Going through my bags recently, I found this notebook I bought a few years ago in Osaka during my last visit to Japan and I thought the little saying was hilarious. As is usually the case, it is unintentionally hilarious due to a bad English translation. In this case it’s only slightly off. Let me […]
Winter Themed Japanese Smoking Manners Posters
Fellow blogger Erica Jordan recently brought an article to my attention about a new strategy being adopted by the anti-smoking organization “Legacy”. Rather than focus on the health consequences of smoking as they’ve been doing, they are now attacking cigarettes as litter. My immediate thought was: “That’s not new!” That sign is one of almost […]
Hanging off the Side of Mandalay’s Crowded Public Transport
You’ll find a lot of options for getting around in Myanmar, but only the most expensive offer any comfort. Most are crowded at best, like the pickup truck above on the streets of Mandalay, and downright painful at worst. I was stupid lucky enough to try just about all of them during my time in […]
Korean Band “Won” Plays 80s Heavy Metal in all its Cheesy Glory
South Korea (and all of Asia, really) is obsessed with pop music. So is the west, of course, but it’s so much worse in Asia. If you’re not a young, cute girl—or a guy who looks like a young, cute girl—surrounded by four nearly identical girls who each differ from you in exactly one personality […]
Tooth Vendor in Marrakech’s Djemaa El-Fna
You can buy individual teeth or a full set with gums from this tooth vendor in Djemaa El-Fna in Marrakech, Morocco. If you read my previous post on Marrakech’s main square, you’ll know that this guy is only one of a countless number of interesting characters (remember her?) who hang out here.
Japanese “Smoking Manners” Posters Get Philosophical
After the intentionally funny “smoking manners” poster I put up last week, I decided to go with an unintentionally funny—and deeply philosophical—one this week. I’ll post a few more of these in the future, but don’t worry, I won’t go through all 70 or so in the long-running ad campaign by Japan Tobacco.
Funny Japanese Smoking Manners Sign
This funny sign is part of a brilliant ad campaign by Japan Tobacco to encourage “smoking manners.” You’ll see these things all over the place in Japan.
Japanese Add Faucet to Toilet to Save Water
Most people are aware of Japan‘s high-tech toilets with their numerous (and let’s face it, mostly unnecessary) functions, but not everyone knows that most toilets in Japan come with a faucet and a little sink above the water tank. When you flush, the faucet starts running to refill the tank, giving you a chance to […]
Old Chinese Hipsters Dance in Beijing’s Jingshan Park
When you visit China, you can’t help but notice the bad dancing that goes on in the public parks, but these three took it to a whole new level in Beijing’s Jingshan Park and pretty much redefined the word “dance”. The new definition was not a good one, mind you, but it was certainly hilarious. […]
Passed Out Koreans Litter the Streets of Seoul
If you spend any time at all outdoors after dark in Korea you’ll quickly notice that the usually fairly clean streets are suddenly littered with large immovable objects. They lie on benches, curbs, sidewalks, streets, subway platforms and anywhere else large enough to accommodate them. If you move in for a closer look, you’ll have […]