A recent survey has pointed out that most large Asian cities are rude. Hmmm...
I agree with Asiapundit's observations...
AsiaPundit is actually shocked by this, in no small part because New York captured the number one position as the most courteous. The Big Apple is a favorite city, but it does not have a reputation for politeness.
Going through the list of cities...I have experienced quite a few of these cities across Asia and the world. The Asian cities all brought up the bottom of the list. I have the most experience with Hong Kong.
The number one issue I have had in Hong Kong are in the shopping malls. It may be a crowded Saturday or Sunday...when you walk through the mall, as Westerners, we tend to pay attention to the people coming at us and give way a bit. When in Hong Kong, observe that you are the ONLY person doing that...the locals pay no attention. It becomes obvious that if you do not give way, you will be smacked around like a pinball game. So, square your shoulders, prepare for the onslaught and walk in a straight line through the mall. You will end up with bruised shoulders within an hour. AND...every time someone runs into you, they look at you like you are some sort of brute.
The list also does not contain any cities in China (Hong Kong doesn't count, as they did not even indicate that Hong Kong is in China on the list...note to Reader's Digest...The British gave up HK in 1997). Should we talk about GZ? Start with elevators...crowding in without allowing people to exit...getting in the down lift when you want to go up...not looking to see who on the elevator is trying to get off from the back, and just standing in the doorway until the doors close and the other passengers could not get off...on and on.
But, I have to say, between GZ and HK...you are more likely to experience a random act of kindness in HK. Such as, tai-tai was struggling with the stroller and shopping bags whe expat son was quite small. We were on our way to the Fleet Arcade which the roads have very few pedestrians. She came up to a cross walk, I was about 5 paces behind with expat daughter in tow. The road to cross was under construction and a bit treacherous for the stroller. A man, the only other person on the street, stopped and asked if he could help. He lifted the stroller and carried it across the street for tai-tai...even though I was right there. We stood in stunned amazement. Never, ever in GZ. Ever.
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