Unconventional time zones.
Do you know of any others, and what reasons they give for not following time zone conventions?
B Posts: 24.5K
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The time jump back to the future comes 119 years after some U.S. traders persuaded local Samoan authorities to align their islands' time with nearby U.S.-controlled American Samoa and the U.S. to assist their trading with California.
But the time zone has proved problematic in recent years, putting Samoa and Tokelau nearly a full day behind neighboring Australia and New Zealand, increasingly important trading partners.
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From Samoa, Tokelau to Cross Int'l Dateline Reply to this
B Posts: 341
I always found Nepali time to be a tad weird. They are exactly 5.45 hours ahead of UK time. Then, when you cross the border with India you have to turn your watch back 15 minutes. Strange stuff. Reply to this
B Posts: 145
The same as Nick, really. We thought it strange in India to be 5.5 hours ahead of the UK, what is the reason for the half hour?!
The other ones we have been caught out by was moving between Java and Bali, Indonesia - there is a 1 hour time difference between the islands. Bali being 8 hours ahead of the UK and Java 7 hours. Similarly, the time difference between Thailand and Malaysia has always puzzled us as they are on the same latitude. We were caught out by that one too ;) Reply to this
The other ones we have been caught out by was moving between Java and Bali, Indonesia - there is a 1 hour time difference between the islands. Bali being 8 hours ahead of the UK and Java 7 hours. Similarly, the time difference between Thailand and Malaysia has always puzzled us as they are on the same latitude. We were caught out by that one too ;) Reply to this
B Posts: 3,852
There are a few half hour time zones around the place. Myanmar is 6.5 hours ahead of GMT/UTC (UK standard time) and South Australia and Northern Territory in Australia are 9.5 hours ahead. Norfolk Island is 11:5 hours ahead of GMT/UTC. Reply to this
B Posts: 106
Officially, China (obviously a huge country) only has 1 time zone - Beijing time. Since Beijing is way over near the east coast, the west of the country is about 4 hours off what would be considered 'normal'. Unofficially, I believe the far western provinces tend to operate 2 hours behind the official time. Reply to this
B Posts: 3,280
We have not yet traveled to a country with the half hour increment. We plan to go to Nepal later this year so we will see how it feels.
It is always funky living the same day twice--
We did that on April fool's day once.
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B Posts: 165
We have one province in Canada (Newfoundland) that is -3.5 GMT. We lovingly call them Newfies and, they are definately on Newfie time. Reply to this
B Posts: 155
It is not strictly a time zone but all Russian trains operate on Moscow time wherever they are in Russia. It makes for some bizarre experiences when you are travelling. Never sure whether you should be eating breakfast, lunch or dinner. Of course, it's always time for vodka!
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B Posts: 329
Portugal has GTM time, same as London but one hour less than Spain, even though they're in the same peninsula; Galicia is a region of Spain than is right on top of Portugal (North), but it still has Spanish time... it seems weird, but it also makes for longer days in Galicia than anywhere else in Spain Reply to this
B Posts: 159
Australia has some confusing timezones especially when daylight savings comes into (or not into) play as different states choose not to do it. Right now in Western Australia it is 2pm (+8 GMT), heading east South Australia would be 4.30pm while the Northern Territory above it doesnt have daylight savings so it is only 3.30pm. East again and Queensland right now is 4pm while New South Wales and Victoria Qld it is 5pm. Reply to this
B Posts: 24.5K
When I first went to India around 14 years ago, there was only one time zone for the whole country. Apparently, they had at one stage tried to have more than one time zone there, but it caused such chaos that they changed it back to just one. I dont know if they have managed to incorportate more times zones in, since then. :) Reply to this
