Wednesday, July 18, 2007

A New Toliet Frontier?

MENTAL STATUS: "Thrilled." Plugging away at my word count goal--slowly but surely.

I came across this news article yesterday at FOXNews.com that just so happened to strike my funny bone. Pardon me, if you've already seen it.

Apparently, in Chongqing China, they now have a porcelain palace featuring an Egyptian facade, soothing music and more than 1,000 toilets spread out over 32,290 square feet. Chongqing government officials are even hoping this four-story public bathroom will become a new tourist destination and set a new world record for size.

"We are spreading toilet culture. People can listen to gentle music and watch TV," said Lu Xiaoqing, an official with the Yangrenjie, or "Foreigners Street," tourist area where the bathroom is located. "After they use the bathroom they will be very, very happy."

Really?

Oh, well, assuming I'd be in China for pleasure, you could sign me right up for that newfangled TV watching on the john. Forget Prozac and all those other anitdepressants out there on the market. We'd all be a lot happier if we could just listen to music and watch TV in the bathroom.

Here's some pictures of it. (If you haven't stopped reading by now)





And other countries think we've got issues.
(But maybe they're really hoping for a Seventh Wonder of the World nomination.)

Do you think we should put TVs in our bathrooms?

5 comments:

Elle Fredrix said...

You know, this doesn't surprise me. A freind and I spent a month touring Asia back in the day. We spent some time in China. The rich are appallingly rich, and the poor are appallingly poor. I can so see the rich doing something like this becuase they are so over the top.

One question. In that last pic. Is that a BODY on the floor?? Did someone lose consciousness from all that relaxation??

Cyndi Sweet said...

Perhaps she passed out from the surprise of seeing all those toilets in one place.

Or, she's the cleaning lady. She's overcome by toilet-cleaning fumes.

Maybe she's dehydrated from overusing the toilets?

And Americans are accused of over-consumption. Phooey, I say. BTW, these all appear to be urinals. Don't they let women sit down in China? And, where's the tp?

I don't know about this being a tourist destination, though. The Great Room of Rest? Does it compare to the Great Wall of China? Hmmm...

lainey bancroft said...

Um, no. Just no to four stories of flushing.

I think that's a ...pissy idea. :)

And I'm with Cynthia. Where exactly are the seats and tp? Or is glamour-going only for the men?

Jennifer Shirk said...

HA! You're ALL wrong.

That woman passed out from sheer happiness overload. LOL!

Chelle Sandell said...

Is that the virgin Mary in the top picture? Maybe the woman below is praying to the porcelain (sp? Gods? I've done that a time or two;)