Posted by Kanga
I couldn’t pass up taking a picture of the Bride of Nomadism Furniture store, where you can get furniture with definite panache.
Shark Meat Trading where, apparently, you can get everything other than shark meat.
Archive for the ‘signs’ Category
Satwa Signs
April 2, 2010KL Signs Two
February 2, 2010
So, some ask if it was safe in KL. There are warnings about purse snatchers and pickpockets, but we did not see or experience any theft. DaddyBird walked through the neighborhood late at night and felt safe. 
I was concentrating on taking this picture and DaddyBird was wondering where I had wondered off to. I didn’t see him in the photo until later.
Apparently, Dubai is everywhere and you can’t escape it. This is an AirAsia advertisement in the central train station.
We were tempted to break our “no McDonalds” rule and have the double prosperity burger, but we ran out of time and were eating a lot of other food, as you have seen previously.
This is the banner ad for the messy burger (in Day 3 post). Notice that it is 90% pure meat. Not sure what the other 10% might be and I’m not asking.
Here we have an unauthorized use of Mickey. I’m not sure why he has green gloves on, but it is probably best not to think too hard about it.
Now, we get to a cultural difference item. There were normal public toilets with the bowl, tank, seat, etc., and there were squat toilets, basically a small basin in the floor that flushes over which one squats. The public toilets on the street were kind enough to have both and signage so you would know what you were getting. However, apparently some who are used to squatting attempt to do this with standard toilets — hence the need for this warning sign. (And, yes, this particular toilet had footprints on the seat.)
Our last sign was in the airport. I think there was supposed to be a comma or break in there somewhere. Ah, the importance of punctuation!
KL Signs
February 1, 2010
Let’s start with obligatory restaurant chef image. This one is giving a big thumbs up, which is fine if that is a good thing in your culture.
Next, we have a version of Nefertiti. In Dubai, we’ve seen many spelling variations of this, too. Considering that Eqyptians of that period wrote in pictures/hieroglyphs, spelling is all arbitrary anyway.
He’s not just Mr. Paint, he’s Mr. Paint Man!
When you don’t want just any ol’ shoe, you want a hypershoe.
Eat at the Fun N Cheer restaurant. Always a good time!
There were 7Elevens everywhere. In Dubai, our running joke is “look! a mosque!” In KL, it was “hey, a 7Eleven!” We are also glad that the K K Super Mart, stopped at just two K’s.
Reject Shop, that’s appealing, isn’t it?
With that I will take a break. More pictures of signs to come.
More Signs
January 11, 2010
“Yes, I’d like to purchase a ticket to another globe, please.”
This is a little place I like to call the Brad Pitt Saloon.
Lovely Baby Trading – that speaks for itself, doesn’t it?
This, too, speaks for itself.
Dubai has more active cell phone accounts than its population, so maybe this sign is right.
A brief word about “saloon” – We see both “saloon” and “salon,” occasionally “spa,” but never barber shop, beauty shop or beauty parlor. Apparently, “parlor” would be a serious no-no. We are amused by “saloon” as any American will have a vision of an Old West tavern, complete with poker playing cowboys and an upright piano. Saloon is the term used by (East) Indians. There are gents saloons and ladies saloons. You can frequently see into the gents saloons, but ladies saloons/salons always have opaque windows, usually with large pictures of women and their hairdos. This covering of the windows is due to the Muslim custom of covering the hair. You can’t get it shampooed or cut with a sheyla/hajab on. Also, there would probably be problems with crowds of men standing and staring in the windows. I never cease to be amazed by the blatant staring that goes on. 
Last, but not least, Garb Laundry. Notice the woman carrying an umbrella. It is very common, especially for Asians, to carry an umbrella as protection against the sun. In fact, here’s a store near the Gold Souk that sells nothing but umbrellas.
Restaurant Signs
December 11, 2009I took a walk during my holiday break to gather a few pictures of the signs that are amusing due to spelling or images or business name choice. First is the Exzotica Restaurant which is a Russian restaurant.
It had the ever present chef image. He is labeled “pectopah” and I had to do a little research to discover that is the transliteration for the Russian word for restaurant.
Here we have the Fast Food Restaurant and the Fast Meal Restaurant which are about two doors down from each other.
Below is the Generous Visitors Restaurant. I’m not sure if this means that they are generous to visitors or they expect visitors to be generous.
Signs ‘n Stuff
October 31, 2009
My office has two doors. One leads out into the periodicals room and this is the door that is most frequently used. The other leads to a stairwell that is also the emergency exit. This door is always open, but posted on the back of it is the above sign.
Yes, it is actually called Safestway and it’s logo is below. (For those not in the U.S., there is an American grocery chain called Safeway and their logo is a big red S in a white square.)
All People Coffee and Cafeteria Shop
Konfidential Cuisine Restaurant
We’d tell you what’s on the menu, but it’s hush, hush.
Duck King
October 23, 2009
Duck King Restaurant
Signs
September 12, 2009We have a rental car again, so went for a drive. Our goal was to find the “best” fish-n-chips place in town, but it eluded us. We did, however, snap a couple of shots to share. At first, we thought this sign said “Tasty Meal Restaurant,” but, apparently, you get attitude with your meal.
Testy Meal Restaurant
The full name of this establishment is Moon Way Passengers Transport by Rented Buses, LLC. Really. I’ve seen other similar companies “____ Passenger Transport by Rented Buses.” Many of the company names here are way too specific and spelled out. Others are very cryptic and don’t give a single clue about their product or service.
Moon Way Passengers Transport by Rented Buses
Oregon Signs
July 19, 2009So, if I poke fun at business signs in Dubai, I should give equal time to those I see in the States. The counterpart to the Saloons of Dubai seems to be the Tonsorial Parlor (Portland, Oregon).
Here we have some serious one stop shopping with Library and Liquor. Don’t forget your Sheep Gifts (near Zigzag, Oregon).
Once you have your books, liquor and sheep gifts, pick up a cuppa at Java the Hut, winner of the Bad Star Wars Pun award.
Short pause
June 22, 2009We are on the verge of traveling, so there may be a brief pause in entries. Will share our experiences and what we see along the way as best we can. We will have internet access in most of our hotels.
But first I will leave you with a few random sites.
These buildings house some sports organization. Hence, they look like basketballs.
These banners were all over Festival City mall. Spend just 1000AED and get a chance at winning Paris Hilton merchandise. Why on earth would I want her merchandise? I wish America would keep it’s wackadoo heiresses in the attic where they belong.
We see these kind of chef images all over town. This one almost looks Middle Eastern. It’s the beard. Most of the chef images look very plump and European.
Here we have Sinyorita Technical Photography, which I think speaks for itself.
This is Daddybird’s favorite. Probably doesn’t require any explanation either.
Living the Travel Channel 