How Quickly Time Flies
I was in Malaysia for a few weeks a few years back to help our Malaysian colleagues finish up audits for not a few companies who wanted to get things done before the year ends. The big boss and second boss brought me with them so I was ecstatic. It was the first time for me to visit and I knew that I will be having fun regardless of the hectic schedules and crazy work hours. I always freak out when visiting new places and discovering things about a people's culture, economy, etc.
We got there at the end of November, but it wasn't as cold as I was expecting it to be. I looked at the signs and said to myself that I'm in a different country already. They used Roman letters so I thought that it would be easier to get accustomed to than say when I was in Thailand.
We had our own car service but sometimes we had to ride public transportation. It was easy to figure out.
Photo-#1
Being a foreigner in the place, I felt at ease knowing that I can grab a cab anytime and go back to the hotel where we were staying. The spelling was a little different, I understood what it meant, yet it made me smile.
Photo-#2
Reaching the hotel room, I found myself in familiar territory. It looked the same as any other hotel room where I have been to, including the complementary water. Examining the water bottle, my smile turned into a grin.
The brand name was HILO, which means dizzy in our native tongue. I thought to myself, "this is what one drinks when he or she is dizzy."
Photo-#3
One time, we were eating at a restaurant and I decided to have soya milk. I loved soya milk and wanted to sample the ones they had. My mischievous mind began to turn in my head when I read the printed letters.
Susu kacang soya is soybean milk, but somehow my mind keeps wandering and thinking about breasts. LOL.
Photo-#4
I began to really have convulsions in my head when I saw the next one. Of course, I tried to stay as calm as possible in front of the boss, but inside I was LMAO.
I knew that it was a different language but I still think in Tagalog, so in my mind it was like me talking to myself and thinking, "Why the heck would they be selling Poh kee?" I am now LMAFO and my smile was now grinning from ear to ear.
Photo-#5
The last photo I am sharing captured the essence of mischievous word-play that happens to me whenever I go to another place with a different culture and language.
And after having seen "Poh kee" being sold, it was only natural to get another one that says Thank You kiki, which blew my mind off. LOL.
And that, my friends, is how I keep myself entertained whenever I feel bored and alone in another country. I know, it's a little risqué and indecent. Sorry if you were offended. However, sometimes you think of things like this when you are homesick and far-away from your spouse. So, judge me fairly, please.
That's it for now. I hope you had fun and learned something from this blog post. I saw these photos in my old files and thought that it might be funny to share it with people who will understand.
Love and peace.
*i own all the photos in this blog post.