofficially'. It got more popular. Because risking life and limb in pursuit of a cheese is even more fun if it's subversive.
CaptainWolfy125 4 years ago
I saw something like that in a cartoon although I thought that wasn't real *because it was a cartoon*
beautiful plumage 4 years ago
well, they're not *trying* to roll down the hill. they're trying to chase after a wheel of cheese that is rolling down the hill by running down the hill. but when they fall down, they start rolling.
InfectedVoice 4 years ago
I've watched it several times, such an entertaining day out, they have the local rugby team at the bottom to catch everyone, people really do get seriously injured.
Treessimontrees 4 years ago
They don't roll, they run and fall and start rolling uncontrollably.
Emma Perkins 4 years ago
People also regularly hurt themselves. They have a few ambulances on hand at the bottom of the hill lol
Pedro 4 years ago
They do. All sorts of broken bones. But come on, it's for a cheese wheel :D
Load More Replies... #11
Some East Asian Countries Wore Face Masks Pre-Pandemic
In countries like South Korea, for the safety of others, people would wear face masks even when having a common cold prior to the pandemic.
Honu 4 years ago
Where I live in the US, we are prone to wildfires in hot, dry weather. It's not unusual to see folks wearing masks during fire season.
Load More Replies... Shelley DuVal 4 years ago
So too, do the Japanese. Also in most of the Asian countries also wear a mask if they have a cold so they don't spread it around, something which should happen everywhere.
BluEyedSeoulite 4 years ago
Air pollution, yellow dust, when sick, when you don't want to put on makeup, want to hide your face, etc
Dave P 4 years ago
They only started doing that after the SARS outbreak of 2002 which killed thousands. They learned from their first pandemic.
BlockDog02 4 years ago
*epidemic. If it was just the one country, then epidemic. Pandemic is for the whole world ^^
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Mama Panda 4 years ago
I would wear one when working in the yard. I have allergies and pollen is the culprit but I love working with the flowers so I mask up every time I am near flowers. I would also wear one if I had to clean the cat box or if one of our fur babies got sick. I can't stand the smell of puke.
Alphabet Soupy 4 years ago
A family friend has extreme allergies but loves her garden so she already wore masks. I’ve recently started to and it makes SUCH a great difference, I love it!
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#12
In The Netherlands, Stairs Are Usually Very Steep And Narrow
To some foreigners, staircases in the Netherlands might look more like a health risk than anything. Historically, the buildings were built up rather than out, saving all the centimeters possible.
RoseTheMad 4 years ago
To be honest, this is pretty common in a lot of older European buildings, iirc.
H Edwards 4 years ago
These tiny steep stairs are built into modern Dutch houses as well, though.
Load More Replies... Anouk Linthorst 4 years ago
The stairs in the picture is not that steep? Or is this just my dutch mind accustomed to these stairs? I see these all the time. The horrible ones are the ones you have to go down the same way you go up, 'cause your heels don't fit!
Up All Night 4 years ago
How to spot the Dutch: "This is not THAT steep" 😂
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Zoe's Mom 4 years ago
My understanding is due to taxes. Taxes are paid on square feet so everyone builds 'up'. I stayed in a home in Amsterdam that had stairs just like this. I had to walk up backwards so I could pull my small piece of luggage up. Aside from that, it was a lovely place to stay and I really enjoyed Amsterdam.
Dynein 4 years ago
In a lot of European towns with medieval town centers, you'll notice houses where the upper stories are broader than the ground floor. That was also a very common attempt to get more square meters out of your property.
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Iván Galarraga 4 years ago
Yeap, that's is meant for better defense against sword armed knights attacking your house (¬‿¬) https://www.thevintagenews.com/2016/08/03/the-secrets-of-medieval-castles-stairs-are-built-in-a-clockwise-fashion-for-a-very-good-reason/
Rens 4 years ago
I lived in the Netherlands for 12 years and my house was built in the 80s and it had a staircase like this from the ground floor to the first floor and an even steeper one that twisted 180° from the first floor to the second.
Ozacoter 4 years ago
Yes. I lived in a house from the 70s and the stairs were impossible. Then I lived in two modern houses and while they were a bit better they were still extremely steep
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Nevits Yibble 4 years ago
As someone who's dined upstairs at De Groene Lanteerne (over and over - I love that place), I can vouch for this!
#13
In Ecuador, The Trash Trucks' Tune Is Similar To What Ice Cream Trucks Play In The USA
If you are visiting Ecuador, you might mistake the garbage truck tune with an ice cream tune and get highly disappointed.
Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago
Thank f**k our trucks don't have a tune, especially when they can come at 6am.
Kenny Kulbiski 4 years ago
For some ungodly reason some of our ice cream trucks play Christmas music. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer in July makes wish I had my own bazooka.
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
There's some interesting history to what tunes they (choose to -- out of a list) play, and the company that has a practical monopoly on selling those speaker systems in the US. The sellers actually test what sells most... blame your neighbours!
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Mark Evans 4 years ago
Taiwan does the same. They use the tune to alert everyone in the neighbourhood to come out and throw their rubbish in the truck. What's more, they take recycling so serious that they have the rubbish bags in different colours to show what kind of rubbish is in them.
Andrew Gibb 4 years ago
Don't forget to tell your kids that the Ice Cream van only plays the tune when it has run out of Ice Cream- saves me a fortune
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
During lockdown ours had been sent a voucher for a free cone with the school files. Hearing the noise quite distantly, fearing we'd missed again we raced around the neighbourhood and finally caught them after a very convoluted path of roughly a mile (ending about 20yards from home)... On second lick it was established she still hates soft ice.
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Meghna Mohan 4 years ago
I'm from Bangalore, India, here we have the garbage truck playing religious music or local language music on full blast in the wee hours of the morning. It is a wake up call alright, we are all half asleep rushing outside to give it all away. Keeping it outside attracts attention of cats, few stray dogs and rodents. So well we got to lose some sleep. The blaring music is something we are used to as most parents in Indian especially Hindu households play in the morning for prayer time. No one really complains😎
RoseTheMad 4 years ago (edited)
Same in Japan! (and as far as I know, Taiwan and possibly South Korea also)
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
I was confused there when the traffic lights started playing jingles ---- greensleeves, old lang syne, ... ---- upon arrival in Kyoto.
Load More Replies... #14
You Can Walk From The North To The South Of Monaco In About An Hour
Due to the size of this country, you can easily walk the length of the whole country. How convenient!
Hecking Heavy 4 years ago
Vatican City is also another country you can walk across in less than 60 minutes!
Oerff On Tour 4 years ago
A walk around the Vatican city wall, usually takes all of 45minutes
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Jaekry 4 years ago
Or drive through the amazing tunnel system feeling like a race game.... Rrrrrrraah!
Oerff On Tour 4 years ago
It is a sovereign country. It's just not a kingdom nor a republic
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Mark Schilling 4 years ago
There's a lot of hills though -- it's basically built on hills. I walked it but it's not easy if you're out of shape.
#15
There Are 'Bra Studies' In Hong Kong
At Hong Kong polytechnic, you can major in Bra Studies, where Top Form manufacturer has its lab and factory.
Donkey boi 4 years ago
Well played! I bet you were BUSTing to get that one off your CHEST!
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Pedro 4 years ago (edited)
I'm clicking "like" on a few comments here not from personal experience, but as a very shocked witness. When she removes her bra (or I do it) and there are those half moon red marks under each breast from those rigid things sewn into the bra I am appalled. Every. F@cking. Time. It's medieval. Bras need to evolve the f@ck up. Really.
AnnaBanana 4 years ago
Thank you - on behalf of my sisters, I salute you!
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#16
In Italy, Restaurants Include Service Charge
You are not expected to tip in Italy as it is quite normal for the service charge to be added to the bill.
Shelp 4 years ago
Same in most of Europe as far I know. I don't even understand how people in the US can expect the waiters to rely uniquely on tips in order to survive, and how some people still want to do that job.
Lorelai Dewrell 4 years ago
my mother is a waitress an they charge 8;50 an hour and if she does not make an average of 12:50 an hour with tips the boss is responsible to pay the rest.
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Ryan Deschanel 4 years ago
Wait, what? They just pay the waiters properly? What kind of weird country is that? /s Actually, it is the opposite, American situation which is unusual.
Nicole Weymann 4 years ago
In most European countries you're not expected to tip. Sure, the waiters don't mind you doing it, but the staff is paid by their bosses, not the customer, and the money is reasonable, not a pittance.
The Frenchiest Fry 4 years ago
This isn't just Italy, literally everywhere but the us does this
Eduardo Perez 4 years ago
Same in New Zealand. Also they add taxes to the bill so you don't have to add it yourself.
#17
In Italy Cappuccino Is More Of A Breakfast Drink
Italians associate milk with mornings; cappuccinos are traditionally drank as a morning beverage.
Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago
I always thought espressos were a morning drink to get you going.
Oerff On Tour 4 years ago
Breakfast consists of a cappuccino and a brioche. The rest of the day is espresso, but often "corrected"(corretto) with a dash of strong spirit like grappa or brandy, to *keep* them going
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guy greej 4 years ago
Are you telling me other places take cappuccinos for other times than breakfast? Asking from Malawi-Africa. We stand with Italy on this one
Cristina Dal Zilio 4 years ago
Worked in the Venice Airport in Italy and saw quite a few travelers ordering a pizza and a cappuccino as dinner 💁🏼♀️
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Oerff On Tour 4 years ago
They make an exception for tourists, but after 2 weeks you're fair game
Load More Replies... Anita Pickle 4 years ago
Who drinks these at night? I feel like a post stating "x country drinks cappuccino at night" would be more of an interesting/odd behavior. The only people I would think drink at night are those that wake up at night for a night shift.
giovanna 4 years ago
What they mean is that we don't have cappuccino at the end of a meal, while we typically do have an espresso.
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Ray Martin 4 years ago
How can anything with coffee in it be considered wrong at any time of the day?
Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago
For me, absolutely ANYTHING coffee flavoured stays away from my lips. Can't stand the stuff. I even hate the smell.
Load More Replies... #18
Fried Mars Bars Are A Thing In Scotland
This food item of questionable health value originated in Scotland in a fish and chips shop. It's battered and deep-fried. Would you like to try?
Iván Galarraga 4 years ago (edited)
it's actually quite delicious, but wait till cool down unleast you want to burn your tongue with hot chocolate
Anna Phalactic 4 years ago
The battered and deep fried ice cream in Scotland doesn't have that problem..
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JennyLaRue 4 years ago
It's something that sounds gross before you try it, then you take a bite and go 'oh, that's alright', then after a second bite you've had enough. Some chippers do other chocolate bars or Creme Eggs at Easter too.
Cain Hargreaves 4 years ago
Fried candy bars, fried Twinkies, fried Oreos, fried Kool-Aid, fried Coca-Cola... You name, we'll fry it!
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Donkey boi 4 years ago
Fried [insert any food item] are a thing in Glasgow. I'll be honest enough to admit I don't know if you can do it at any/all/some Fish & Chip shops, or if it's just to one near my friends house, but when I stayed with him I found out it was quite common for people to take stuff to the chippy and have them batter & fry it!
Bow, I’m a Slytherin 4 years ago
Yep, I live in Glasgow. If you look long enough, you can find basically anything deep fried.
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Luna Lovegood 4 years ago
I mean in America fried oreos are a thing so... Not too surprising. If it's a food, somebody's probably fried it.
Aisling Allan 4 years ago
More of a thing for tourists, it was a fad, now not as many places do them.
Suzanne Haigh 4 years ago
I lived in Scotland for years and the only single instance I have heard of this was Yorkshire
El Dee 4 years ago
No, they aren't. That's not to say it's impossible to find one but in reality you won't find one unless it's being done especially for tourists. Nobody eats anything like that in Scotland..
Bow, I’m a Slytherin 4 years ago
Most chip shops I’ve been to serve them!
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#19
In Thailand, There Is A Nationwide Water Fight In April
If you are into water fights as much as Thai people, you should participate in Songkran, the Thai New Year's national holiday (13th of April). The water fight is a part of ritual cleansing during the celebration period.
María Hermida 4 years ago
There's a celebration in Spain which is similar, but with wine instead of water. It's on 29th June in La Rioja.
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Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
Songkran. April is Thailand’s hottest month, so Songkran is a fun way to cool down. I lived in BKK 2006-2007, and during Songkran, Thai people (who are famous for their politeness) would look at me wondering if I was fair game or going to throw a snit, so I would always splash them first. Once I was soaked, it was all-out war!
H Edwards 4 years ago
I've been to Thailand twice in my life, and I managed to be there for Songkran both times.
BlockDog02 4 years ago
It's like the Polish tradition of smigus dingus, the monday after Easter, where (mostly children) soak each other 0.0
#20
Bamboo Poles Are Used As Drying Rails In Singapore
Don't be surprised seeing clothing drying on bamboo poles in this country—the bamboo material is widely available, making it quite a popular tool to dry things.
Samantha PandaNotBored 4 years ago
In India , bamboo is also used as scaffolding for building . If you see it , you literally shi£ yourself , as it’s so dangerous. But they don’t really have regulations there, so tuff luck if you fall on your head
ravn 4 years ago
Fun fact, bamboo has a higher weight to strength ratio than steel. It's excellent scaffolding material. Also good for bike frames.
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Robert Hebert 4 years ago
Bamboo is used for construction scaffolding instead of steel in most of Asia...
Katherine Heasley 4 years ago
Your clothes dry faster. Check out the clips holding the laundry on the poles. They do this in China, too.
Load More Replies... Anna Banana 4 years ago
It's not something we do but I wouldn't exactly say I'm baffled by this.
backatya 4 years ago
A country who gives people tickets for spitting gum on sidewalks to keep the city clean looking. You would think they wouldn't make it look bad with laundry hanging from their windows
Jenny King 4 years ago
I have never understood the idea that laundry hung out to dry looks bad. Washer and dryer manufacturers pushed that idea to sell more units.
Load More Replies... #21
In Thailand, People Remove Their Shoes Before Entering A Building
One of the things related to feet etiquette in Thailand is taking one's shoes off before entering a building—that's to keep dirt from the outside outdoors.
Ji 4 years ago
Yep! A few don’t, but most homes in Asia have you take off work shoes and put on home slippers when entering a home, or even a school.
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Aya Hikage 4 years ago
in germany it's quite common too but we take the shoes off inside. I think that should be more common elsewhere too. I don't understand why you would wear the shoes in your house you also wear on the street. It just makes no sense to me, I mean you have so much less cleaning to do if you take the shoes off
Mama Panda 4 years ago
In the southwest part of the USA, there are scorpions that blend in with carpeting and are also venomous so it's wise to wear shoes inside or else the hospital would be flooded daily by scorpion stings.
Load More Replies... Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago
Don't wanna leave your shoes outside in Australia otherwise you may find a snake or spider has taken up residence lol.
Vicky Z 4 years ago
I think I would sleep with my shoes on if I was there I'm scared of almost every insect lizard etc
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BorPand8 4 years ago
Are they talking about entering a building in general, or just people's homes? Because nobody in the Philippines takes their shoes off before entering a public building... I found a blog that says Thai people take them off before entering "temples, stores, hostels, hotels, and even on sleeper buses." Temples, definitely. But stores? That's just gross.
BlockDog02 4 years ago
Yeah, same here in Poland. But not churches really, as those are the Christian temples I suppose
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#22
There Are No Street Names In Costa Rica
Although some streets might have names, they might not necessarily have signs, so the addresses in Costa Rica are still described by local landmarks.
M O'Connell 4 years ago
It appears that mailing addresses are on a grid, regardless of the street pattern. I have relatives who live in a US municipality that does this too.
Tim Douglass 4 years ago
I believe Idaho does this. Addresses are given as an East-North offset from the SW corner of the county (IIRC). So 1520 East, 945 North (nearest town) would be 15.2 miles east and 9.45 miles north of the corner. It's been 20 years, so I may have the details wrong, but I recall having a strange address like that when I lived in Idaho.
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Sue Wu 4 years ago
I'm from CR, there are some streets with name, such as Central Avenue, 4th Ave, 9th. Street, etc. Yes, most of the addresses are as Manu said, for example, my best friend's home address is like this: From the Church of xxxx of Santa Marta 175m to northeast, the house painted in white and blue. Foreigners alway wonder what happens if the house changes color or the indicated tree is cut..
Jeff Christensen 4 years ago
There is a town in Nova Scotia with "This Street, "That Street" and "The Other Street".
J-A Laine 4 years ago
Bono wrote the lyrics in response to the notion that it is possible to identify a person's religion and income based on the street on which they lived, particularly in Belfast.
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Donkey boi 4 years ago
In the cities and larger towns the road that runs through the middle (roughly east to west) is Central Avenue. All east to west roads north of this are odd numbered (Avenue1, Avenue 3, etc) and all east-west roads south are even numbers (Avenue 2, Avenue 4 and so on). All North/South roads are Calle (Street). Again There is a Calle Central, to the East odd number, to the West Even numbers. The smaller towns I visited all seemed to have street names.
J-A Laine 4 years ago
Bono wrote the lyrics in response to the notion that it is possible to identify a person's religion and income based on the street on which they lived, particularly in Belfast.
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Annemarie Zwet 4 years ago
I spent a year in CR and had to leave an address at my Dutch municipality to forward mail. I made it 'Kite house at Playa Copal, just before El Jobo, downhill from La Cruz' and lo and behold, the one mail item that actually made it there was a letter form the Dutch finances authority about a 5-year old dispute...
#23
In Some Parts Of Highways In Germany, Speed Limit Is Only A Recommendation
On the federal highway system AKA autobahn in Germany, the speed limit in certain places is only a recommendation and drivers can choose to drive as fast as they want.
Ritchat 4 years ago
That's not 100% correct. We do have speed limit on the Autobahn and they have to be obeyed. But we do have a sign that cancels the last speed limit. THEN you are allowed to drive as fast as you want. So it's only allowed on specific sections of the Autobahn.
Marianne 4 years ago
This is exactly what the post says, so yes it is correct.
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Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
Welcome to BP, where articles are copied from whatever sources put them together. Often enough funny, and really good for cat topics; the rest your mileage varies.
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Mimi 4 years ago
Soooo, it has to be read carefully. There are certain parts of the Autobahn without speed limits. But in the past years, more and more parts are limited to 120 and 130 km/h (as well as 100 and 80 km/h) For the parts without speedlimit there is something called "Richtgeschwindigkeit" that advices you to drive 130 km/h - but it is not mandatory. Leading to people legally speeding up to +200 km/h. Sometimes there are three lanes and speeders just go crazy when you run "only" 160 km/h. It can be fun to speed on an empty road but what's happening around me is just sick and dangerous. An overall speedlimit is being discussed over and over again and causes big stir, reminding me a bit of the heated up gun-control discussion in the US.
Tiny Dynamine 4 years ago
Same here. In Germany I went in a friend's car on the autobahn and he went at about 200km/h. I was terrified. Drivers would show people in front they wanted to overtake them by driving right up to them and forcing them to move aside. I kept begging him not to do that. It was horrible.
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Radek Suski 4 years ago
Not quite though. The "recommended" speed limit can be relevant in case of accident. If you drove over that limit and you are involved in an accident the insurance can decline covering your (own) damages
DeepDishFish 4 years ago
I paid for the whole speedometer so I'm going to use the whole speedometer!
#24
In Slovakia, A Live Carp Is Kept In A Bathtub Before Preparing It For Christmas Dinner
A Christmas tradition in Slovakia is letting the carp that is meant for dinner swim in the bathtub for a few days to clean its tract, since it's a bottom feeder. And, well, people don't take baths unless they want to share the tub with a fish.
Jayne Kyra 4 years ago
It is also killed in the tub and people keep a scale from the carp in their wallet to attract money. Thankfully, we have never done it, but it is still a thing.
BlockDog02 4 years ago
Same here in Poland, and we sometimes kept a scale from the pre-dead one we bought, if there was any. Though we try not to get any carp lately, as over-fishing
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K.Kobayashi 4 years ago
How do you take home a live carp this big? I don't think a plastic bag filled with water would work.
BlockDog02 4 years ago
Traditionally in Poland too, but luckily we never did it, and most people don't do it nowadays, but did a couple decades ago more commonly. At least the part I'm from
Nicole Weymann 4 years ago
A common habit wherever people eat carp, unless they like their fish with an aroma of mud
#25
Sitting In A Sauna In Finland Can Be A Competition
World sauna endurance championships were so famed that people from different countries would compete in this extreme activity in the homeland of saunas—Finland.
Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago
If I remember rightly a guy died a year or two ago whilst doing one of these competitions. I can barely last 5 mins in a sauna.
Marika Miettinen 4 years ago
Haha, a year or two, try 11 years ago! Also, the competition hasn't been organised since then. I don't like a super hot sauna, and also I get bored quite quickly, but oh boy I'd like to go to the sauna right about now.
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Shelley DuVal 4 years ago
First time I went to a sauna I neglected to take off the necklace I always wore, didn't take long for me to unhook it.
Boredzzz 4 years ago
Actually not a big thing in Finland at all. This was a very tiny little event in Finland, for years - not anymore because there was a final where one died and the other one was hospitalized for months. Finland has about 5.5 million people and well over 3 million saunas and basically no one ever ends up in a hospital for it.
Camilla Koutsos 4 years ago
My grandfather always used to run out and roll in the snow after saunas.
Michelle V 4 years ago
About five years ago I attended a Temazcal - a traditional Mexican ceremonial sweat lodge - with my sister-in-law. It got so unbearably hot that I thought I was going to die. I was petrified of leaving because I didn't want to offend anyone, so I suffered in silence. Mercifully it was over soon. What a relief to feel that cool, sweet air after literally steaming for a few hours. I got really sick afterward, though. I was extremely dehydrated. I love my sister-in-law, but the next time we visit, I'll pass.
Crazy Dog Lady 4 years ago
I bet people train in the American South because it is basically a walk-in sauna from May-August.
#26
People In The Netherlands Don't Use Curtains
It seems that the Dutch don't mind people looking into their homes. This might be coming from Protestant religious traditions and the notion of 'I have nothing to hide.'
Virgil Sanders 4 years ago
same! i enjoy my privacy, plus i think curtains can be really pretty :)
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Manon Snowdrop 4 years ago
I'm from the Netherlands and most people do have curtains. This "fact" is bs
Debbie 4 years ago
Most people have shutters, curtains, blinds... and sometimes we people close them a bit late, but I think 99% of the people DO cover the view into their house when it gets dark. (Yes, during the day they might be open, though most of the time still with blinds, shutters, lace/fly curtains (don't know the right word), privacy foil....
Kitti B. 4 years ago
Same with Norwegians. They only use curtains to block the sun out at night (yes, that's a thing :D)
HellVetios 4 years ago
In german, a term for prison is "behind swedish curtains"
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MellonCollie 4 years ago
They definitely do have curtains in the bedrooms and most people have some kind of curtains in the living room as well. But it us true that you often see a fair number of homes where the curtains are not drawn immediately or entirely when it gets dark, and you can thus peek inside when walking by.
Marika Miettinen 4 years ago
This is just wrong. I've lived in the Netherlands and the only people I knew that had no curtains at all were actually from a different country. Dutch people have curtains. Are protestant denominations popular there anyways? My first Dutch boyfriend was a satanist, second one was from a catholic family. In my home country Lutherianism is the most common religion and we use curtains too. Who the heck came up with this "fact"?
YouDid 4 years ago
Depends on where you live, in the south are more Catholic people. As you go north there is more and more protestants
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#27
Russians Have 2 Passports
Citizens of Russia have two passports: one national passport that serves more like an ID and a passport for travelling abroad.
Samantha PandaNotBored 4 years ago
The Russian train stations are something else . Each one different, each one beautiful. You can travel from Moscow to St Petersburg economy for around £4 Stay in a YMCA instead of a small room , they are much cleaner and very cheap . The Russians have a wonderful dessert , it’s like a doughnut, but much much more yummy . Cheap too !
M Kate McCulloch 4 years ago
never been, but worked in a Russian Restaurant with a bunch o' Russian dudes - and the blinis were divine. So was the beef borscht. Wish I had gotten the recipe
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Radek Suski 4 years ago
So they have pass and an id document? Like almost every country in Europe
Up All Night 4 years ago
Our small ID cards doesn't look like these. Not to mention there is "passport" written on both.
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Michael Genenko 4 years ago
Ehm what's the currency on the background? It is nothing like national Rubles
Violet 2 years ago
Yay, you showed something about Russia XD To make things clear, the abroad passport is not nessesary, but without it you can't travel anywhere except russia. And this is the kind of passport that can be made for any age(unlike the normal one, which is only given when you're 14). I think this is because 'normal' passport doesn't have a word in english, but idk.
#28
South Koreans Think That Writing In Red Ink Is A Bad Omen
In the past, writing someone's name in red in the book registry meant that the person is deceased.
ImHailey 4 years ago (edited)
Teachers would correct papers in red. It's just the names they don't write in red
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ImHailey 4 years ago (edited)
As a South Korean, this is true. Our generation now a days think of it as long gone superstition but there are several reasons as to why this was such a strong belief for many years. Only the king could write his name in red ink, during the Korean War when soldiers die with one's boots on people would write their names in red, and etc. but no one really knows when and where this "myth" started from.
Yurie Choi 4 years ago
Fellow S. Korean here, saw a TV show episode on this superstition, it was during the Goryeo dynasty, a band of rebels signed their names with blood and since they were rebels, they were Wanted and if caught, executed, hence the "death" omen if the name was written in red
Load More Replies... BluEyedSeoulite 4 years ago
Kids still freak out if you write their names in red. Pretty amusing actually
pallavi bhat 4 years ago
In India, red pen is used by teachers for correcting answer papers! I still remember couple of red zeros in my maths paper :D
#29
In Brazil, Hair Lightening Is Just As Popular As Hair Removal
Some women in Brazil like to bleach their body hair rather than remove it completely in order to keep the light fuzz.
IttyBitty 4 years ago
Just way more toxic. I don't know what kind of stuff they use though
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Don Golosso 4 years ago
Accommodated by a picture of a woman walking down a street in Russia.... So random.
MarcAngelina Alcober 4 years ago
it is called a "golden shower" (I know, a golden shower is something completely different in the states... For them- with their bronze skin, bleached hairs is to make their legs shine in the sun.
BlockDog02 4 years ago (edited)
Great idea, though I suppose 5 cm leg hair isn't just a fuxx ;-; EDIT: *Fuzz
sofacushionfort 4 years ago
I've read that starlets like Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor had "fuzzy" faces, which contributed to their being photogenetic. The light is caught in the fuzz.
s. vitkovitsky 4 years ago
Look clodely, and you'll find we all have fuzzy faces.
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Eric Mac Fadden 4 years ago
It depends, of course, how much hair does she has. Portuguese descendants are prone to have more hair, sometimes even in the face
#30
Unmarried 25-Year-Olds In Denmark Get Covered In Cinnamon
This messy tradition derives from spice sellers in 16th-century Denmark who were famed to be single and were called 'pepper men' and this makes a perfect extra excuse to party more. So why not?
Birgit M 4 years ago
Whoa! I once had a Tequila Gold that comes with a piece of orange covered in cinnamon. I accidentally inhaled a tiny bit of that powder and nearly choked to death!
Elisabet Larsen 4 years ago
We gift pepper in Denmark if you turn thirty and are still not married.
BluEyedSeoulite 4 years ago
Sounds like a clever tradition to make the spice sellers more money
Vicky Z 4 years ago
I don't like this tradition sounds like extra pressure for people who don't get married! It's 2021!
Helena Buxbom 4 years ago (edited)
Dane here - Rarely any young people here is married at 25, most of us are getting and education at that age, we just do it to mess with our friends on their 25th birthday, and if people don't want it we just say it
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Cosmetica Solist 4 years ago
This is not entirely correct: some do, many just get a peppermill (for unmarried 30-year-olds) or a bag of cinnamon (at 25). Just as many people have abandoned this tradition.
Frankenfrog 4 years ago
This isn't nationwide but exclusive to certain areas, mainly rural ones.
oddkiddo 4 years ago
The thing with cinnamon at 25 is just derived is a fairly modern thing. It started with covering people who turned 30 in ground pepper (which some people still do). You might even wake up to find a 5 meter tall pepper grinder outside your house on your 30th birthday. It will be your problem to have it removed. It’s quite stupid.
danielw 4 years ago
not nearly as stupid as the house-warming gift I left in my friend's yard when they moved into their first house... it was a toilet, turned into a planter, complete with a large stash of pansies, and some kind of crawling ivy falling out of the tank. His wife was very much not amused.
Load More Replies... #31
Some Streets In Japan Don’t Have Names
Due to the different addressing system in Japan, the blocks have names instead of the spaces between them (streets).
Nizumi 4 years ago
I vaguely remember that addressing mail in Japan works like this: Country, province, city, ward, block, house, person. Kind of a "drill down" method of writing the address. Neat!
zenitsusunshine 4 years ago
yes! i had to teach many non-japanese friends how to address letters, lol
Load More Replies... Shelley DuVal 4 years ago
With the new three word system (what 3 Words) for locating addresses makes something like finding an address a much easier way to find the correct place.
Yurie Choi 4 years ago
Used to be the same in S. Korea and no one barely knew their postal/zip code. They've changed it to US style now, giving 5 digit zip codes and street names
CharliAnn Olney 4 years ago
I still have many friends in Okinawa from when I lived there. The address there is similar. Country (Japan) Prefecture, (Okinawa) Province, city, ward, block etc
Frank Baker 4 years ago
Also fascinating in Japan is that in older areas, house 1 on the street was the first one built No.2 second house built and so on. Postman's nightmare 😁
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
No weirder than the US having roads "county 610" for a road name. (And we do. Or similar. Great way to get lost and find new friends!)
#32
People In Singapore Reserve Seats In Public Eateries
As you need to order food from the counter and risk not being able to find a seat, Singaporeans leave anything from umbrellas to packs of tissues to maintain seats reserved for when they return with their purchased meal.
Dark_flame 4 years ago
Not limited to Singapore, I'd say... I'm from Northern Europe and it isn't an uncommon custom here
Samantha PandaNotBored 4 years ago
We call it leaving your coat on the back of your chair in the UK
Suzanne Haigh 4 years ago
Yes but it is frowned upon. If I had bought a meal and then found no where to sit I would want my money back and get it, this has happened a time or two..
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InfectedVoice 4 years ago (edited)
As long as you aren't taking the piss this is pretty common, go in a pub and find a table for all your stuff first and then go to the bar for drinks for example.
surprised pikachu 4 years ago
Same in America. People have been doing that since the begginning of time
SirPatTheCat 4 years ago
The owner of the restaurant across the street from my house banned this because people were reserving seats and then waiting with no food for 20 mins at the table, then the people who already had food didn't have anywhere to sit. She kept telling people to stop but they kept doing it, so it ended in a mega pissed rant on the website and a passive aggressive sign out front lmao
#33
There's A Dessert In Turkey That Contains Chicken Breast
Shredded chicken breast in a milk dessert, anyone? Tavuk göğsü is a sweet served in Turkey that might be not to everyone's taste.
Abigail Coty 4 years ago
I'm vegetarian..and I thought desserts were safe (excluding jell-O) O-O
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Menderes Karakucuk 4 years ago
It is just a resemblance. Chicken breast contains NO POULTRY it is made of milk. The name is given after the apperarence of the dessert is like boilt chicken breast :)
Özge Tuğçe PAŞAOĞLU 4 years ago
Yes, the original in fact does contain chicken. Look it up.
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Julie 4 years ago
It's because it's look like a boneless chicken breast. There is no chicken in this recipe.
Eleni Aggeliki 4 years ago
This is delicious! It doesn't taste like chicken at all. My mouth is watering...
Up All Night 4 years ago
If they don't need the chicken flavor, why do they put chicken in it? I'm asking seriously. Is it like the carrot cake, which is only good if you don't recognize the carrot in it?
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Liz 4 years ago
I looked it up. The chicken breast is prepared to remove any chicken scent/taste. Once fully cooked (boiled), it's shredded, pressed through a strainer, soaked for 20 minutes, and drained that's repeated 5 times. On the 6th, it's then soaked overnight instead of drained. Then in the morning, it's rinsed again. So in the end, it seems like it's acting like gelatin. And apparently, you can make this dessert with skim milk and sugar alternatives for a low calorie, low sugar, super high protein dessert. Doesn't sound so bad to me!
Francis Xavier 3 years ago
In some parts of Turkey, they actually add other strange things to their desserts. I ended with milk rice that contained lots of garlic. I am allergic to garlic and often the desserts are the only choice for me. NOT in Turkey.
#34
While Taking Photos, Dutch Say “Smile At The Little Bird”
Surprisingly, instead of saying "cheese" (after all, a lot of cheese is made in the Netherlands), the Dutch say "Lach eens naar het vogeltje" ("Smile at the little bird").
Russell Ellwardt 4 years ago
Because, in the 19th century when photos were taken in studios with long exposures, photographers had a little bird figure indeed to focus people's attention and thus their view. This is not a Dutch thing. Just like most entries in this thread, this one is crap.
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
And the "cheeeese" only works for English as you'd look unsmiling saying "kaaaas". I think the french say "oustiti".
Load More Replies... mulk 4 years ago
In Switzerland (french part), when I was young, we said that too "Souris au p'tit oiseau"
Ryan Deschanel 4 years ago
And in France, it is ", souriez, le petit oiseau va sortir".
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Violet Smith 4 years ago
This was done in the "olden days" in the West too: “Watch the Birdie” Another one of these forgotten photography methods include the famous “watch the birdie” phrase which originates from photographing kids. When young kids got distracted, photographers would hold a small brass bird. When the photographer was prepared to take the photo, he would squeak the bird to make to kids look in a particular direction. This phrase still exists today for getting attention!
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
In California at least, it was always “smile” at the birdie.
Load More Replies... Donkey boi 4 years ago
This is a historical hang-on to early photography. Cameras used to have a small bird on give a focus point (as well as distract younger subjects). The concept of saying 'Cheese' is completely nuts, look in the mirror and just say the word cheese normally, your mouth doesn't form anything like smile.
Not A Panda 4 years ago
That's because your lips don't smile when you say kaas. I mean.... seriously?
Elim Garak 4 years ago
Almost the same in Italy: "Guarda l'uccellino" (look at the little bird).
#35
In Sweden, Rotten Fish Is A Food Item
Lightly salted and fermented Baltic sea herring has been in Swedish cuisine since the 16th century and it's famed for its extremely particular taste.
Dark_flame 4 years ago
I don't know anyone who's tasted it tho, born and raised in the capital of Sweden
Diana Eriksson 4 years ago
Born and raised in Sweden too, I've eaten it and can confirm it's an acquired taste. It does not taste good the first time though, especially if you're five and your mom makes you eat it haha
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Sum Guy 4 years ago
Fermented and Rotten are 2 different things. Rotting is a runaway process with microorganisms you don't want. Fermenting is a controlled process with beneficial microorganisms.
ms Cabins 4 years ago
It smells like canned Death. No joke. Pro tip: open the can holding it down in a bucket of water.
ms Cabins 4 years ago
Also: go watch this: https://youtu.be/osIJJS6PHUA the fact that he even mentions "I'll have to sell my car now" is hilarious 🤣 Burn it*, not sell it.
Charlotte A. 4 years ago
salted licorice is YUMMY (Sweet licorice is bleh)
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TheGirlFromTheNorth 4 years ago
AND IT STINKS AS HELL BUT A DELICACY!! Eaten with flatbread, sour cream, potatoes and red onion, mmmmmm!
InfectedVoice 4 years ago
I think this is one of the food stuffs that is banned from being taken on any commercial airlines.
Marcellus the Third 4 years ago
No, it's really seriously fermented, lutefisk/ rotten greenland shark levels of agressive. Open the can under water or your house stinks for next month.
Load More Replies... #36
Swedes Cool Their Drinks Outside
A perk of having cold winters in Sweden is that you can cool your drinks outside in the snow. Perhaps a few countries take advantage of infinite alcohol cooling opportunities outdoors.
Andrew Yarke 4 years ago
We do this here in Minnesota too, no need to refrigerate drinks in the winter.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
Grew up uS-Canada border. Six motnh of the year, our porch was the fridge/freezer!
Christian Beham 4 years ago
of course....it's only logical to do that...I do that every winter.
Klaus Schneider 4 years ago
Works. Funny enough: This beer stock photo shows only beer from German, more precise Bavarian breweries.
#37
In The Netherlands, It's Common To Answer The Phone With 'Hoi'
No matter how bizarre it sounds, it's normal for the Dutch to answer the phone with the very old-school 'hoi,' that even gave the roots for the nautical term 'ahoy.'
A H 4 years ago
I live here in the Netherlands, speak Dutch, and I don't understand how this is weird. "Hoi" just means hi and it isn't 'old school' at all
Jayne Kyra 4 years ago
Again, other countries do the same and we say "Ahoj", literally pronounced the same as "Ahoy".
Abigail Coty 4 years ago
I text 'hoi' instead of 'hi'. I didn't know this was 'weird'!
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Oerff On Tour 4 years ago
This is because we have CALLER-ID. We store all numbers in our phones so we know who's calling. Unknown or "important" numbers we answer with our names.
Lady Lava 4 years ago
That's true! I remember that before the caller ID came, I always used my name to answer the phone. Now I only do that when I don't recognize the number.
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Sweetie Dahling 4 years ago
Since when is 'hoi' old-school? It's more colloquial than 'hallo'.
Iggy 4 years ago (edited)
Alexander Graham Bell had wanted the telephone to be answered with an 'Ahoy-ahoy' or 'Ahoy-hoy'. At the time , 'hello' was an expression of surprise rather than a greeting.
Luther von Wolfen 4 years ago
Mr. Burns answers the phone "Ahoy-hoy". The joke is that he's so old he uses the original phrase.
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Violet Smith 4 years ago
I took a semester of Russian language many years ago. Apparently Russians don't say hello, they pick up the phone and say "I'm listening."
#38
The UK And Some Other Countries Still Drive On The Left Side
Driving on the left side of the road is a feudal heirtage of the days when it was more convenient to hold and use swords in the right hand and have any opposing traffic on the same side in order to fight them.
M O'Connell 4 years ago
I don't think there is any particular benefit to driving on one side or the other, however having the drivers seat on the left makes more sense to me if you drive a manual transmission.
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Up All Night 4 years ago (edited)
No one said it's weird... just uncommon on the planet. The majority is RHT.
Load More Replies... Treessimontrees 4 years ago
This is not rare - all these places drive on the left: Australia Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Cook Islands Fiji Kiribati Nauru New Zealand Niue Norfolk Island Papua New Guinea Pitcairn Islands Solomon Islands Samoa Tokelau Tonga Tuvalu Asia Bangladesh Bhutan Brunei East Timor Hong Kong Indonesia India Japan Macao Malaysia Nepal Pakistan Singapore Sri Lanka Thailand Africa Botswana Kenya Lesotho Malawi Mauritius Mozambique Namibia South Africa Swaziland Tanzania Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe Europe Akrotiri and Dhekelia Cyprus Guernsey Ireland Isle of Man Jersey Malta United Kingdom South America Guyana Suriname Caribbean Basin Anguilla Antigua and Barbados Bahamas Barbados British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Dominica Grenada Jamaica Montserrat Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Islands U.S. Virgin Islands Other Islands Bermuda Falkland Islands Maldives Saint Helena
Up All Night 4 years ago
You would be surprised! There is a map on Wikipedia about countries that switched from left to right or from right to left. I didn't know but my country also switched once.
Load More Replies... Oerff On Tour 4 years ago
Originally everywhere one traveled on the left. Then Napoleon Bonaparte won a decisive battle by attacking from the right. He then made it mandatory to travel on the right side of the road to commemorate this lucky victory. Since then countries that were influenced by Napoleon started doing the same. Brittain (that included Ireland at the time), being it's arch enemy, of course didn't (they lost the battle) so countries under the British influence still drive on the left.
Judes 4 years ago
Lots of countries drive on the left, for example, India, Japan, Australia and South Africa.
Tom 4 years ago
And also most Pacific Islands. Fact - Samoa (formerly Western Samoa which is different to American Samoa), switched from driving on the right to the left back in 2009, the first country to do such a switch in a long time. Primarily because most cars were being imported from left hand driving New Zealand and Australia.
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JennyLaRue 4 years ago
Why is this difficult for tourists to understand? Lots of countries drive on the left
Kade MacNeill 4 years ago
Actually, only about 30% of the world's countries drive on the left side
Load More Replies... #39
The Swedish Use A Special Cheese Slicer Instead Of A Knife
The Swedish are so serious about cheese that they use a cheese slicer (which is said to have been invented by Norwegians) instead of a regular knife.
Dark_flame 4 years ago
Didn't know this was uncommon in other countries, they seem to be available in other European countries as well?
M O'Connell 4 years ago
Wire slicers have their limits though, depending on the type of cheese. Generally wire ones are great for soft cheeses, and the kind above are great for hard cheeses.
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Up All Night 4 years ago
Cheese slicer is best if you want nice thin slices.
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What do you think ?
Nevits Yibble 4 years ago
Bit of an underwhelming list - many aren't even unique to the country being referenced. There are so many extraordinary and fascinating things throughout the world that could've been included here
Conrad Strucker 4 years ago
Finally, one that isn't "Breaking News! Americans don't have healthcare!" We know we don't have healthcare. We're very sad about it. You can stop reminding us.
Jørgen Belsaas 4 years ago
Not unique, and not bizarre. Getting tired of the clickbate from bored panda....
Suzanne Haigh 4 years ago
Why are people always on about the fact British drive on the left, Americans are non metric, have they nothing better to complain about?
Tom 4 years ago
This is not country but Australian city-centric. Not sure if this is found in any other city but Melbourne, Australia is known for hook turns at traffic lights which, when combined with a city of trams (that have the power of a charging rhino so the public safety campaign tells us), cyclists and pedestrians, can scare the bejesus out of out-of-towners. Basically, in order to turn right at a traffic stop (remember we’re a country driving left lane), you pull into the left lane and wait until there is no traffic either way (technically you’re meant to wait until the lights turn amber) and then turn right.
Logic and Reason 4 years ago
I loved this list, there was nothing derogatory about any country and there was plenty of variety.
Nevits Yibble 4 years ago
Bit of an underwhelming list - many aren't even unique to the country being referenced. There are so many extraordinary and fascinating things throughout the world that could've been included here
Conrad Strucker 4 years ago
Finally, one that isn't "Breaking News! Americans don't have healthcare!" We know we don't have healthcare. We're very sad about it. You can stop reminding us.
Jørgen Belsaas 4 years ago
Not unique, and not bizarre. Getting tired of the clickbate from bored panda....
Suzanne Haigh 4 years ago
Why are people always on about the fact British drive on the left, Americans are non metric, have they nothing better to complain about?
Tom 4 years ago
This is not country but Australian city-centric. Not sure if this is found in any other city but Melbourne, Australia is known for hook turns at traffic lights which, when combined with a city of trams (that have the power of a charging rhino so the public safety campaign tells us), cyclists and pedestrians, can scare the bejesus out of out-of-towners. Basically, in order to turn right at a traffic stop (remember we’re a country driving left lane), you pull into the left lane and wait until there is no traffic either way (technically you’re meant to wait until the lights turn amber) and then turn right.
Logic and Reason 4 years ago
I loved this list, there was nothing derogatory about any country and there was plenty of variety.
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