13 Curious Things from Different Countries That May Confuse Foreigners

Traveling can teach us more about the world than any book or lecture ever could. Seeing how people live, eat, work, and unwind firsthand is far more eye-opening than reading a brochure. We looked into what aspects of other countries have surprised and amazed people the most online.

In China, you might come across a curious phenomenon known as “The Beijing bikini.”

In reality, the “Beijing bikini” has nothing to do with women. It’s a humorous term for men who roll up their shirts to expose their stomachs in hot weather. This practice is most common among middle-aged and older men. Despite the name, the trend can be seen all across China, not just in Beijing.

This bathroom in Seoul has multiple toilet paper rolls.

“In Norway, they have little shelters to keep your bike seat dry. Part of why Norway scores so high on the happiness scale?”

Seats for pregnant women on a train in Seoul

In this Japanese hotel, the hand sanitiser bottles are dressed in Kimonos.

In Washington state, they have mouthwash stations in the bathrooms.

This building looks like it was built in Minecraft!

The Istanbul airport is so big, they have scooters you can rent to cruise inside.

In Japan, they have designated rooms for talking on the phone in shared spaces.

At Munich Airport, they have cabins you can rent to sleep, work, or when you need privacy.

The women’s bathroom at the train station in Seoul had a tiny toilet for children to use.

In China, they use special pants for potty-training.

In Brazil, women prefer hair lightening to hair removal.

While women worldwide often try to remove all body hair, Brazilians take a different approach, viewing blonde peach fuzz as a mark of beauty. Instead of waxing or shaving, they lighten their hair. Interestingly, many Brazilian women even perform this ritual on the beach, applying the lightening agent to their skin much like sunscreen.

Most people travel — or will travel — abroad at least once in their lifetime. While many countries warmly welcome tourists due to the economic benefits of tourism, it’s important to respect local customs and etiquette.