How not to behave in a foreign country

[DoughDoe]

So matey here www.facebook.com/dr.emil.kaminski climbs a mountain in a foreign land, like so many backpackers before him.

And he persuades fellow members of the group climbing that it's a good idea to pose naked, piss on the sacred mountain top (you are supposed to 'ask for permission' of the spirits before doing this), and then plaster it all over your public Facebook pages of your half-assed travel-the-world-and-make-crappy-Youtube-videos venture www.facebook.com/Monkeetime?fref=ts

While you are still in said foreign country, in a small town where white people will stick out like a sore thumb.

And then an earthquake killed 18 people on the mountain, which was ascribed to the wrath of the mountain following their behaviour.

Then the others in the group were arrested, while he attempted to hide out

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3117940/British-woman-four-tourists-arrested-stripping-naked-mountain-Malaysia-locals-say-angered-tribal-spirits-caused-deadly-earthquake.html

Now he has been arrested as well....

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Pretty sure he is? The name and photo of the guy in the FB page "Emil" match the name and video of the guy in the YouTube video.

[funnyossity]

I think the voluntary work is a bit of a red herring tbh, knowing quite a few young people who do all sorts of volunteering it's not been the most altruistic who have gone on these very highly organised trips.

Anyway I'm embarrassed for the lot of them; reminds me of the arrogant climbers who fell out with their guides in the Himalayas through a similar inability to adapt and be courteous.

They are none of them that young so that can't be used as an excuse.

[funnyossity]

Isitme, I agree about the probable motivation of the ringleader!

[samG76]

When I was in SE Asia, including Borneo, I pretended to be German in order not to be associated with the gormless British prats who seemed to be everywhere I went. Watching inbetweeners 2 brought much of it back to me. Months of imprisonment a bit excessive but only a bit.

[Isitmebut]

I agree organized volunteering in places where disease, poverty and life is cheap is so over rated - as you see more 'wildlife' getting bladdered every night down the pub.

If I was a boss looking at CV's looking for character to try and differentiate candidates, I know who I might chose, and while it may be a scam, any attempt of individuals to get outside their comfort zone e.g. their couch, will be a better bet. IMO.

[BarbarianMum]

sanfairy ok I understand a bit more where you are coming from and I agree - it's not a great comparison. Nevertheless, implying that someone's sacred sites can just be disregarded if you don't happen to share their religious beliefs is just as offensive as saying their tragedies can be disregarded if you don't share their history.

[funnyossity]

Did I say the teens I know get "bladdered down the pub"?

You really are taking this a bit to heart.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

RE the whole rich kids building orphanages thing, these are a good read:

pippabiddle.com/2014/02/18/the-problem-with-little-white-girls-and-boys/

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/nov/14/orphans-cambodia-aids-holidays-madonna

[Isitmebut]

Did I say that YOU knew teens that get bladdered?

I'm just a realist, who acknowledges what goes on and don't try and put down the efforts of others, especially the 'want it now' and 'world owes me a living', generation.

[funnyossity]

Your comments implied that I was looking unfavourably at the the efforts of these plucky "doers" whilst the alternative is drunken yokels who won't get out of their comfort zone.

That's not the alternative type I know.

[funnyossity]

They behaved like boorish jerks whatever their backgrounds and whatever well paid job they may take up in the future.

[DuelingFanjo]

why is the woman getting all the grief in the press when all the men stripped off too?

Oh yeah... I know why.

[funnyossity]

It's also because she is the one Brit in the multi national group.

[DuelingFanjo]

Just realised that there were more than 4 and some of the others were women too.

[Isitmebut]

I see that poor Saudi Arabian blogger is scheduled to be flogged again; I wonder if the Saudi's were encouraged by the UK's outpouring for the need for Muslim justice for those that know the domestic customs/laws, but challenge them.

Nah, just a coincidence.

We now await young Eleanor's fate, which should be today as they all pleaded guilty.

[funnyossity]

I can't equate the itwits up the mountain with Raif Badawi.

Should spoiled westerners do as they please wherever they are, despite advice from their local guides?

[funnyossity]

Young Eleanor isn't even that young.

[SayThisOnlyOnce]

Those articles are really interesting ItsAllGoingToBeFine, thank you for posting them.

[undoubtedly]

I was arching the news and wondering why are the women being splashed all over the news when, although they were topless (bad enough) the men were completely naked??

Double standards, or have I just missed the rest of the coverage?

[undoubtedly]

watching

[undoubtedly]

Sorry sorry sorry, I missed Fanjo's post.

[Isitmebut]

funnyossity .... no one listened to our Club 18-30's Guide decades ago (called Russell, if memory serves), is this the generation that now listens to guides, or anyone in 'authority'?

I hope they didn't give him too much of a tip at the end, or maybe they didn't give him anything, which is why he dobbed them in.

[ivykaty44]

Peepholes are not installed by the government, but they should do something about the peep holes and cover them up and deal with the peeping toms Dealing with both not just one issue, ignoring their own dubious behaviour but not that of foreigners is hypocrisy

[Isitmebut]

funnyossity .... Re Eleanor vs Raif Badawi, one is a foreigner on a trip disrespecting an ancient mountain god, the other is a domestic citizen having lived with the status quo all his life having challenging the religious customs of a Sunni country, when Sunni's (Al-Q, ISIL, and Hamas) are the more radical/traditional Muslim sect.

I certainly do no agree with Mr Badawi's treatment, but if Saudi Arabia doesn't has the right to punish, but Malaysia does - because we in the West happens to agree with what Mr Badawi is standing for - I suggest that is double standards at best. But ignore me, everyone else does.

[maryso]

It seems that because it is the indigenous Dusun culture has been offended, the sentence is so lenient; a small fine and shorter incarceration that already spent awaiting trial. If the mainstream Malay culture had been offended, sentence may have included the permanent loss of something precious to the offenders and their families.

The Dusun and other Malaysian tribes, like most indigenous peoples, are used to suffering abuse, usually from permanent settlers. Despite this they seem to retain their gentle humanity and still perform rites of well-being for all visitors. To visit their lands, and not even comprehend this, let alone abuse them further, reduces all the offenders as so-called humans. I hope that the remaining six will be found and their sentencing reflect their cowardice and lack of remorse.