Fun with Chinese Spam
Still in Kathmandu
Recently I began receiving emails in Chinese script.
I was wondering if it was misplaced spam, or perhaps replies to some of
the things I had written about Tibetans (according to the Sitemeter, I do have viewers in PRC). The emails turned out to be a particularly dadaist kind of spam. (Even Britney Spears uses the word "surreal" now...someone has to stop.)
The latest one said this:
不動產二胎。缺錢找我。住宅貸款。二胎設定放款。代辦支客票貼現。 第一成功資融：０９３８-５８０-１０７ 企業週轉金。救急速撥。1胎借款。放款快速。企業週轉金。 第一成功資融：０９３８-５８０-１０７ 缺錢找我。代辦支票借款，公司戶支票。工商融.免保借款。建物所有權狀。誠信經營。
According to the AltaVista Babel Fish, this translates as:
Real estate two embryos. Is short of money looks for me. Housing loan. Two embryo hypotheses loan. Charge d'affaires passenger ticket discount. The first successful capital melts: 0938-580-107 enterprise circulating capital. Rescues dials rapidly. 1 embryo loan. Loans fast. Enterprise circulating capital. The first successful capital melts: 0938-580-107 are short of money looks for me. Charge d'affaires check loan, company household check. The industry and commerce melts. Exempts guarantees the loan. Building property rights shape. Good faith management.
- perhaps a Chinese version of the now-infamous African "Extremely urgent and confidential" scam.
Viewer Mail
A viewer named Per was nice enough to write in with the news that evidently, the Leh-Manali Highway is only "officially" open...not actually open.
(Those of you familiar with Indian travel will understand the difference.)
Evidently buses are not yet running up to Leh. (Per's message is under yesterday's Comments.)
Per also says the government bus is a good way to travel the Leh-Manali highway. My friend Dhami says the same. I guess the trick is to get a *tourist* government bus....not the budget government bus with wooden seats.
And as always on these trips, you absolutely must book early and get a seat in the front section of the bus, the farther forward, the better. Otherwise you will very likely not only be puking but literally flying up at every bump in the road, banging your head on the luggage rack (which is made extra low to accomodate Asian heights) and then slamming back down on the seat.
Of course, this (being in front) puts you within range of the deafening and constantly-employed horn. Take your pick!
You must also take your pick between sitting by the window (more fresh air, also more pollution, but if you are tall, knees will be wedged in the entire time) and sitting in the aisle (more leg-room, since Indian buses rarely accomodate people over 5'7").
Another subcontinental bus trip tip: Anti-nausea medicine is over the counter here. Get some.
Posts
3 comments:
For more fun Chinese-English translations , google "backstroke of the west" - I guarantee it will change your attitude to the Presbyterian church , permanently.
Per (aka vistet)
Hi there in Nepal! Let me first say that your blog is awesome, I'm eagerly following it!
I've done the Manali-Leh trip last year, and I opted for a slightly more expensive way, a small bus run by a private agency. The bus had ten or so seats, and we did an overnight stay, not this 18-hours-jeep-drive madness. It cost about twice as much as the government bus, I think, so still way less than a four-person jeep, and it was definitely worth it. It was comfortable, the driver was excellent, the camp very nice, and most importantly, we had all a great view from the bus. You don't want to do this trip just for getting to Leh - the scenery is breathtaking.
The agency is Antrak, and I don't get anything for writing this ;-)
When you opt for a regular bus, take in mind that you have to pay extra for the overnight camp, and prices are steep because you don't have a choice once you're there if you don't want to freeze at night.
Greetings from Geneva,
Thomas
@Thomas: Thanks for your kind comments and recommendations. If you want to share it with max. # of Indian travellers, put it up on India Mike www.indiamike.com
Good call! a nice camp could make all the difference between enjoying the road and wishing you had flown.
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