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Hire a Toilet Guide in China
If you happen to be in China, and unable to find one of those bizarre outdoor urinals we talked about last week, don't fret. The city of Wuhan, China now employs "specialist toilet guides" to help you find your way in a time of need.The service isn't free, however. A dedicated toilet-boy will set you back ¥3 CNY (about $0.38 USD) per finding. But how do you even find one of these guys when you need them? Apparently they are "distinguishable by their red armbands." I couldn't find any photos, so I took the liberty of photoshopping my own interpretation which you can see above.
Don't mind the can of Busch our toilet guide is holding.
Filed under: China
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
L.Weber Mar 31st 2007 4:16PM
A few years ago, I took my teenage daughter to see the Big Buddha on Lantau Island near Hong Kong, the toilets were atrocious and my daughter balked at going in, this is where I told her, that although we live like kings and queens in America, most of the world does not and she had better respect their customs and toiletries because this is what is offered, so get over your provincial self and see the world, the good, the bad, and the downright dirty. This is why saniwipes were invented. If you want clean and anticeptic and boring, go to Orlando. Asia is beautiful,if you open your eyes to it, understanding follows. L.Weber
Pat Mar 30th 2007 6:25PM
I traveled in China, Tibet, Hong Kong & Cambodia last year & we had little trouble finding Western Toilets!! Summer Palace in Beijing & a Truck Stop between Xian & Wuhan, are the only places where we didn't find a Choice! Even when we stayed @ a Farmer's House, we had a quite modern bathroom!! And we traveled off the Beaten Path! In our Hotel in Lhasa, Tibet, we had very modern bathrooms in our rooms, but if you used bathroom off Lobby, it had the "Squat Toilet"!!
Gail Mar 30th 2007 6:19PM
Amy, please never invite me to dinner!
Pat Maloney Mar 30th 2007 6:38PM
Oh, we also traveled by train, from Beijing to Xian, & had modern bathroom on train! Also there was a TV for each bunk with earphones!!
Tommy Mar 30th 2007 7:09PM
when i was in Philippines it was hard to find a toilet. Some places i went they would have someone set up with a table outside bathrom selling tissue paper. Another place you would need store receipt to use the bathroom or pay to get in.
Susan Mar 30th 2007 7:07PM
I lived in Japan from 1969 to 1973, and I only had problems when I would use the obenjo on a train. It was tough to let go of the handles, step back/down, and pull up my jeans while wearing a heavy backpack as the train was speeding along. I love Japan, it was worth every new learning experience.
LM Swan Mar 30th 2007 7:15PM
For the person visiting Japan soon, finding Western style toilets is not a major issue. However, to the person who said that they are really clean perhaps you have not been in Japan lately. I live here and for the most part I make sure I use the restroom before I leave home. Using public restrooms here is one of the last things you want to do.
Buzz Barnes Mar 30th 2007 7:16PM
For both business and pleasure, I have traveled to China more than 100 times since 1983. Every e-mail about toilets in China is true: they stink, they have big mosquitos, everything imaginable is thrown in the public toilets; even beggars approach you while you're squatting; the worst in the "pink" toilet paper; don't sit near the toilet compartment on a train or plane; often Chinese men stand on the toilet to be a full distance away from the snake that they think lives in the toilet; remove your wallet from your pants before squatting as often the wallet slides out and goes down the hole; the worst is using outdoor toilets when it's freezing and everything gets frozen in the trough; women have the worst time squatting, pulling down panty hose, slacks or raising a skirt, and hanging on to their purse! Suggestion: Hold your purse the strap in your teeth, while you go. In China or Japan, don't mind the little old lady cleaners who arrive just as you start to pee!
Buzz Barnes Mar 30th 2007 7:14PM
For both business and pleasure, I have traveled to China more than 100 times since 1983. Every e-mail about toilets in China is true: they stink, they have big mosquitos, everything imaginable is thrown in the public toilets; even beggars approach you while you're squatting; the worst in the "pink" toilet paper; don't sit near the toilet compartment on a train or plane; often Chinese men stand on the toilet to be a full distance away from the snake that they think lives in the toilet; remove your wallet from your pants before squatting as often the wallet slides out and goes down the hole; the worst is using outdoor toilets when it's freezing and everything gets frozen in the trough; women have the worst time squatting, pulling down panty hose, slacks or raising a skirt, and hanging on to their purse! Suggestion: Hold your purse the strap in your teeth, while you go. In China or Japan, don't mind the little old lady cleaners who arrive just as you start to pee!
G.D. Mar 30th 2007 7:49PM
Toilet Guides? O.K. if that turns you on. Don't think I'll be traveling to China anytime soon. There are too many other beautiful and more civilized places on this earth to see & experience.
tia Mar 30th 2007 8:21PM
Wow! #8 Lloyd, your life must be complete now? You proof the posts, LOL How pathetic!!!! By pointing out spelling mistakes you feel superior. Get a life dude.
Max Mar 30th 2007 10:41PM
To #8 Lloyd : I'm so glad that it makes you feel slightly more important pointing out the spelling errors, and belittling other posters. With that being said, go finish shaving your palms and shut your pathetic cakehole. People like you make me want to puke !! Now go make sure the wheels are still attached to your house Jethro !!
webguy Mar 30th 2007 10:41PM
France has a terrible public toilet too. They are old, and cleaned by old asian women. You must pay her to clean up after you, and for her to let you in the toilets....EECH!
Nicole Mar 30th 2007 10:42PM
To # 8:
Lloyd, I hate to knock you down off of your "high horse", but in the future, maybe you should refer to your local elementary student's grammar book before you try to insult someone else's vocabulary skills. As far as I know, when you are trying to use "you are" as a contraction, as in "you know what you are talking about", the proper way to do it is by saying, "People might actually think you know what YOU'RE talking about." (Not "your" talking about!) Next time, Lloyd, try proofreading your insults before sending them off. (Note that I used "your" the RIGHT way!)
Nancie Mar 30th 2007 11:52PM
I'm starting to think that gadling.com has a toilet fetish :)...........enough already. Toilets in Asia are not like toilets in NA. I have used some nasty
ones in Asia. I'm still alive, and I've never gotten sick as a result. Always travel with kleenex, and wetones and the rest will take care of itself. OH...and you might want to learn to hold your breath..that helps:)
Joseph Apr 2nd 2007 12:32PM
Lloyd, you are a silly man. Why must you degrade someone elses opinions based on how they write or spell. I thunk yu to be a litle moore rspeckful of others and stick to the topic at hand. Yu mak the world go round adn round and get nowhere. I think teh publich bathrooms in Chine are superb!