When I think of Japanese culture, I think of respectful quietness/distance and restraint. When I think of Arab culture, I think of overlapping conversation, close standing/touching, and an emphasis on hyperbole and noise to show respect and love. These don't seem like they'd match up well, but from a tourist perspective, was your trip/stay fun? Did you have any idea what the culture would be like before visiting?
Important question - did you love the hospitality and food?
Thank you for your time!
Iran - loved people and hospitality. Obviously not many Asians/tourists so people stare but in more of a curious manner. Really enjoyed the experience to sit in a beautiful old mosque and enjoy the silence. If the country was more open, all the tourists would be flocking there.
Morocco - enjoyed the food and some rural towns but people were shouting, pushing you to buy stuff, aggressive begging were tiring. Also how guys look at girls were really gross. For that, I still haven't explored the southern parts but hesitant to go back there.
Jordan - had a great time in the desert under the starry sky. Again, I enjoyed the food there. People involved in tourism were extremely rude though. They come to you very nicely but when you politely say no, they shout at you like F-off. Palestine was similar.
Turkey - Cappadocia was magical. I really enjoyed so that I brought my mum there a few years after the initial trip. I'd say the food in Turkey was my most favourite among all ME countries I've visited. People in small town were nice and welcoming. Often inviting for chai without any hidden agenda (e.g. selling stuff). Istanbul was polar opposite. People won't leave you alone if you don't look local. They try to bring you to their shops in whatever way which was rather scary.
Azerbaijan - similar to Iran in terms of food but much more clean (tho I only went to Baku so probably it's not a comprehensive correct image of the country). Went to a few local restaurants where no one speaks English but they were really accommodating and food was good.
Uzbekistan - unsure if it's considered ME but similar culture I think. Walking around Khiva was a great experience. Blue mosque was beautiful. Had some local fusion restaurants which locals recommended and loved there.
Overall I love food and architecture, tend to have good experiences in smaller towns. Tho some spice may not be the liking of many Japanese people. I often have negative experiences in big or touristy places with a buzzy atmosphere, so I kind of need mental preparation before visiting there.
Ah yeah those men standing around checking out women as they passed by were kinda gross. And they were everywhere. The alpha male/chauvinist mentality is so strong there.
Loved the hospitality though, especially because I am a full bearded guy and they were all surprised that an Asian guy can grow full thick one lol as I got followed by several kids at a market because they had never seen a bearded asian
Yeah one time when my friend and I were meeting up in one place, she called me to come there asap as guys were looking at her in a very uncomfortable way and she felt very unsafe waiting for me on her own.
Our conclusion was that we could go there again in 20 years time when we are aged and no-one gives a damn haha
I usually only lurk in this sub, but can I offer my perspective?
I'm an Israeli who has spent more then half my life learning Japanese, I have Japanese friends, etc. I originally expected Japanese people to totally hate visiting Israel because this country has a "Mediterranean chaotic" vibe to it. Eg people push and shove (instead of waiting in line), a lot of things are disorganized, etc.
It's also loud and there's more trash/littering compared to other developed countries.
To my surprise, the Japanese people I know who have visited Israel, have genuinely loved it. They often talk about how they feel free to be creative and express themselves in Israel - unlike in Japan, where there are so many strict rules.
I guess the other thing is that Israel is so exotic to them, that they visit without too many specific expectations and just keep an open mind.
Just pointing out that this not Israel or Middle East specific. I live outside Japan now and many Japanese expats who speak good English will avoid each other or spend most of their time with Japanese expats who have a lot of experience overseas. My boss’s wife intentionally found a school district with no Japanese students because “i didn’t move halfway around the world to still deal with this bullshit”. Being outside of Japan, no matter what country, without the judging eyes of other Japanese people is very freeing.
One of my friends moved to the U.S. from Japan when he was 17. He had permanent residency and considered himself American. When he was around 40, he decided he want to get married. He wanted to marry a girl from Japan. so he met a girl online and they got married. However after she had their second kid she told him she wanted to move back to Japan. He told me If she had told him up front she was going to want to move back, He probably wouldn't have married her. He said he didn't want to move back and put up with the suffocating culture.
North Africa doesn’t really have many exciting carb options. Like almost none. How do you survive? I'd go insane for not having choices.
Couscous is everywhere all the time but simply you guys don't care much about couscous either because it's there purely for energy consumption, the flavor is mostly whatever stew/sauce/spices you put on top.
We’ve got tons of rice varieties and people actually care about the differences like region, cultivar, texture, how it pairs with certain dishes but I didn't see the obsession for couscous there like we do. Just simply the same stuff.
People need to start caring for carb options lol
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You realize bread is not the main thing there?
It's like nan served at Indian restaurants in Japan, when indian people eat chapati/roti far more. But none of indian restaurants here serve them.
Not talking about the middle east. Either way, choices for cabs are very limited in North Africa. Almost 95% couscous. Dari or Ferrero. They all taste like industry grade processed food
Considering the research on digestion and gut biome, comparing African diets with Western diets, … the ‘lack of carb choices’ seems to be a good thing.
The problem of highly processed carbs on gut biome health is a well recognised issue.
Also sweet stuff is overly sweet. Worse than the us lol
I have visited Turkey and Tunisia, but both countries seemed well-westernized countries. So I felt no shock.
I enjoyed the travel, especially foods.
Lots of haggling, prices aren't fixed over there. Mostly shocked at how my father got out a calculator and started communicating with numbers. When my family and I went to Saudi everything and everyone stopped during the call of prayer and we all got our prayer mat out and prayed in the middle of the road side by side. Oh and seeing passengers on the roof of busses and vans were a nostalgic sight.
Grew up in Tokyo, living in the US now. American 7-Eleven? Don’t make me laugh… Japan spoiled me with real food, not just chips and soda lol
I guess US is a Middle East/North Africa country for you
Oops I didn’t read that well lol