This south
located Mediterranean region has a number of places to explore. Yes we are
talking about Morocco! This is the place where various ethnic cultures seem to
be merged together; Arab, African, Islamic, Berber and European. Primarily this
is an Islamic country and if you belong to a non-Muslim country, then you need
to know some very specific things about the place.
Don'ts
Do not hurt the
religious sentiments of the local. Morocco natives are highly religious; hence
doing anything against their religion will surely hurt them. If you are a
non-Muslim, do not visit during Ramadan. It is not because they will force you
to fast with them; during the Ramadan period you will be unable to find places
to eat during the day time, even in big cities and towns. Muslims are very
conservative group of religious people. Apart from religion they are very much
concerned about their attire too. Hence you need to dress conservatively. Do
not wear revealing clothes, which may attract the wrath of the locals. Don't
enter a mosque unless and until you are a Muslim. Don't possess drugs, even
having the slightest amount can lead to harsh punishments. Be it a hotel room
or a cab, pay only after negotiating. Don't enter a cab without a meter or an
agreed taxi fare. If you are a woman traveling alone, avoid unnecessary eye
contacts and talking to strangers. Sexual harassment is very common in Morocco.
In case you face eve teasing or molestations, seek the help of any elderly
woman in the area. Always maintain a low profile and don't be proactive. And
lastly, do not travel to the landmine prone areas. Check for government
warnings and then make your move.
Doe's
Anything that is
opposite to the don't becomes the doe's. And same is the case here. Well apart
from these there are several other things to do in Morocco. You need to be
polite. If anyone offers you a tea, be polite to take at least one sip. With
whomever you interact greet them with a friendly gesture; smile a bit and give
a warm handshake. Always remain alert, if someone is approaching you and you
smell something fishy! There are many chances; the person may have come to rob you.
Always make it a point to shop from road side shops rather than going to
shopping malls. Make sure that you pay before taking the pictures of snakes,
monkeys and dancers. Always carry traveler's cheque instead of cash. One of
the most important things is to book hotel rooms and taxis in advance, so that
you don’t waste your time looking for a cab. And lastly do enjoy the camel
rides and desert excursions. These speak a lot about the real Morocco.
These are the
basic things; make sure that you follow all these and enjoy your Morocco trip.
If you are
looking for a tour agency for prior bookings for vehicles, contact Your MoroccoTour, a tour operator registered with the Moroccan government.
