Ornamental street signs of Thailand

I am a fan of making functional items beautiful. From fire hydrants in Tokyo to seats in the south of France, I pay attention to small details that adds a bit of beauty to the world.

In Thailand many cities across the nation decorate their street signs with icons associated with the city. Here are some that I have seen over the years in my travels in Thailand.

Patong Beach street sign
[Patong Beach]

Patong Beach in Phuket with a dolphin street sign.

Krabi Street Sign, Krabi - Thailand.
[Krabi Town]

Krabi Town with a sword wielding elephant. Of course.

Maeklong street sign
[Maeklong]

Maeklong is best known as the place where the train goes through a market. The city logo happens to be a drum, so sadly no trains decorate the street signs here.

Chaing mai street signs
[Chiang Mai]

Chiang Mai is a city full of wats, and the signs here look like they try and fit as many temples on the top of the sign as possible.

Chiang Rai street sign
[Chiang Rai]

Chiang Rai, not to be confused with Chiang Mai, have broken with the Thai standard black and blue signs by going gold. Maybe they got tired of being confused with Chiang Mai.

Chiang Khong street sign
[Chiang Khong]

Chiang Khong is a border town sitting on the Mekong opposite Laos. Their sign features the soon to be extinct Irrawaddy dolphin.

Ubon Ratchathani street sign
[Ubon Ratchathani]

Ubon Ratchathani in the south-east of the Isan region is best known for its annual Candle Festival.

Songkhla street sign
[Songkhla]

Songkhla in the deep south of Thailand is famous for the Golden Mermaid, and she is the town logo as well.

Pattaya
[Pattaya]

If you had of asked me what I thought would be on the Pattaya street sign, I would have guessed a go-go girl pole dancing, but no, Pattaya have honoured is maritime heritage with a ship’s wheel.

Mahachai street sign
[Mahachai]

Nothing fancy here. I’ve just added this one to illustrate what an every day street sign looks like in Thailand.

These are just places I have been to, or remembered to take photos of. I know there are more. If you have a photo of a ornamental street sign in Thailand, send it to me and I will add it to the list.

52 inspiring Buddhist quotes and sayings on life

Wat Phra Singh in Chiang Mai is one of the biggest Buddhist temples in the city. It houses the Phra Buddha Sihing, an important Buddha statue.

In the Wat compound there are famous buddhist quotes and sayings attached to trees throughout the garden, which makes for an enlightened walk around the Wat.

If everything is gotten dreamily, it will go away dreamily too
[If everything is gotten dreamily, it will go away dreamily too.]

Dhamma is systematic practice for a man at every stage of his life
[Dhamma is systematic practice for a man at every stage of his life.]

Flattering words are but honey-coated poison
[Flattering words are but honey-coated poison.]

Light dispels darkness. Wisdom dispels ignorance
[Light dispels darkness. Wisdom dispels ignorance.]

With Dhamma established in the mind, even bare rice is delicious enough
[With Dhamma established in the mind, even bare rice is delicious enough.]

Those with good eye are inclined to fall into deep well
[Those with good eye are inclined to fall into deep well.]

As you sow so you reap
[As you sow so you reap.]

Until death there is nothing enough
[Until death there is nothing enough.]

There is no glory for a lazy person however good looking
[There is no glory for a lazy person however good looking.]

Without recognition of death, how can there be any knowledge of it
[Without recognition of death, how can there be any knowledge of it.]

Mans death is the least of all things material. What is left to the world is virtues and vices
[Mans death is the least of all things material. What is left to the world is virtues and vices.]

The simplicity of the good man is hard to follow. The simplicity of the evil man is easy to follow
[The simplicity of the good man is hard to follow. The simplicity of the evil man is easy to follow.]

Physical charms attract the eyes, goodness attracts the mind
[Physical charms attract the eyes, goodness attracts the mind.]

Failure teaches a man how to succeed
[Failure teaches a man how to succeed.]

Poverty with dignity is better than wealth based on shame
[Poverty with dignity is better than wealth based on shame.]

Never is there any effect like that of merit
[Never is there any effect like that of merit.]

Without a beginning, there is nothing to worry about the end
[Without a beginning, there is nothing to worry about the end.]

The most valuable service is one rendered to our fellow humans
[The most valuable service is one rendered to our fellow humans.]

Do not neglect recollection of death
[Do not neglect recollection of death.]

Don't escape when you have a problem because there always is a way to solve it
[Don't escape when you have a problem because there always is a way to solve it.]

Ignorance is the real evil
[Ignorance is the real evil.]

If there nothing that you like, you must like the things that you have
[If there nothing that you like, you must like the things that you have.]

Better is to speak unpleasant truth than to tell lies
[Better is to speak unpleasant truth than to tell lies.]

It is easy to know man's face, but it is difficult to know his thought
[It is easy to know man's face, but it is difficult to know his thought.]

Peace is the highest bliss
[Peace is the highest bliss.]

Eat to live but don't live to eat
[Eat to live but (don't) live to eat.]

In time of suffering, only dhamma is real friend of the mind
[In time of suffering, only dhamma is real friend of the mind.]

Merit making calculated to impress is not real merit
[Merit making calculated to impress is not real merit.]

Do try to do good but not to be great, otherwise you will be in danger
[Do try to do good but not to be great, otherwise you will be in danger.]

Everyone may be a fool but nobody is a fool forever
[Everyone may be a fool but nobody is a fool forever.]

No other foes are greater than birth and death. No other friends are greater than merits
[No other foes are greater than birth and death. No other friends are greater than merits.]

With mindfulness, a person always prospers
[With mindfulness, a person always prospers.]

There is no saturating the fire with fuel
[There is no saturating the fire with fuel.]

The skilled man does not show off, but the man without knowledge usually show off
[The skilled man does not show off, but the man without knowledge usually show off.]

Crying with the wise is better than laughing with the fool
[Crying with the wise is better than laughing with the fool.]

Anxiety shortens life
[Anxiety shortens life.]

Not only to be receiver, but also to be provider
[Not only to be receiver, but also to be provider.]

Time and tide wait for no man
[Time and tide wait for no man.]

Living without hope is like burying oneself
[Living without hope is like burying oneself.]

Education is a guide, knowledge is a key
[Education is a guide, knowledge is a key.]

Selfishness is the father of all evil
[Selfishness is the father of all evil.]

To defeat others is the starting point of hatred and vengeance
[To defeat others is the starting point of hatred and vengeance.]

Constant dripping wears away the stone
[Constant dripping wears away the stone.]

Every honest work is honourable work
[Every honest work is honourable work.]

Clean, clear, calm; these are characteristics of a noble person.
[Clean, clear, calm; these are characteristics of a noble person.]

Good to forgive, the best to forget.
[Good to forgive, the best to forget.]

It is flooded water that makes mud; it is clean water that wipes away mud.
[It is flooded water that makes mud; it is clean water that wipes away mud.]

Merit is to accumulated, evil is to be abandoned.
Merit is to accumulated, evil is to be abandoned.

Selfishness is the real enemy of peace
Selfishness is the real enemy of peace

Today is better than two tomorrows.
[Today is better than two tomorrows.]

To do good and evil unseen by others are always seen by oneself.
[To do good and evil unseen by others are always seen by oneself.]

A man who will be the public leader, must know how to be the public follower.
[A man who will be the public leader, must know how to be the public follower.]

Tiny Rooms in Ho Chi Minh City?

Thai Nhi Room - Ho Chi Minh City

Thai Nhi Room - Ho Chi Minh City

I saw this guest house in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I didn’t stay here so I can’t tell you if the rooms were actually tiny. The place I did stay at should have been called Tiny Room Guest House. The bed was the width of the room and there was just enough room at the foot of the bed to open the door.

Signs: Drive on left in Australia

Drive on left in Australia

Drive on left in Australia

Drive on left in Australia sign on the Great Ocean Road, Victoria.

Signs: Do not squat

Do not squat
[Do not squat]

Do not squat sign, Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia.

Signs: Protected Place – Singapore

Protected Place - Singapore

Protected Place - Singapore

Signs: Don't Pee – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Don't Pee - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Don’t Pee – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Monaco Dress Code

Well-to-do Monaco with a how to dress sign on the street. No speedo‘s allowed.

Tourist Dress Code - Monaco
[Tourist Dress Code - Monaco]

Where do film stars and the international jet set go in Tangier?

Jimmy's World Famous Perfumerie
[Jimmy's World Famous Perfumerie - Tangier Morocco]

A budgie smuggler free beach in Koh Samui

Location: Koh Samui – Thailand

Bo Phut beach on the north shore of Koh Samui is the most upmarket of all the beaches on the island. Its class is confirmed with this sign, where budgie smugglers (Speedo’s) are banned.

No Speedo Please - Bo Phut Beach, Koh Samui
[No Speedo Please - Bo Phut Beach, Koh Samui]

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