Civilization

By Tim Patterson On July 21, 2009 · 13 Comments

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Tim Patterson

Tim Patterson is a longtime contributor and former contributing editor at the Matador Network.

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http://www.keepingpaceinjapan.com Turner

You and the toilet humor, Tim…

I wish I had a travel website with major readership in which to post Engrish signs.

http://matadortravel.com/travel-community/rsw Tim Patterson

see if you can find a few good engrish photos, Turner, and send them my way!

http://matadornights.com Kate

Is that even a working faucet? Check out how weird that thing looks. Civilization indeed.

http://matadortravel.com/travel-community/rsw Tim Patterson

I think it’s a urinal.

http://thelonglayover.blogspot.com Carlo

I’m picturing Kate washing her hands in a urinal right now.

http://matadortravel.com/travel-community/rsw Tim Patterson

better than using it as a water fountain

http://matadornights.com Kate

Bwa-ha-ha! I hope the smell would not have to be the thing that tips me off in a situation like this.

http://wayworded.blogspot.com/ Hal

Gotta love the incense spiral. Come on, urinals don’t stink that much…hopefully.

http://thelonglayover.blogspot.com Carlo

Haha…good point, I didn’t even realize that was incense. Only in China. Urinal cakes would take them even closer!

http://matadortravel.com/travel-community/rsw Tim Patterson

yeah….maybe it’s a urinal / poo-hole combo?

http://www.relativepragmatism.wordpress.com Frank Johnson

I particular enjoy the use of the definite article “the” here, as it makes me imagine that it’s not using a urinal that makes one civilized, rather that there is some sort of urinal-based civilization just a step away.
http://musictravelwrite.wordpress.com Michelle

You mean just a flush away?
http://blog.emilyminor.com Emily

I believe the Chinese characters say to take a step forward (as in to NOT aim for the urinal from 2 meters away…)

Urinals in China are nasty from what I hear… my husband tells me that everyone tries to pee from further back than the previous guy so the floor is covered. He also tells me the Chinese aren’t shy – they usually take a look at the foreigner’s “private area”! Incense is frequently used to cover the smell instead of cleaning in many bathrooms.

(I live in Shanghai.)