Recently , I was down under in Western Australia for a number of weeks via the Middle East and struck by the different expectation standards for Public Washrooms.
In my lifetime in Ireland, public toilets have moved away from being respected places serving all. Now the local Councils and State with a few exceptions abrogate responsibility to the private sector.
They view them as costly in terms of staff and the annoyance in respect of the vandalism and crude graffiti they experience. Pubs, coffee shops, restaurants are expected to bear the cost and manage noncustomers entering their premise. Inevitably this has resulted in push back with ‘Customer Only’ signs and the necessity being pushed on to the streets. Street cleaners have to deal with the consequence of a highly offensive public urination and the clean-up of faeces.
In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, washrooms are respected places which have cultural importance in the provision made for washing. The Quran stresses the importance of cleanliness, personal hygiene and avoiding impurities. Washing culturally is preferred to paper. Both are provided in these more affluent still emerging countries.. A culture of respect is engendered. In major venues they are well serviced with on-site personnel unlike in Western Countries.
Wild western Australia is a real surprise. As a child I heard stories of them being primitive out in the ‘bush’. This was far from what I encountered. They were many to the point that some cafes could forsake their own as the public ones were of a high standard. They were well maintained and respected with very little signs of having become victim to vandalization.
