Cultural differences are what makes us all unique and what greatly contributes to the excitement of travelling when you get to discover some particularities of a destination that aren't too or at all common in your home country. Eating rotten fish might sound slightly (and literally) off to you, but it’s totally normal in Sweden. Having two passports from the same country is common in Russia, but might not exist where you live. And the practice of eating fried Mars bars might not be the most popular one in North America, but it’s common in Scotland, or seeing police driving Lamborghini as their work car in Italy might not be seen anywhere else.
Check out the list of some strange things from that are only common in certain countries, vote for the weirdest ones, and let us know if you've experienced them in the comments.
#1 Luxembourg's Public Transportation Is Free
In 2020, the public transport was made free for all locals and visitors alike.
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352points
#2 Nepal's Flag Is Non-Rectangular
The only modern country in the world with a non-quadrilateral flag is Nepal and it is said to derive from Hinduism.
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247points
#3 There’s A Lamborghini In The Italian Police Fleet
A few years ago, a Lamborghini was added to the police vehicle fleet in Italy, and it’s probably quite fast and, well, impressive to look at.
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242points
#4 In Scandinavian Countries, Parents Leave Their Kids To Nap Outside In Cold Temperatures
Most Scandinavian parents think that it's healthier to expose their children to as much fresh air as possible. Therefore, they leave them outside to take their naps.
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234points
#5 In Japan, Traffic Lights Seem To Be Blue
As the word for green originally didn't exist till later and 'blue' was used to refer to both green and blue, Japan uses the most blue shade of green that is legally possible.
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228points
#6 Bathtubs Made Of Wood Are Used In Japan
The ofuro baths are for sitting and soaking in hot water and are not frequently found around the world.
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217points
#7 Colombians Drink Hot Chocolate Cheese
The sweet cocoa drink is consumed with savory cheese slices. And if you've tried it, you know that it's quite delicious, but surely not common elsewhere.
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204points
#8 In France, Milk Is Not Refrigerated
Most of the milk sold in France is pasteurised at UHT (ultra high temperature) and therefore doesn't have to be stored in cold.
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200points
#9 Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu
This place in New Zealand is said to have the longest name and it's 85 characters. Have you tried to pronounce it?
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200points
#10 People In The UK Have A Competition To Roll After A Giant Cheese Wheel
The annually held Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling is a competition where people race down the 200-yard hill chasing a giant wheel of cheese.
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194points
#11 Some East Asian Countries Wore Face Masks Pre-Pandemic
In countries like South Korea, for the safety of others, people would wear face masks even when having a common cold prior to the pandemic.
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193points
#12 In The Netherlands, Stairs Are Usually Very Steep And Narrow
To some foreigners, staircases in the Netherlands might look more like a health risk than anything. Historically, the buildings were built up rather than out, saving all the centimeters possible.
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187points
#13 In Ecuador, The Trash Trucks' Tune Is Similar To What Ice Cream Trucks Play In The USA
If you are visiting Ecuador, you might mistake the garbage truck tune with an ice cream tune and get highly disappointed.
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184points
#14 You Can Walk From The North To The South Of Monaco In About An Hour
Due to the size of this country, you can easily walk the length of the whole country. How convenient!
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184points
#15 There Are 'Bra Studies' In Hong Kong
At Hong Kong polytechnic, you can major in Bra Studies, where Top Form manufacturer has its lab and factory.
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176points
#16 In Italy, Restaurants Include Service Charge
You are not expected to tip in Italy as it is quite normal for the service charge to be added to the bill.
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168points
#17 In Italy Cappuccino Is More Of A Breakfast Drink
Italians associate milk with mornings; cappuccinos are traditionally drank as a morning beverage.
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160points
#18 Fried Mars Bars Are A Thing In Scotland
This food item of questionable health value originated in Scotland in a fish and chips shop. It's battered and deep-fried. Would you like to try?
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160points
#19 In Thailand, There Is A Nationwide Water Fight In April
If you are into water fights as much as Thai people, you should participate in Songkran, the Thai New Year's national holiday (13th of April). The water fight is a part of ritual cleansing during the celebration period.
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160points
#20 Bamboo Poles Are Used As Drying Rails In Singapore
Don't be surprised seeing clothing drying on bamboo poles in this country—the bamboo material is widely available, making it quite a popular tool to dry things.
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159points