Sunday, February 22, 2009

The Last Train

Before I stop blogging about our trip to Japan, I thought I would share a few of the more amusing photos and anecdotes from our Asian adventure. No list of tales from Japan would be complete without this observation: Hubby is 6’4” and Japan is not designed in anyway, shape, or form for people who are his height.

To illustrate this point, allow me to skip past the tales of his brushing his head on the hanging poster on the subway, or having only 1.5 inches of space between him and a low hung sign in the train station, and move straight to our last day in Tokyo when we discovered that Hubby was too tall for the shower. Luckily, my sweetie is going bald because there was no way his hair was getting washed that day since he was about a foot taller than the showerhead.

It only took a few days to realize that the Japanese people are, by and large, a very healthy and active kind of people. There were no benches conveniently situated to give the weary walker a break after a bazillion miles of walking. Nor were the locals intimated by the 90 feet of stairs that we had to climb to see every temple or shrine that Hubby insisted we visit.

Sure, the bicycles from yesterday’s post should have been a hint, but I’m not very good at hints. Nor, as it would turn out, am I a very good sport when it comes to miles and miles of walking day after day. In fact the blisters (which are only now starting to heal) were so bad at one point that I could barely make it to the washroom let alone all the way to wherever it was Hubby had scheduled for the day.

Never let it be said that Hubby and I are above mocking complete strangers. One of our favourite pastimes when we travel (and when we’re home for that matter) is finding misspellings and odd misinterpretations on signs. This could be anything from an innocent, “lack deep-frying” on an advertisement for fried food, to a warning asking us to “please wait long time if you order” on a specialty menu item.

Sometimes, however, the signs you see in front of innocent looking bookstores simply defy explanation. The oncoming generation has spoken. Or something.

34 comments:

Kathy B! said...

I'm sooo addicted to your blog. I'm pushing DH for a foreign assignment in Hong Kong... we'll see!

N said...

Your husband's taller than mine! I can't even deal with a 6'2 when I'm 5'21/2...

There tends to be a lot of misspelling in Asia...what's up with that?

Sarah J. said...

I am new to your blog! Wow, I wish I could travel with you! My dad served a mission in Japan, has always wanted to go back but never has. I'd like to go there too! Looks like you've had some good times!

Lydia said...

I love finding misspellings! Our breakfast at Alamein included Creeps & waffers! (crepes & waffles) Nothing of the DVD store sort, tho! lol

Anonymous said...

Some advertisement for a bookshop!! The mind boggles!

Love the pic of your hubby towering over the mini-shower!

Hccm said...

Today is a very big day in the Where’s Wenda? Contest. I am visiting all of the SITS followers. Can I do it? There are around 1000 followers. Oh my! Better grab my cup of coffee and get on my way. Be sure to visit Hot Chocolate Caramel Mocha and Three Bay B Chicks as part of your contest entry. -Wenda

Unknown said...

Hilarious!
I love Engrish :)

Amanda said...

I wonder if it's a DVD room, rather than just a store. The ones in Korea allow you to rent a DVD and a small room with a couch to watch it in. The rooms have a bit of a reputation - in a country where young people normally live at home until marriage, $8 rooms with a couch tend to get used for other things...

Connie said...

We share your hubby's height issues! Some places just do not fit ;-D Even buying or renting cars requires a 'try-on'. I wasn't sure he would survive our time in England, with all the low doors in old buildings, without some major head injury.

Brenda said...

We love to read mispelled or mistranslated things when we travel as well.

Sounds like I would like Japan, I love to walk when I travel, hate to be taken around on a bus, I would rather see everything outside at street level. But my hubby would struggle with the shower as well

Caution/Lisa said...

I've been thinking about the best things of 2009, thus far. You beating your writer's block may actually be #1 on that list :)

Kathy B! said...

I had to pop back over and say thank for floowing me!! I've never had a follower before. Thanks :)

Kimberly @ Seriously Daisies said...

OMG! You have to read the post to really notice the shower head thing. TOO FUNNY! I agree the lack of hair was a good thing, lol!

Oh, and as for that last pic, seriously??? No words!

Followed you back over here, and I see that Wenda has been here too! Fun times! :o)

Beth said...

What a great picture of hubby in the shower!

Love the sign too . . . although it has me most confused!

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Poor hubby! Your trip looks and sounds fantastic. I adore learning about other cultures.

Julie H said...

My hubby is 6'6" looks like he would have to crawl into the shower lol. Thanks for stopping by!

Diane Mandy said...

It looks like a fascinating country! Def on my list to see!

DiPaola Momma said...

Haaah! I lack deep-frying myself.. too much actually. Oh, wait while I pull a sheet over my blog with a shy blush.. if misspelling mockery is a sport for you I can only shudder at the hours of mocking mayhem you've had at my expense!

Also.. you mean to tell me that the Nuggetini has a following on Amazon food? My guru is a freelancer and I bet she found it where you did.. still.. YICK, Vodka or no.

Betty said...

That sign is really strange! I love finding the misspelling in signs as well. It´s just that when I find something I usually don´t have my camera along...

Debbie said...

What a crazy sign! I love that sort of thing. My daughter spent a summer at a college here and had to squat to wash her hair.

Brooke said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog! I can't imagine what it's like for someone that tall in a country where no one is. I bet he felt like he stuck out like a sore thumb. I love the "please wait long time if you order". So funny.

Roxane said...

Wow what a fun blog you have! i'll be forced to live vicariously through your travels, as I cant even leave the state right now. Thank you for the kind words of encouragement you left on my blog this morning. It's always nice to know there are other Canucks like me in this world lol!

United Studies said...

LOL! What a funny sign!

www.AForestFrolic.typepad.com said...

Oh what a fun adventure you and your husband are on! I dream of growing old with mine and travelling...hmm, to have more kids or travel sooner, hehe. That shower pic is hilarious and 'please wait long time if you order,' hehe...we'd totally get a kick of the same things!

Jamie :-)

www.AForestFrolic.typepad.com said...
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Aly @ Lip Zip said...

What a great post! I love the pictures and explanations.

Eve said...

Note to self: Invest in really good walking shoes if traveling to Japan!
Thanks for the tip!

Anonymous said...

Haha!


Wow, 6'4", he must of stuck out like a sore thumb!

natalie said...

Thanks for stopping by my page :)

I love the misspellings and misinterpretations too! Hahaha not so sure about that DVD store...

I'll definitely be stopping back for more stories. You live such an exciting life!

honkeie said...

check out Engrish.com

AndreaLeigh said...

hilarious picture! i'm so jealous of your jet setting adventures.

Alicia @ Oh2122 said...

That photo slays me! Darken the hair and it could be Hubby!

We actually had to reject a few houses when we were house hunting because he would have had to bend over to change his shirt or shower at a 45 degree angle.

Megan said...

That sign is hilarious! LOL heehee

Unknown said...

Oh yeah! Japanese-English always give me side splitting giggles!