Revisting the Toilet

Second in a series addressing the toilet is a look into the Indonesian 'way say' or WC.

The toilet situation since New Zealand has taken a dip. In Indonesia it is quite literally the pits. The 'vessel' is most often just two footrests and a hole in the ground. My months of practice going in the woods is finally paying off.

Reaching for toilet paper from the required squatting position can be tricky, but it isn't necessary, there isn't any. Indonesia's plumbing systems can't digest the stuff, so each WC is fitted with a mandi and each body is equipped with two hands. Apparently this is all you need. The right hand scoops the water from the mandi (water tub) with the plastic scoop; the left hand does the necessary washing. Armed with this knowledge, I am wary of handshakes of any kind.

There is expression "When in Rome.....". There are times, however, that I draw the line. What do I do? I carry an ample supply of toilet paper in my pocket and use the trash bins beside the toilets. Not a practice I am likely to bring home.

Some of the upscale hotels and bungalows in the tourist areas have modernized to the western toilet. What a relief. But even these can be trying. Most of these are set up high on a tiled platform, making them at least a foot higher than standard Western facilities. At this height, the toilet bowl is more like a sink. Unlike with the bend and send method discussed earlier, physical height has a decisive advantage in these situations. How Janet fares is beyond me.

Showers in Indonesia are also worth mentioning. First, most of them are cold water only. But with the humidity level matching that of the temperature, I hardly notice. Second, there is no specific shower stall. The shower nozzle is fixed to the center of one wall. It can and does spray everywhere. After taking my first shower hotel shower, I've become a confirmed wearer of shoes in the bathroom. In each case, the drain situated at the far end of the room has been raised higher than the floor.

As my travels take me further into the Asian world I will continue to bring an in-depth look into the necessities of life. Until then, happy ladling.

PS - Based on the title of this article, how many of you out there thought I was going to talk about something else?