China Romance
General Discussion and Useful Links => The Campfire => Topic started by: Neil on May 14, 2009, 04:28:29 am
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http://ca.travel.yahoo.com/guides/Other/469/5-toilet-tipshow-to-pee-all-over-the-world
Important stuff...
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http://ca.travel.yahoo.com/guides/Other/469/5-toilet-tipshow-to-pee-all-over-the-world
Important stuff...
Indeed, some useful and funny tips there :D
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Yeh good site. I was wondering about those squat toliets. Cant wait!
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I was wondering about those squat toliets.
Ken, I have read from time to time someone going to China and making note somewhere "Where are the toilets" Read and learn, as you seem to be doing.
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Squat toilets just add to the adventure.
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Yes I also read and learned I may need to take my charmin ultra soft with me!
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Squat toilets just add to the adventure.
Yeah, especially if the floor is slippy which it usually is ;)
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what you want to do is try the squat toilet on the train while it is moving.There is a adventure for you.
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You know Maxx , I actually try'd that on the way to Beijing , on my last visit in Feb. . I might have been going about 100 miles an hour , but I had no problem ... my aim was quite good . Hehehe
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Makes you wonder what the poor sods do when they twist an ankle, break a leg or just get bad knees, I mean..seriously..what do they do !!???
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I was on a train out of New Delhi a few years back when I was cut down with a bad case or the s**ts. The Indian variety is a fierce beast a kind of all or nothing deal.You do get a few minutes notice, but you've got to be real quick! Well I felt this and knew what was coming, problem was I was at the other end of the coach on a very overcrowded Indian train. No way I was going to make it it time! Luckely the train was pulling into a station so I dived out the door ran down the platform and into the other end of the coach,Salvation! opened the loo door only to find four Indian guy's sitting in there. Well the panic in my eyes must have given the game away and they got out of there fast. Squat, didn't have time! just sat down!:@
Ronan, in that situation, buckets are a mans best friend! Just got to find some one to empty it:D
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I guess if it happens to somebody else ... one can laugh about it ! Hahahaha
Paul , did you leave at least a good Tip under the Bucket ?
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I think that bucket is still there... still hasn't been moved since then! ;)
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Okay Guy's , I must confess to all of you . My first encounter with a Squat toilet was not a good encounter . I guess since it was my first time ( thinking of Robert Ritter ) I might be forgiven for it . It was in August last year after the Wedding ceremony , Qing and I took my family and friend to Old Shanghai . For some reason that I don't know , my Stomach did not agree with something . So starting to have the runs and hard to find a Public WC is not a good combo anywhere . As everybody in my Group was thinking shopping and taking the Tea-boat's through Oldtown , I of course had other plans . After asking where and how far to the next WC , it got down to pretty much to minutes left or else ? As I rushed into the place , I first saw a regular toilet .. great I thought .. till I saw it was Pee'd over the whole thing . So over to the next and all that was left were Squat's , so no time to loose ... what the f... and close the door (yes it had a door) and away we go , but my aim must of took the day off , not that I cared . But when I was done ... I cared ! Open the door slowly and of course hope nobody see ME coming out of that one stall . I lucked out , not a Soul . I think they would have arrested me , if I was caught . But , after this , I had only Noodles for a couple of day's and it got me back to normal . I am so glad that I watched that Video how to use the squat toilet and the Asian squat lesson . Work to perfection the second time on the Train , that I mentioned on an earlier post . Will I ever share this experience with Qing ? I don't think so ... maybe on my deathbed . Hehe
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High heels and squat toilets......By Lucy Lai
One of the biggest shocks when it comes to traveling in China is the feral state of their squat toilets. Not only do you have to get used to doing your business in the squatting position but you also need to remember not to flush your toilet paper away!
I first discovered the wonders of the dreaded Squat Toilet in my younger years living in Malaysia, and although it was not the best experience, it was still an experience for me to learn from.
* Always carry around toilet paper, hygiene wipes or tissue paper (some public toilets will sell packets of tissue at the door)
* Always have 20sen ready so you can pay to gain entry into the smelly public toilets
* Bring a friend, Malaysian toilets are notorious for having bad things happen to helpless women on their own
* If you are wearing pants or jeans, it is a necessity to roll them up prior to entering
* Expect to be greeted with wet, dirty floors
* If you get a seated toilet, be aware that many Malaysians will still squat on those seats
* Beware of your neighbours. The person next door may decide that the cubical needed a quick rinse... or at least, that's what I hope that water was....
* High heels/stiletto shoes are not advisable unless you are experienced!!!!!!!
Prior to China I had always believed that I had already experienced the worst that I could experience (in regards to squat toilets), there could be no way in this lifetime that people could live in a country with public toilets worse than Malaysia. I was, of course, completely naive and obviously not using my head.
The worst public toilet I've ever encountered was in China's rural region. The good thing is that the toilets aren't difficult to locate, you just need to follow your nose. There are however, a lot of bad things to note about rural public toilets.
1. The stench is enough to make you faint
2. There is no toilet paper
3. There is no toilet flush (their flush is actually someone throwing water down the trench at the end of the day)
4. There is no toilet seat (no western toilet!)
5. There is no toilet hole (no squat toilet!)
6. There is no toilet door
7. There is a waist-high toilet wall dividing each 'cubical'
8. There is a foot deep little trench to do your business
9. There is a waste-basket for used toilet paper and sanitary products (if you're unlucky, you might not even have this)
10. There might be someone's #2 waiting to greet you
11. There will likely be many naked bottoms and other bits to greet you
China sure knows how to bring their people together.
Here are some things you may want to consider in preparation for the worst toilet experience in China (and some other countries)
* Never travel without toilet paper, hygiene wipes or tissue paper
* Some nice public toilets have a toilet roll near the entrance
* A face mask doused in perfume/cologne may help with your trip to the toilet
* Always look for a 4 or 5 star hotel, or a newly built hotel to use their lobby toilet
* An umbrella is a useful tool to hide your ass from fellow toilet users if there is no door
* Always use the toilet at hotels even if you don't need to, you never know when your next toilet break is or how much worse the toilet may be.
* If you are lucky enough to get a squat toilet, face away from the hole (I was never sure why but a friend told me that #2 will go straight down that way. But I've still encountered evidence of people facing the wrong direction and #2 was obviously not flushed away)
* Never flush the toilet paper down as you will clog the pipe! (more on this later)
No matter how many times I use those squat toilets and how often I hear how hygienic it is compared to western toilets, I will always prefer western toilets! The fact is, not everyone knows how to use a squat toilet properly and I know there is a larger percentage of people who miss when it comes to squatting.
Now on to the importance of NOT flushing the toilet paper down the pipes!
I never really followed this advice until I stayed in the Beijing student dorms when I studied there. As a result of not obeying the rules, I had to go without a toilet for up to 24hrs on several occasions. The toilet actually clogged up a couple of times even though I didn't flush toilet paper!
It's not a proven fact but rumour has it that the waste from the top floor dorm rooms drain down to ground floor, so you will likely have more clogged-toilet problems at the lower level dorms. I know for a fact that some of my friends staying on the ground floor of the dorm building had the worst smelling toilets even after they had bleached the whole room...
Just Don't Do It!
Don't flush toilet paper down those pipes!! Think about the poor Chinese people whose job is to unclog the mess you make, and just be grateful that the toilet can even flush!
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On the matter of getting the runs...
On arrival at your destination, deliberately drink just a little (very little) of the local water. Your body will be able to handle it and build up resistance against the newly introduced germs. Each day, drink a little more. Other than that, only coffee... (boiled water).
The water quality need not be bad, but just the different bacteria in it cannot be handled by your body all at once.
Same principle as your flu-shot. You get a little of the flu so your body can build up resistance.
This has always worked well for me. I learned the hard way too, on the first few visits to Asia. On applying this, never had any problem again.
Toon
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One of the first things I read about hotels in China is most supply water in bottles and "DO NOT DRINK THE FAUCET WATER" It's not to be drank. and it must be boiled before you do drink it. Following this was the squat toilet. So building up resistance? You shouldn't be drinking it anyway.
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If you want to experience the country and its people, by definition you don't live in a hotel at all times. Private homes can be comfortable enough, especially outside the metropolis.
Bottled water is not everywhere.
I prefer to avoid hotels if possible, and think of all the money you save...
I haven't yet been invited to stay in a Chinese private home (only been there once), but I have stayed in Philippine and Indonesian homes many times. I am expected in Indonesia soon and will again be staying in a private home.
Toon
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Vince, your spot on, don't even brush your teeth with that stuff!
I once read a story of an explosion at a Thai hotel's new years eve party. When the staff filled the party balloons with acetylene instead of helium!
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Thanks Paul, I wonder if the tanks were in english? :)
The sites I read most of this on was about the water in China. They went on to say about the hotels because it was a travel to China site. They said most hotels supply bottled water and should be a few bottle in the bathroom. If not ask and they will supply it. I would assume this would be anyplace in China. You don't drink it anywhere unless it's boiled first. Being a coffee man and hardly ever drink straight water, I wasn't that worried about it. But what I read I have confirmed by asking. Yes, you can build up a resistance. Like a flu shot but why? If you don't drink it in the first place you don't need to build up a resistance. Did the same when in Mexico. :D
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Qing and I alway's brush our teeth with bottled water and also make the Coffee and the Tea with the same , when in the Hotel . They do give you two free bottle's and have more in the Frig at 28 yuan for a 12 once . But seeing Qing not even using Tap water for Coffee , something got to be up or should I say " IN " . In Beijing it was different , no bottled water in the Room , but they brought it up every morning , either just plain boiling hot water in a Thermos or Tea just as Hot . So nothing to worry about for us . Out of the Hotel it's only Hot Tea , Beer or Wine that's it .
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Guys people in China don't even drink the water without boiling it.Do not under any circumstances drink the water.You will not build up a reistance to it.You will spend your whole trip at a Chinese hospital.
I met a women From Sweden in a bar in Bagkok.She told me her boyfriend had brushed his teeth in there 5 star hotel using the water from the faucet.He spent 8 days in the hospital with tubes running into him.SHe told me the first 4 days.The fluids were comming out as fast as they were going in.On the fifth day they had called a monk to pray over him.And he started to get better.On the eigh day they were going to release him.The lady told me as soon as he was released from the hospital that they were going home.There whole vacation was shot.And the guy almost died because.He used the water from the tap.
The lady I work for Her son in law went on his Morman missian when he was 18.He went to Equadore.He drank water out of a faucet.He got sick and has stayed sick.He's tired he's weak.He can't even work all day without stopping and sleeping for a couple of hours. because of the bug he got.In Equadore.He is now in his mid fifties.
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Question then about showering/bathing and shaving then...
aren't you likely to get water splashed in your eyes, mouth, etc? I mean, how careful do we have to be? I've got a doctor's apt coming up, guess I'll get shots for whatever they figure I'll need.
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Neil, I have been in Beijing twice and Xi'an once and never got sick. Now having said that, I probably will. But if you stay in a reputable hotel you should have no problem. I shower twice a day sometimes. But I used bottled water for everything else except shaving. I have stayed in 4 separate hotels also. There again, just like anything else common sense and a little caution should help you get through all of that.
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Here's a question not asked, Are the shower heads low? I'm not that tall (6') but will I be kneeling in the shower to wash my hair? :s
Here in florida we have two types of water. One drinkable (though nowhere near as clear as NY water) tastes like crap too. And then the outside water that is used for lawn watering and things of that nature. Some homes have the garden hose connected to this as well. So no drinking from the garden hose. It's not that you'll die at the touch of it? Just not suitable for drinking. My guess is China is the same. Drink bottled water only.
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Vince all the showers Ive had in China the shower head was ok I'm 5' 10" so you should be ok.Yes drink only botteld water.If you buy the water from a roadside vender make sure that the seal is in tack.
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Also be very wary of ice cubes, Ling was very insistent last time that i not drink anything with ice cubes in it. When in Rome as the saying goes, if the locals wont drink it then I sure as hell am not gonna.
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I have stayed at a few hotels from 2 stars ( don't do this ) to 5 stars and all the showers were taller then I and I'm also 6' tall, just remember to look all over the bathroom for shower heads, I didn't the first time and found out the whole room was the shower, had no dry towels or T.P. what a mess.
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Guys,
Here's a tidbit I have used. When in another country eat the local yogurt. It is suppose to have the antibodies for the local parasites in the water. Hopefully they have it in China. Is has worked for me in the past. I plan to stick with it if possible.
Shaun
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yogurt? yogurt? Maybe? Not for me though. I worked in a milk company and that was one of the by-products. yogurt, cottage cheese? is like Kryptonite to me. Milk gone bad is the only thing that make me gag. I did want to bring up that they had a milk problem a few months ago in China. I think they mixed in the wrong water?
Ice Cubes, Yeah thanks Irish I did know that but good for others to remember. Learned that before I went to Mexico. (to see Maxx):icon_cheesygrin:
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Vince,
Years ago I would have agreed with you about yogurt. It was the most vile tasting thing I had ever tasted. But it is amazing how your perspective changes when you've had the squirts for 3 days. I learned this in Iran and have never looked back so to speak. haha. I've been to Israel, Mexico, Switzerland, and Georgia USA. Never happened again. Funny thing, I learned to like yogurt after that. Had a strawberry yogurt smoothie this morning. May have another tomorrow.
Shaun
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Well, I never saw yougurt on any store shelf, it's not that I was looking for it either since i'm not a fan of it.
For the milk scare, the issue was discovered and dealt with. I'd like to believe this would never happen in the US but hey, you never know.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/2827362/Baby-formula-recall-in-China-after-infant-death.html
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Well, I never saw yougurt on any store shelf, it's not that I was looking for it either since i'm not a fan of it.
Ed they do have these little tiny bottles of sour milk made by fermentation. This is from a similar bacteria that is used in yougart. So I tried to consume a couple of these every day. Just that on my last trip when I went to the local store to buy a bunch, all in the cooler section were past the expiry date.
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After reading about squat toilets, and holes in the ground, and the stink, and such. It's obvious that none of you have ever worked on a construction site that has a bunch of construction workers that love burrito's and pickled eggs, and cheap beer. I have seen "Johnny Cans" that have not been cleaned for a month or more, that when you went in, you discover there is a hive of blood thirsty fly's waiting to greet you, and not just a few, were talking hundreds and more here. The seat has more than just pee on it, it is covered with wet paper, where people have missed and not just the pee. The stench is enough to gag a maggot and it is so dirty that even squatting or dropping your draws or unzipping your pants is an invitation to germ land. You feel like you should have gotten shots before you went in. The air is so unbreathable you need an airpack and mask in there.
So your scaring me about overseas, hey I was in Viet-nam in the sixty's and That was really nasty, but nothing like those Johnny Cans at work!
For those of you that have been lucky enough to use one...you know what I'm talking about....:-/
:fi_lone_ranger:
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Oh yeah Rocky, been there and almost did that. :s I'd walk in and they would hear me cursing from the other side of the site as I run out of there.
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Rocky, pretty good description. Growing up I ad always heard about the Oklahoma dust bowl and how many of the "Oakies" moved west. Apparently some had never seen a toilet and was at a roadside park washing their clothes in one. Never thought it was true until I went camping one time and saw someone doing it in the restroom. Yuk!!!!! Went camping another time when my firstborn was about 3. They had glorified outhouses there. They were bricked in. I used one and told my now ex-wife that we may need to move in the morning, the smell was awful. She decided she and the daughter needed to go after dark. I told her to take a flashlight but she took the Coleman lantern when I wasn't watching. I looked over at the bathroom and saw the light shining out of vent holes and thought, "man I hope it doesn't blow up from all the methane gas."
The toilets in China? I had to use similar ones in Iran. I'm already practicing my deep knee bends and squatting for a period of time.
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Ah yes, the aroma has it. Johnny can that hasn't been emptyed ever, standing in the sun since the beginnin of the project in April and its now August with a 110 degree sun shinning down. the interior is roasting at a pleasant 150 degrees. It's out of toylet paper, and there is enough writing on the walls to fill a book. With a small sign over the urnal that says "wash hands here" or "*****" baby cradle.
Don't drink the blue water...
You can't scare me about the toylets in china!
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I wouldn't wash my hands in it ether....:fi_lone_ranger:
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And Don't eat the yellow snow!