What was that again?

Sept 23, 2007 - Hong Kong (on a tour to Lantau island)

Tour guide [with chinese accent] : Welcome to Kong Kong! {I thought it was Hong Kong?}

Tourist#1: Is that how you pronounce Hong Kong in Chinese?

Tour guide: Yes, Kong Kong.

Tourist#1: Kong Kong?

Tour guide: Kong Kong.

Tourist#1: Shrugs shoulders and gives puzzled look.

Tourist#2: {Speaking out to give correct pronunciation} It is actually pronounced "Heong Kong" {Hey, he's chinese too}

Tour guide: Do you know that Kong Kong {still can't get it right} got its name because it was famous for good smelling cheese?

Moi: WHAT!? Did he say cheese? I didn't know that?

Tour guide: Yes, they bring the cheese and cut it here and they would put it in the ships to send it all over the world.

Tourist#1: What is this cheese?

Tour guide: Ahhh, errr... I don't know the name in english but in chinese it is *says-something-I-can-make-out*

Tourist#2: SANDALWOOD!!

Moi: OMG!!!!! TREES!!!

Pardon me?

Dec 24, 2005 - Mumbai, India - Outlet in Hyatt Hotel

Moi: I would like to get a pashmina shawl.
Shop-fella: Very good sir! {heavy indian accent}

Moi: What is this made of? {moi pretending not to know}
Shop-fella: It is made from the feathers of a burt {this is what i heard}

Moi: Feathers of a bird? {looking surprised from the revelation}
Shop-fella: Yes sir, it is taken from the feathers of a burt.

Moi: But a friend of mine said it was from the hair of a type of goat?
Shop-fella: No sir, from a burt.

Moi: And its made from the fea..the..rs? {speaking slowly to made sure}
Shop-fella: That is correct sir.

Moi: Ok... how much.... {etc, etc bargaining and I bought it. The shawl i mean, not the story}

Back home :-

Moi: Guess what! Pashmina is not from a goat but from the feathers of a bird!
Friend: Nooooo!!! Its from a goat!

Moi: But this was told to me by the guy in India who imports this stuff. He should know better right? <------ Wrong!!!

.... short debate that ended with Google search and facts presented.

Conclusion:

• Shop fella mistook fur/fleece and said feather. Honest mistake probably.
• I think he actually pronounced "goat" as "gert". Remember this was said in heavy indian accent.
• There never was any "burt" (bird).