Word for the Travel Wise (05/21/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Normally, I do my best to construct the word of the day lesson around a current event, holiday, or something I just had to get off my bird and I suppose you could say I’m doing it all the same today with some added shameless promotion for my very own birthday. So what I’m really trying to say is, excuse me while I toot my own horn. Last year I spent my birthday weekend in the Bahamas and this year I blog from Salem, Illinois in America’s glorious Mid-West where there is little to do it seems. I could spout out about which foreign land I’d love to be parading around at the moment, but I sort of do that everyday so I’ll carry on no further. Here are a few ways to wish someone Happy Birthday across the globe:

  • Afrikaans – Veels geluk met jou verjaarsdag!
  • Albanian – Urime ditelindjen!
  • Arabic – Eid milaad saeed! or Kul sana wa inta/itayeb/a (mas/fem)
  • Benagli (Bangladesh/India) – Shuvo Jonmodin!
  • Bicol (Philippines) – Maogmang Pagkamundag!
  • Bulgarian – Chestit Rojden Den!
  • Chinese (Cantonese) – Sun Yat Fai Lok!
  • Danish – Tillykke med fodselsdagen!
  • Esperanto – Felichan Naskightagon!
  • Farsi – Tavalodet Mobarak!
  • French – Joyeux Anniversaire!
  • Georgian – Gilotcav dabadebis dges!
  • Greek – Chronia Pola!
  • Maori – Kia huritau ki a koe!
  • Romanian – La Multi Ani!
  • Sudanese – Wilujeng Tepang Taun!
  • Surinamese – Mi fresteri ju!
  • Welsh – Penblwydd Hapus i Chi!

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Click here to go to this page that lists Happy Birthday in 161 languages. While you’re searching for another one not found on my list here to send my way (coughs), I mean to tell your younger sibling or pet dog, I’ll be hanging out at Wal-Mart with some cerveza. Seems to be the thing to do out yonder.

Cheers!

Friday Funny: Earth Sandwich

by Erik Olsen on

OK folks, here’s your chance to participate in history. zefrank, whose antics haven’t been on my radar screen for some time, not since he helped me improve my dance moves, has got a fine little film asking all of humanity to take part in one of the greatest human efforts ever undertaken: to make an earth sandwich. Filled with gleefully funny bits and even a song, this video will not only have you laughing till your stomach cramps, but you might also feel, as I did, the need to immediately run out and buy some bread (as I didn’t).

(via Boingboing)

Word for the Travel Wise (05/17/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

After my first experience at a Tibetan restaurant I figured I’d share some of the delicious vocabulary I plucked off the menu for today’s lovely lingo lesson. Since most of the items were names of dishes I won’t bother throwing them out there, but here’s one you can surely use in Tibet beyond meal times.

Today’s word is a Tibetan word used in Tibet:

Tashi delek – Welcome

Tibet is the type of place I’ve always heard tons of hoopla about, but never truly took the time to figure out what all the rage is about. I’ve already got a lot on my plate and I’m not talking about the veggie-style tsel thupek I had for dinner. Without going into politics I’ll pass on what I’ve found in regards to the language here and some cool notes to note on the country name itself.

According to the Wikipedia the English word for Tibet is derived from the Turkic word Töbän meaning “the heights.” The Sanskrit name for Tibet is Trivishtap and Tibetans call their homeland Bod, pronounced pö in Lhasa dialect. To learn more about the Tibetan language visit Tibet.com where you can find an audio guide, exhibition of Tibetan calligraphy, places to study and various other links. Your most extensive source for information on the web is probably going to be the Tibetan Language Institute site, which you’ll want to check out for yourself if genuinely interested in learning further.

Hiking Everest, Sans Legs

by Erik Olsen on

All I can say is wow, double wow.

You’d think that climbing Everest is hard enough with all your limbs, but the guy in this story, a Mr. Mark Inglis climbed the mountain with no legs at all. The New Zealand-born double amputee lost both legs years ago in another climbing accident, one where he got frostbite and had to have the limbs removed. But rather than have that be some kind of deterrent, some kind of message that climbing is dangerous, very dangerous and perhaps you might find another vocation, this ballsy dude went ahead and reached the top of the tallest mountain in the world, no legs be damned. Amazing.

Word for the Travel Wise (05/16/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

After traveling the states these last few weeks and with several more to head through I’m amazed at how many places have gone completely non-smoking. There are more places than one might expect like the Argosy Casino in Lawrenceberg, IN which has an all non-smoking area. I wish something like this could be put into effect all over, but I’m sure this would make for just as many unhappy campers as it would for the happy group. I’ve never been to Vietnam or much of anywhere in Asia, but it’s one of those places that leaves me with the feeling that smoking goes just about anywhere. I could be wrong and in the event you’re there looking for a clean, smoke-free, air zone this one is for you.

Today’s phrase is a Vietnamese phrase used in Vietnam:

cam hut thuoc – no smoking

To continue learning Vietnamese online start with phrase list found at the NY Public Library. This Wanna Learn / Geocities page has some free words and phrases listed. It was one of few I could find online for free though you won’t get far. Rosetta Stone offers audio and web courses for a fee and there’s always the opportunity to take a Vietnamese language class in Hanoi, Vietnam with CIEE. For those flying through the country for just a few short days pick up the phrasebook.

Past Vietnamese words: Xe Ðap, xinh xinh