...little cultural things...Speaking Walls (and Roads)

Telling the rest of the world, letting other people know – sharing ideas, practical information, political opinions, just a phone number, services on offer, instructions – whatever. Before there was paper and printing technology and radio and TV and internet – there were: walls. Walls where all kind of information was shared with passers-by.

And still today, walls are a popular canvas to let other people know – from useful/less useful information in India to revolutionary slogans in Cuba to driving directions in Taiwan to graffiti in Western countries – people across the world use walls (and roads) to get whatever message across.

Useful and Less Useful Walls in India

‘Safai mein bhalai.’ | Cleanliness is good.
‘Samjho mere bhai.’ | Understand this my brother.
‘Ghar gaon svachha banao, vatavaran swarg banao.’ | Keep your homes and village clean, make the environment a heaven. (right)
Mahansar | India

‘Piné ka pani’ | Drinking Water
Ujjain | India

‘Jhalko Jhunjhunu’ | Jhalko Jhunjhunu (local media news company in Jhunjhunu district (Rajasthan)
Mahansar | India

‘Siddhi Laabh’ | Aquirement of Success
Mahansar | India

‘Tondwal parivar apka hardik swagat karta hai’ | Tondwal family welcomes you wholeheartedly.
Jaipur | India

‘Samya’ | shop opening times in summer and winter
Jaipur | India

‘Khule mein sauch se faille rog, souchalay ka kare prayog.’ | Peeing or pooing in the open spreads diseases, use the public toilets instead. (left)
Mahansar | India

‘Mahanagar Palika Vijaypur.’ | Municipality of Vijayapura
Vijayapura | India

Revolutionary Walls in Cuba

‘Para defender lo nuestro seguimos en combate’ | To defend ours we continue in combat
Baracoa | Cuba

‘Cuba no conoce el miedo, Desprecia la mentira, Escucha con respeto, Cree en sus ideas, Defende inconmovible sus principios y no tiene nada que ocultar al mundo.’ | Cuba does not know fear, Disdains the lie, Listens with respect, Believes in its ideas, Steadfastly defends its principles and has nothing to hide from the world.
Cuba

Directive Roads in Taiwan