Turkish toilets in Morocco
I think every travel blog needs to have a special entry dedicated to toilets, and as I have some time to kill before I get going for the airport...here goes.
Basically these toilets are the classic holes in the ground found all over the world. The "Temple of Western Toilets" (aka Mc Donald's) is not as widespread here as in many other parts of the world, and so I eventually had to make do with learning how to manage.
I remember reading in "King Rat" by James Clavell about the toilets in Changi...these match the description as well as the description of how they are used. Essentially next to the hole in the ground there is a bucket and a faucet that pours out water. It's very utile...I'll avoid the more vulgar details and say that essentially you do your business and then probably squat about for a minute puzzled. No paper? But of course. You brought your own? Great idea! But don't throw your paper into the hole, because it is a somewhat hi-tech nonflush, flusher...Okay, well, perhaps a wastebasket then? Nope, none in sight.
At this point there is very little choice other than to do as the locals do, and that is to use the infamous left hand to clean yourself up, perhaps using a bit of the water from the faucet, and then to fill up the bucket and cleanse the receptacle--for the more acrobatic ones (and as it probably should be done) while squatting. G-d help you if you're suffering from the common tourist ailment, euphemistically called an "upset stomach." We all know what that means...
In any case, after you clean up yourself and the place, you go out and wash your hands (hopefully with the soap they should have available). Usually though, unless you are in a private home, there is no soap. Then, if you're like me, you use a bit of your disinfecting gel thingy to alcoholize and cleanse your hands.
Actually though, I find the bathrooms here often quite well kept and scrubbed, and most Moroccans and the Muslim religion itself is quite manic about cleanliness of one's person and one's home. It's kind of like an extra little bath...not so bad, especially when you consider the fact that a lot of toilets don't have paper or water.
Basically these toilets are the classic holes in the ground found all over the world. The "Temple of Western Toilets" (aka Mc Donald's) is not as widespread here as in many other parts of the world, and so I eventually had to make do with learning how to manage.
I remember reading in "King Rat" by James Clavell about the toilets in Changi...these match the description as well as the description of how they are used. Essentially next to the hole in the ground there is a bucket and a faucet that pours out water. It's very utile...I'll avoid the more vulgar details and say that essentially you do your business and then probably squat about for a minute puzzled. No paper? But of course. You brought your own? Great idea! But don't throw your paper into the hole, because it is a somewhat hi-tech nonflush, flusher...Okay, well, perhaps a wastebasket then? Nope, none in sight.
At this point there is very little choice other than to do as the locals do, and that is to use the infamous left hand to clean yourself up, perhaps using a bit of the water from the faucet, and then to fill up the bucket and cleanse the receptacle--for the more acrobatic ones (and as it probably should be done) while squatting. G-d help you if you're suffering from the common tourist ailment, euphemistically called an "upset stomach." We all know what that means...
In any case, after you clean up yourself and the place, you go out and wash your hands (hopefully with the soap they should have available). Usually though, unless you are in a private home, there is no soap. Then, if you're like me, you use a bit of your disinfecting gel thingy to alcoholize and cleanse your hands.
Actually though, I find the bathrooms here often quite well kept and scrubbed, and most Moroccans and the Muslim religion itself is quite manic about cleanliness of one's person and one's home. It's kind of like an extra little bath...not so bad, especially when you consider the fact that a lot of toilets don't have paper or water.
posted by IJW at 9:44 PM
2 Comments:
....turkish toilets ...I used to go this bar in paris and they had the most disgusting turkish toilets in the world ..
Are you in egypt yet?
j'espère que tu kiffes bien ton trip,
Aurite
This is way true.. I travelled China and India.. They are no better than the situation you described... which made me miss western civilization :-)
Tina
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