If you have been following Calypso Island Chronicles, you know how much I detest cigarette smoke. Fortunately in California where I currently reside, all restaurants and bars prohibit cigarette smoking. Hooray!

However in many other countries, the laws pertaining to smoking in public places are either nonexistent or less restrictive, so as a traveler, a lot of times, I just have to grin and bear it because let’s face it, many of my fellow travelers - especially from Europe - are dyed-in-the wool smokers.

To illustrate my resolve against cigarette smoke (and smokers), I would like to share a recent experience at the Canton Airport in CHINA. I had a long layover for my continuing flight to Guilin, so I decided to hang out at one of the airport cafes at that offered free WIFI. Sitting myself down at a table in the nonsmoking section, I observed much to chagrin that there were a number of patrons smoking including middle aged Indian couple two tables away.

When I told the couple that this section of the café was nonsmoking – pointing to the nonsmoking sign on the far wall - and that out of consideration they should either stop smoking or to move to the smoking section of the café, the lady got very upset. She told me a very angry tone – it’s not her problem but the management’s as she continued to smoke away.

After digesting her response, I called the young waitress over, and explained to her that this was a nonsmoking section and suggested that she should either enforce the rules or take down the sign. Although her understanding of English was not 100%, she definitely understood me. After some considerable hesitation, she went to all the smoking patrons – including the Indian couple - and advised them to either stop smoking or go to the café’s smoking section

Shortly thereafter, there was a mass exodus of all the smokers – about 7 people in all including the Indian lady. As she left, she gave me a very nasty look as if I was the villain in this situation. Smiling, I responded by saying “Have a Good Day”, satisfied with my triumph!

During the course of my travels around the world, I have met my share of rude, boorish tourists. Smokers in particular really irk me; when I dine at a nice café or restaurant, I don’t particularly care to be gulping down cigarette smoke while I eat my food. It seems some of these young European tourists – in particular the French, German, Dutch and Israelis - don’t show any hesitation at all upon entering a restaurant before they light up a cigarette.

Unlike the USA, there are no laws prohibiting smoking in restaurants and cafes in most countries, so I guess I have to grin and bear it as far as smokers are concerned.

I remember one particular instance that left a really bad taste in my mouth. I was a passenger on an old slow boat along the Mekong River from the Thailand Border to Luang Prabang in Laos. The guy sitting directly in front of me – he was from Belgium - kept on smoking his fags and the smoke would waft backwards toward me. As I really abhor cigarette smoke, I politely asked him to refrain from smoking. Well, the guy stopped for about 5 minutes before he started smoking again - one cigarette after another. Talk about being an inconsiderate lout.

What irks me even more are a special breed of travelers who hijack their hostel – usually young backpacker types - and party late night (and into the wee hours of the morning), while other guests of the hostel are trying to sleep. These people can get very rowdy and raucous (loud) especially when there is alcohol and drugs involved. Unfortunately this is a notorious aspect of backpacker culture. I find their behavior to be very rude and inconsiderate. See the story of Nate the Great Lout!

According to a new survey conducted by Expedia, the French were determined to be the worst tourists in the world, coming across as poor tippers, tight with their money, arrogant and bad-mannered as well as having terrible facility with foreign languages. The survey was conducted with over 4,500 hoteliers around the world.

Believe it or not, the Japanese finished as the best tourists for the 3rd year in a row. While Americans finished 9th overall in this latest survey, they received the highest marks for generosity as the biggest spenders and tippers. On the other hand, American tourists were characterized as slobs, loud and the worst complainers. Sounds like some Americans that I know!

I really don’t much put creditability in this survey due to the relatively small sample size (only 4.500 hoteliers participated) among other things. I think French people get somewhat of a bad rap because of their difficulty with the English Language, which is the international language of the tourist and usually the 2nd language spoken by the host country. From my vast experience as a traveler in Thailand, many the Thais (especially those engaged in the Tourist Business) have a lot better facility with the English Language than most French tourists.

I admit though that the FRENCH have a tendency to be somewhat arrogant and rude though - at least that is the way they act towards me. Maybe it’s because I’m an American and the French people are known to have an attitude with us Yankees. My pet peeve with the French (as well as some other European people) is the total lack of dining etiquette in a public restaurant or café vis a vis smoking.

Unfortunately, it seems that the French – especially the ladies - do not seem to show any 2nd thoughts about lighting up a cigarette in a restaurant or cafe and seem to be oblivious to the protestations of their fellow diners. Young Israeli Ladies are also notorious smokers – and seem to have an attitude equal to worse then French Girls.

I have gone on record with my distaste for cigarette smoking - in particular I hate to be sucking down smoke while I’m eating my meal. If I had it my way, smoking would be banned in all restaurants and cafes - both indoor and outdoors – worldwide. Maybe there should be dedicated restaurants for smokers as well! Cough. Cough!