Here are a few pictures of strange and interesting signs that haven't really fit in any other entry.
An election poster, Lima, Peru (September 25, 2010):
Forgive my cynicism, but I somehow doubt that President Obama actually endorsed Dr. Davila.
A barbershop, Sydney, Australia (August 26, 2010)
This sign will be amusing to the small percentage of our readers who read Japanese. Indeed, when I stopped to take this shot during our tour of downtown Sydney, Pallavi and the guide both looked at me funny.
The name of the shop is a pun: "Watakushi no heya" means "My Room" in Japanese. Phonetically, heya sounds similar to "hair."
OK, yeah, if you have to explain the joke, it's not funny.
Naming New Zealand Rivers, outside Queenstown, New Zealand (November 4, 2010)
A sign providing the legend of how the Roaring Meg stream was named:
To European settlers the Roaring Meg was first known as the Kirtle Burn; several legends suggest how it became the Roaring Meg. One says that it was named after Maggie Brennan, a turbulent and voluble, red-haired barmaid from the nearby Kirtleburn Hotel.
Roaring Meg is certainly an apt description of the waterway when it's in flood, borne out by another version of the name's origins. This involved an early party of diggers who were accompanying two lades from a dancing saloon. At the first stream the party came to, the diggers, gentleman all, carried the ladies across. One of whom made such a fuss that they named the stream after her; Roaring Meg. In contrast, her female companion was perfectly calm and silent, so the diggers named the next stream they came to -- smaller and quieter -- Gentle Annie.
Jewelry Advertisement, Hong Kong, China (December 29, 2010)
OK, a bit juvenile, but I suspect that they will change the name before this debuts in New York. (Or maybe they won't: "Take that, every Kiss Begins with Kaye!")
Sign at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand (February 23, 2010)
Backpackers, beware! "In the interest of preserving a sophisticated atmosphere, we would ask for your understanding to refrain from wearing the following after 6:30 pm." Forbidden items are backpacks, sleeveless shirts, shorts and flip flops.
To be fair, this is one of the most elegant places we've visited during our trip.
The brass sign might as well say 'NO HIPPIES' with an old man standing next to it and shaking fist.
Heck I might do that.