Let’s talk toilets, specifically Turkish Toilets. Those that know me will be aware that I am no fan of the traditional Turkish Toilet. You know the ones I mean, the shower tray facility with foot rests on either side of the hole together with the obligatory garden hose pipe for flushing purposes. Generally speaking these toilets are usually grim godforsaken hellholes and in most cases, we have to pay to use them. As I usually don’t have any spare change (a bit like the Queen), Ahmed is the one to grudgingly hand it over as he would my pocket money for the week. His generosity is truly legendary. And then to add insult to injury, stands outside with his arms folded like my minder.
Having had a knee operation a few years’ ago after a horse riding accident, my breakdancing days are far behind me now and whilst I may or may not make it into the squatting position, sadly I know it’s unlikely I will be able to straighten myself up again without (a) a hoist or (b) assistance. I am sure that Ahmed would have no problem in coming to my rescue; however, I would like to preserve a little of the magic at this early stage in our relationship.
As nearly every Turkish petrol station has a pedestal toilet in the gents but only a traditional shower tray thingy in the ladies. Ahmed is usually sent to scout ahead to discover whether there is a suitable toilet and if not he acts as sentry whilst I dash into the gents to use the facilities. I have immense respect for our Turkish sisters who are not only able to manoeuvre themselves into the small cubicles, negotiate the edges of the shower tray without slipping and all in trousers too!
On the one occasion I endeavoured to avail myself of these facilities I had a most unfortunate accident when I somehow managed to get both feet in one trouser leg, fell over and bashed my face on the stall door. I spent the remainder of the day with a mild concussion not to mention injuries that looked like I’d been dragged along the tarmac by my face. On the up side, after the initial amusement had worn off, Ahmed did treat me to a Big Mac.
Omg the visions I had while reading this post! But I sympathise with you having encountered similar toilets in some Italian villages a few years ago!
LikeLike
I’m getting very good at crossing my legs!
LikeLike
Oh God, I’d say about 80% of Japans public toilets are the same. I know there will be the day when I take that wrong step, and right in to it…
LikeLike
I remember those from when we lived in France and I never could figure out how to use them.
LikeLike
Oh my goodness, that’s terrible and there was me thinking Ireland was backwards because we hardly have any public toilets here.
LikeLike
We have “toilets” like that here in Italy and whenever I am out I try to hold it as long as possible, only breaking down and using it when my bladder is 30 seconds from rupturing. This does not help with the “splash-back” problem.
LikeLike
I just hold out and cross my legs for as long as I can
LikeLike
I came across only one squat toilet in our brief time in Turkey. It was where the bus stopped so not much choice and I resigned to my fate fairly quickly – at least it was very clean!
LikeLike
it’s clean though 🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: Special for a Crazy Train To Tinky Town | Around the World in a Day
I had to make a post for you:
http://kataxblog.wordpress.com/2012/05/15/special-for-a-crazy-train-to-tinky-town/
LikeLike
Thank you – I am touched
LikeLike
I have been in Turkey for a month now and still I refuse to use the dreaded stand and squat!
LikeLike
me too – I am just not that bendy!
LikeLike
I used this type of toilet when I was in China.. ugh is all I have to say.
LikeLike
I found them v difficult too, particularly in trousers, but at least I haven’t dropped a camera battery down one which is what my husband did. Don’t ask about the fishing out process etc – yuk. He had hung the belt with all the travellers items around his neck for ‘safety’ prior to any personal operation and for some reason the camera case opened, the battery flap popped and said battery came skittering out and swan dived down. We were at Pamukkale so there was plenty of water around for the great clean up, but I don’t think I’d have done it – in fact I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t. They weren’t pretty toilets as in your pic but all concrete, dark and hard to clean I imagine. Oh, yukkity but needs must 🙂
LikeLike
I’m still laughing at this!
LikeLike
um, what happens if one needs to do more than just “pee”?
LikeLike
I think us Americans lose the bendy ability because of our bathrooms. I’ve noticed a trend where the toilet seats seem to be getting higher. Pretty soon we won’t be able to sit or get up in anything lower than normal chair height. Maybe TMI, but I understand the squatty position actually is extremely good at avoiding constipation. 😉
LikeLike
You are so funny. I wish I could write like you.
LikeLike
och, right there, I could not travel to a country with shower tray toilets. What next, lol.
LikeLike
needs must!
LikeLike
Right on your money. Sad but true. I’m out of idioms that attest to the veracity of this post.
LikeLike
Ahhh the infamous squatty potty! While living in Korea and traveling Asia I had a whole system to ensure my pants didn’t get any “funk” on them while visiting the squatty. Your pic does seem to have some “rumble strips” haha ;). Hey thx so much for stopping by my blog! It twas a pleasant surprise.
LikeLike
I love that expression “squatty potty”! Thanks for returning the favour
LikeLike
I lived in Jordan for four months thankfully never needing to use a squatty toilet, even though though that’s what was predominantly available. I said “Never again!” after one use in China- and that was even in a skirt and not pants!
LikeLike
Me too!
LikeLike
I have never been to Turkey, but traveled
In Italy in the mid-90s when these were still
Common in ritual areas. My vote (and choice then) not to pee!
What a horrible experience, falling and smashing your face. I am so sorry.
I think if you grow up using these toilets, you must develop the right muscles needed and learn the center of gravity/ weight balance to use them effectively, naturally, without thought or effort. A flight attendant friend of mine told me that on India and Turkish routes, the toilets are often broken because the women climb up on the pedestal style toilets and stand on them to go.
Thanks for sharing. And thanks for reading my blog.
LikeLike
thank you too! I’ve noticed that when the Turkish crouch down they are able to put their heels flat to the floor and we struggle with that!
LikeLike
I hate the sqatty potties! In China we found the same problem, though usually at public places where tourists frequent there was maybe one regular one…but it was rough. Heading to India in a few weeks where I fear the bathroom situation will get even worse…
LikeLike
Thank you for visiting and good luck & stay safe in India
LikeLike
To much relief my homestay is equipped with both types of toilets – you can assume correctly that I will be using the western style (:
LikeLike
Lucky you! Thanks for stopping by
LikeLike
Too funny… and sadly all too familiar. As I count down the days until I leave for my trip, I feel time slipping away where I know I should be practicing my squats at the gym, if only to make the dreaded squat toilet a little easier once I’ve arrived. Squatting will only get you so far though right? Ugggh the memories..
LikeLike
I wondered what I was doing wrong!!! Thanks for visiting and enjoy every moment of your next adventure
LikeLike
Indonesia had toilets like these. I cannot for the life of me take squatting on that to take a poop. It brings a shiver down my spine.
LikeLike
I don’t even want to think about that! Thanks for dropping by
LikeLike
Ha, very funny! Though I’m sorry for your injury – poor thing. Many years ago, I lived in Malaysia for two months with an Indian family, and the only toilet option in the apartment was the squat kind. At first I was horrified, but you do what you gotta do… By the end of my time there, I had become quite blasé about it, and developed much stronger leg muscles! My favourite though, are the Middle Eastern ones that are sit down, but have a little spray hose beside the toilet that you can elect to use if you like. I ALWAYS elected to use it, peeing or otherwise, and especially appreciated it during certain times of the month! Now, I have become too fastidious and miss the squirty hoses when I’m back home. Ah toilets; what a rich topic indeed!
LikeLike
Turkish paid toilets are the worst.
LikeLike
Poor you!! I remember very similar toilets when I was in Japan – the photo brought back awful memories. Ahmet does not sound a very sympathetic character, at all. (Didn’t someone write a book called Toilets Around the World, or something? If not, why not? Plenty of material there!!)
LikeLike
You find these mostly in les aires de repos (highway rest stops) here in France – last one I stopped at had Louis Armstrong music playing through an intercom system, maybe as a way to make using the toilet a more pleasant experience 🙂 ! (Thanks for visiting my blog.)
LikeLike
I am loving the music idea and thanks for visiting me too!
LikeLike
Happy blogging!
LikeLike
Oh, the joys in the necessities in life!!!
LikeLike
And when you gotta go – you gotta go – thanks for dropping by
LikeLike
For public toilets I actually prefer them, it is so much cleaner. Although I can understand that if your knee doesnt cooperate it is a toughie. Here in Mexico they have the regular toilets, but without seats. I don’t really care for those either. I find hanging over a toilet so much harder.
But anyway, while traveling through Asia I once entered a ‘normal’ toilet with footprints on the seat. Try to imagine that, haha.
LikeLike
LOL You are a lot braver than I – thanks for giving me my first good laugh of the morning!
LikeLike
Oh good gracious your post “To Pee or Not to Pee” is wonderful. I was recently using squat toilets in VietNam, which I have not yet posted about in full (I will definitely be linking to your wonderful blog when I do!) and my own arthritic knee created a similar problem.
I look forward to each new post, Crazy. Keep driving your train and I’ll keep hitching my freight car.
Love,
Traveling Marla
Thanks for liking another of my posts.
LikeLike
I am glad its not just me that has difficulty with these – I do sometimes think that my Turkish friends must think I’m being a bit precious! Thank you for dropping by
LikeLike
Loved this Blog post, after travelling in Bali, Thailand and Nepal, I think I have seen ands used a good assortment of these types of toilets, in fact I do have a few Q. for anyone who really knows how to use these contraptions. Q.1 What do you do if you need to do #2’s and where does it go??
Q.2 What are you supposed to do with the paper after you after used it ?? Q.3 What the hell are you really supposed to do with the hose, and how are you supposed to dry off ?? trust someone can help here LOL Roslyn
LikeLike
I’ve still yet to master these type of squatty potties and not sure if I really want to – maybe someone else can give us some advice?
LikeLike
This one looks pretty clean. i had imagined all sorts of unpleasantness. Toiltes in other countries – even, or perhaps especially, advanced technology toilets – can be daunting.
LikeLike
Think I must have caught it on a good day!
LikeLike
Those toilets are everywhere in France. But when you have to go…
LikeLike
I agree a girl’s gotta do, what a girl’s gotta do!
LikeLike
You have my sympathy. I’ve battled with all kinds of weird but not wonderful toilets on my travels, and often had to pay for the privilege. 😉
LikeLike
I think I’ve been spoilt living in the UK as you have an expectation that the facilities will at least be clean!
LikeLike
Great fun post – I’ve encountered these in Japan and they are all over France too… Somehow I can’t bring myself ot like them 🙂
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
LikeLike
Thank you too! I don’t think I will ever get used to the squatty potties
LikeLike
They had toilets like that in France too … think it all changed now – and in Africa it’s still the same – I didn’t have a problem with them .. so long as they where clean – because in in principle, it’s the same system we use when we have to use the nature. Brilliant post. *smile
LikeLike
Thank you
LikeLike
Oh, My Gosh; the simple things we take for granted. I too have encountered those types of toilets and am filled with dread when I think about using them. Also, there is usually no toilet paper there. My mom always cautioned me to carry tissues with me for such problems…
LikeLike
mine too!
LikeLike
Going through your post and some of the comments, my admiration for our ancestors is going up. I have heard people from Italy, Thailand, Bali, France, etc. say that they had (or have) similar toilets in their countries. Well, add india to that list. Amazing how despite limited contact, some things developed in almost identical manner across continents. They say it strengthened certain parts of the anatomy. No C-sections in those days….
LikeLike
I struggled with the toilets don’t think I could have given birth by a hedgerow and then gone back to work
LikeLike
Ha ha! Only if you were the heroine of Pearl S Buck’s The Good Earth.
LikeLike
I hate these toilets!!! You still come across them in Italy occasionally.
LikeLike
me too – I can’t just close my eyes and think of England in these circumstances!
LikeLike
My mother can remember her mother, with her long skirt, standing and peeing straight down in the dirt, but I’m afraid those days are long behind us. Who is Ahmet anyway? Thanks for checking out my blog!
LikeLike
OMG – I am thankful those days are behind us, I think you can get arrested for that these days! And Ahmet is my reason for relocating to Turkey (bless him)! thank you too for visiting!
LikeLike
Crazytrain, this is why I swear by traveling in long skirts only! They never touch the floor if you’re unfortunate enough -as we all are, since we love traveling too much- to have to pee in dirty airplane toilets, at disgusting gas stations or in your shower-stall nemesis: the Turkish (or Indian!) Toilet. Works a charm!
LikeLike
will have to bear that in mind or possibly just continue crossing my fingers and my legs!
LikeLike
ah, the memories you brought back.
I just came back from Tibet and China. What’s a toilet? I would wake up every morning and do THE check: water, check — hand sanitizer, check — toilet paper, check. After using the toilet “au naturel” in the desert for 3 weeks (the most beautiful spot was next to the river watching the sunrise over Everest) it was a bit of a disappointment to shut yourself up in a little metal cubicle again!)
It’s 2 months later and I’m still finding toilet paper stashed in all my pockets (unfortunately at this point they are all hard little rock-like thingees, having been washed over and over.
LikeLike
I bet you smile when you find one of your rock-like thingees though!
LikeLike
Ha ha, this is a funny post. It reminds me of South Korea. Bathroom culture is one of the most interesting aspects of travelling abroad, in my opinion. Thanks for posting.
LikeLike
Toilets are definitely a popular topic amongst most travellers, that’s for sure – thank you for dropping by
LikeLike
OMG…it’s been forever since i’ve been over here to visit you in Turkey and WHAT DO I SEE? PEE! REALLY TINK? I’ve had enough pee to last me a lifetime! Truth though? Damn I’m glad I’m not in Turkey. 🙂 funny stuff girly
LikeLike
This is better than the ones we saw at the ruins of Ephesus (also a lovely place to visit). Great post!. Thanks, Crazy, for liking my post “water motion and reflections”; appreciate it a lot.
LikeLike
I have bladder issues, and I have to pee way too often to mess with that stuff… Besides, what if you have bad balance or a bad hip or something? (God forbid you try to use one of those things while drunk. LOL)
LikeLike
Being a little accident prone myself, I was always going to be a skip, jump and a hop away from falling in.
LikeLike
My favourite was taking an overnight train to Ankara. It swayed like a carnival ride and it was one of the fabulous Alaturk non-toilets. I must have looked like a hopping toad as I tried to squat just in time for the cabin to almost jump the track. My chiropractor says thank you.
LikeLike
LOL – think I’ll give the Turkish trains a miss!
LikeLike
HA I recently blogged about the joys of the squatty potty! Good post!
LikeLike
Will have to check that out – thank you
LikeLike
gosh I have these!!!!! there are lots in Italy like these, in public toilets, in bars and restaurants etc. My sister used to tell me they are so much more higienic? dooh? I tend not to use them and do the same like you, go into the gents, or wait till I get home, 🙂
LikeLike
Even now I cannot bring myself to use them!
LikeLike
Hilarious, I remember my first visit to Turkey in ’84, which was also my first intro to these somewhat interesting toilets you speak of; as a young, inexperienced traveller, I was mortified at the thought of. Years later and many ‘squats’ later these loos are no longer mortifying. Great blog. Jen 🙂
LikeLike
I don’t know many women that actually do like these toilets, I’m beginning to think that they were designed by men. Loving Stanley btw & thank you for visiting – Dallas
LikeLike
They also have these toilets in France. They maybe great if you are wearing hardly any clothes, but not if its minus 3C outside, so you’re wearing 5 layers of clothes, thermal an AND trousers which you are hitching up with one hand, holidng on for grim death with the other while gripping your handbag firmly between your teeth!
LikeLike
I am loving that visual! LOL
LikeLike
those toilets look hazardous….and I thought the South Asian ones were bad!
LikeLike
Love this! Admittedly, during my travels, toilet talk is not uncommon. While I was in Turkey, I was on the constant quest for Westernized toilets, and in Nepal, upon exiting every bathroom, my friend or I would ask one another… “So, how was it??”
LikeLike
I completely agree; I have seen some very grim toilets in Turkey and have had to cross my legs and think of England until I find one more suitable. I think you and your friend were probably far more braver than I!
LikeLike
During my European travels, I have been stymied by many a toilet, usually when it comes to how to flush them. If I ever came upon a toilet like you describe here, though, I have no idea what I would do!! Anyway, since my first bathroom conundrum, I have become increasingly interested in foreign bathrooms. Why are these things not covered in travel guides?? I had a web page 12 years ago where I posted all my foreign toilet pics, and collected pics from others, too. I used to dream of publishing a book about toilets around the world. I think someone has beaten me to it, though!
LikeLike
I detest Turkish toilets and think you need to be double jointed to use them and it perplexes me that there is always a pedestal toilet in a stall in the gents. I didn’t realise that there was a book about toilets around the world but it does seem to be a subject which we all seem to have strong feelings about.
LikeLike
My parents lived in Turkey (ankara) for a few years. I have experienced these up close and personal. Yuck. I always kept kleenex or TP with me and wet wipes. Most only had a faucet or hose. Now i know why there is an ‘unclean’ hand.
LikeLike
I’d forgotten all about that – what I can’t understand is why the gents loos always have better facilities than the ladies
LikeLike
If I had to travel I would have to take a toilet with me, hmmmm I could see me trying to explaining that one to my husband. Great site, I’m looking forward to following you and all of your adventures.
LikeLike
We stop at all the service stations along the road with Ahmed scouting ahead until we find a pedestal toilet which are usually in the gents
LikeLike
I have no way to say this any nicer…..sorry…
That is the toilet?? For real??
Thomas Crapper did not create that I am sure…
I will admit I do not sit on toilets I do not ‘know’ & have learned to ‘hover’…this is nothing compared to the contortions women there must do…
You are a brave brave woman Dallas…..boldly ‘going’ we many have not ‘gone’ before….
Sherri-Ellen 😉
LikeLike
O.O I have never seen such a toilet!!! Nor did I know one like that existed >.<
I feel sorry you had to go through that. But I can't help myself from laughing by how you tell the story 😀 thank you for posting this. It is a life saving lesson from emarasment. Now I know I should tote a pee bag when touring other countries.
I remember my mom bought something like this at Walmart: htp://www.pilotmall.com/product/TravelJohn-Disposable-Urine-Bags/safety
LikeLike
Just noticed some typo’s, don’t know how to edit it. Sorry.
LikeLike