People communicate by signs. The sign boards are usually displaying either commercial advertising or communal restrictions and warnings, the latter category often religiously related. Having spent the past 3 years mainly in countries with a major Islamic influence we have often seen signs like the one below. We usually do not choose this kind of establishments if there is a choice, like on the second photo. That sign almost made us drop the hook immediately (you may have to click on the photo to read the sign).
Recently we climbed Sigiraiya, the Lion Rock, in Sri Lanka (see report) and there was a sign displaying a ban on entering with liquor which, I suppose, referred to all alcohol (below). A cold beer would have been very welcome after the 1,200 steps to reach the top, but the only sign we could find up there was a warning that “going down is dangerous” (second one below). Well, be as it may, staying on the top without beer wasn’t an option either, so we quickly ascended the rock, almost seing mirages of ice cold beer on the horizon. Imagine our disappointment when, after finding a five star restaurant, they told us that it was impossible to buy beer anywhere that day in Sri Lanka – because of Full Moon Day! And this isn’t even a Muslim country and this time there was no warning sign.
Corruption among persons in authority at the port of Galle is rumoured to be rampant and we had some experiences ourselves. There is a warning sign posted at the gate, informing that asking for and offering bribes are criminal offences (below). It must have been a politician who had that sign installed. Politicians usually come up with ideas which have no relevance in resolving problems they address, but give them a chance to claim that they have done something. The second photo below displays what a Lankan tuk tuk-driver thinks about politicians.
Some signs are completely useless. Or what do you think about the advice on how to react if attacked by wasps (below). An equally stupid sign is the (presumably) restricted parking. But maybe the restriction doesn’t apply to foreigners.
Sometimes the warning signs are addressed to a particularly broad public. I bet the monkeys crossing the road at this particular spot in Malaysia are extremely grateful for being warned about vehicles.
