Same Same, But Different

Seemingly ungramatical and certainly nonsensical, anyone who has been to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam or Cambodia and been outside 5 star hotels will have heard this expression about 741 times.

Let me give you an example of its usage:

You go into your friendly local travel agency and want to book the mammoth 24 hour bus ride from Vientiane to Hanoi.
It being rather a long ride, you are concerned with the state of the bus, if the seats recline, if there is air con etc. Therefore you ask to see a picture of the bus. The travel agent is naturally prepared for this request and is willing to show you one. So he reaches into the depths of his desk and flourishes a glossy A5 photo of the bus.
Not being born yesterday you ask if this is the same bus you will be riding in.

Mr. Travel Agent beams at you and says "Yes, Same Same, But Different".

The first time you hear this, the "Same, Same" part naturally reassures you. The "But Different" part may throw you a bit, but being a trusting European you think that maybe the paintwork is different or that the tyres have since been changed...

Hah. That'll teach you.

"Same Same" refers to the fact that the transport you are actually getting also has:
* Seats
* 4 wheels
* A roof

The "But Different" is all the rest.

So you are shown a picture of a luxury 40 seater airconned coach with TV, a toilet and hot and cold running cabin attendants and what you actually get is a battered old minibus with a desk fan stuck to the window and 16 rucksacks stuck on your lap...