If you’re looking for information about the Slovenian city of Maribor (or Mariboro), you’ve come to the wrong place!
Today’s WTF travel photo is about an unfortunate spelling of a company name that makes “cancer sticks” (that’s Australian Slang for Cigarettes) for a living that ends up causing those who use them to become rather dead.
I received it from Brett Minor, who’s been living in Beijing, China for the last few years. Check out his blog at The Transformed Nonconformist (love the name!).
He’s sent me a tonne of Chinglish gold such as:
- Fists of Steel
- Translation Fails
- Acne Studios
- Grim Casserole
- The Funny Dental Hospital sign
- How To Do The Laundry Instructions
- Bad Beauty Salon Spelling
- The Don’t Forget Me Jacket
- Urine Problems that really take the piss
- The dubious Recycling Bin, and
- Abibas…
Now before you accuse me of adversely promoting such a company, I’d be the last person in the world to take up smoking for obvious reasons – as I’m a long term cancer survivor.
I just thought this was funny as I love how when things that don’t translate very well into English cause a Translation Fail!
Anyway here it is!
The Mariboro Hat!
Don’t worry, I’m sure the proceeds from the sale of these Mariboro hats aren’t going to a tobacco company.
That’s because it’s probably a knock off product that some stall trader is flogging off in some Beijing street to to make a living, and they’re looking at any means to do it!
And the thing is, with China having some of the highest smoking rates in the world (not sure if you’re able to distinguish the cigarette smoke from the rest of the atmosphere), I’m sure there are a few fans of this hat.
But they won’t be in a couple of decades time when their habit comes back to bite them on the arse!
Anyway, I’m going to have the last word (and laugh) here!
So sad, so true. As Yul Brynner said – ‘whatever you do, just don’t smoke’.
Anyway, for more silly smoking stuff, check out the funny smoking area sign, the odd stop smoking sign, Green Grass in Nimbin and the Cannabis Starter Kit from Amsterdam.
Thank you for the shout out. Much appreciated.
I took this picture in the coastal city of Qingdao. It was along the boardwalk in a tourist trap with tons of little shops. These hats weren’t even geared toward Chinese people. It was to be sold to the foreign tourists who would know better.
Ha ha! Thanks Brett. There’s a lot more of your stuff coming! Thanks for letting me use your great pics!