Ai don'to supeeku Engurishu

[Bucky]

The letter "L" the bain of Japanese.

Japanese tourists overnight 'accidentally' in West Bank
Tel Aviv - Around 15 Japanese tourists involuntarily spent the night in an Israeli settlement in the West Bank because they were unable to pronounce the letter "L", the Israeli daily Maariv reported Monday. The tour group were on an excursion originally set to take them to Afula in northern Israel.

But when they were buying tickets at the main bus station in Jerusalem, they pronounced the letter "L" like the letter "R", and were accidentally given tickets for the Ofra settlement in the northern West Bank.

When they arrived later that evening at the high-security entrance to the settlement, the puzzled guard tried to explain that there was no "nearby hotel" in the crisis-torn region.

The tourists then had to stay in the settlement, which is a radical stronghold in the Palestinian territories.

After long explanations and a day later, they eventually took a bus to their original destination.

[kurohinge1]

[dimwit]

[Captain Japan]

Japanese tourists overnight 'accidentally' in West Bank
Earthtimes.org

Tel Aviv - Around 15 Japanese tourists involuntarily spent the night in an Israeli settlement in the West Bank because they were unable to pronounce the letter "L", the Israeli daily Maariv reported Monday. The tour group were on an excursion originally set to take them to Afula in northern Israel.

But when they were buying tickets at the main bus station in Jerusalem, they pronounced the letter "L" like the letter "R", and were accidentally given tickets for the Ofra settlement in the northern West Bank.

When they arrived later that evening at the high-security entrance to the settlement, the puzzled guard tried to explain that there was no "nearby hotel" in the crisis-torn region.

The tourists then had to stay in the settlement, which is a radical stronghold in the Palestinian territories.

After long explanations and a day later, they eventually took a bus to their original destination.

[james]

Do you have the source? The story sounds like bunk to me. Why would Japanese tourist want to go to Afula?

From Wikipedia


Unless they really like cauliflowers it doesn't seem much better than Ofra.

i call shenanigans. i would also say it's probably bunk for the simple reason that the japanese fricative is a good deal closer to the english l sound than an english r.

i suppose it's not completely impossible but it does have a fabricated or at least exaggerated feel to it. also, the ticketing agent at the bus depot or travel agency or wherever must have been a complete idiot.

[Greji]

Do you have the source? The story sounds like bunk to me. Why would Japanese tourist want to go to Afula?

Ahhhh man! Dimmer you're so out of touch with the action there in the countryside. Afula is the new in-spot for sex tours now that Thailand and Korea have cracked down. For a pound bag of large denomination yen notes, you get your pick of anything in a burka, a free meal at the local sushi shop and lodging in a Japanese styled hotel, complete with tour guide and follow-me flag. Everybody that's anybody has been to Afula.

[dimwit]

Gen Kanai mentions the original source as being Maariv, an Isreali tabloid who in all likelihood got it from somewhere else.

[Greji]

Gen Kanai mentions the original source as being Maariv, an Isreali tabloid who in all likelihood got it from somewhere else.

I would not even think about questioning it! Does it not sound like something that a group of Japanese tourists would do?

[dimwit]

I would not even think about questioning it! Does it not sound like something that a group of Japanese tourists would do?

Nope it doesn't. Japanese group tours would not go to an incredibly obscure place unless accompanied by a tour guide who had been bribed by the locals to take the group to the musuem of cauliflowers, or some such place. Since the guide would be taking his/her cut there is no way they would take the group to the wrong place.

BTW, I like Taro's response to the Earthtimes article.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/62404.html

[Greji]

Nope it doesn't. Japanese group tours would not go to an incredibly obscure place unless accompanied by a tour guide who had been bribed by the locals to take the group to the musuem of cauliflowers, or some such place. Since the guide would be taking his/her cut there is no way they would take the group to the wrong place.

Hehehe! That would be unless the guide was also slipped a little more incentative by the Hamas Chamber of Commerce of Ofra to bring them to the West Bank!

[Captain Japan]

In going through Google News in Japanese I couldn't find a mention. My vote: fake.

[Greji]

In going through Google News in Japanese I couldn't find a mention. My vote: fake.

Ahh, whadda ya expect Capt'n? Headlines with "Tourist crash in West Bank, No Japanese Injuries"!

[kurohinge1]

In going through Google News in Japanese I couldn't find a mention. My vote: fake.

It may have been a tour of those same Japanese that fell for Charles' poodle-sheep scam.

[American Oyaji]

well, its on quite a few english sites.

[Uhhuh35]

I seem to recall a similar story of an asian traveler here in the states some time ago. Because of pronunciation difficulties he ended up in "Dallas" instead of "Dulles".
Anyone else remember that?

[American Oyaji]

And then remember that Japanese girl that was looking for Fargo and died in the snow?

[Bucky]

[matsuki]

LOL, many years ago, friend of mine arrived in Los Angeles and wanted to go meet up with everyone in Venice. He had no phone on him and ended up getting a ride to us at midnight from the Van Nuys boung bus driver who took pity on him. Trip must have sucked for him when it came to language...whenever he tried to order anything in "Vanilla" flavored and get handed a "Banana" flavored item.