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Patients with advanced, irreversible disease need palliative care in both developing and developed countries. The philosophy of palliative care is universal. Despite differences among individuals and cultural groups, basic needs, cares, and wants are common to humankind. For truly effective palliative care, cultural subtleties and nuances must be considered. Challenging assumptions based on one's own culture is essential to the development of knowledge and insight into others. Keeping open minds about what is new or different within different cultures where we provide care can extend and intensify quality of care. This paper reflects the author's experience as a New Zealand Nurse and of her visit to the Pain and Palliative Care Clinic in Calicut, India. This was a journey that crossed cultural boundaries and it illustrates the importance of building bridges to care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]