Toilet Talk
Okay, its somewhere where everyone goes daily, so as a part of our daily lives, it is an important place.
I wanted to post about this subject after reading Ginger´s post about a Toilet Themed Restaurant.
Believe it or not, Toilets are a really big business, and during my travels and stays in hotels and visiting fancy restaurants, I have seen a huge array of WC´s and Washrooms.
However, during my travels in Laos, I was stumped as to why the Squat Toilet is still so popular?
Read on, though its not a pretty sight…
One thing that I always carry with me in Laos are small packets of Kleenex, you never know when they will come in handy. 
For sure, it is because I am “westernised” and find it difficult to use a Squat Toilet, especially ones that dont have Toilet Paper, just a bucket of water. 
Ahh, at least the tiling is new(ish).
Atleast this one has paper….
Believe it or not, these are pics from restaurants, (yes, I know, what kind of warped persons takes pics of toilets!?)
Which way do I face? And where are the Magazines?
The bucket of water is outside of this toilet, so you have to “do the business” then go and fetch the water in the small cup supplied (several times).
However, even though by today´s standards, there are some positive points about using a Squat Toilet. (from Wikipedia)
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It is less expensive and easier to clean and maintain.
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Squat Toilet does not involve any contact between the buttocks and a potentially unsanitary surface.
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The splashing of water on the buttocks after a heavy defecation does not occur.
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Squatting makes elimination faster, easier and more complete.
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Squatting securely seals the ileocecal valve, between the colon and the small intestine. In the conventional sitting position, this valve is unsupported and often leaks during evacuation
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Squating reduces colon cancer in the caecum and sigmoid colon. These are two areas that are not fully emptied if the person is in a sitting position.
If only they can find away to get rid of those elephant sized mosquitos that seem to inhabit those rooms…. Squating and Squating no less.
Interesting blog especially from a cook.
You know what they say, what goes in, must come out.!
Hiya Vienne,
You should have shown one pic in the intro, just to give people some idea. That might make their Friday, LOL.
You’re not the only one that take pictures of toilets in Laos. I made pics of them as well whether at a bus stop or at a relatives’ homes. The ones with flush toilets are boring.
How do you like the sitting down toilet and yet you still have to use a bucket of water to flush?
Thanks Vienne, very generous with your photos there, and funny post Btw. Several years back, there was a photos exhibit in our area of material things that people have in their home around the world, and as I was looking at photos from Laos, I couldn’t help but laugh because when he took the photo of the bathroom, he took a picture of a bush. I remembered that when I was little.
I’m over 6′2 so I don’t look forward to meeting any of these fellas soon
Although if I ate too much Padek cracker I’d still go there
One elderly man told me once that when he would use the "woods" to do a no. 2 (no toilet available in this village, but squatting none-the-less), he had to carry a stick to beat off the pigs looking for some supper before he’d even finished!