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 The dreaded, and even feared
Asian Style Toilet! by kdoc13
For the uninitiated, the Asian style toilet is supposed to be more sanitary than the western ones. However they are a little confusing to the savages from the west. So, here is a little primer on the privies of the far east.
Most importantly, bring toilet paper and towels with you as they are not always provided in public facilities! The other thing to remember is that some places charge for use of their facilities, so bring change otherwise you may be on the outside looking in. This is especially true in Japan, not so much in Korea, although some places do.
First thing to know, the front of the toilet is the raised curved part below the tank in the picture here. You stand with legs on either side of the basin and drop your pants around your knees. Next, you squat over the basin, and go about business, making sure to keep your balance while you do.
The next part is the trickiest, to flush the paper or not. There is some debate over this. Many Asian style toilets will have a small trash can next to them with a plastic bag in them, I have been told this is where you place the soiled paper. But I have also seen ones that don't have this little can. If that is the case, I have assumed that it is ok to flush the toilet paper there. I am waiting for someone with more experience to correct me on this, so far none have.
If you are in some places in Asia, there may be a pair of slippers outside the door. This is so you don't dirty your own shoes, or in case you are in your socks.
If you are at the home of a person who has an Asian style toilet, don't be afraid to ask them how to use one, it is not uncommon, and you won't lose face for doing so. For further instruction, see the web page linked below for general instructions.
Lastly, public toilets are very hard to find in Korea. The key word to know is Hwajongshil. Most of the locals can point you in the right direction from there. Leave a Comment
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Since i lived with koreans for a few months I can tell you all i know about it. Coming into a korean home ( If you ever get the chance ).
Ok, when you frist come into there house, the floor will be always lower by the door. Your shoes will never leave this area. Going beyond that area with your shoes is forbidden, it's almost like a sin. Also any wet umbrellas or anything like that will stay in that area. Steping in the lowered area with bare feet is also a No-No.
Now the big problem that i had was the washroom. They keep their washrooms like they keep their rice fields, soaking wet ( this is the most important tip i can give ) TAKE YOUR SOCKS OFF, before you enter the washroom. When i frist got here i would always forget, and my socks would always be wet. I don't know why they must have a big puddle on the floor but they do. They will have slippers in the washroom but you will still want to take your socks off becuase the slippers are offen wet too. There floor is offen wet becuase of the shower.
The shower! some are diffrent then others I've had every type they have in korea. I've had the Western style. I've had korean style, that is just like a hose with a shower head on the end that comes from the sink and the water just goes on the floor. This is the most common type you will find. Its like having a shower in a RV. In new apartments they may have a tub that you stand in but water will still go everywhere. I've also done the OLD OLD korean style. Out in the countrey, I was given a bucket and you go in the washroom and fill up the bucket with hot water and use a rag. That was the worst way! you just don't feel clean after.
I think those are the most important tips i can give you. Leave a Comment
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 The US Beef Ban Rally! by machomikemd
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 Be Ready! by machomikemd
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 The Korean Star has
rounded eyes. by machomikemd
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Unlike other chopstick loving nations such as china, taiwan, japan, singapore, etc that uses mostly wooden, plastic, lacquer chopsticks, South Koreans prefer the metal kind since it is more practical (you don't dispose it everyday like the wooden kind and is less expensive than the plastic or lacquer kind). They also use long spoons for rice and soup (as compares to the short but stubby soup spoon of other east asian countries.
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LPG Gas Station are becoming popular in South Korea for the Simple fact that Gasoline Prices are sky high (it's $4.20 a gallon in California) and 1950 won a liter in South Korea while a liter of LPG Gas is only 950 won ( $.92) hence the shift!
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 Yunoni by iwys
Yunoni, the game shown in the picture, is simpler and played by all Koreans, especially during the New Year holiday. It involves throwing four sticks down to determine how many squares you can move your piece around the perimeter of the board. It's a bit like a cross between Snakes and Ladders and Backgammon.
There are more! Leave a Comment
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 A board showing Choseon
Dynasty style Hangul by Hmmmm
Anyway some guff: Hangul script is attributed to King Sejeong (the fourth King of the Lee/Choson Dynasty). And by decree it became the 'Script of Korea' in 1440. But because of the Yang Bang (Noble) class the script was only adopted by the lower or common classes. The noble classes continued to take those long winded chinese confucianist exams, and learn chinese calligraphy, and poetry etc ad nauseum. Perhaps You could say I am too egalitarian for my own good, but this was done to reinforce the chasm between noble and common, Just like the use of French and Latin in Medieval England.
What is amazing about the Hangul script (called Choson Muntcha in North Korea) is that it is soooooo easy to learn and use. It contains only 24 letters (14 consonants and 10 vowels) so learning it is easy. It is used like the Latin alphabet, with letters in combination. And what is more, it is phonetic. So how the word is written EXACTLY how the word is pronounced (an Improvement on the latin alphabet). It is is possible to learn this alphabet in a week, and once you can read hangul, have the battle is won....
You can navigate, find the toilet, read the menu, and begin to learn the Korean language (Hankuk Mal) word by word on your own.. NOW HOW COOL IS THAT.
Oh By the way, The Korean people still use Chinese characters too.. :o( (Its called Hanja). Because some words descend directly from the yangbang (noble) class, some of these words can be interchanged some can't. For instance the common word for 'Person' is 'Saram' (a Korean word) but if you write in using the Chinese (Hanja) character the same word is said 'In'.. which is distinctly korean pronunciation, but it is used similarly in Japan and China. ie. 'In' Korean and 'Rin' Mandarin. Hmmmmm! Leave a Comment
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 Self-Potrait by bpacker
After the 1000th time, I got sick of saying, " Watashiwa Shingapooru-jin desu..." ( I'm a Singaporean, you daft prick ). I decided to play the part and shout to my hapless spouse in Japanese, " Hayaku!!" (Hurry up you slow poke! ) while he whined , "Matte" ( Wait for me you ***! ).
Big mistake, while speaking in Japanese earned 90deg bows, the stall holders immediately pricked their ears and chose to raise their prices for me since they have a rumoured dislike for the Japanese tourist. Who could blame them? Afterall, their country was annexed for a good many years. It's like a mini-revenge of all sorts as their former masters now return as guillible tourists.. Leave a Comment
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