Conversations among tourists on culture diversity.

On one fine day, there are four tourists from different countries are on their way back to their hometown. They are waiting for their flights in KLIA when they started having conversations and getting to know each other.

Sue Ling: Hello, and good morning. My name is Sue Ling from China. It is great to meet you. What is your name?Devan: Hi, my name is Devan. I am from India. I came here to visit my uncle as he has a restaurant here. Do you come here on a vacation?Sue Ling: Yes of course. This is my first visit to Malaysia and I am enjoying my trip here. I have been to Langkawi, Penang and then to Putrajaya. I am also planning to visit India soon.Siti: Hello and good morning to both of you. My name is Siti and I am from Malaysia and this is my friend Sa-i-do from Thailand. She comes to visit me.Sa-i-do: Hello friends. My name is Sa-i-do from Thailand I am going back to my hometown. Nice to meet all of you.Sue Ling: Hello Sa-i-do. My name is Sue Ling and this is my new friend Devan from India. We are also waiting for our fligts to arrive. I come here on a vacation while Devan is visiting his uncle who owns a restaurant here.Siti: That is interesting. Have you spent your time going to interesting places which resemble the culture of Malaysia?Devan: I have been to Batu Caves and also a place called Little India in Brickfields. I was feeling so excited because the secenary was as lovely and looked exactly like India. Can you tell me about Malaysian culture?Siti: Yes it is. Batu Caves is a an iconic and popular tourist attraction in Selangor. It is a site of a Hindu temple and shrine. Batu Caves attracts thousands of worshippers and tourists, especially during the annual Hindu festival, Thaipusam.Its main attraction is the large statue of the Hindu God at the entrance, besides a steep 272 climb up its steps to finally view the stunning skyline of the city centre. Little India in Brickfields is a medium sized town located just outside of the city center, Kuala Lumpur. Brickfields is more commonly known as the Little India of Kuala Lumpur due to its high percentage of Indian businesses as well as residents. Malaysia is very unique in the sense of its culture. People of different religions and backgrounds mix easily together, respect and live with each otherpeacefully. The outcome is a spectacular mix of people, food, traditions and culture. Malaysians are generally a very happy and cheerful people, but most of them will not tolerate bad manners and rudeness. Manners are important in this country; always say "thank you" and "excuse-me" when you are interacting with people. Like most Asians, the people here can be introverted anda little shy. Ocasionally you may be lucky to meet an outspoken personwith whom you canhave an insightful chat about Malaysian or world issues. Tell them you find Malaysia lovely, they will smile broadly!Muslims in Malaysia are, in general, moderate in faith andfriendly; there is no need to be afraid of them. Muslimsare forbidden to eat pork or handle dogs, which has become an aversion to pigs anddogs in many Muslims. Muslims, like Jews, have strict dietary requirements,soif you're presenting a Muslim with any kind of food, check if it's halal. The second largest race are the Chinese, who mainly live in the urban areas and are principally involved in business and commerce. The Chinese are predominantly Buddhist, Christian or free-thinkers. Indians are the third major race, they tend to be either Hindu, Christian or Muslim (Mamaks). The Hindus and Buddhists also have their own dietary requirements, butthere are so many variations that you would have to check witheach individual.Checking dietary requirements is the norm in Malaysia and quite expected.In addition to these three races, there are many other races in this multi-racial country, such as the Iban from Sarawak and the Kadazan from Sabah.I have got some pictures of cultures in Malaysia. The first picture shows traditional attire worn by different races in Malaysia. The second picture shows The Famous Lion Dance in chinese festival. The third picture shows The Silat which is the first martial skills in Penisular Malaysia dan the last picture shows a remarkable building of Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad which is famous during Malaysian National Day back on 1957.Sue Ling: That is so interesting. As for my country China, it is one of the Four Ancient Civilizations (alongside Babylon, India and Egypt), according to Chinese scholar Liang Qichao (1900). It boasts a vast geographic expanse, 3,600 years of written history, as well as a rich and profound culture. Many aspects of Chinese culture can be traced back many centuries ago. Chinese culture is so diverse and unique, yet harmoniously blended, and presents itselfan invaluable asset to the world. China can be divided into many geographical areas, and each area has a distinct style of cooking. The ingredients used in the food are based on the natural agricultural products of the region. In Northern China, for example, wheat is eaten more than rice as a staple food. Food using wheat as its main ingredient, such as noodles and dumplings is prevalent there. China's Southern cuisine uses far more rice, with such staples as rice noodles and zongzi - sticky rice wrapped in leaves. Southern food, is typically more spicy, and many minorities eat chilies every day.Futhermore, there are so many interesting places in China. The Great Wall of China is one of the greatest sights in the world. The longest wall in the world, it is an awe-inspiring feat of ancient defensive architecture. Its winding path over rugged country and steep mountains takes in some great scenery. It deserves its place among "the New Seven Wonders of the World" and the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China. Chinese people are just as proud of their country as visitors are of theirs, and probably more so. They can get a little irritated when customers favor them with criticisms of the country. They know that things are not perfect, and they also know that they, like other countries, are working hard to deal with problems of environment and population and so on. Discussions regarding politics, state leaders, recent history, and issues about Taiwan, Xinjiang and Tibet are still seen as sensitive. I have some pictures to show great culture of China. The first picture shows a variety of delicious food that can be found in Cina. The next picture shows the historical building of The Great Wall of China and the last picture shows chinese people who lived in Cina. Devan, how about Indias unique culture?Devan : The culture of India is among the world's oldest, reaching back about 5,000 years. Many sources describe it as the first and the supreme culture in the world. India is a very diverse country, and different regions have their own distinct cultures. Language, religion, food and the arts are just some of the various aspects of Indian culture. Here is a brief overview of the culture of India. India has 28 states and seven territories, and each has at least one official language. While the national languages are Hindi and English, there are about 22 official languages and nearly 400 living languages spoken in various parts of the country. Most of the languages of India belong to two families, Aryan and Dravidian. India is identified as the birthplace of Hinduism and Buddhism. A huge majority 84 percent of the population identifies as Hindu. There are many variations of Hinduism, and four predominant sects that is Shaiva, Vaishnava, Shakteya and Smarta. About 13 percent of Indians are Muslim, making it one of the largest Islamic nations in the world. Christians and Sikhs make up a small percentage of the population, and there are even fewer Buddhists and Jains.Indian cuisine boasts Arab, Turkish and European influences. It is known for its large assortment of dishes and its liberal use of herbs and spices. Cooking styles vary from region to region. The food is rich with curries and spices, including ginger, coriander, cardamom, turmeric, dried hot peppers, and cinnamon, among others. Many Hindus are vegetarians, but lamb and chicken are common in main dishes for non-vegetarians. Much of Indian food is eaten with fingers or bread used as utensils. Oh yes, I also have some pictures to show. The first picture shows The Famous Taj Mahal builing in India. The nest picture shows some indian women wearing beautiful sarees dan the last picture shows the colorful reliefs of Hindu gods adorn a temple at Meenakshi, India.Sa-i-do: Well, that is also interesting. As for my country Thailand, the name "Thailand" is associated with the dominant ethnic group, Thai. Thailand was never under European colonial rule. It was an absolute monarchy until 1932, when it became a constitutional monarchy. In 1939 the country's name was changed from Siam to Thailand. Religion and family are at the forefront of Thai culture, and both impact how you should act. Buddhism is the main religion in Thailand, and the country is littered with beautiful, ornate temples that you are sure to visit during your time there. Dressing appropriately when visiting a temple in Thailand is of the utmost importance. Shoes must be taken off before entering, and you should show as little skin as possible. Family is the cornerstone of Thai society, and families seem to be much closer in Thailand than in most western cultures. Children are taught to respect and honor their parents, and that hierarchical model blends to the rest of society as well. Even in social relationships, one person is typically superior to the other, based on things like age and status. Employees are taught to respect and be subordinate to their bosses, students to teachers, and children to parents. When first meeting a Thai, you may be asked questions that seem much too personal for an initial encounter. They do this so they can try to place you within a certain hierarchy and thus know how to properly treat you. Things like clothing, age, education, and career all have an effect on social status and how people are treated, and it's important to know and understand this part of the society, particularly if you will be living and working with Thais. The Thais are extremely friendly and are used to westerners visiting and living in their country, so many can speak and understand English. But entering a restaurant or shop and trying to speak Thai will be met with smiles and enthusiasm. They love to hear a foreigner give it a shot, and most will try their hardest to help you out, making the effort well worth the anxiety. Well, I also have some pictures to show. The first picture shows The Famous Royal Palace in Bangkok while the other picture shows a Thai woman in traditional attire.Siti: Well done my friend for the interesting information. It is so great to know about different kind of culture in every country. Why dont we exchange our addresses so that we can keep in touch.in the future.Sue Ling: I absolutely agreed.Devan : Of course It will be a great idea.Sa-i-do: Great!