Photo Friday: Silly Signs Around The World

With very little travel content to write lately, I’ve been going through my Asia posts, some of the earliest blog posts I wrote on this site, to update them and make them a little more useful, entertaining and just generally upgrading them with more photos (apparently I used to think 10 photos was enough to cover a whole destination).

So, naturally, I’ve been going through all my photos from that trip.

And then I remembered an idea I had for a silly photo post.

You see, one thing I *always* take photos of, no matter where I am, is silly signs. Whether they’re lost in translation or genuinely stupid and funny, I WILL LAUGH and then promptly get my camera out.

On my mission to find as many of these photos as possible… well, I found a lot. Here is my collection of pictures of silly signs from Asia and beyond!

A WHAT specialist? This was in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Come and get an eye test in Siem Reap, Cambodia, and you could end up looking like an 11-year-old Harry Potter! Yay!

An interesting selection of pictures for this sign at Wat Pho, Bangkok.

Maturity level: zero.

Erm, the what tower?!

There is actually a really good story behind this one in Bangkok – the restaurant, Cabbages & Condoms, raises awareness in poor communities and provides contraception. The Captain Condom Bar is part of the restaurant, but it’s still a great sign!

This is actually the travel card in Bangkok!

A diving company on Koh Tao using great marketing.

What was I saying about my maturity…?

Oh come on now. This is of course on Koh Phi Phi (and the viewpoint, despite having a silly name – I mean they COULD have just called it Phi Phi viewpoint, but noooo! – is SPECTACULAR).

What does this even mean?!

Well damn.

I had been really hoping to put my skateboarding-over-a-bicycle skills to good use in Singapore, but my hopes were dashed by this sign.

Go from crying in frustration to crying with happiness with our English lessons! Crying guaranteed.

“Fisshy objects.”

So which one is it?

Mmmm, just what I always wanted! (I would have tried it but couldn’t find it actually for sale…)

This sign was in our room in our hostel in Nha Trang, Vietnam. Obviously had to take a photo.

I LOVE drilled pork & ribs! They also served orange juice with milk. What is that about?!

Technically not a sign – this is a book!

Ohhh but that’s part of my daily hair care routine! Always spoiling the fun, Thailand.

So… I could understand the warning – but the PICTURE?!

Anyway, not all silly signs are in Asia, of course. Here are loads more from around the world!

An obvious way to promote the dangers of trams, right? Well, in Melbourne of course it is.

There are a lot of Batman-themed places in Australia – we saw a few but I think this was the only photo op we had!

An unusual address and house sign on the Isle Of Man.

Getting cultural in Malmo, Sweden.

There are some GREAT place names on the Isle Of Man, but I think this might just be my favourite!

Another silly sign on the Isle Of Man – these seem to be popping up all over the place now, but back then this was the only one I’d seen, haha!

I was left very confused by this sign in Tirana, Albania. Apart from what it says… why is it in English?!

Even during the pandemic, I’ve been catching silly signs. This is in Tobermory on the Isle Of Mull, Scotland!

Outside some toilets in Seattle. “COME BACK WITH MY BABY!!!!”

Possibly my favourite hotel sign ever. Just outside Moab, by Arches National Park.

What is this guy even doing?! Sign is at St Naum monastery in North Macedonia.

Yes, I even take photos of random stupid signs in cars! I’m sure that doesn’t look safe. Or is that what they’re saying? I’m confused.

Uh oh. New Zealand, we have a problem.

I mean… I don’t know what this means. But I found it funny anyway! Copenhagen, Denmark.

What is with this sign in Gibraltar?! In one picture, the ape looks terrifying and a bit Bigfoot-esque, and the other looks like it’s been drawn by a 7-year-old in MS Paint.

Hahahahaha. A great sign in a saloon bar somewhere in Texas!

I’m afraid to say that despite the “silence and respect” sign, I let out a muffled but still disrespectful laugh at how happy this guy looks about falling over. This is from (just to make myself sound even worse) Arlington Cemetery near DC, and I believe it was by the eternal flame for JFK.

I mean, the sign says it all. This is at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, Australia. I would like to note that Mr Cocky is not a koala. He is of course some sort of parrot.

Honestly pretty sure this is the best street name. Ever. (York, England)

This interesting sign, from memory, was also from York! I think it was at a takeaway stall by the markets near the Shambles. Made us laugh, which I’m sure was the point!

Ah yes. I thought there would be more A boards featured in this post. I’m sure more will materialise.

I’m pretty sure we already stopped just to get a photo with the Pinnaroo sign. The slogan just makes it better! Australia, obviously. (Where else?)

And one more fantastic one from Australia. Totally behind the message, of course.

*Possibly* my favourite road sign in Scotland?! Ooh I don’t know, because then we have…

And it seems fitting to end this post with a photo of possibly one of the more famous silly road signs in the world – Twatt in Orkney! The standalone Twatt sign has long been removed as it was constantly stolen, and I’m not sure if this one is still there either – but there is still one photo opportunity for this lurking around!

Are you as obsessed with silly signs as me?! I wish you could post photos in the comments as I’d love to see some of yours!