So, I know you have all been hanging out for this one, and after 2 months we have a good idea of how the loos work around here and lets just say things are much easier when you are a man!
In India it seems that the world is your toilet... and I thought you'd like to know about all the options... just in case you end up here one day!.. and don't worry there are no poo stories!
The local squat: It is quite funny what hotels choose to promote over here. Restaurant, double beds, hot water, shower, western toilet. They never promote a local squat and if your room happens to have one, they tell you 6 times to make sure you heard, as if they cant believe you would want that room. The squat is a little porcelain toilet in the floor, with places for your feet either side so you can squat and aim with perfect ease. We actually like the local squat, especially when it comes to public Bathrooms as they are much cleaner and the squat makes for quite a comfy position, if you must know. Some even have a flush system! but mostly it is just a bucket of water and the old brush.
The hole in the floor: the most basic of squats. A hole in the floor of the top floor of mud brick houses in Ladark. At first we were a little concerned as it seemed as if our droppings dropped through the hole into a room of our guest house and we did not want them to go into someones room! But it wasn't someones room, just the poo collecting room. And once Matt dropped a whole roll of toilet paper down there on a trek!
The loo with a view: This is a personal fav and is basically anywhere behind a rock or tree that conceals you but not the amazing view of mountains raising up before you, reminding you how small and far away you are. It makes getting up just as the sun hits the snow capped peaks on a cold morning on a trek very worthwhile. And the steaming porridge tastes all the better after using the view loo.
The bus stop loo: You do not want to visit this one.. even if you are a man. And this is very difficult as after a 10hour bus trip you will be busting. You get off the bus after being squished and squashed by baggage and people and get a little bit excited that there is a toilet compound straight ahead. Then 100mts away you start to smell it! and nearly die and decide to hold on for a bit longer until you get to the hotel.
The train loo: we just experienced this one last night and after hearing heaps about it from fellow travelers, I was excited and a little nervous to use this one myself. We actually smelt it long before needing to go, from our bed (the sleeper carriage). Everyone had told us to book the train early and make sure your were not at the end of the carriage - near the loo. But, being us we booked with little time to spare, ensuring a sleeper but the one next to the loo. So all night long we had toilet smell! Anyway this one is funny and a bit scary, because it is so honest like everything in India. They don't try to trick you that your poo will go somewhere else, they make it very obvious that it ends up on the tracks. You can clearly see the tracks as you poop. The little hole looks right down onto the track whizzing past and you don't want to make a wrong step as the train rocks and hurtles along. If you do you wont fall down the hole as some travelers had me believe, but you might land in a puddle.
The combo loo: The funniest loo and our personal fav. This one is a little confused, not knowing if it is western inspired or Indian. You can stand on it, or flip the lid and sit on it! Its a little harder to squat as you have to stand on the bowl, instead of the floor, and actually whenever I see these I chicken out and opt for Western.
The toilet tent: Normally when hiking it is just the loo with a view, but our last luxury trek (mules, cook, guide) also included a toilet tent. It blocks the view, but also means that the guides and Sheppard don't get a view of you, which is very good news.
In India it seems that the world is your toilet... and I thought you'd like to know about all the options... just in case you end up here one day!.. and don't worry there are no poo stories!
The local squat: It is quite funny what hotels choose to promote over here. Restaurant, double beds, hot water, shower, western toilet. They never promote a local squat and if your room happens to have one, they tell you 6 times to make sure you heard, as if they cant believe you would want that room. The squat is a little porcelain toilet in the floor, with places for your feet either side so you can squat and aim with perfect ease. We actually like the local squat, especially when it comes to public Bathrooms as they are much cleaner and the squat makes for quite a comfy position, if you must know. Some even have a flush system! but mostly it is just a bucket of water and the old brush.
The hole in the floor: the most basic of squats. A hole in the floor of the top floor of mud brick houses in Ladark. At first we were a little concerned as it seemed as if our droppings dropped through the hole into a room of our guest house and we did not want them to go into someones room! But it wasn't someones room, just the poo collecting room. And once Matt dropped a whole roll of toilet paper down there on a trek!
The loo with a view: This is a personal fav and is basically anywhere behind a rock or tree that conceals you but not the amazing view of mountains raising up before you, reminding you how small and far away you are. It makes getting up just as the sun hits the snow capped peaks on a cold morning on a trek very worthwhile. And the steaming porridge tastes all the better after using the view loo.
The bus stop loo: You do not want to visit this one.. even if you are a man. And this is very difficult as after a 10hour bus trip you will be busting. You get off the bus after being squished and squashed by baggage and people and get a little bit excited that there is a toilet compound straight ahead. Then 100mts away you start to smell it! and nearly die and decide to hold on for a bit longer until you get to the hotel.
The train loo: we just experienced this one last night and after hearing heaps about it from fellow travelers, I was excited and a little nervous to use this one myself. We actually smelt it long before needing to go, from our bed (the sleeper carriage). Everyone had told us to book the train early and make sure your were not at the end of the carriage - near the loo. But, being us we booked with little time to spare, ensuring a sleeper but the one next to the loo. So all night long we had toilet smell! Anyway this one is funny and a bit scary, because it is so honest like everything in India. They don't try to trick you that your poo will go somewhere else, they make it very obvious that it ends up on the tracks. You can clearly see the tracks as you poop. The little hole looks right down onto the track whizzing past and you don't want to make a wrong step as the train rocks and hurtles along. If you do you wont fall down the hole as some travelers had me believe, but you might land in a puddle.
The combo loo: The funniest loo and our personal fav. This one is a little confused, not knowing if it is western inspired or Indian. You can stand on it, or flip the lid and sit on it! Its a little harder to squat as you have to stand on the bowl, instead of the floor, and actually whenever I see these I chicken out and opt for Western.
The toilet tent: Normally when hiking it is just the loo with a view, but our last luxury trek (mules, cook, guide) also included a toilet tent. It blocks the view, but also means that the guides and Sheppard don't get a view of you, which is very good news.
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