Did I know that in some places of China toilets are positioned over a pen of pigs? Know it - I've used it!

Posted By Tim on June 17, 2009, 4:15 PM

Tim,
I’m glad it’s not an Internet legend.
Happy Travels,
Sean
Blog editor

Posted By Blog Editor on June 17, 2009, 4:20 PM

That was actually incredibly useful. Now I need a video on how to pee in the woods.

Posted By Melody on June 17, 2009, 9:56 PM

To pee in the woods...women need to always observe the lay of the land. You DO NOT want the pee to come downhill to your shoes or pants leg bottom. Also, watch for curves in the road. They sometimes loop around to your exposed backside. After shoving down your pants, hold them out in front of you at the waistband. As you stand, step away from your puddle, wipe and bury the paper or leaf. Oh, BTW, don't grab a poison oak leaf...very dangerous.

Posted By Marie on June 18, 2009, 1:06 AM

I wish I had seen this before leaving for Thailand! I also saw the style in which you were supposed to take a dipper of water from a nearby container and pour that down the toilet as a flushing mechanism.

Posted By Erin on June 18, 2009, 2:06 PM

Squatting is actually better for you, you know. And they are easier to keep clean with a quick mop.

And they aren't just in developing countries. They have them in Europe as well. And they aren't just in primitive, public places without toilet paper or doors. Although in such places, a squat toilet is often preferable, anyway. You wouldn't want to sit on toilet seats. Ideally, they have elevated places for your feet and someone cleaning them.

Posted By Betterways on June 18, 2009, 2:31 PM

Maybe someone should create a video on How to Use a Bidet.

Posted By Joe on June 18, 2009, 4:31 PM

I remember using one of these at a rest stop
on the Auto Strada in the Italian Dolomites. It did have a flush mechanism though, that was akin to a power washer. It was also pointed forward, away from the wall, and no one warned me to move out of the way before flushing. The water spray/flush was so powerful that it sprayed all of "my business", out of the squat toilet - on to the back of my shoes.

Posted By Danny on June 18, 2009, 5:30 PM

Here I squat with a broken heart...

Posted By Hector Ortega on June 18, 2009, 6:00 PM

A further comment about women peeing in the woods -- a skill with which I have considerable familiarity as a frequent wilderness camper. Peeing downhill is a great suggestion, but even better is to find two rocks where you can put one foot on each one. Then the pee falls below your shoes and jeans, and rarely splashes them. Secondly (and this may appear disgusting to some), I always carry tissues, and after "wiping" pee, I leave the tissue inside my underwear and discard it the first time I'm near a real outhouse or a campfire. It saves having toilet paper buried in shallow pits all over the mountainside.

Posted By Barbara on June 18, 2009, 9:58 PM

o/m/g I've only encountered a squat toilet once and I really was uncertain about how to use it, but there's not too much to figure out. Thank god for American toilets! And I'm with Joe. Bidets have always mistified me. Let's have a video.

Posted By Pauline on June 18, 2009, 11:56 PM

They still have these in France. Not only in old places either. I went to a brand new rest stop in Normandy which was up to the minute in every respect. Including the spotlessly clean squat toilet. Must admit I was a little taken aback, I wasn't expecting that.

Posted By Kris on June 19, 2009, 5:06 AM

They even have squat toilets at the Vatican, we thought at first we had somehow wondered into a shower room or something! We also encountered a bidet and we really needed a video!

Posted By Sherrie on June 19, 2009, 8:50 AM

concerning the toilets positioned over pig styes. One traveler relates a story of the host giving the traveler three rocks when the traveler asked to use the john. When the the traveler explained confusion over needing rocks, the host explained that the toilet was over the pigsty and sometimes they become agressive, and so the person using the facility would simply stand and throw a rock to keep the pigs away. Perhps a two seater would negate having to stand.

Posted By oz on June 19, 2009, 10:46 AM

Actually, liked the squats in China. Thought they made more sense than "normal" toilets, when one stopped to really think about it. Then again, toilets are not one of those things you want to spend time thinking about.

Posted By Martha on June 19, 2009, 11:42 AM

I lived in Kenya and Tanzania for a few years. The squat toilet (usually called an "Asian toilet" over there) was very common.

I was out drinking with some British Expatriates who related that the use of the Asian toilet was the origin of the term - "getting your shoes full"- (meaning you were drunk)

Seems that British soldiers would get inebriated, go to the loo, misjudge their position and literally Get their shoes full!

Posted By Ron on June 20, 2009, 11:18 PM

Just too funny! What a conversation piece. The wildest squat toilet I've experienced was at the Pont du Gard in France. The flushing mechanism was automatic - when the basin above your head filled, it automatically flooded the area (there were raised footprints to stand on). Should have expected it since the path up to the facility had lots of wet footprints exiting. Obviously, more than one person was caught by surprise.

Posted By Artist Kathy on June 22, 2009, 5:09 PM

You Americans.
Get a passport.
Travel.
While it is still legal to do so.
Broaden your minds.

Posted By john black on June 22, 2009, 9:13 PM

I wonder what they do for handicap visitors? Folks in wheelchairs or any type of mobilility issues would not be able to use these toilets. I have 2 metal hips and IBS so using this "type" of equipment is really out of the question. Can you say "squat and dislocate your hips"?? Plus the hospitals in those regions would never be able to treat me with 2 dislocated hips.

Posted By Mr. T on June 23, 2009, 10:09 AM

Squat pattern toilet are more hygenic, because your bums do not touch the toilet seat. Further it is a yoga position where stomach/intestines gets pressed by your thighs, helping in better bowel movement. For females especially more hygenic, avoids urinary infection.
It is an ancient Indian toilet practice to squat, even in wilderness, by keeping a brick under each foot.

Posted By narender on June 23, 2009, 9:29 PM

These toilets are OK if you're a buff, strong 23-year old male; quite frankly, I DON'T have strong, twenty-something thighs, & there's no way I can squat & remain in that position without falling backwards! If only there was a pole or bar to hang on to at the front for balance, & to help me get back UP again. (Bathroom pole dance, anyone?) Plus, pants laying on the floor right next to the working part of the "toilet"? Ewww! Yet another good reason for women to wear SKIRTS when traveling, I guess.

Posted By AspenGal on June 25, 2009, 1:13 PM

Having just returned from Japan, I was able to experience the squat as well as a bidet toilet. If you've ever camped and used the woods for your outhouse then you can use the squat. The bidet was awesome, one thing I will definitely miss. It's easy to use as well. One button sprays your back end off and one button is for women. The sprays are very accurate. Then there is usually a stop button. On some public bidets there is also a button with musical notes on it. I pushed it and it played sounds of toilets flushing. I guess to cover up certain bodily sounds. What a Hoot! Japan was a great place to experience these new toilets as public and private restrooms were extremely clean.

Posted By HHam on June 25, 2009, 2:05 PM

Well those who use these day in, day out since wearing diapers will grow old strong enough to squat. I have read that because we don't squat we Americans lose important bone structure in our ankles, that we are born with, because of our sit down toilets. We are at a disadvantage when it comes to squatting toilets. Also report is that the squatter have fewer health problem with the end of the digestive system than the sitters do.

Posted By Dougusa on August 19, 2009, 12:43 AM

I did the Inca Trail last July and encountered squat toilets most stops. After hiking up and down Dead Woman's Pass, followed by up and down the next pass before stopping for the night, I wanted a toilet seat. My legs were singing opera. I survived by using my walking stick as a support--those toilets were so dirty that if you fell down while squatting you'd have to set yourself on fire.

Posted By Foran on October 26, 2009, 2:19 PM

Great... just when I thought I wouldn't need my knee operation until after I came back from Europe...

Posted By Dennis on October 26, 2009, 5:33 PM

A great complement to this video would be the book "How to shit in the woods". No kidding - this book was written for those who have to go - where you have to dig your own hole....

Posted By Chris on November 11, 2009, 1:15 AM