Travel Corner

I welcome you to link to this article. If you'd like to reproduce it, please keep all attribution and copyright information intact, include a link to my web site (www.judywolf.com) and let me know:

Judy Wolf
315-853-6993 (phone & fax)
pr@judywolf.com

Let's Talk Toilets
by Judy Wolf

This is one of the most over-hyped areas of world travel, with a peculiar ability to stimulate levels of outrage rivaled by few other topics. I personally live in a rich and highly developed nation with exceptionally invisible waste disposal systems. People who leave the U.S. expecting the same rigid standards of public sanitation that we demand here are often sorely disappointed.

Not everywhere in the world has running water, much less the ability to flush, collect, and process every ounce of human excrement in one central location. And not every citizenry thinks western-style sit toilets are such a great (or sanitary!) idea. So you may encounter all kinds of new experiences (and aromas) in this previously routine subsection of your life.

There are two basic styles of toilet: the western-style commode so prevalent in the U.S., and the squat-style toilet common to Asia. The squat toilet consists of an oblong hole, usually even with the floorboards, on either side of which are places to put one’s feet. They come in every form from rough, outhouse-style, standing-over-a-hole arrangements to tiled platforms with porcelain fixtures and a chain-pull flushing system.

A quick aside on flushing in other countries: check with your guidebook or local contacts to learn whether you should put paper down the toilets. Many plumbing systems can’t handle it and will clog. There is often a basket for collecting waste paper, either inside the stall or right outside the door. You may also encounter non-working apparatus, which means you need to create a vacuum in order for the flushing action to occur. Don’t panic! There will usually be a spigot or bucket of water with a hand scoop nearby. Simply pour a ladle or two full of water down the toilet drain to start the flushing action.

Now back to toilet styles. I’ve heard more grumbling and opinions about this than most other travel topics combined, and tend to disagree fervently with the prevailing bias. Personally, I think that Asian-style toilets are far superior to western-style toilets, especially for public use. It’s so much easier to hold oneself over a squat toilet without touching anything except the bottoms of your feet to the floor than it is to hover awkwardly above a western toilet that protrudes into the backs of one’s legs.

Using a squat toilet is like peeing in the woods (if you’re going to Asia and haven’t done this before, go practice -- I’m serious!). You can choose how far off the ground to hold yourself (I know some women who basically bend over a little bit, spread their legs, and pee like a horse, and others who crouch down, spread their feet, and rest on their heels), so having knee problems is really no more of a limitation than with public western toilets.

Balance can be an issue for some people -- in which case, you may have reach out to touch a wall. That’s okay, you’ll be washing your hands, won’t you?

Which brings up wiping. Those of us who’ve spent time in the woods have most likely had to get creative at some time or another about toilet paper substitutes. I must admit that having used leaves, bark, and sticks to wipe my butt countless times and as far as I know being no worse for the wear leaves me less than sympathetic for people who refuse to leave home without their super-soft, triple-ply toilet paper. Sure, carry a few folds of toilet paper with you for the bus ride or in countries where there’s proven to be none available (tissue travel packs can be handy for this), but don’t turn up your nose at the local stuff. It’s part of the experience. Just because it’s made of banana leaves or newspaper doesn’t mean it can’t do the job.

This is also a great time to bring up the hand-wipe option. When you’re in countries that don’t supply toilet paper, consider that it might not be oversight so much as the fact that they’ve got a better option for their local environment. Rather than create mounds of unsanitary waste that someone has to collect and burn (seriously, how gross is that?), consider “going native” and using your hand (there’s a very good reason that in countries like India and Nepal, people only use their right hand for eating or handing things to other people).

The system is pretty simple. There’s a collecting bucket for water, with a hand-held scoop (the same one that can also serve to “flush” your accomplishment). Don’t contaminate the collecting bucket by putting your hand in there -- someone else has to use it too, remember. Instead, hold the scoop in your right hand, pour water over your left hand (over the toilet) to rinse yourself, then use the rest to flush. Voila. If there’s a sink outside, wash your hands. If not, just do your best and remember not to eat with your left hand…or you could pack a squeeze bottle of antibacterial gel.

Most countries that employ the hand wipe method also happen to be highly conscientious about cleanliness. Getting into the habit of washing your hands frequently is a great idea, period, and can help reduce your susceptibility to contact-borne diseases such as colds.

About the Author:
Judy Wolf (www.judywolf.com) is a world traveler, freelance writer, speaker, and whitewater kayak instructor. She's taken numerous, extended solo journeys around the world, traveling by foot, bus, jeep, camel, truck, boat, train, plane, elephant, and bicycle to over 30 countries on five continents. She currently lives in upstate New York with her husband and border collie, where she's working on a book-length travel narrative about her most recent adventures…that is, when she's not plunging off waterfalls or entertaining the dog.

FREE Newsletter

Sign up for my free newsletter
Adventurous Life
and get monthly updates on tips, links, stories & resources to inspire you to lead the life you envy!

Sign up now

Consider This

• Using a squat toilet is like peeing in the woods—practice before you go
• Public squat toilets present fewer soiled surfaces for accidental encounter than western-style toilets
• Rather than carry around rolls and rolls of your own toilet paper, try the local alternative—it may not be super-soft double-ply but it does the job
• In countries where hand wiping is common practice, it’s not only more convenient to acquire this skill, it’s also much better for the local environment

home | travels | workshops | college programs | speaking | voice & acting | resources | newsletter
profile | contact & media kit

site map | privacy policy
Copyright © 2001-05 Judy Wolf