We have all had that familiar feeding of dread when looking for a public toilet and fearing the worst once we venture inside.
Whether that’s heading to the communal urinal or being that bit braver and going into a cubicle, not knowing what sort of monstrosity has been left in the toilet bowl.
However, one person's dread is another’s treat, as a travel writer has taken it upon himself to find the worst public toilet on the planet – no, we’re not taking the p***.
Graham Askey, aka the 'king of porcelain' has undertaken the delightfully bizarre task to find what he dubs as 'the perfect hell hole'.
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The quest has seen Graham travel 75,000 miles across 91 nations to find the winner, hopefully with an empty bladder.
For those wondering which country has the worst public toilet in the world, then we will be delighted to inform you that the honour goes to the former Soviet republic of Tajikistan.
“But having enjoyed some of the filthiest bathroom facilities to be found anywhere on the planet, the toilet in Tajikistan has to be the worst in the world — it is the perfect hell hole,” Askey said.
“With no toilet paper available, the builders have conveniently built it with a fabric covering to offer wiping functionality — and it looks like the locals have made full use of it!”
The locals apparently refuse to use the facility unless they are absolutely desperate, with loo users needing to dodge venomous snakes and rats who reside close in the rocks beside the stool.
If you want such grand luxuries like toilet paper, then you’ll be out of luck, with people forcing to use its concealing tapestry to wipe themselves down – a particularly grim prospect after a number two.
Despite this toilet setting the bog standard for sheer disgustingness, Askey has sampled plenty of other gruesome facilities that came close to knocking the one from Tajikistan off top spot.
If you’re interested in Graham’s discoveries, then you can check them out in his new book titled: Toilets of the Wild Frontier.
The 58-year-old has put $169,000 of his own money down the drain (sorry Graham) into his research, after being inspired to do so while on holiday in Morocco.
Aside from the book, Askey has published photos of the terrible toilets to the Inside Other Place Blog, which is part of the Toilet & Urinal Restoration & Design Society, otherwise known as TURDS.
“Make no mistake that every ‘entry’ on my list is gross beyond words,” he added.
“Some may look OK but believe me — and I know — they’re the most inhospitable places on earth, and to spend a single minute inside any of them would be unthinkable except in the direst of circumstances.”
Topics: News
James Hilsum