Asian bathroom escapades

When traveling to Asia you can enjoy beautiful beaches, spectacular nature, vibrant cities and probably the occasional diarrhea attacks. The bathroom can sometimes be your best friend, but don't expect things to be like home!

After almost three months in Asia its time for some reflection. I will share some of my observations and experiences in the next blogs. The first topic, the bathrooms!

4 bathroom habits you will have to get used to when traveling in Asia

1. Optimal efficiency: the toilet shower

I'm not really sure if it is a way to save space, to require less water or because they like to be time efficient, but in Asia they tend to build bathrooms that have the toilet right next to the shower. No curtains or walls to separate them so you can literally sit on the toilet while taking a shower. It's a bit strange, but hey we can adapt. You will just have to accept that everything will get wet.

2. Toilet paper vs bum gun

If you are not from Asia you are probably used to toilet paper being a basic human need. But like many things, the Asians do it differently. They prefer the bum gun! A bum gun is basically a water hose that sprays water at high speed. It hangs right next to toilet and you can use it to spray clean yourself (or the toilet bowl). Perhaps this is even more hygienic than paper, but as a Newbie it's hard not to make a mess and get everything wet. I still prefer toilet paper, which to be fair is mostly available, but you will have to dispose of it in the bin rather than flushing because the pipes are narrow. Please do respect this because blocked toilets are a huge nuisance to everyone.

3. Work on your squats

When traveling around Asia, you are bound to come across a few squat toilets. Basically a big hole in ground where you have to stategically place your feet on the sides and squat down to do your business. I always feel like hopelessly awkward but the trick is to squat down low as it reduces the splashing (this is mostly for the ladies of course). Luckily most touristic places, such as hostels, hotels and restaurants have normal toilets.

4. Conserve water

If you go to somewhat remote places or islands, you may find yourself in water scarce areas. It means they don't have a lot of fresh water and thus need to be careful with water usage. We experienced this in many places in the Philippines. To conserve water they have buckets of water to flush the toilet and on some islands they had open, outdoor showers. No privacy and thus very effective to keep showers short. Also, don't expect to get a warm shower everywhere. Cool or Luke warm is often the standard, but hey, it's hot anyway so usually it's very welcome and refreshing!

Whether you like or not, the Asian bathroom habits are part of the backpacking travel experience. One thing is for sure, you will suddenly appreciate things like a clean, hot shower and a flushing toilet more than ever before!

Did you experience any of these bathroom habits? Or have your own stories? Feel free to share.