Five Things You Can Do in Singapore - but Should Never Do in London!

Yep, more culture clashing! Some good, some bad. Brits in Singapore (including myself!) have been deeply offended by some of the below; trusting Asian friends in London have had downright scary experiences such as muggings. Hopefully a little pain and hassle can be avoided with the below observations and advice...

1. Walk openly with a map. Blissfully OK in Singapore. You can probably get away with this in the central, tourist parts of London, too. But in general reading a map equals "I don't know my way around and am vulnerable." Vulnerability in London means a more likely target for thieves / pervs etc. As a female walking alone there, I'd never show I'm unsure of surroundings - even as a local! Ideally prepare your route before you leave and only check map discreetly if you must.

2. Ask personal questions such as your age, religion or salary. This seems common in Singapore. It's considered rude in the UK, and the above are actually restricted by law. If you ask a colleague their salary you can be dismissed from your job in the UK. In England, all these questions are absolutely verboten in job interviews and will be very unpopular socially too!

3. Not continually guard you bag / pockets. In Singapore you can do things like *gasp!* put your bag on the floor while you eat in a restaurant; walk with your wallet obviously in your back pocket, or with your bag unzipped / open; or leave your phone on the table while chatting in a public place. Do not do these things in London! Sadly, they are a pickpocket's dream.

If you're eating out in London, make sure your bag is zipped and on your lap or looped around your foot / knee. If you're a guy, don't leave a wallet or phone in a jacket draped over your chair. Make sure you can phyically feel anything valuable at all times. I've had my bag stolen from the floor next to my feet; friends have had phones/wallets stolen from cafe tables. Both involved some sort of diversionary tactic by the thieves, such as one asking you to buy something, while the other deftly takes the items. Beware!

4. Make an entire journey on public transport (with changes) while engaged with your smartphone. I have discovered this is one of the key reasons why people walk slowly in Singapore!

If you try this in London a) you'll probably get squished by fast-moving commuters. b) someone might well grab your phone. Again, using flash gadgetry in public is merely an advertisement to thieves.

5. Accept gifts (such as meals) from friends or contacts, without protest. You can accept in England too, but it is customary to put up a protest such as 'Oh no, please let me pay', even if you accept in the end. If the offerer is somebody who is clearly not so wealthy or on an equal sort of job level as you are, you might insist on paying for your half. In England this is considered polite / considerate. In Asia, it could seem like a rejection - the gift is offered as a sign of willing generosity, so don't knock it!

Minefields indeed. I don't wish to scare you off London, btw - it's a fab place! - but the difference between London (and I suspect also New York, Paris etc) and safe cities such as Singapore or Tokyo is quite marked, so it's good to be aware when you visit!

PS Here's an extreme version of Point 5 - actually two Irish women, but the sentiment's the same! ^^  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=571YIyOkAEM