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21 Things That Are Deemed Normal In Asia, But Are Considered Weird Outside The Continent

You probably won't find these things in your country.

21 Things That Are Deemed Normal In Asia, But Are Considered Weird Outside The Continent

Some people think “normal” is universal, until they land in Asia and realize the rules are different. One minute you’re minding your business, the next you’re staring at a morning stretch that looks like it belongs in a sports documentary, or a waterfall that definitely did not come from Mother Nature.

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The confusion gets even better when you zoom in. In China, you can spot facekinis on beachgoers, rent a power bank like it’s a casual add-on, and even see coconuts sold in a way that makes you question what you’re actually holding. Meanwhile in Japan, cedar decorations like sugidama hang around sake breweries, and in South Korea, public places have appliances built into the experience.

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After you’ve seen enough of these “everyday” moments, the weird stuff stops feeling random and starts feeling like a whole different world.

1. How ironic.

1. How ironic.reddit.com
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2. Weird Chinese food

2. Weird Chinese foodpikabu.ru
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3. A jaw-dropping morning stretch

3. A jaw-dropping morning stretchyamashitaphoto

4. A waterfall that isn't made by Mother Nature

4. A waterfall that isn't made by Mother Naturepikabu.ru

5. Cedar ball or Sakebayashi found in Japan

Also called sugidama, these are used as decorations in sake breweries. They symbolize the importance of cedar in the production of Japanese alcohol.

5. Cedar ball or Sakebayashi found in Japanpikabu.ru

6. This is an awards ceremony in China.

6. This is an awards ceremony in China.pikabu.ru

7. Rent a power bank.

7. Rent a power bank.pikabu.ru

8. Determine how healthy you are by the color of your urine.

8. Determine how healthy you are by the color of your urine.pikabu.ru

9. An odd way of showing one's affection.

9. An odd way of showing one's affection.haberler

10. Facekinis

These are masks for beachgoers and swimmers in China. Former accountant Zhang Shifan invented this "swimwear" in 2004.

This became a fashion trend in Qingdao, a coastal city in China. It serves as protection from the sun so that the wearer can maintain their white complexion.

10. FacekinisNPR

This kimchi recipe standoff, “my partner wanted to change it,” is basically the same kind of values clash as the woman refusing to share her family’s secret kimchi recipe.

11. This man's load is bigger than his vehicle.

This picture, taken in Guangzhou, China, shows a man transporting styrofoam to be recycled. The country banned imports of several types of solid waste a couple of years ago.

11. This man's load is bigger than his vehicle.yamashitaphoto

12. A variety show in Japan features a game that challenges players to determine which items are made of chocolate.

Don't worry! His teeth are fine!

12. A variety show in Japan features a game that challenges players to determine which items are made of chocolate.reddit.com

13. Cherry Blossom-flavored and Matcha-flavored potato chips

What do these even taste like?

13. Cherry Blossom-flavored and Matcha-flavored potato chipspikabu.ru

14. Motorcycle helmets with animal ears on top found at Jomtien Beach in Pattaya, Thailand.

14. Motorcycle helmets with animal ears on top found at Jomtien Beach in Pattaya, Thailand.pikabu.ru

15. This is what you typically see in IKEA stores in China.

15. This is what you typically see in IKEA stores in China.bernyeatstheworld

16. Onsen (the Japanese word for hot spring) for everyone's feet

16. Onsen (the Japanese word for hot spring) for everyone's feetshamovdmitry

17. Believe it or not, these are coconuts sold in China.

17. Believe it or not, these are coconuts sold in China.pikabu.ru

18. Thinking about life while doing the simplest things.

18. Thinking about life while doing the simplest things.pikabu.ru

19. Slippers for toilet use

19. Slippers for toilet usepikabu.ru

20. Consuming ice

20. Consuming icereddit.com

21. Public places in South Korea have appliances.

21. Public places in South Korea have appliances.pikabu.ru

The moment you see those jaw-dropping stretches in the morning, you realize you’re not just looking at culture, you’re looking at a whole schedule of surprises.

Then you’re standing near an awards ceremony in China, watching the vibe stay completely serious while you’re still trying to process rent-a-power-bank energy.

Right after that, the facekinis, toilet slippers, and even the “healthy by urine color” moment hit like a triple combo, and your brain starts buffering.

By the time you spot animal-ear motorcycle helmets in Pattaya and sugidama in a Japanese sake brewery, you’re done judging and just trying to keep up.

Now that you've seen some of the weirdest things in Asia, the sight of these items will probably no longer surprise you when you actually see them. However, if you do witness something odd that's not on this list, try to keep your cool.

And always respect the people of the country you visit.

The real twist is realizing you might be the weird one for not adapting fast enough.

Still think it is “normal” elsewhere, wait until you see how a “bagged boil” funeral service turns remains into liquid, sparking ethics debate.

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