Month: April 2015

Literal Chinese Translations of Country Names

The literal Chinese translations for everything. Pleased to see Ireland is ‘Love your orchid’. They should be very happy with that.

 

Have you ever wondered what your country’s name looks like in Chinese and what its meaning is? The literal Chinese translations of country names often results in some funny interpretations. Many of the Hanzi writings of foreign countries are supposed to reflect a nice meaning and also be phonetically similar (transliteration) to the original. However when translated from one language to Chinese and then to English, the meaning may be lost in translation and changed to something completely different. I tried to choose some of the most interesting literal translations, but as with all translations there is a multitude of meanings and understandings, hence results may vary from translation to translation.

So, to be clear, these are not “literal translation of the Chinese names”, rather they are literally translations of characters used phonetically.
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YO! Map

Having been to a few sites. I’ve seen  lists of travellers who’ve been to countries, so I decided to do my own.

I’ve called it a YO! map, that being the feeling it gives me.

The red places are places I’ve visited and blogged. The blue places I’ve just visited,  take my word for it!

If you want to add your own place and picture, go right ahead!

54 Countries I’ve visited.

Video of last moments Germanwings flight 4U9525 discovered

Posted on March 31, 2015 by

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Germany’s Bild News is reporting a cell phone “SIM card” (Micro SD, Memory card) has been recovered from the wreckage of Germanwings flight 9525. According to reporting by the German media outlet there is video on the SIM card showing what was taking place in the cabin prior to, and up to the moment of, the crash.

Bild is reporting the video appears to be taken from the rear of the passenger compartment, possibly by a cell phone, and shows absolute panic as the passengers on board were aware of the crisis. Passengers are reported to be crying out to God in numerous languages and shouting throughout the video.

There are three distinct sounds which accompany the video – appearing to be attempts by the pilot and others to break down the cockpit door. Massive panic and confusion is visible amid the passengers, then the sound of metal scraping – then the video stops.
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