Jan 12 2007
The Singapore Squat
I entered the bathroom. It was empty. Cool.
I head towards the first stall. It has a sign on it indicating This Ain’t Your Regular Toilet.
It sure wasn’t. Check it out:
I first encountered one of these in Italy. The Italian version was in a train station. It wasn’t so nice: A hole in the cement. No hose.
I barely stepped into the stall. I poke my head in, took my shots and didn’t touch anything.
I’d rather pee in the woods that use one of these puppies. At least I’d have a tree to lean against. I run and have pretty strong legs but I can’t manage to straddle one of these things and not pee on myself.
If you recall, I’m four-foot-ten-and-three-quarters. These things must be made for taller people.
Try straddling one of these things when you’re short. It’s a sure-fire way to pee on your ankle. Based on the puddling around the toilet, I’m not the only one with bad aim.
I admit it. I’m stumped by this one. Exactly how is this supposed to work without the user emerging with her clothing soaked?
I mean, I get that you drop trou and squat, but wouldn’t the clothing around your ankles get in the water? And how is one supposed to use the hose without getting your pants/skirt wet?
If there was something to sit on or lean against, I can supposedly see a way to do it. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve done this out in the wild quite a few times, but I didn’t have hoses and puddles of water to contend with.
“Experienced Users” indeed!
I am totally inept with this type of toilet. I didn’t want to mention that the only way I could figure out how not to pee on myself was to take off the bottom half of my clothing. Even then, I am sure I’ll manage to dribble on my leg.
Like you, I’ve peed in the woods. I lean against something like a tree or a rock, tripod my legs and generally manage not to hit my own clothing.
I’m happy being a woman. It’s situations like this that I wish I had a “pointer.” I mean, I have no idea how to aim. It just seems to shoot out every which way. I also hate having to give a “sample” for tests for the same reason. I don’t do drugs so that’s not it. It’s trying to aim for the cup!
The hose? Fuhgettaboutit. At least a hose makes sense. Or more sense than a bidet.
I’m telling you, this stuff needs an instructional video.
I had to chortle on this post. It’s the same type of contraption in Korea and there’s no paper to boot in the public ones.
Oh that *does* look way harder to use than a tree!!!!!
Jill: I’d only use one of these in an emergency – as in, it’s either use the squat toilet OR pee in my pants. Not that I won’t pee on my pants or on myself using a squat toilet. I wish there was something to hold onto!
LOL! Another reason to work out w/Denise Austin!
hey, I don’t see why you find it so difficult! I’m from Singapore and these are rather common. Why do you have to lean on anything, anyway? It’s easy enough to squat without falling over.
djo: Squat toilets aren’t common in the US and I don’t think a hole in the ground really counts. Guess I don’t have the muscles for squatting. I need something to lean on!