We're Switching to TSU

We started off on Blogger many months ago, and we've been using other social media platforms to drive in traffic. Our goal was to generate income from Google AdSense. So far, we've only been using tsu to post links to our blogs. But tsu has generate far more revenue in a short time than AdSense has generated in a much longer time. Therefore, we are going to start moving all of our content over to tsu, posting all new content on tsu, and directing all other social media traffic to tsu. As of this moment, tsu is officially our new blogging platform. Please join us at www.tsu.co/realbloggerx.

Just go on the wall.

These "urinals," found in Manila, Philippines, are essentially 3 walls and a step up. The building owner is literally asking male patrons to urinate on the wall or, if you look at the trench at the bottom, directly onto the floor.

As we have traveled the world, we have seen a great variety of bathrooms, which is why we have a blog dedicated to them. And except for this bathroom, which is just a floor, and this mural, which suggests urinating on the wall, we've never seen deliberate construction encouraging either behavior. This building owner actually paid money to encourage normally-discouraged behavior.

This way to the bathroom?

The red arrows point the way to this restaurant's bathroom. Or, do they?

If you look closely, three things are evident. First, the grown man really, really, has to urinate. Second, everyone observing the protagonist is laughing at him. And, third, there is a young boy urinating on the wall.

So, what is this restaurant's message? Is it "this way to the bathroom," or is it "just use the wall?"

Fully-Automated Toilet

This is a fully-automated toilet at a restaurant in Gunsan (군산시), North Jeolla Province (전라북도), South Korea (대한민국). As you can see from the size of the controller on the left side of the image, there are quite a few customizable selections for washing and drying yourself hands-free. In fact, there is a process for using this technology to help get your desired bodily process started.

And why the sizable garbage can, you ask? Koreans generally dispose of their toilet paper in the trash, instead of flushing it.

Respect this toilet.

This toilet's lid included instructions on what to NOT do to it. Instead of the traditional circle with a line through it, the "do not do" is expressed through the toilet lid's facial expressions.

We're not sure what the temperature warning is (top left), but the warnings against matches/cigarettes (top center) and disassembly (bottom center) make sense. We're not sure how many people routinely disassemble their toilets, or public toilets like this one for that matter, but we'll let that one slide.

The bucket of water (top right) is interesting, because this is how flushing works. If your toilet has a tank, flushing empties the tank's reservoir into the bowl, forcing the contents out and replacing them with new water. There are inexpensive toilets that do not have tanks, and these are flushed by manually pouring water into the bowl from a bucket or scoop, not unlike what this image indicates.

We don't think the barbell (bottom left) literally refers to gym weights, just to excessive weight in general. However, what if a very large individual needs to operate this toilet?

Finally, the hand in the toilet (bottom right) makes the least sense of all. This could be a warning against tampering with the nozzles found in automatic toilets, the ones that wash and dry you, but this particular toilet did not have that feature. We really don't know why else someone would insert their hand into a toilet bowl. Even if you accidentally drop something into the bowl we would like to think an appropriate glove would be worn.

Industrial Strength Toilet Plunger

This is a Korean toilet plunger. And the reason why we affectionately call it "industrial strength," not that we know if there actually is such a rating, is because of the handle on the side. After you place the opening in the bowl, you pull up on the top handle. While pulling the top handle, the side handle allows you to hold the plunger in place by pushing down using your other hand or even a foot. The sight of someone unclogging a toilet by pushing down on the plunger with a foot and then pulling up with one's dominant hand instantly creates a myriad of "power" nicknames for this highly-effective tool.

AIDS-Prevention Message

Found in a public men's bathroom in South Korea, this is a condom-dispensing machine with an AIDS prevention message. Interestingly, there is no mention of pregnancy prevention, only AIDS prevention.

An Unusual Shower

This shower has several unusual features. The most prominent unusual feature is the corner of water jets. These water jets are neither directly in front or behind, nor are they on the side. We found them to be positioned at an awkward angle. Standing in traditional shower positions, water comes at you from either the front left or the rear right.

Below these water jets is a seat. We found the water jets even more awkwardly positioned than they are while standing. Water comes at you from behind, rear left, and left, but not at all from the front or right sides.

Also, the control panel is visible on the left edge of the image. If you look at the control panel while under the shower, and then you turn the water jets on, you potentially have water coming directly towards your face.

Furthermore, there are two shelves for toiletries, and they are positioned at different heights. Both shelves seem a bit high for shorter users. Both shelves also require users to step in towards the water, instead of traditional placement which requires stepping away from the water.

What if I have to...?

Unisex bathrooms are common throughout South Korea. This one was a little different in that it had one designated female stall, with a toilet, and one designated male stall, with only this urinal. So, what is a man supposed to do if he has to do something else?

How NOT to potty train...

This post technically violates our theme of bathrooms and bathroom signage, since this photo is of a book, nonetheless we are sharing it because it is somewhat related to one aspect of toilet usage, and that is potty training children. We really think that this image, if viewed by young children, would be counter-productive to that goal.

Poetry

Something so eloquent and so beautiful could only have been found in one place... a bathroom, of course!

Toilet Instructions

On the wall behind and above this public toilet were instructions on how to properly us it... just in case someone forgets.

Flush... with your foot.

Photographed at a nursing home in Damyang County (담양군), South Jeolla Province (전라남도), South Korea (대한민국), this bathroom enables occupants to flush the toilet by stepping on the button on the floor.

A room with a view...

Photographed at the train station in Wonju (원주시), Gangwon Province (강원도), South Korea (대한민국), this men's room has a view. In fact, it is not uncommon, in Korea, to be standing at a urinal with a view to the outside. This means, of course, that anyone you see can also see you. Also keep in mind that this is a medium-sized facility. In a small bathroom a urinal might be right next to the open door.

Seat Up or Seat Down?

At the CGV movie theater in Andong (안동시), North Gyeongsang Province (경상북도), South Korea (대한민국), a skirt isn't enough to differentiate the men's bathroom from the women's. If the toilet seat is up, that restroom must be for men. If the toilet seat is down, that restroom must be for women. Out of curiosity, what happen when a man really has to go? Can he put the toilet seat down or does he get to use the women's room?

#1 or #2?

To save water, this toilet offers two kinds of flushes. Depress the handle on the side facing you for a lighter flush post-urination, and depress the handle on the side facing away from you for a stronger flush post-defecation.

Lady?

The sign reads "lady" and the hair seems to match, but the stream raises questions.

Just go on the floor.

Photographed in the basement convenience store of a building somewhere in northern Seoul (서울시), or just north of Seoul, South Korea (대한민국), this section of the bathroom floor is the toilet. Though not easily visible due to poor lighting, urine drains through a hole in the wall into the ground under the building. The pan and water pipe allow you to "flush." For defecation, employees and customers go upstairs and use, presumably, more familiar bathroom facilities.

I want to play a game.

This photo was not staged. Someone did this as a joke in a workplace bathroom and, remarkably, everyone left it there for many months. To our knowledge, it may still be there.

The key elements are the image of Billy and his tricycle from the Saw movie franchise, the handwritten phrase "I want to play a game," and the roll of duct tape in place of a roll of toilet paper.

World's Most Intimidating Men's Bathroom Sign

This is the door for the men's bathroom at Ashley Buffet, Gunsan (군산시), North Jeolla Province (전라북도), South Korea (대한민국). It's intimidating, if you think about it...

Squat Toilet on a Moving Train

Beyond the normal challenges facing a westerner using a squat toilet, also known as an indian toilet or turkish toilet, this one was photographed on a moving train running between Taipei (臺北市) and Hualien (花蓮縣), Republic of China (Taiwan)(中華民國).

Squat Toilet

A squat toilet, photographed in Uijeongbu (의정부시), Gyeonggi Province (경기도), South Korea (대한민국). If you've never used one before, it's hard to know what direction to face, what to hold on to, what to wipe with, or how to flush it.

A tomato?

Someone had to bring a tomato into this public bathroom before someone could drop it, step on it, or whatever happened to it. Why don't know why anyone would consider a restroom to be the ideal place to snack on a tomato.

A Disturbing Sticker

This sticker was photographed on the inside of the door of a bathroom stall at the Andong Bus Terminal, Andong (안동시), North Gyeongsang Province (경상북도), South Korea (대한민국). We don't know why the depicted man is on his hands and knees, what his left hand seems to be feeling for, nor, especially, why he seems to be crying blood.

Dirty Bucket Shower

Photographed somewhere in the Visayas, Philippines, this dirty bucket is for showering. You fill up the bucket with water, and then you use a scoop to pour the water over your body. And while this method of bathing is very common, it is not as common to find the buckets this filthy-looking.

Cartman Chewing Toilet Paper

This was photographed outside a public bathroom in one of the many bus terminals and train stations throughout South Korea (대한민국). We have no idea why chewing on toilet paper would seem like even remotely appropriate restroom signage. And as baffling as that is by itself, we also noticed the striking similarity between the character doing the chewing and the character Eric Cartman from the TV cartoon series South Park.

Suit and Tie?

Found outside a men's bathroom in a hospital in Iksan (익산시), North Jeolla Province (전라북도), South Korea (대한민국), the choice of signage seems strange considering that one does not normally dress up in formal wear or business attire to go to a hospital, let alone to go to the restroom.

Excessive Back Arch

Found outside a random bathroom in South Korea (대한민국), this sign states that this bathroom is for infants. What we find funny about it, however, are two things. First, if you look closely, the sign graphically depicts the urine stream. And, although that is common among Korean bathroom signs, it is also common for these signs, like this one, to not show an intended receptacle of any kind for the stream. Second, and what really caught our eyes initially, is the excessive back arch.

Korean Rest Stop Children's Bathroom

Photographed at a highway rest stop somewhere in the Republic of Korea (대한민국), this is a full children's bathroom, complete with toilet, urinal, and sink, within the men's public restroom. While we cannot say that every South Korean rest stop features this amenity, we can at least say that it is very common.

Wash your face in a toilet?

Photographed somewhere in South Korea (대한민국), this is part of the control console for an automatic toilet. The top button stops everything, the next two buttons down activate the bidet water streams, and the bottom button activates an air stream for drying. As far as the remaining button, the one that looks like a human face, we have never heard an explanation for what that one is supposed to do and, to be honest, we never had the courage to test it.