Oddly Enough Blog
News, but not the serious kind
Travel tips, or just more yellow urinalism?
Email 
Print
Blog Guy, I’m an American planning some overseas travel. As you know, the main thing we look for in foreign countries is good toilets. What can I expect to find?
It’s different in each country, of course, but here are some examples. In the top photo, you can see typical public toilets in Asia. There is no privacy, and the only difference between the men’s and women’s restrooms are that the women’s are pink.
Yikes! That’s horrible! Maybe we just won’t go there. Can you check on South America?
Sure. On the right you can see a typical men’s room there. The facilities themselves are very rustic, but they do have lots of helmeted toilet attendants standing by for assistance.
What kind of assistance?
You know, I guess they give you tissue and towels and stuff, and you tip ‘em a buck or so.
These places won’t do. My wife isn’t going to like outdoor toilets, even if they are pink, and I’m dubious about doing my business in full view of a dozen helpful attendants.
I think you’ve intentionally shown the worst examples in the world. Surely there is NO PLACE worse than these.
Next, let me show you a little destination we like to call Belgium…
Join the Oddly Enough blog network
Follow this blog on Twitter at rbasler
A customer looks at new toilets and wash basins being sold on the side of the road in Colombo, July 1, 2010. REUTERS/Andrew Caballero-Reynolds
A protester urinates in front of a row of policemen during riots in Argentina, June 18, 2010. REUTERS/Alejandra Bartoliche
Comments RSSPost Your Comment
-
Author Profile
-
I had to see this post just after I have had lunch…
perfect… simply perfect…. thanks BG…
As much as I admire the act of defiance by the dude in the second picture, judging by the number of riot police, I’m betting that it didn’t work out so good for him, and that he ended up with several ‘ouchies’ on his pee-pee.
I was at a PTA meeting once with my neighbor, Peony Bidet (which she gives a French pronunciation, although her husband pronounces it “Bid-it”). After the principal finished a few opening remarks, she said: “Okay, everyone, let’s get on with the meeting. There’s coffee in the urinal. And, then, it’ll be time for a few riparian entertainments!”
Footnote: Peony Bidet and “Riparian entertainments” is an allusion to a Hyacinth Bucket in “Keeping up Appearances.”
Uh-huh. My high school newspaper, where I got my start in journalism, was named The Riparian. True story, Doc.
I bet that officer was really pissed-off. Oh, wait…
“Don’t turn yellow, join the Oddly Enough blog network!”
This story’s a real pisser, Blog Guy!
Selling toilets and washbasins on the side of the road. Now there is an interesting new business venture.
Not brand new, pilot. Remember this post from last year…
http://blogs.reuters.com/oddly-enough/20 09/09/01/hello-is-this-genes-latrines/
Actually, what happened was the principal at a meeting with parents had a few opening remarks and then said: “Okay, folks, we can get on with teh meeting. There’s coffee in the urinal.” I think I saw once an artsy display of toilets and urinals at a museum, the Loove.
I hate to ask, Bob, what the mascot at your high school was. But now we know why the flow of your prose is so fluid.
A rocket. Rippy Rocket.
I have heard it is better to be pissed off than to be pissed on. Now what if, as in the case of the policeman there, you are pissed off because you are pissed on?
A pictue of drawing a line in the sand comes to mind …
“You cannot cross this line!”
“No, wait, you cannot cross this line!”
Ad nauseum
I would guess that the pissed off police beat the piss out of the pisser, but that wouldn’t be possible since he’d already pissed on them.
“To Ride or Not to Ride: A Deconstruction of Laid Back’s ‘White Horse,’” by A. Doll.
In 1983, the struggling musical group Laid Back came out with their overnight (and one-night) smash hit “White Horse.” Many scholars have debated the metaphorical significance of the “white horse” and “white pony” repeatedly referenced in the song’s lyrics, from heroin to sex. No scholar has yet considered that the “white horse” and “white pony” is a bidet. “Bidet,” after all, comes from the French word for “pony.” This article will explore th
“Doc, I’m cutting you off again.”
“Crimony, Bob. What’s a scholar got to do to get published? Should I try The Riparian”?
__________
All kidding aside, if you want to waste 4 minutes of your life that you’ll never get back, here is a link to “White Horse.” I bet it took a month to write the lyrics, and another month for those people to memorize them.
http://s0.ilike.com/play#Laid+Back:White +Horse:277298:s22912976.9646764.1747421. 0.2.31%2Cstd_d245ee31a3154d6c865b7bc8631 ba8f0
Jeez, Mama, real nice mouth for somebody who calls herself that….
Sorry, here is the 4 minute version. I listened to it a week this morning.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2c20t_ laid-back-white-horse_music
Hey BG, I can beat that one… In Okinawa, they really do have urinals mounted to the wall in plain view of the road – at least they did a few years ago.
Even better, here in Afghanistan, the men just squat anywhere in the open and do their business They think we are weird because we stand up.
You stand up, Dave?
Sorry. Married to the son of an Italian dock worker & it unfortunately has rubbed off on me. It’s usually much worse, but I’ll reel it in for this friendly, family blog.
Of course, then there’s this …
http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/7 /9/142457/4473/hotels/_Bath_Room_With_a n_Anti_View_We_re_Not_Sure_We_re_Okay_Wi th_This
Sure BG, ’cause I’m a regular, stand-up kind of guy.
I’m so flushed with excitement over this blog, I think I will sit down.
BG, was Rippy Rocket anything like Roger Rabbit? I loved Roger Rabbit and the Crazy Weasels!
Lol Dave!!!!
Doc, was out of donuts and went and listened to the song and think they had eaten a few too many sprinkles to come out with those complex lyrics. Better tunes and a white horse in the movie “The Commitments.”
One, I have never seen that movie. I remember when it came out. I thought it looked interesting.
Doc, The Commitments is great. Watching it would be a wise use of your holiday time.
Amen, CrowGirl. I may watch it again myself this week.