清凉油在埃及受追捧 成中国游客必备神器

 　　Tins of cooling mentholated ointment¹ have become a currency for Chinese traveling in Egypt.

　　一盒盒的薄荷清凉油已经成为中国人在埃及旅行的通行货币。

　　Visiting the complex of ancient temples at Karnak, Chinese tourist Mr. Ye lost his way among the stone chapels², pylons³ and pillars.

　　中国游客叶先生在参观卡纳克神庙时，在石头教堂、 塔门和石柱间迷路了。

　　An Egyptian guide gave him directions. To show his gratitude⁴, Mr. Ye handed him a small red tin the diameter of a large coin.

　　一位埃及导游给他指了路。为了表达谢意，叶先生送给了导游一个硬币大小的红色锡盒。

　　Inside was a cooling mentholated balm that has become a currency for Chinese traveling in Egypt. Mr. Ye brought 50 tins with him on his six-day tour to hand out as tips.

　　盒子里面便是提神醒脑、镇痛止痒的软膏——清凉油。清凉油已经成为中国游客在埃及旅行的"通行货币"。在短短6天的旅途里，叶先生准备了50盒清凉油，把它当小费送出去。

　　清凉油在埃及受追捧 成中国游客必备神器

　　"Before I came to Egypt, the tourism agency told me repeatedly to bring cooling balm as a gift to make the trip easier," said Mr. Ye, a 25-year-old whose family sells Chinese medicine online. Egyptians, he said, "are very nice to Chinese tourists, and they love this little gift."

　　25岁的叶先生家里就是在网上卖中药的。他表示，"自己在来埃及之前，旅行社反复告诉他，为旅途方便一定要带上清凉油做礼物" 。他说，"埃及的小伙伴对中国游客非常友好，而且他们很喜欢这样的小礼物。"

　　From the Giza Pyramids to the Red Sea, Chinese tourists pass out tins of mentholated ointment, rather than tipping with cash to many they encounter, from hotel staffers and trinket peddlers to customs officers and police with AK-47s.

　　从吉萨金字塔群到红海，中国游客用清凉油替代小费送给沿途遇到的许多人，包括酒店工作人员、卖小饰品的摊贩、海关官员和拿着AK-47步枪的警察。

　　Egyptians sometimes demand the balm by running a thumb across their foreheads.

　　埃及人有时会以拇指划过额头的动作来索要清凉油。

　　Li Xiaodong, an Egyptologist at China's Northeast Normal University, believes Chinese travelers initially⁵ brought cooling balm for personal use because it's very hot in Egypt, then discovered Egyptians liked it.

　　东北师范大学埃及学家李晓东认为，因为埃及非常热，中国游客一开始把清凉油带到埃及是想自己用，后来发现埃及人也喜欢清凉油。

　　Some Chinese tourists said giving gifts feels better than handing over money.

　　一些中国游客表示，送礼物比给钱体面。

　　"If you give essential balm, it's more like you're giving it to friends," said one Chinese tourist.

　　一名中国游客称："送清凉油，更像是送礼物给朋友。"

1 ointment   

n.药膏，油膏，软膏

参考例句：

• Your foot will feel better after the application of this ointment.敷用这药膏后，你的脚会感到舒服些。
• This herbal ointment will help to close up your wound quickly.这种中草药膏会帮助你的伤口很快愈合。

2 chapels   

n.小教堂， （医院、监狱等的）附属礼拜堂( chapel的名词复数 )；（在小教堂和附属礼拜堂举行的）礼拜仪式

参考例句：

• Both castles had their own chapels too, which was incredible to see. 两个城堡都有自己的礼拜堂，非常华美。 来自互联网
• It has an ambulatory and seven chapels. 它有一条走廊和七个小教堂。 来自互联网

3 pylons   

n.（架高压输电线的）电缆塔( pylon的名词复数 )；挂架

参考例句：

• A-form pylons are designed to withstand earthquake forces. A型框架式塔架设计中考虑塔架能够经受地震力的作用。 来自辞典例句
• Who designed the arch bridge with granite-faced pylons at either end? 谁设计在拱桥两端镶有花岗岩的塔门？ 来自互联网

4 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

5 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。