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I know 'exotic' is a subjective and relative term, but on a subjective level which country in Asia still seems the most foreign, with a way of life that is most different from what you think you'd be used to? Of course it would vary by region, but say pick the least globalised/modernised/westernised part of the country.
Myanmar would be up there because it's so closed off, the people are 'stuck in time', it's very rural/religious and 'Burma' the name conjures up colonial images of cities of gilded pagodas.
Despite the changes it has seen, India to me still seems mysterious and exotic, despite a familiarity with Indian culture it's colour, sound, the sheer age of Hindu and Indian culture makes it seem like it's own world. The isolated Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan of course, Nepal and though not an independent state Tibet.
I still find Cambodia very exotic and in some ways mysterious, even if tourism is increasing, I mean any place where tarantulas are eaten as casual snacks must be pretty different, but in a good way (although of course all humans are more similar than different). I find weirdness itself interesting...I guess rural Laos would be too, for their diet but also their mindset.
I would say China has lost some of that - it's still very different, but in urban areas people are becoming more westernised/globalised, although seeing a whole shark or alligator for sale in Walmart definitely reminds you where you are. Rural areas are a different story.
Parts of the Middle East would quality, especially the less touristed areas like say Iran.
Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, seem a bit less exotic being more westernised. Hong Kong still has that allure but it's just too modern/globalised, same with Taiwan. Japan is one of the few which is both modern but still quite exotic/foreign in some ways.
Last edited by The Postman; 03-10-2014 at 08:07 PM..
Reason: added burma
The ones with governments that lock their citizens away from the world like North Korea and Mynamar are obviously going to be exotic (to put it kindly). More economically integrated countries still have very remote areas that remain distinctive. Remote islands in Indonesia and the Philippines certainly qualify.
Loads of tourist who visited indonesia said its very exotic and different.
India, myanmar, thailand and cambodia easily qualify as exotic. China would definitely counts as exotic if it weren't for the fake western buildings favoritsm.
Quote:
Originally Posted by eastmemphisguy
The ones with governments that lock their citizens away from the world like North Korea and Mynamar are obviously going to be exotic (to put it kindly). More economically integrated countries still have very remote areas that remain distinctive. Remote islands in Indonesia and the Philippines certainly qualify.
Loads of tourist who visited indonesia said its very exotic and different.
India, myanmar, thailand and cambodia easily qualify as exotic. China would definitely counts as exotic if it weren't for the fake western buildings favoritsm.
Most island in Indonesia are "exotic" IMO.
Right, and Indonesia has no Western style buildings at all
Right, and Indonesia has no Western style buildings at all
Lol i didn't mean it that way, i know there are loads of western architecture (skycrappers counted) but that's mostly in Sumatra and Java only, however most of the islands are still far from getting modernized or in another way "westernized". Each of the islands have very strong traditional cultures too, to me saying that only some of the island in Indonesia qualifying as exotic is simply ignorant. but then exotic is very subjective.
Sumba island as an example:
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Last edited by ElkHunter; 04-08-2014 at 11:00 PM..
Reason: Copyrighted photo
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