I’ve heard of people sitting directly on, stepping in, or completely falling into squat or ‘alalturka’ toilets. Perhaps the best tip in the video below is to always bring your own toilet paper. Even if you’re already familiar with squat toilets, check out the fact at the end of the video.
I came across this video from Robin Locker’s Twitter page @MyMelange. She also writes a travel blog specializing in Italian and French culture, food, and wine at My Melange. Robin can help you plan your next trip to France, Italy, and the Hudson Valley or create a custom itinerary for you.
I honestly dont what can be said.. my great grandmother who was from Uzbakistan couldn’t use anything else actually
but as I described your blog in my latest post.. I just cant write it on this post.. sent you a twite.. 🙂
I find the squat toilets force you to get business done and fast. I’m sure there are hundreds or thousands who use them improperly every year. Would make a great list of mishaps.
And thank you very much for the Lovely Blog Award!
In high school, when we went on a field trip to the big city (Mumbai), our teachers instructed us on how to use the western toilets. I wondered why people in the west torture themselves with such a scary system! hehehe!
I guess they are all confusing until you learn how to use them. Toilet mishaps, I should Google it but I’m scared by what a search might turn up.
Ha Ha Ha…
One of my cousins got a scholarship to study for her management degree in France and she had only one reason to reject it !! Yes, western toilets. In India it is known as European toilet.
She went there after much persuasion from me. And I remember a funny thing about squat toilet, I’ll try to blog about it. 🙂
I love the look on American faces when they see a bidet.
Hmm, I didn’t know that toilets were positioned over pigs in parts of China. Going there next year, I will let you know if I come across any. funny post!
Must be a gross sight but I guess it’s recycling.
this is absolutely hilarious!! i’m still cracking up!
“strong thighs” made me laugh 🙂
What a great video. Makes me laugh at the detailed instruction including thigh strengthening exercises.
Great vid and topic. If you don’t have strong thighs you will by the end of your travels. Absolutely detest squats and I’ve encountered numerous ones. I still have nightmares about the ones in rural Tibet. Toilet paper a must and strong shoes as well to avoid – getting your feet wet from the slush. Blah!
That’s a good one they didn’t include – good shoes! It’s usually wet around the squat toilets and well, slipping is the WORST!! I don’t find them too bad but so many I’ve encountered look like they’ve never, ever been cleaned and can be pretty gross.
I always wondered how that was done, thanks. I sure could have done without that last little tidbit about the pigs though.
If you run across a good instructional video on how to us a bidet, let us know.
I just recently discovered your site, I like it.
Cheers,
Maggie
haha, pretty gross huh? I guess using pigs is really recycling. I’ll keep my eye out for a good bidet video for you.
Nice to discover your site as well. Will spend some time looking through it – also thanks for the link 🙂 I’ve added you to my links lage as well: http://foxnomad.com/links
Awesome, thanks.
maggie
there are some western public toilet/outhouses that are in fairly frequently used areas that do not get cleaned very often and some are in the cities.
Some by the metro get deplorable – just as bad as those in the filipine country side. At least there is an excuse when it is away from the public
People are never as clean in public toilets as they would be at home. I guess it’s easy to do if you’re not the one stuck cleaning.