people staring...

[lumination]

i got it a little bit in thailand but in cambodia is really starting to get to me. ok im very white so it that it? its very annoying and they dont make it subtle at all! i just get eyed up all the time and its starting to get on my nerves a bit.
does anyone know why they stare so much? is it because im a 'westener'?

[boxtops]

Is it because they don't see many lone foreign travellers? Are you suitably covered up, acknowledging local sensitivies? Some cultures don't consider it rude to stare, they might just be interested! Is there anyone you can ask, perhaps you are unwittingly doing sometime which is unusual in their eyes?

[237SJ]

Are you blond? People in cultures where they are dark will stare at blond hair. You look different to them, probably dress different to them and not all cultures think it`s rude to stare. You`ll just get used to it after a while. I`ve been in some non tourist countries where I`m stared at as if I`ve just landed from Mars. That`s mainly where they are not used to seeing a Western female walking about on their own (Kuwait was particularly bad for that if I remember rightly)

[KARL]

Britain is among the few countries in the world where eye contact is avoided by the majority - in many countries that is deemed exceedingly rude because it infers a form of shunning or avoidance of your fellow human being. Therefore, what many Brits regard as staring is nothing of the sort but more like taking a benign interest in individuals as opposed to trying to move unnoticed through a sea of faces.

[jno]

yes, that's all. They get lots of white tourists in Thailand but far fewer in Cambodia. If you go to Laos you'll be a great rarity. Just smile and wave like the queen, you'll be fine. They're not threatening.

[lumination]

lol oh jeez i didnt even think about Laos lol!
im dressed ok, im covered up as i read up about it. and i know about the whole english people avoid stares but this really is a 'stop and stare'kind of thing. men will lower their sunglasses and peer at me over the top! lol

[B00]

Hey Lumi, good to see your posts!

Apart from the stares, how's it going? You enjoying it? Keeping safe? Keep us updated!

[lumination]

yeah all good. i just updated another bit of my blog so everything is in there is you have access to it! im flying to malaysia tomorrow. atm im just sitting at an internet cafe, all fans on and im still sweating!!!

[society]

Have you made any friends or are you turned off by all the piercing stares?
Keep safe and all the best on this exciting trip. x

[lumination]

yeah made quite a few friends. just parted with 2 canadian girls though so am on my lonesome again!

[society]

Well that's good, at least you're not lonely.