2L3Bs needs 3T2Bs

T&B might not be an issue to some families but for 2L3Bs, it’s a big deal.. we are a family of five and unluckily our home here in China only has a single western style T&B.. Funny co’z there were times when our ‘needs’ overlapped just like yesterday, pa’s desperation really humor me..

I wish I could put into words exactly how he shouted his guts on me ‘coz he desperately need to defecate while I was contentedly 'sitting' and enjoying reading the first chapter of my latest Diane Koontz ‘Fear Nothing’ inside our infamous T&B… Call it “yucky” but that’s how it is.. and this is the amazing thing about 2L3Bs, we always pour our heart out… so shout! especially in times like that..

Get real..! (ikaw kaya mo bang magtiis kung ebak na ebak ka na..? hindi, di ba?)

Thanks God we got 3 T&Bs in our home in Baras.. Yes, 3! And we promise that our next future home shall have a luxurious 'en suite'..

2L3Bs really need additional 3T2Bs (3 Toilets and 2 Bathrooms) .. And this is why we’re working so hard to reach this goal…


TRIVIA:
- The value of a home appreciates when the total number of T&B is higher..
- Everytime our family travels and stays in a hotel, our daughter even during her childhood days only appreciates and rated the toilet & bath rather than the hotel room itself…


Talking of Toilets and Baths, here are some interesting facts about T&B in China which we called our second home:


TOILETS!
Source: Peter Danford
http://www.thebeijingguide.com/toilets/chinese_toilets.html
You will want to know how to recognise which toilet is for your sex and how to read the characters "public toilet". You don't have to be able to read Chinese - it is pattern recognition. Stare at the male and female a while, or copy them repeatedly on paper. Carry them with you and look at them while waiting in a line.


"Nu" is the character for female. It is said to resemble the figure of a woman.








"Nan" is the character for male. Note the stocky build and big head.








"Gong cuo" literally translates as "public toilet". You might see it on a sign post at an intersection or the side of a bathroom looking building. There are actually plenty of public toilets in China if you keep your eyes open.

Most hotels and restaurants will have a toilet. Hutongs (old alleyways) also frequently have public toilets as many residents will not have toilets in their homes, only buckets for nighttime and elderly. If you are on a main street it may help to walk down an alley if you are in search of a toilet.

There are two flavours of toilets, "western style" and "Asian style". Westerners sit and Asians squat. Do be prepared to do some squatting as sometimes there is no choice.

Toilets in China vary greatly, which is probably why the government has started rating them with stars and handing out awards. I've never seen any awarded less than 3 stars - one and two star toilets don't seem to get labeled. Good one-star toilets are found in public places. A long trough with stall dividers 1/2 metre high makes mini-cubicles where you squat, smoke, read the newspaper and ignore everyone else. Once or twice a day someone runs water into one end of the trough flushing away hours of business.

Carry a piece of toilet paper for these occasions as none is provided. A one fen note although small has been used in times of need (1/100th of a Renminbi). Other advice - breath through your mouth.

Don't go to China fearing the toilets. This may make it sound bad but really its not. Another good idea is to go into five-star hotels or restaurants to use the facilities - they are generally up to or above western standards.

Keep your small change handy as sometimes there can be a fee of one Renminbi or less which is to pay the workers to keep it clean, etc, etc. The toilet on the right cost 0.2 Yuan which is two jiao (twenty cents).