With the rise of AI data centres and accelerating climate catastrophes, humanity needs to take a long, honest look in the mirror. After the COVID‑19 pandemic, countries reopened their borders to welcome tourism and travel. As foreigners, we carry a responsibility: to be caring, open‑minded, and principled – values instilled in me during my years in the International Baccaleaureate system.
If these principles feel unfamiliar, here is what they look like in practice. Before travelling, be inquisitive and research local customs. This foundation helps you navigate new environments with respect and awareness then build on it through lived experience.
If you hear prayers and chanting, lower your voice. If you see an elderly person struggling, offer assistance. If a local smiles at you, smile back. Kindness costs nothing, but represents everything — how you were raised, the education you received, and the country you come from.
Yet my blood boils when I read news about tourists who behave with entitlement and disrespect.
Recently, two Dutch men in Bali organised a run-club event that excluded local Indonesians. In Bangkok, five Italian men behaved rowdily on public transport and dismissed a Thai woman who encouraged courtesy, telling her they “bring money” to her country – as if economic contribution justifies disrespect.
Behaviour like this leaves my stomach uneasy. What gives a foreigner the right to mistreat locals on their own land? In my mind, this is a form of neocolonialism.
Another example: Israeli travellers in Siargao, Philippines, building unauthorised Chabad houses without permits from local government. What gives anyone the right to construct physical landmarks without community consent?
As someone of mixed racial background and heritage who has experienced discrimination, I cannot stay silent when powerful nations or privileged individuals exploit local labour, resources, or culture. These patterns – whether economic, cultural, or social – echo the dynamics of neocolonialism.
When you travel to a country where you are a guest, please humble yourself. Connect with locals. Respect traditions. Obeserve, participate, and integrate mindfully. If unsure, ask questions, and engage with curiosity.
Before entering a foreign culture, learn the do’s and don’ts.
In Thailand: never show the soles of your feet.
In Indonesia: do not step on offerings.
Anywhere: never climb shrines, pose inappropriately with sacred statues, or turn your back on a high priest or altar during a ceremony.
Think about it. A local has opened their country to you. If you mistreat their kindness, compassion, and hospitality, governments will inevitably tighten their laws, and suddenly, a place becomes less accesible for everyone. A modern-day example of this is the administration of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi who is already moving fast to tighten regulations on foreign residents to ease concerns among some Japanese people.
Your individual behaviour reflects your education, your upbringing, and your values. Let’s try to be a more humane to other members of humanity.
Inflation is affecting everyone; people across the world are working tirelessly to support their families. Yet some individuals, like this Western Australian man named Shaymus Lilly who violently wrecked a café in Vietnam, chooses selfishness and aggression.
I write this in hopes that all of us, myself included, practise more humanity and compassion. What is happening to the world, and how can we do better?
Artist & Academic 
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