( CNNGo ) -- Burp , do n't burp . Slurp , do n't slurp . The rules of social protocol around the world are as varied , and as conflicting , as countries on the planet . So how 's a traveler to know what to do , when and where ? Never again do you need to feel like a bull in a china shop . Throw away your guidebook and let actual locals tell you how to blend in with the crowds . China . Be a good boyfriend . `` Shanghainese men almost always carry the handbag or purse for their girlfriends . You do n't see it anywhere else , except sometimes Hong Kong . But Shanghai men are well-known for taking care of this for their women . '' -- Xenia Li , customer service rep. Shop smart . `` Although most Shanghai tourist guides include Nanjing Dong Lu Pedestrian Street and several 'fake ' markets around the city , Shanghainese rarely shop there . We consider them 'tourist only ' areas . `` There are exceptions -- a lot of local women shop at historic food stores on Nanjing Dong Lu , such as Shen Da Cheng and Shanghai No . 1 Food Store . For fashion , young Shanghainese prefer to shop in the Luwan , Xuhui and Jing'an districts . '' -- Eheart Chen , independent singer and director . CNNGo : The world 's coolest nationalities : Where do you rank ? Thailand . Split the bar tab . `` When a group of Thais go out to drink , rather than ordering individual drinks they will buy a large bottle of whiskey to share . The waitress keeps bringing small bottles of mixers and ice as required . `` At the end of the night , regardless of who has had more glasses of whiskey , the bill will be split evenly . '' -- Nissorn 'Bo ' Jongcharoen , translator/writer . Japan . Eat something raw . `` In Tokyo , a classic foreign tourist thing is going to a sushi bar and never ordering any raw fish . Focusing on cucumber rolls or inari rice balls or tamago does n't cut it . `` Basically , those items are for little kids in Japan , so it 's funny to see adults keep ordering them and avoiding what Japanese consider to be the more flavorful fish . '' -- Hiroko Yoda , CNNGo Tokyo Japanese city editor . CNNGo : SulaFest : Where boys dance with girls . Sit down and shut up . `` Definitely do not answer your phone on a train . Locals can expect to be lambasted by teenagers for the merest mumble , or at least get the evil eye from restrained salarymen . `` If you must pick up , the accepted gesture is to cup your cell with your hand , say nothing longer than , 'Am on the train , will call you back , ' then bow to the disgruntled commuters around you . '' -- Robert Michael Poole , CNNGo Tokyo city editor . India . Pray ... and run . `` In Mumbai just cross the street . Just go . God will protect you . If you wait for cars to stop before you abandon the safety of the curb , you may never make it . '' -- Siddharth Sikand , director/filmmaker . Sikkim ( northern India ) Wear a beard to buy booze . `` Women should not buy tobacco or alcohol from shops , or drink or smoke in public . Or , if they do , they should prepare for some quizzical looks , and maybe even a raised voice asking what they think they 're doing . '' -- Devi Shikha Boerema , journalist . CNNGo : So-bad-they're-good items at the Chinese New Year market . Singapore . Adopt new family members . `` In Singapore , do n't question why the locals refer to anyone older as 'auntie ' or 'uncle ' -- it 's a Singaporean thing . '' -- Charlene Fang , CNNGo Singapore city editor . Hong Kong . Prepare for germ warfare . `` Locals wear surgical masks at the mildest hint of flu . Call it post-SARS trauma . Locals who have sniffles and are not wearing a mask may be evil-eyed by complete strangers on the street . `` It 's also local habit to overreact whenever someone near them sneezes or coughs , especially on public transport . I 've been in a situation in which the people around me literally formed a little ring around me with their faces averted when I coughed . '' -- Tiffany Lam , CNNGo staff writer . South Korea . Be ( O/A/B ) positive . `` Koreans are pretty big on blood type , so have it ready when socializing . There 's a pretty strong perceived correlation between one 's personality and their blood type here . '' -- Alan D'Mello , hotelier . © 2011 Cable News Network Turner Broadcasting System , Inc. All Rights Reserved .
Shanghai men are well-known for taking care of this for their women . Comment: Do not answer your phone on a train in Japan . Koreans are big on blood type , so have it ready when socializing .