Getting through the 3rd post- the meaning of '3'

The Chinese have this saying 'san fen zhong re du'- roughly translated as 'heat only lasting 3 minutes'. It actually means a person's enthusiasm only lasts three minutes. That is why you see me back here again- so fast!

I dread not being able to go past the 3rd entry! The Chinese somehow associate the number with certain discontinuation. Other than the length of a person's enthusiasm, they also believe that wealth cannot last more than 3 generations!

Superstitions- numbers and travels

So the ''angmohs'' (red hair) or ''kwei los'' (ghosts) [actually all referring to Caucasians :D] do not like number 13 ?

The Asians, especially the chinese have lots of supersitions regarding numbers. This is an interesting part of Chinese culture, and the Thais will tell you that they have other similar supersitions in their cultures.

Know your 3s from your 4s!
3 is associated with lots of things! Pronounced as as 'Sam' in Cantonese, it sounds like 'sang'-meaning alive. 3 is a lucky number, especially when you need to travel.

If you see '4's before you travel, that is a bad omen. Four is pronounced as 'sei' - sounds very much like 'sei'-meaning dead in cantonese or 'si' in mandarin, which also sounds dead.

So 3- means you will live on, 4 you will be dead.

If you are on a plane, and enjoying seat number 45, the old Chinese lady next to you will be very grateful to you if you would change your seat with her. From 44, which sounds like 'sure die', she is now in 'sei ng'(45)- meaning 'cannot die'.

If you are a hotel receptionist an chance upon a rude Chinese, just assign him room 44 on the 4th floor. He will either request a change of room or will not sleep well!

The other impt travel number: 7 7 is the other very important travel number to Chinese. While I am ok with all the 3s and 4s, 7 is a number I will take note of 7. I will make sure that I will not be tempted to get the airline offer around August. You were thinking that hotels in Asia are cheap during this time because it is post-summer and it is a great bargain ??? Ha... . ha... SHOOO.... get out of here. Stop reading! If you read on you will not have any more cheap holidays in August!