A squatter I came across while hiking the Great Wall in Beijing
Bathroom issues are no joke. When you gotta go, you gotta go. One of the most disconcerting things for the average North American voyager when he first starts travelling internationally has got to be the squat toilet. Especially when you are experiencing illness of the digestive variety. I don’t know about you, but as far as I know, I have never encountered squatters in Canada or the States (nor did I in Mexico, and I lived there for a year).
I had previously encountered squat toilets during my years in Europe and my trips to North, and later, East, Africa. On a trip to Morocco way back in 2004, suffering from acute gastro-intestinal difficulties, I shook my fist at the dearth of “proper” toilets (and simultaneously doubled over in pain). But nothing could have prepared me for the high-frequency of squat toilets in Asia. Public toilets are, in the overwhelming amount of cases, squat toilets. Most monuments and historic sites in Asia swear by these squatters, and the washroom facilities to be found on their grounds are rife with them, presumably because they cost less, are easier to clean, and use less water than a regular toilet.
Besides, squatting for most people out here is a way of life. And who can blame them? Gone are the worries of having enough toilet paper to spread across the toilet seat in those times of dire need. It is more sanitary to squat, no? And also good for the derriere and quadriceps. And so, in my Asia travels, I became even more familiar with with the squatters that I had first been acquainted with way back in 2003 in France.
Despite that, however, I was totally aghast when I came across this in Beijing most recently…
Squatters with no doors. And in case you were wondering, I took a deep breath, got in there, and did my business, right out in the open like that. For everyone to see. Because, as I wrote earlier, when you gotta go, you gotta go. Right? Right?!?
10 Comments
Ah the squatters, yes I encountered them in India at the Gandhi Museum and at Agra Fort, at the later there was a choice of western toilets too though.
OMGawd! The one without doors. No, no, no, no, no! Bad enough the ones in Amsterdam where the men stand on a platform.
Fer sure, that there squatter is an ADVENTURE! ;D
You have to do what you have to do, but no doors?! Really?! Oy vey!
My first encounter with the squatter toilets was in Paris. We were having dinner at a lovely restaurant, I excused myself to the ladies room (uh no, unisex toilet stared me in the face) and then to my horror, a whole in the ground AND it wasn't well lit. I live and work in Seoul, so everything is nice and modern. Oh, Happy Day!! LOL
Have a great weekend!
Felicia,
http://www.nearandfar.wordpress.com
those things are an accident waiting to happen, hated them in my teething phase in Japan, still do… lol
@SunSoakerB: yup, at the places I've been I've seen that there is the option of western toilets at times, but given the long line-ups sometimes it's not practical to wait 🙂
@Viajera: Eww! I don't know why going to the toilet has to be a communal activity…
@Felicia: Nice! I've heard that the toilets in Japan are super clean and modern as well! Not so prevalent down here unfortunately… Hope your weekend was great as well!
@kimvan: I know! You have to perfect your "aiming" skills, if you know what I mean… Not that easy if you have female anatomy. LOL
1st time in my life ever seeing such a thing…gross!
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