Ben in Tokyo
Here's a video that's been linked on my LiveJournal for quite some time and with the integration of YouTube, I figured it would be nice to migrate it over to Comet.
Enjoy this video of Ben trying to tell our taxi driver in Tokyo how to get back to our hotel.
Note, in Tokyo there is no real easy way to give someone an address. There aren't addresses as we know them in the United States. Instead, you've got to sort of give landmarks, streets and directions. Enjoy.
Comments
Fun stuff!
Oh man, Ben looks scared. It's like you guys are in an episode of the Amazing Race.
Still so funny! I never managed to get a translation of what the taxi driver is saying!
So I take it that if there's no real addresses there, then they must never use GPS in taxis, right?
this is funny..here's a case where the guy would "talk till he is blue in the face" and would never get one word from Ben. at least he didn't try to talk LOUDER thinking you may understand him then.. people did that with me when I first came to the US and didn't get what they were saying.
Did someone ever translated what the driver was saying? Well, here goes:
> Tameike, this way. Are you going here? Tell me where you are going. Where are you going. Where are you coming back.
>> ern...
> signs, where? this place?
>> (Mena was saying something)
> destination. Let's see... What is this saying...
> Roppongi crossing... in front of... Shibuya... Almond...
Roa Bldg... We go this way, and we are going this place.
> This place, isn't it? The destination. Don't understand? ha ha ha...
> Er, how can I say, Anata(You) Doko(Where) Ikuno(Going)?
> You wanna go this way (moving his finger)? This place, no?
> This place? You must be going this place.
> You don't even understand where you are going? No?
> Just let me take a look at it (pick the card again).
The funniest part is that he tried to ask where Ben and Mena were going in English and his mouth precisely pronounced it in Japanese. So funny.
Next time you guys may want to find a black taxi with "N" on the roof[1]. These cars are highly graded and most drivers are well trained (but don't expect English). And don't pick up the yellow ones[2] although they come from the same company.
[1] http://www.nihon-kotsu.co.jp/taxi/lineup/kurotaku.html
[2] http://www.nihon-kotsu.co.jp/taxi/lineup/yonsha.html
Thanks for the translation !
Smiling! :))