Madonna wrote in message m...
Tchiowa wrote:
It bothers
me whenever one of them posts that unless you live on $5 a day you
can't experience the local culture. That, of course, implies that
everyone is poor and that any local who has any level of financial
success automatically loses his culture.

I think the point is more about the Hiltons, Marriotts, ... are more or
less similar all over the world. It's a bit like going to a McDonald's
in Nova Scotia, ordering a McLobster, then saying you've 'experienced
local food delicacies'.

But... most locals wouldn't stay in some of the places I've stayed, so
I'm not sure if a shabby, run-down hostel in the backstreets of Seoul,
for example, count as experiencing local culture. I'd say if a
person's going to 'experience' a culture they'll do it regardless of
where they're staying. Besides, you can't really do that without
spending a good bit of time in a place; I know lots of people that
consider themselves 'learned' about a culture after only a week in
country.

John W.