IDIOT AWARD: Two Japanese Tourists Stray Into Bethlehem War Zone

Japan Today ^ | 19 April 2002 | Reuters News Service

[AmericanInTokyo]

Friday, April 19, 2002 at 09:30 JST

BETHLEHEM, West Bank —

Two Japanese tourists, eager to visit Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, were so engrossed in their guide book Thursday they did not notice they had wandered into a war zone.

It was only when news photographers in flak jackets and helmets spotted the oblivious couple and pointed out the bullet-pocked buildings and military hardware around them that they decided to call off their trip to the Christian shrine.

"We have been on the road for the last six months and we did not watch television or read the newspapers," a bemused Yuji Nakano told one photographer, who told him the church was the center of an Israeli siege of Palestinian gunmen.

Nakano said he and his girlfriend had been dropped off by a taxi at a checkpoint near Bethlehem and had made their way along streets torn up by armored vehicles.

In the past, tourists have flocked to the church, which Christians believe is sited on the spot where Jesus was born.

Apart from souvenir vendors, Palestinians normally pay little attention to the visitors, but Wednesday, local women and children simply gazed at the two in stark disbelief. (Reuters News)

[AmericanInTokyo]

Words escape me.

[linn37]

honey I'm sure I parked the car on this street,maybe this man with gun can help us............

[mattdono]

File this under "Dumb as Tom Dasshole"

[Palladin]

Maybe they were looking for the sushi bar.

[hellinahandcart]

As my grandmother would say, "If it was raining soup, these two would be standing outside with forks"...

[Stefan Stackhouse]

Was that the guidebook from "The Accidental Tourist" by any chance?

[RichInOC]

Did they get good pictures?

[Revolting cat!]

What?! The Japanese taking over from Americans as dumb tourists? We can't allow that! Oh wait, not to worry. This from the morning's San Francisco Chronicle:

"Eight Americans, most from the Bay Area, who tried to reach the Palestinian territories this week to act as "human shields" were turned away at the Tel Aviv airport by Israeli officials, relatives and friends said yesterday"

At least the Japanese had a valid excuse!

[SGCOS]

Hory mackrer. Look at all the burrets.

[Grut]

And to think that their grandfathers conquered, er, Guam....

[Corin Stormhands]

"We have been on the road for the last six months and we did not watch television or read the newspapers,"

So, they started their trip after 9/11 and didn't think it was important to keep up with the news?

[AmericanInTokyo]

On second thought, maybe they thought nothing of their surroundings in Bethlehem. Their previous overseas trip might have been to the States and their tour bus went through parts of south central LA, or Brooklyn or Bronx, on the way to their hotel....

[Atticus]

Related story (sort of): Tokyo Woman Found Dead in Minnesota was Looking for Fargo Loot

[lelio]

I think I was behind this couple on the highway yesterday

[InkStone]

This is an extreme case, but we’ve all see similar things. How about those times someone is followed home from a big bingo win, or followed home from the bank after making a huge cash withdrawal? Lots of people are totally oblivious at all times. They survive through sheer luck.

[StriperSniper]

were so engrossed in their guide book Thursday they did not notice they had wandered into a war zone.

Reminds me of the ones wandering around Wall St. everyday.

[Fedupwithit]

"Eight Americans, most from the Bay Area, who tried to reach the Palestinian territories this week to act as "human shields" were turned away at the Tel Aviv airport by Israeli officials, relatives and friends said yesterday"

Too bad they didn't allow them into the country..now WE have to take them back.

I have no doubt that they would have lasted for about 2 point 2 seconds as "human shields"