The days in Auckland was full of fun and excitement. I met up with people from the United States, Vietnam, Malaysia, India and the locals. We gathered together and had a day trip to the Upper Nihotupu Dam. This is one of the five reservoirs in the Waitākere Ranges that supply water in Auckland. We also walked along the soft sand beaches to have a view of the beautiful late afternoon scenery to end the day. A few of us had another day of cooking in one of the members’ house. Besides, I went alone to tour around the city, parks, habour and visited the Auckland Museum. The entrance to the museum is free but there is a mandatory 5 dollar donation we have to pay. From Auckland, I took the morning train to capital city of New Zealand, Wellington.
Author Archives: The Traveller
Phi Phi Island
Taichung 台中
Hualien 花蓮
Yilan 宜蘭
Taipei 台北
I have visited many places in Taipei. Here are some of them : National Palace Museum National 國立故宮博物院 / Maokong Gondola 貓空纜車
Jiufen (九份)
Ximending 西門町 / LongShen Temple (龍山寺)
Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall 國父紀念館 / Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall (中正纪念堂)
Danshui (淡水)
The Bridge of Anguished English
We do see signs almost everywhere. Here are some interesting signs Lederer has found during his travel, taken from his book “The Bridge of Anguished English”.
- In a Winston-Salem, North Carolina restaurant – Shoes are required to eat inside.
- Outside a Cardiff, California restaurant – Help keep the birds healthy. Don’t feed them restaurant food.
- In a Brooklyn barbershop window – During construction we will shave you in the rear.
- On a newspaper rack in Melville, New York – Please pay for newspapers before being taken.
- Outside a Grand Rapids furniture store – We promise you the lowest prices and workmanship.
- Sign outside Phoenix racecourse – Live Horse Racing Today.
- Outside a Van Nuys, California gift shop – Live Artificial Trees.
- In a Detroit restaurant – Toilet out of order. Please use the floor below.
- In a Bar Harbor, Maine, restaurant – Open seven days a week and weekends.
- In an Orlando Safari park – Elephants Please Stay in Your Car.
- On the wall of a Vancouver cleaning service – Able to do the worst possible job.
- Attached to a chair in a Toronto hardware store – Are your bottoms sagging? We provide a caning service.
- In a British Laundromat – Automatic washing machines. Please remove all your clothes when the light goes out.
- On many WCs in London – Ladies, Gentlemen & Disabled Toilets.
- Outside a secondhand shop in Bath – We exchange anything – bicycles, washing machines, etc. Why not bring your wife along and get a wonderful bargain.
- In a health food shop window – Closed due to illness.
- In a dry cleaner’s window – Anyone leaving their garments here for more than 30 days will be disposed of.
- In a London dance hall – Smarts is the most exclusive disco in town, Everyone welcome.
- On the fence of a rural farm – The farmer allows walkers to cross the field for free, but the bull charges.
- In a Manchester shop – Customers should note that any complaints of incivility on the part of our staff will be severely deal with.
- A sign in Cairo, Egypt, advertises a donkey ride for tourists – Would you like to ride on your own ass?
Finally, here is a is a response to inquiries for accommodations abroad- Dear Madam, I am honorable to accept your impossible request. Unhappy it is I have not bedroom with bath. A bathroom with bed I have. I can though give you a washing, with pleasure, in a most clean spring with on one to see. I insist that you will like this.
Source : “The Bridge of Anguished English” by Richard Lederer. Published by St. Mattin’s Press. N.Y. USA.
Hainan 海南
Tianjin 天津
This is only 30 minutes train ride from Beijing to Tainjin but I decided to take the coach instead. Normally the travelling time for the coach is about 2 hours but on that day, due to an accident on the highway, I took 5 hours to reach Tainjin.
I only stayed in Tainjin for about 4 hours wondering around the shopping area, riverside and train station. Maybe I should visit Tainjin again on my next trip to Beijing and this time I will stay there for at least 2 days.