Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
Your year-end holiday plans have been firmed up. You have chosen an inconspicuous hotel in downtown Bangkok. but a couple of clicks on Tripadvisor show how tired and poorly maintained the rooms are. Maybe the hotel is just rundown, or perhaps there’s something more to it than meets the eye. Too late for you to cancel the reservation without a hefty cancellation fee and The Ghostbusters have long retired.
If you are the ‘pan tang’ (superstitious) type, here are several popular Asian hotel room superstitions we have heard about for you to practise to ensure you have an undisturbed night’s rest during your hotel stay.
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1. Always knock before entering your room
It’s all about basic courtesy and manners. Would you walk into your boss’ office without knocking on the door? Likewise for a hotel room, just signal that you are about to enter by knocking or ringing the doorbell to let ‘whoever’ is inside know that you are coming in. Perhaps they’ll get out.
It’s just a symbolic respectful gesture that requires no effort else you might have some company at night. You might also want to follow up with a simple phrase like “I come in peace and mean no harm…”, just to reassure yourself more.
2. Let there be light
Light is the symbol of life. After entering the room, switch on all the lights and draw the curtains to allow as much light into the room. If you are checking in after sunset, just make do with turning on the room lights. It’s just making your presence known; selfies and room shots can come after.
If you feel the room still feels dark even though it’s nice and sunny outside, just call the hotel reception. Most duty managers will be quick to offer a room change unless they are fully booked for the day – hope you knocked ☺.
In addition, hotels in some countries tend to maximize available space and that might mean rooms with no windows; get a room change if possible. Disturbing things lurk in dank and dark places, so with all the positive light it will be too inhabitable for them. You may want to leave the bathroom light on all the time as a precaution.
3. Flush the toilet
It’s said to be another way to ‘flush away’ the room of whatever is still there. For practical purposes also, sometimes the previous occupant dropping a deuce and somehow housekeeping has overlooked it as well. Better to do it and spare yourself the nightmarish sight.
4. Occupy All Beds
Do this when you are travelling alone and have been allocated a room with twin beds. Make sure the unused bed is occupied by dumping your luggage on it. Mess it up, pillage the pillows and build up your own pillow fortress.
This signals that the bed is occupied and you don’t have uninvited sleeping companions for the night. Don’t leave your stuff everywhere though, it will be a pain when you have to pack up.
5. Don’t Sleep Facing The Mirror
It’s believed that mirrors are a portal to another dimension and absorb life energy and probably your soul as well. It’s still pretty freaky to wake up and see your own reflection, or something else’s reflection anyway.
Maybe the being inside the mirror might climb out and attack you according to many paranoid believers – amateur exorcists say put the tiny room bin in front of the mirror to trap it if it attempts to come out.
6. Throw your footwear around
The obsessive compulsive camp will hate this. By having your shoes arranged neatly side by side, it allows the supposed phantom being to easily walk into your shoes and locate you (like a compass). Extreme cases will lead to possession (*hint* anyone watched The Amityville Horror?).
7. Avoid rooms near the fire exits
Fire exits tend to be at the extreme ends of each level far from the lift lobby. This also means there is little human traffic apart from your neighbours and the daily chambermaid. So with little public presence, spirits tend to congregate in these areas. Also avoid rooms near the lift lobby as aggressive humans drunk on spirits and liquors can be more annoying than aggressive spirits.
8. Don’t pick up random ritualistic objects
In many international chain hotels, you will probably find a copy of the Bible in the drawer by the bedside; placed there by Gideons International – a religious evangelical organization. There’s nothing much to worry about unless it’s already opened to a specific page – just leave it where it was as the holy scripture might be protecting you from whatever was attempting to enter.
You might be tempted to pick up or buy strange artifacts during your travels as well, but be wary as some of these strange items have been used in rituals of the dark arts and you might get a buy 1 get 1 free for a haunting.
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Editor’s end notes
These are just a few of the common superstitions and beliefs practised mostly by Asians in general. I am sure there are plenty more out there, so feel free to share with us what you’ve heard before. There are probably country specific ones – likely in places where the natives practise occult black magic.
We’re not recommending you must absolutely do all these, in fact chief editor Seth has never heard of all these procedures throughout his numerous hotel stays and he still sleeps lie a baby at night. There’s no right or wrong, but perhaps for the more superstitious or spirit-sensitive, you might want to try these steps. If you do feel any weird things happening at night though, call the concierge and they will likely change the room for you with no further questions asked. I’d also advice reading some online reviews first before checking to any dodgy looking hotel.
Do share if you have had any interesting travel experiences or any practices. Happy travelling!
