Three Signs You Are In Singapore
Singapore was my home for 3 years during high school and I have very fond memories of the country. One of the most fascinating cultural differences is in the national sense of humor, which is either unexpected or nonexistent depending on the occasion. The signage found throughout Singapore provide some perfect examples. Here are a few of the better ones:
Who knew that urinating in lifts (elevators) is a problem so rampant that it requires its own sign? Especially in Singapore, where most non-essential actions are forbidden? Better safe than sorry, I suppose.
For those few Singaporeans who can’t read either Malay, Chinese or English (three of the four official languages), this sign makes it pretty clear what might happen if you stick around. Apparently, not even putting your hands up in surrender will spare you.
There’s a nice symmetry about this sign. Smoking and flammable goods could combine with catastrophic results. The same can be said of eating and durians. If you aren’t familiar with them, durian is an onion-like fruit with a wickedly pungent smell. Just the same who bans fruit? Honestly.
