I choose not to fly via Dubai. OK, but why ???

[Pushka]

Specifying a religion was in reference to KSA, not the UAE.

Ok. I guess that's shows Im confused why other countries are mentioned in a thread about Qantas and Dubai.

 

[Fruitcake]

Sorry but don't agree. Could you give an example of something you might do in Singapore that would unexpectedly land you in trouble?

Swearing? Littering? Jaywalking?

All of these are of course offences in Australia too but the consequences in Singapore tend to be much harsher.

 

[medhead]

Sorry but don't agree. Could you give an example of something you might do in Singapore that would unexpectedly land you in trouble?

I wouldn't want to specify a religion so I wouldn't even get a visa to DBX it seems. That is not the case in Singapore.

Chewing gum, littering. Making a gesture signaling intention to have sexual activity with a police decoy. "Intending to outrage the modesty of a person", whatever that involves.

The religion think was for Saudi, wasn't it?

 

[SeatBackForward]

Ok. I guess that's shows Im confused why other countries are mentioned in a thread about Qantas and Dubai.

Because a lot of the people stating why they wont transit through DXB are getting it mixed up with KSA.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Swearing? Littering? Jaywalking?

All of these are of course offences in Australia too but the consequences in Singapore tend to be much harsher.

Graffiting, wasn't some American kid whipped for doing that a few years ago?

 

[Pushka]

The gum thing is well known and I would expect littering to be punishable. Lewd gestures are a crime in Australia but not enforced unless accompanied by something else. As is jaywalking, graffiti etc etc.

The examples I'm after are the ones Joe Blow wouldnt expect, on his first trip to London but having a day in DBX. We know in this forum for example that kissing even between straight married couples is an issue but many wouldn't. So what else is there?

 

[SeatBackForward]

The examples I'm after are the ones Joe Blow wouldnt expect, on his first trip to London but having a day in DBX. We know in this forum for example that kissing even between straight married couples is an issue but many wouldn't. So what else is there?

Isn't that irrelevant? The oneous on anyone travelling is to be aware of the rules, customs and norms of the country they are visiting. You cannot expect those of your home country apply to everywhere else. Isnt that a given?

To quote our current Foreign Minister (http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/transcripts/2013/bc_tr_130502.html):

"Now we do our best for Australians who are in trouble overseas. But if you're in trouble overseas, you're in trouble in a different jurisdiction, and Australian law does not apply. You're subject to the law of the country you're in."
...

"So, I just want to underline for Australia is that when you're overseas, you've got to be aware Australian law is entirely irrelevant. It's the law of the country you're in that prevails"

 

[markis10]

The gum thing is well known and I would expect littering to be punishable. Lewd gestures are a crime in Australia but not enforced unless accompanied by something else. As is jaywalking, graffiti etc etc.

The examples I'm after are the ones Joe Blow wouldnt expect, on his first trip to London but having a day in DBX. We know in this forum for example that kissing even between straight married couples is an issue but many wouldn't. So what else is there?

How about walking around your room nude or failure to flush a public toilet?

 

[The Rok]

How about walking around your room nude or failure to flush a public toilet?

Not flushing a toilet should be illegal all over the world.

 

[medhead]

The gum thing is well known and I would expect littering to be punishable. Lewd gestures are a crime in Australia but not enforced unless accompanied by something else. As is jaywalking, graffiti etc etc.

The examples I'm after are the ones Joe Blow wouldnt expect, on his first trip to London but having a day in DBX. We know in this forum for example that kissing even between straight married couples is an issue but many wouldn't. So what else is there?

You did ask for example that would unexpectedly get you in trouble. Littering may be a known. Getting the cane for littering would be unexpected trouble - a rude shock even.

I didn't say lewd gestures. Signaling such intention could just be a nod and a wink. Then there is the outrage to modesty. I might be in a night club and find someone of the opposite sex appealing. If I go over and touch them in a suggestive way, in Australia rejection might just be a slap in the face. In SIN it could be prison, a fine and/or the cane. Certainly unexpected.

 

[drron]

Oh my,I cant believe all this carry on.Singapore is not Dubai.I have been to Dubai once and dont want to go back.I went to Singapore once and have been back 20 times.
As to the claim that Singapore is as bad as the UAE-rubbish.
Google tourists jailed in Singapore and then tourists jailed in Dubai.Chalk and cheese.
How many women who have been raped in Singapore have ended up being the ones jailed.Has happened in dubai several times.
How many allegations of torture in Singapore jails.It almost certainly has happenned in Dubai-
Dubai British Tourists Arrested On Drug Charges Have 'Injuries Consistent With Torture'
British tourist beaten to death by police in Dubai - Armchair Traveller

Anyway it is all a moot point.I would much rather stay in Bangkok anyway despite the problems tourists can have there.

 

[medhead]

Who said they're the same across the board in all respects?

 

[legroom]

.....Isn't that irrelevant? The oneous on anyone travelling is to be aware of the rules, customs and norms of the country they are visiting. You cannot expect those of your home country apply to everywhere else. Isnt that a given?....

I could not agree more.

However, you should further understand also that this thread is precisely that: exploring the customs / rules / laws of Dubai so that AFFers could make up their own minds whether or not they want to transit / stopover there.

* Holding hands in public is listed as not allowed in shopping centres

* Almost all people you come into contact with (as a tourist) are expats from 3rd world countries (Pakistan, Indian, Filipino etc...), hardly conducive to an introduction to local mores [jb did mention that almost all ATCs are Aussies or Brits]

* Rather confronting full-face veil with the black abayas when you do see some occasional locals (admittedly, this is a personal view which you may be free to disagree).

* Huge glitzy shopping malls with in-door snow fields (think about the carbon footprint of a -5 degree snowfield and a 50-C outside temp) and artificial islands but hardly any world-class "cultural" sites as we normally define e.g. Sphinx, Louvre, Montmartre, Musee D'Orsay, Venice..... [30 watch boutiques in one location are nice but is it worth the reason for a visit ?]

Personally, I had voted by switching my booked EK to SQ with a SIN stopover - after the recent transit & a stopover in DXB. But that's just me

EDIT: I was pulled over for passport check even though I am not Jewish or had Israel stamps. So there you go!

 

[love_the_life]

Seriously LTL ? I question that. I'd go to LOTFAP anyday before UAE

Yep - will not go to the US. It purely related to the policies of their government. As I do not want to politicise this thread I will not go into detail. It is my choice and as I said, probably not accepted by lots of people but stiff.

 

[Pushka]

How about walking around your room nude or failure to flush a public toilet?

And they would know this how?

If I go over and touch them in a suggestive way, in Australia rejection might just be a slap in the face. In SIN it could be prison, a fine and/or the cane. Certainly unexpected.

Could I suggest you don't do this in Australia as it is a (minor) sexual assault to touch anyone in a suggestive way. Pick the "wrong person", or someone at your work in a social setting and it is also sexual harassment.

However, you should further understand also that this thread is precisely that: exploring the customs / rules / laws of Dubai so that AFFers could make up their own minds whether or not they want to transit / stopover there.!

Exactly.

 

[drron]

You did ask for example that would unexpectedly get you in trouble. Littering may be a known. Getting the cane for littering would be unexpected trouble - a rude shock even.

I didn't say lewd gestures. Signaling such intention could just be a nod and a wink. Then there is the outrage to modesty. I might be in a night club and find someone of the opposite sex appealing. If I go over and touch them in a suggestive way, in Australia rejection might just be a slap in the face. In SIN it could be prison, a fine and/or the cane. Certainly unexpected.

Who said they're the same across the board in all respects?

So quote me some examples of your second paragraph of the first quote.

And as to the caning it occurred in 1994.The fellow pleaded guilty to 50 counts of vandalising cars.He also was not a tourist but an expat student.Didn't help that one of the cars belonged to a judge whose wife was a Singaporean MP.
Remember Michael Fay? After the caning in 1994, how has he turned out now?
After he received his punishment he returned to the States to live with his father and 2 years later went into rehab for his butane sniffing problem.

The only other European caned for graffiti had broken into an MRT depot and spray painted a train.Hardly your innocent tourist with a little harmless graffitti.

 

[markis10]

And they would know this how? .

The things that look like smoke detectors, are not smoke detectors .

 

[Pushka]

The things that look like smoke detectors, are not smoke detectors .

In Singapore?

 

[medhead]

Could I suggest you don't do this in Australia as it is a (minor) sexual assault to touch anyone in a suggestive way. Pick the "wrong person", or someone at your work in a social setting and it is also sexual harassment.

I see that you've left the context of my comment out of your quote. The setting for the example was a night club. Not a work setting, so I have no idea why you're confusing the example with irrelevance. If you think men and women, men and men and women and women don't touch each other in a suggestive BUT not sexual way (I have no idea why you're reading more into my comment than was stated) every night of the week then perhaps you need to get out more.

So quote me some examples of your second paragraph of the first quote.

Why? The second paragraph is not a statement of EVERYTHING. It is simply one or 2 examples. They do not change the fact that no one has suggested that Singapore is 100% exactly the same as UAE across the board.

And as to the caning it occurred in 1994.The fellow pleaded guilty to 50 counts of vandalising cars.He also was not a tourist but an expat student.Didn't help that one of the cars belonged to a judge whose wife was a Singaporean MP.
Remember Michael Fay? After the caning in 1994, how has he turned out now?
After he received his punishment he returned to the States to live with his father and 2 years later went into rehab for his butane sniffing problem.

The only other European caned for graffiti had broken into an MRT depot and spray painted a train.Hardly your innocent tourist with a little harmless graffitti.

I said nothing about graffitti, so I'm not sure why you're sharing the information with me, but nice to know

 

[codash1099]

And this certainly doesn't help Dubai's image-
http://www.smh.com.au/business/auss...il-as-colleague-acquitted-20130520-2jwjh.html

10 years for "graft", no doubt influenced by who he was "grafting". And a woman who was gang raped got 12 months, the same as her attackers. Proportionate?