We are lucky to have a freedom of choice that is denied to so many women. Thanks for teaching me some of the terminology Erin, and kudos to you for your valiant efforts to respect the cultural norms in the places you visit.
That's so interesting Erin, thanks for sharing in so much detail.
The first question that popped into my mind is.. Do darker colours link to modesty? I have never thought of colour this way.
When I went to Morocco I brought some long skirts that I bought in Thailand and long sleeved blouses which served me well to protect my skin from the sun too. I went to a more remote village with a teacher to his elementary class and I covered up my hair as that is the custom outside of the larger cities.
In Indonesia it was possible to rent a robe to enter the mosque so I did. The rest of the time I just dressed in pants, dresses and t shirts and felt totally comfortable.
But when I flew from Singapore to Malaysia, in the Perhentian islands I was totally unprepared. We were on a beach and there were other visitors wearing the Abaya. I felt very uncomfortable being there in shorts and bathing suits at the same time. It was the beach and it felt very restrictive to think about covering up.
Thanks for sharing your experiences too, Kasia. Yes, dark colors do = modesty. Just today in Salalah, Oman, my friend and I went to a beach and we wore long pants and t-shirts over our swimsuits. No one was on the beach with us, so we went in the ocean in our bathsuits, but we were prepared to be covered up if necessary.
I really appreciate you taking the time to document this, share photos, and explain the different types of coverings. It’s such an important reminder that we should honor local traditions where we can. Honestly, I think every woman visiting the Middle East should read this.
I remember being a little embarrassed by what some female tourists wore in Egypt when I was there. Like… you don’t have to convert, but come on. 😂
We are lucky to have a freedom of choice that is denied to so many women. Thanks for teaching me some of the terminology Erin, and kudos to you for your valiant efforts to respect the cultural norms in the places you visit.
Thanks, Linda! Yes, the more I travel the more obvious it becomes that so much of our lives are dictated by the quirk of fate of where we are born.
That's so interesting Erin, thanks for sharing in so much detail.
The first question that popped into my mind is.. Do darker colours link to modesty? I have never thought of colour this way.
When I went to Morocco I brought some long skirts that I bought in Thailand and long sleeved blouses which served me well to protect my skin from the sun too. I went to a more remote village with a teacher to his elementary class and I covered up my hair as that is the custom outside of the larger cities.
In Indonesia it was possible to rent a robe to enter the mosque so I did. The rest of the time I just dressed in pants, dresses and t shirts and felt totally comfortable.
But when I flew from Singapore to Malaysia, in the Perhentian islands I was totally unprepared. We were on a beach and there were other visitors wearing the Abaya. I felt very uncomfortable being there in shorts and bathing suits at the same time. It was the beach and it felt very restrictive to think about covering up.
Thanks for sharing your experiences too, Kasia. Yes, dark colors do = modesty. Just today in Salalah, Oman, my friend and I went to a beach and we wore long pants and t-shirts over our swimsuits. No one was on the beach with us, so we went in the ocean in our bathsuits, but we were prepared to be covered up if necessary.
I really appreciate you taking the time to document this, share photos, and explain the different types of coverings. It’s such an important reminder that we should honor local traditions where we can. Honestly, I think every woman visiting the Middle East should read this.
I remember being a little embarrassed by what some female tourists wore in Egypt when I was there. Like… you don’t have to convert, but come on. 😂
Thank you for the kind words, Brandi! Yes, I (or course) try to be respectful when I visit other countries. It's all part of the learning adventure! 😄