It is assumed one drinks tea when you are closed? FTW?
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
"To Run Business" for "Open" - classic Taiwanese Engrish
This sign is seen EVERYWHERE in Taiwan! You would think that someone over the last 18 years or so I have seen this sign would have corrected the English by now.
Taiwan's overflowing garbage cans
Still wondering why the Taiwanese -- with their high population density -- don't use larger trash cans....
Friday, September 26, 2008
Juices + Pink Pickled Stuff
Wonderful juices at a Lebanese restaurant. Plus some pickled pink stuff. And a setting sun and the breaking of Ramadan fast upon the customers.
The exotic (to some extent) juices are a real treat after a day of fasting and due to the general desert dryness of Riyadh.
I had some of the raisin juice. Yes, raisin juice. They take raisins and rehydrate them. Then create a juice. I did not care for it. Sicky sweet. A bit like cough syrup. However, I am told it is an acquired taste.
My favorite is a mix of kiwi and orange.
The exotic (to some extent) juices are a real treat after a day of fasting and due to the general desert dryness of Riyadh.
I had some of the raisin juice. Yes, raisin juice. They take raisins and rehydrate them. Then create a juice. I did not care for it. Sicky sweet. A bit like cough syrup. However, I am told it is an acquired taste.
My favorite is a mix of kiwi and orange.
Siwak
During Ramadan, some people purchase small fragrant twigs called "siwak". Below I have a high-end version. The idea is to brush one's teeth during the daylight fasting hours to keep "fasting breath" away.
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
Setting sun through Lebanese restaurant
One can see the setting sun and people lining up to buy food for the breaking of the Ramadan fast.
7-11 - Taiwan's logistics and e-commerce hub
Taiwan's ubiquitous 7-11s are the de facto logistics and e-commerce hub in Taiwan. Taiwan has the world's 3rd largest network of 7-11 stores.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Arabic sweets in Riyadh
A friend took me to one of the best desert shops in Riyadh (I'll get the name later). He loaded me up on a variety of sweets. Yum!
We indeed must liberate Taiwan
We indeed must liberate Taiwan! -- says the old Communist propaganda poster. Seen in a bookstore on YongKang Street, Taipei, Taiwan.
McCain and Obama on YongKang Street, Taipei, Taiwan
CNN on display at a bookstore on YongKang Street in Taiwan. If Taiwan could vote, who would the Taiwanese vote for and why?
CKS up, Taiwan democracy taken down
The Ma Administration was taken down all the displays related to Taiwan Democracy and is back to displaying Chiang Kai-shek (CKS) only.
Both flammable and inflammable, Taiwan
This truck in Taipei County displayed labels indicating its gaseous goods were both flammable and inflammable. FTW?
I kept my distance.
I kept my distance.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Chinese class - Feng Laoshi - Oberlin College
This was during 1988 - 1990. Not sure when. The late Teacher Feng. And Jin Laoshi I believe. I want to say this was taken at Asia House.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Drive to Riyadh's First Chinese Restaurant.
Slice of life view of a drive to Riyadh's First Chinese Restaurant:
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Construction in Bahrain
The scale and scope of construction ongoing in GCC nations continues to be staggering. Video of construction in Bahrain:
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Camels & Convoy
Surreal juxtaposition -- Nik playing Convoy while we pass camels in Saudi Arabia on the way to Bahrain.
Monday, August 25, 2008
KSA Human Rights Commission
The Saudi Arabian Human Rights Commission is across the street from my hotel. Guess I can go there if I have any problems?
Krumz Bistro - brunch in Bahrain
Krumz is a great little bistro in the capital city of Bahrain, Manama. Full English breakfasts (in addition to other items) and alcohol if you want it.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Bukhari cuisine
Bukhari are apparently Muslims from parts of Asia (e.g., India) who settled in Saudi Arabia after pilgrimage here. There are restaurants that serve a sort of fusion cuisine as a result. Very cost effective and delicious.
Mr. Sabih Khan of the UK enjoys in this photo and a photo of garnishes.
Mr. Sabih Khan of the UK enjoys in this photo and a photo of garnishes.
Monday, August 18, 2008
SaudiLifeHack # 7 - Anti-sand damage car coating = sand + water coating
If you are driving long distances in Saudi Arabia, be sure to stop by your neighborhood gas station to have the attendants spray a water and sand mixture as a coating onto the front of your car. BUT be sure not to have your license plate numbers covered!
SaudiLifeHack # 6 - Flickr
Direct uploads to Flickr seem to be blocked here in Saudi Arabia — but using the Flickr Uploadr works.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
SaudiLifeHack # 5 - Pouring Traditional Arabic Coffee
When pouring Saudi Arabian coffee, use the left hand at the base of the pot or kettle. Do not pour too much into the cup — that signifies that the drinker is glutunous and unwanted. Do not pour too little either which is also not respectful.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Friday, August 08, 2008
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Camel Burger
.JPG)
Had the (in)famous camel burger at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Manama, Bahrain. Camel is a very, very lean meat. Not an ounce of fat in it.
"Buffet Lunch" in Bahrain
As submitted to The “Blog” of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks. Given the wild and woolly nature of Bahrain, what's in that "buffet lunch"?
The skilled Filipino band at the Crowne Plaza Hotel bar, Manama, Bahrain.
The skilled Filipino band at the Crowne Plaza Hotel bar, Manama, Bahrain. I was testing a new software on the iPhone and was not holding the iPhone "head up" therefore these came out sideways...
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
.JPG)
SaudiLifeHack # 4
Waiting for days for the hotel to deliver your laundry? You actually have to call them to deliver!
SaudiLifeHack # 3
The hotel's laundry service might actually be cheaper than that outside. Double check.
SaudiLifeHack # 1
When in a clinic or hospital, don't assume the Filipina nurses know you are waiting to see the doctor. Make sure she knows you are waiting.
Close-up Photo of the Al Faisaliyah Center
Close-up Photo of the Al Faisaliyah Center. My hotel is within walking distance of this, one of two main skyscrapers in Riyadh.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Right to Left
All programs in Saudi Arabia (e.g., Microsoft products) are defaulted for text to be entered from the right to the left. This is for Arabic data entry of course. Quite interesting but a bit annoying as well to learn how to toggle to left to right.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Prayers on a Plane
A Saudi man on the plane over to Saudi Arabia was praying for several hours (a low chanting sound) right behind me. It was rather soothing. I admire his religious devotion.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Taiwanese stray dog chillin' in a bookstore
This stray dog in Taipei County knows how to beat the summer heat! Sneak into a crowded, air-conditioned bookstore! The Taiwanese seem kind to strays letting them roam free. Or might it be better for the Taiwanese to exhibit tough love to the strays, coral them up and prevent them from starving and getting mangy?
Taiwanese scooter riding hack - jackets on backwards
I have always found it very interesting that Taiwanese often wear jackets backwards when driving their ubiquitous scooters. I am told that if jackets are worn normally, wind resistance will increase making riding slower and more costly. Could this be seen as an environmental hack? I wonder why no one in Taiwan has designed a jacket that fits on backwards - market opportunity?
Taiwan's Tantilizing TiT Townhouses
I can think of few places in the world besides Taiwan that would market a residential apartment complex entitled "TiT" -- "Town in Town". Are they being coy or just didn't bother to ask any random foreigner what "tit" means? Or to just look it up in the dictionary?
Taiwan's tiny trash tins
Taiwan is one of the most crowded places on earth and yet the garbage bins are about 1/3rd the size of those found in places like Hong Kong or North America. Why? One would think the Taiwanese - who love their island - would learn from overseas and expand the size of cans? Does not seem to match with Taiwan's excellent (world-class) recycling program.
Monday, July 07, 2008
Betel Nut Princesses
The semi-narcotic betel nut (bin lang) and scantily clad young girls selling it to Taiwanese men. Videos taken in Taipei City.
 |
| Taiwan - beetle nut princesses + customers |
Monday, June 23, 2008
North Americans and country codes
As I explained to a friend:
By the way, may I offer a small foible correction? In Europe and Asia, people add "+" before their phone numbers as you have below. However, what should come after the + is first the country code. So, below, you should have +1 615 ... rather than +615.
For example, someone from the UK would list their numbers as +44 .... Chinese as +86.
What makes this doubly confusing for us North Americans is that the country code of the US (and Canada) is "1" which is the same as the long-distance dialing input. And, still being the world's largest market, we can spend our lives only dialing area codes and never dealing with country codes.
So, in conclusion, I suggest you change your signature and cards to read +1 615 ... for international business affairs.
By the way, may I offer a small foible correction? In Europe and Asia, people add "+" before their phone numbers as you have below. However, what should come after the + is first the country code. So, below, you should have +1 615 ... rather than +615.
For example, someone from the UK would list their numbers as +44 .... Chinese as +86.
What makes this doubly confusing for us North Americans is that the country code of the US (and Canada) is "1" which is the same as the long-distance dialing input. And, still being the world's largest market, we can spend our lives only dialing area codes and never dealing with country codes.
So, in conclusion, I suggest you change your signature and cards to read +1 615 ... for international business affairs.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)