Lost in translation

now the olympics in Beijing is coming to an end, like most of you I have been really impressed on how well it was organised. I have to take my hat off to the chinese on how well the whole event was organized.  With the amount of money that was poured in and the people involved in organizing it, I dont think the UK will be able to match China come 2012 when the biggest sports event goes to the European soil.  Being asian myself, I feel a sense of pride that Asia could match the big european powers in organizing the event and not to mention the number of golds hauled.

But one thing that I could not help  noticing was, if you have been to Beijing, was on how bad the english translation of the signages are.  well I am not saying that my english is perfect but if you have been to China especially Beijing, just pop in into the many eateries or public conveniences you will find hilarious english translations of the signages.  I came across with a sign to warn me of slippery floor in one restaurant that says "Beware of landslide".  I also saw a sign on a way into a lift that says "Please help child to tear the lift". I am not entirely sure what the latter signage actually meant but I presume it was intended to remind parents to ensure the safety of their child entering the lift. I also saw a sign on a public toilet that says "A place to shit". Now I thought that is the real "stercus accidit". As I said when it happens, it can happen anywhere unexpectedly...

Why cant our airport be as beautiful and modern as others?

if anyone of you who spend most of his life basically in a suitcase then you would realise something is amiss with our BIA. whilst most airports have either had major facelifts or new ones built or replaced, ours somehow has remained an "antique" worth to be classified as part of the national heritage or should I say a historical artifact.  common civil aviation people! wakeup! look at Miri, Kuching and KK..we dont have to go far away to see that other countries have moved and we have remained static. is this really a country of unexpected treasures when the airport with its pathetic facilities, faulty aircon and aerobridges only seen in the third world can make tourist feel welcome? I think NOT.

I hate abusive police officers!

Dont you just hate it when the man in uniform use his authority to basically treat you like dogs! Now I got that really bad experience when I was sending off my daughter at the airport.  My 11 year old daughter was on a school trip to Cambodia and whilst queuing up for the baggage screening, this stupid police officer began to get rude with the passengers queuing up by shouting and pointing fingers at us giving orders as if we were on that PT training that I had many years ago at college.  When he started to shout at an Indian passenger who was checking in his bag, I thought to myself, this officer is gonna get it if he shouted at me. And he did. I actually told him off.  I said to him that he shouldnt be rude to people as if we were a bunch of criminals and warned him that I would call the commissioner of police. He somehow said "agatah" (go ahead) and so I did.  When I called the CP who happened to be my good friend, I told him about his rude officer and and gave the phone to the police. This officer must have thought initially that I was making an empty threat as he did not know who I was but when he found out that it was really the CP on the phone, I could have sworn that he was scared like hell. He was begging from me that I should call the CP again as he could lose his job. SO I actually made the second call to the CP to forget the whole thing as I really just wanted to teach this officer that he shouldnt be rude to people. Anyway if there is anyone asking for proof on his rudeness I actually took some photos..