10 Must-See Car Washes from Around the World (Part 1)

More quirky petroleum outlets to astound and amaze you.

Last week, the SSCS Blog published photos and descriptions of five interesting and quirky gas stations from around the world. But that was only the beginning! This week we’re concluding the tour with five additional retail petroleum outlets that just could be the wildest yet!

5. Service Station, Christmas Island

Christmas Island is one of the more remote inhabited places on earth, a tiny and diverse little spot of land several hundred miles southwest of East Java in the Indian Ocean. An Australian territory, Christmas Island is less than ten miles across even at its widest point, and so road trips are probably not a regional pastime. However, this tidy little gas station services anyone who needs some fuel, and even comes complete (if you look closely) with first aid services! Photo by DIAC Images.

4. Petrol Station, Thimphu, Bhutan

The capital of Bhutan, Thimpu sits an astonishing 8,000 feet above sea level. The city is spread out along a river valley in western Bhutan, about thirty miles south of the Tibetan border. This photo shows a sunny and warm day at an Indian Oil station. Come winter, those conifers and ridges in the background, and the Himalayas to the north of them, will all be covered in snow. Photo by Christopher J. Flynn.

3. Gas Station with Suspended Pumps, Japan

In the urban centers of Japan, space is at a premium. This filling station lets motorists drive up and squeeze in by whatever means they can, paying in the store before dispensing gasoline from hanging nozzles and hoses. While it certainly looks unorthodox, this station does demonstrate ways industry architects have overcome design challenges by rethinking the most basic parameters about how gas stations look and function. Photo by Peretz Partensky.

2. River Gas Station, Amazonas, Brazil

Amazonas is the largest state in Brazil, and the heart of the northern part of South America. Home to hundreds of thousands of square miles of rain forest and undeveloped wilderness, Amazonas presents a challenge to even the most intrepid visitor. However, the wider parts of the Amazon are home to floating barges selling fuel and food, ensuring that travelers and commuters can reach their destinations. Photo by James Martins

1. Gas Station and Convenience Store, Cambodia

Get your gas, bottled water, aspirin, and spicy peppers all at the same counter at this small business in Cambodia. The picture serves as a reminder that even at village mom and pops like this one, retailers understand that their customers enjoy the convenience of getting many different things all in one place. Today, we may think of gas stations as well lit places with lavish stores built into them, but in many corners of the world, you buy gas at stands just like this one. Photo by Dick Elbers.

That’s it for now! We hope that you enjoyed the tour. It’s certainly given us some perspective, not to mention a whole new appreciation for modern petroleum retailers who are bringing the industry into the future.