I have a small confession to make — after a long day yesterday, I came home, plopped down on the couch and indulged in one of my guilty pleasures. I tuned in to the season premiere of the mother of all reality shows — Survivor.
Even though Survivor takes place at exotic locales around the world, it is essentially a game show and ultimately doesn’t have a lot to do with travel. They usually work in a few cultural references throughout the season (tribes named in the local dialect, a reward dinner featuring native cuisine), but the emphasis is on the competition and the psychology of the participants.
Last night’s season opener showed the new contestants arriving in China, this season’s locale. The Survivors were brought to a Buddhist temple (a real one, not a fabricated set, with actual Buddhist monks inside) to take part in a Buddhist welcoming ceremony.
I was shocked to watch the parade of western travelers, soon to be elevated to the status of American t.v. personalities, file into the temple dressed in their street clothes! Specifically, I noted at least one woman in shorts, one in a tank top, and one in a very revealing dress with fishnet stockings and boots. Anyone who has traveled in a Buddhist country, who has visited a temple, or who even cares enough to crack open a guide book can tell you that it is always customary to cover your shoulders and legs in a Buddhist temple.
Don’t get me wrong – I am a hearty proponent of self-expression through appearance, and appreciate that we come from a culture that embraces personal style. But I feel that as a guest in another country, it is absolutely vital that you respect the local people and their customs, especially in regards to their holy sites. It takes very little time and effort to learn about local customs before you go, and the impact it has is huge.
“Reality” shows, of course, are about the furthest thing from reality, and I use this example only because it was such a stark reminder. Many religions welcome non-members to visit their temples, churches or places of worship — a very lucky thing for the curious traveler who wishes to respectfully observe this aspect of local culture. Some religious groups are even quite lax on issues of conduct and dress. The point is — responsible travelers care enough to find out first!