Who says a squat toilet is primative? Don't be scared!
By barehugs
@barehugs (8973)
Canada
March 5, 2009 10:16pm CST
We found Squat Toilets in Vietnam and Laos when we were touring in East Asia. The best hotels and restaurants are equipped with conventional flush toilets, but majority of shops and houses will still be using the Squat Toilet. I found them quite user friendly. There are foot prints on either side of the toilet to place your feet as you squat, so you can't miss the target. Men have it very easy, and of course, the toilet needs to be flushed when you're through. This is facilitated by a small saucepan that floats in a reservoir, filled with water, along the side of the toilet. One small basin of water is enough, and I was impressed at the saving of water. If by any chance the toilet gets smelly, there is a hose right there handy to spray the whole thing down. Its quick and easy, and I think we Westerners should think seriously about installing at least one Squat Toilet in our homes. The kids would love it.
2 people like this
10 responses
@bombshell (11256)
• Germany
8 Mar 09
when i live in the province we have toilete like this and for me it was a fancy but now i am in germany i never seen this kind of toilete anymore but when we had flight from Cebu to KoTA Kinabali the toilete its just like this
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
7 Mar 09
When I lived in Singapore, we had a conventional loo and a squat loo in our first house. I tried the squat loo a few times and I didn't like it. I found getting up was too hard without putting my hands on the floor. Ours had a cistern up above and a chain to flush the bowl. This was nearly 40 years ago.
My poor knees won't let me do anything like that now, kneeling is out, getting out of a chair is painful and difficult.
@krajibg (11923)
• Guwahati, India
6 Mar 09
You have observed well. Those squat toilets are user friendly. Most Indians use this type of toilet only. Though some use the commode many feel this unhygienic for many people use them and one has to sit on it while the squat ones are not like that. There are auto flashing system too.
1 person likes this
@beckinuganda (86)
• United States
6 Mar 09
living in uganda for a year has given me plenty of opportunities to use the squat toilet (or as we like to call 'em THE LONG DROP) - they come in all settings, some that are okay and others that are made of mud and sticks that face the congo...some that i won't mention to save u all! i do think the US could benefit from using them in homes and even some rest areas - who doesn't squat and hover above those anyways??
in rural uganda, toilets were installed to help 'westernize' the ugandans and make it more sanitary...the ugandans couldn't understand why people would want to actually SIT where someone else has sat...and they would proceed to stand and squat on the toilet. something to think about!
1 person likes this
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
6 Mar 09
People who have never seen a Western toilet can't imagine sitting on it. Actually when you think about it. Its not making a lot of sense from a sanitation point of view. I think the seated toilet idea probably came about when women dressed is long voluminous dresses. There was just no way a Squat would work for them.
@jason1308 (1586)
• France
25 Mar 09
They still have these squatters in France, they are still quite common in the Public Toilets and on Campsites etc.
The Newer Buildings, Bars and Hotels have normally changed over to a conventional Toilet, and most houses have normal toilets, but there are still plenty of them around.
@Bebs08 (10681)
• United States
24 Mar 09
LOL.. I am familiar with squat toilet because there are lots of that in the Philippines. Some homes have it but in the provinces. You can seldom see those squat toilets in the city areas. Yeah it is a different experience for someone who is not use to squat when using the rest rooms.
@eichs1 (1934)
• Philippines
9 Mar 09
I don't understand why the flush toilets became a thing of the "urbanized" areas in Southeast Asia which primarily used squat toilets. Other even call it unhygienic. And I'm still wondering why Asian engineers did not think of improving this style of toilets.
I used both type of toilets and I could say that I feel more secure using the squat toilet when it comes to contacting a disease. In a toilet bowl, the contact between each user is butt to butt where bacteria/virus colony can easily proliferate. Whereas in the squat toilet, it's just your shoes or slipper touching the lid of the toilet. I also noticed that it is easier to "detoxify" squatting rather than in sitting position. And you are absolutely right, squat toilets are more environmentally friendly as they can be cleaned thoroughly with less water.
@beckinuganda (86)
• United States
6 Mar 09
i know some places, like france, that have squat toilets but then a toilet for the handicap one - when traveling there back in high school, i know most of the girls waited for that one, but at least there was options so everyone was happy.
