Word for the Travel Wise (01/19/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

If for some reason you fancy a good show of elephant polo and can’t begin to find the words to describe how ecstatic you are at the chance of seeing the sport live keep reading. Like any animal lover in the beginning you were filled with skepticism, wondering how well the fun-loving creatures would be treated behind closed doors and even while participating in the sport, but after learning that they are looked after to the fullest measure you calm down. Sri Lanka’s International Elephant Polo Tournament kicks off Tuesday, January 24, 2006 in the southern historic city of Galle and knowing the event is used to raise awareness and funds for elephant conservation makes a trip to the tear-dropped shaped country all the better.

Today’s word is a Sinhala word used in Sri Lanka:

hari shook – wonderful, terrific, or fine

This word can be used to describe your feelings at any time in the country and not only at games of elephant polo. Use it when someone inquires about your meal, hotel stay, trek, or day at the beach. Tell them how ‘hari shook’ you think Sri Lanka is and how you wish to stay forever. Just remember to keep the dramatics to a minimal. English is spoken by ten percent of the population and Sinhala is the official and national language of the country. I’ve actually never tried to learn this one much, but judging from the alphabet it looks like a challenge. Omniglot has a great starter page on learning all the characters and use of this English to Sinhala dictionary could slowly help in distinguishing common travel words. Let’s Speak Sinhala offers lessons at a very small and reasonable fee. They appear to be one of the better Sinhala language learning websites.

Word for the Travel Wise (01/18/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Ho Chi Minh city is a bustling place. Bus drivers lay down on blaring loud horns as bikers whiz by on two wheels, motorcycles speed off around corners and pedestrians stay clear while navigating their way through a tangled web of city and private traffic madness. Your options of getting around Vietnam are many and in a place so alive and in constant motion the best way to feel the city beats or even country back roads is by bicycle. How do I know this? I don’t know for a fact. I could be completely wrong. But I’ve read stories about biking through the country and the many joys it can offer the traveler looking to take things at a slower more relaxed pace, even if the rest of the city is going full speed ahead.

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

Xe Ðap – (sur-raap) bicycle

The pronunciation might be a little off, but the way I understood and repeated the word back to a Vietnamese speaker earned high praise. Use it as a guide, but do not hold me accountable for the giggles it may cause combined with your accent, whatever accent you may have. Vietnam is a vibrant place so knowing even a few basic words could be rewarding. 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.

Word for the Travel Wise (01/12/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

As the end of the month draws near one must keep in mind the year is still young, full of chances, new beginnings, and fresh starts no matter how fast time seems to fly. (I’m in total disbelief that it is already the 12th.) To keep it short and sweet, first of the year festivities are far from being over and with Chinese new year right around the bend time has come to brush up on our Mandarin. The year being celebrated is that of the Dog. Based off of the Chinese lunar calendar it is also the year 4704 and will be observed January 29, 2006 in China and multiple cities around the globe.

Today’s phrase is a Mandarin phrase from China:

zhu ni hao yun – good luck

So this is the first real mouthful of words I’ve given, but they should be fairly easy to say. Luck, prosperity, good health and happiness as we know all make good wishes for any new year, but feel free to tell your friends and family at any time and any place.

Mandarin is the most widely spoken of the Chinese language and can be a bit difficult to learn, but there are many sites online that can help get you started. The best will probably cost a small amount of money and the links are many so for sources pointing to additional sources check out About and Mandarin Tools. Mandarin tools is good if you’d like to add pinyin tools and other Chinese text files to your computer. Zap Chinese is free and has small dictionaries of common words with audio. Mei Wah is an awesome and funny site on becoming more aware as an eater and learning Chinese by way of menus and restaurant signs.

Word for the Travel Wise (01/11/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Long ago when I moved to Hawai’i as a teenager in the middle of my junior year of high school I was utterly culture shocked. Didn’t take long to get used to and I embraced the differences, but I wasn’t expecting it to feel so much Asia. My high school’s demographic was pretty much split between students of Japanese origin and Filipino. The breakfast served in the morning always had rice, egg, sausage and ketchup. Everyone wore flip-flops all the time, including the teachers. The one thing I found very cool was the Japanese and Hawai’ian language courses. My previous high school on the mainland didn’t offer either and I had already taken two years of Latin with Mr. Seamen, a funny man who always found ways to help the class (heavy with football players) pass their exams. Anyhow, after enrolling in Japanese I, I learned it was no easy task. I retreated just as quickly as I had enrolled. It would have been the demise of my GPA.

Today’s word is a Japanese word used in Japan:

hajimemashite – nice to meet you

Seems like a mouth full, but this is one of the easier ones. Spoken Japanese comes smoothly for those who practice or submit themselves to hours of Japanese pop music, but either way one can learn this language in through several avenues. Japanese Online is a VERY good FREE site to start learning. They have audio and a great conversation lessons. The lessons get more in-depth as you become a registered user which is still free of charge. Those on the road already may want to pick up the LP Japanese phrasebook or check into a school for a weeks of learning. Study Abroad has a list of school located all over the country. If you’re seeking help with written Japanese best of luck to you!

Word for the Travel Wise (01/06/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Don’t you think time has come for us to travel to Southeast Asia? I know I’ve told my story time and time again. You know the one where I had my bags all packed to go and three days before my flight in the tsunami’s worked a most wicked set of waves upon the coasts of several countries. Long story short, my flight along with my travel plans were re-routed to Costa Rica, devastation climbed to an unforgettable high, and while I was praying for others, counting my own blessings and placing Thailand back on the list of future destinations to visit my mind couldn’t help drifting towards the east. As my travel buddy and I sat on the ‘playa’ of Manuel Antonio, C.R. we kept imagining what the beaches we had long planned to frolic on in Krabi, Phuket, and Ko Samui would be like.

Today’s word is a Thai word:

hàat sai – beach

Several news reports state the current condition of Thailand post-tsunami as being ready and able to accommodate tourists in the same manner before hand. People are encouraged to visit for the opportunity at one of the most memorable and rewarding travel experiences of a lifetime and also to help restore the decline in tourism. Do your research, start by learning a few words and phrases. We’ve covered beach or ‘hàat sai’ today, which I’m sure you’ll enjoy during your stay.

Learning Thai dot com is a great starting point for some basic Thai words and referrals to additional resources. For a brief history of the language, Thai alphabet, and pronunciation guide go to Omniglot. (A pretty clean and simple site with good details.) Another good source would be the Pimsleur language audio CD’s. I used these to prepare for my trip and they worked great! Before making the purchase look into your local library. There are several libraries carrying these audio CD’s and many more.