*WARNING*
This post may contain information on the bodily function of expelling excess liquid waste.
(who am I kidding, it totally talks about going #1 and #2)
Being a girl on this trip has been a lesson in building those wonderful squat muscles. You pretty much get your four types of toilets:
A. Western - which are the ones we're use to in the states. You have your lid, your seat, and you sit(sometimes with a magazine)
B. Western with No lid - it's a common one, with the seat not there. It's not a mistake. As far as I can tell, it's made for hovering. Or the makers have a wicked sense of humor imagining women trying to balance on the edge without falling in
C. Turkish - hole in floor with spots for either foot.
D. Holding court with Mother Nature
Turkish has been a very common sight in some parts of Italy and most of Eastern Europe. I sent a picture to a friend to which I received some response about third world countries. They're the norm, and no, I am not in some impoverished land. I am presuming of course, that these toilets are old school, and to their defense, are more hygienic to your backside. Think about it, you're not placing your naked skin to some seat that many before you have done and who knows how clean they were. Also, those flimsy paper halos we place false hope to protecting us hygienically, do not exist here. There has been one rare occasion flip side to this scenario of course, where I'm met with Turkish toilets in stall after stall, only to come to the one Western toilet and find one hell of a present on the seat. To me, I worry about my aim into a hole in the ground, but when I saw that doozie, I thought "now there was a person who is use to the hole in the floor and thus became the tourist to the seat". I have come to believe that the women of this region, even the little old ladies must have thighs and buns of steel from their choice of throne. I have on a certain occasion needed to have a wee so bad and with only a squatter available, release myself like the mighty Niagara Falls, in quantity and in force, and perhaps, maybe, possibly had the unfortunate mishap of misting onto my shoes in the process. A Turkish pro, I am not.
It was mentioned to me before this trip by a few friends, that there is a handy dandy funnel device that marries up to the lady bits, and thus allows you the standing power that was only reserved for the men folk(and certain porn stars). It's a novel idea really, until one stops to think about having to clean it with nothing available to do so, or to stow a urine drenched item amongst your belongs until you can properly clean it.
Another common occurrence I've encountered is toilets with no means of wiping at all. Or if your lucky enough, you'll be greeted at a public loo with the paper being held for ransom by a surly attendant. I can imagine them thinking "go all you want for free, but enjoy your soiled bits" Clever ploy.
A good portion of the trip in Eastern Europe is countryside. Try as I might to hold it until the next tiny village or hopeful clean facility, more often than not, I was foiled. At first the thought of being caught with my pants down while some horse drawn cart and driver was enough to cause stage fright. You get over this quickly however, when you realize you can either suffer on a bumpy bike or find sweet relief behind a healthy thick bush.
My best advice to ladies traveling by bicycle or even on the road, bring a package of bio-degradable traveling wet wipes, they're great for all sorts of occasions. While in nature, make sure you've got good coverage where the foliage doesn't grow to high towards your undercarriage, and don't wipe with nature. I can say that as a result of this trip, I have gotten quite good with my squats and now travel with a supply of wipes or tissues on my person.
This post may contain information on the bodily function of expelling excess liquid waste.
(who am I kidding, it totally talks about going #1 and #2)
Being a girl on this trip has been a lesson in building those wonderful squat muscles. You pretty much get your four types of toilets:
A. Western - which are the ones we're use to in the states. You have your lid, your seat, and you sit(sometimes with a magazine)
B. Western with No lid - it's a common one, with the seat not there. It's not a mistake. As far as I can tell, it's made for hovering. Or the makers have a wicked sense of humor imagining women trying to balance on the edge without falling in
C. Turkish - hole in floor with spots for either foot.
D. Holding court with Mother Nature
Turkish has been a very common sight in some parts of Italy and most of Eastern Europe. I sent a picture to a friend to which I received some response about third world countries. They're the norm, and no, I am not in some impoverished land. I am presuming of course, that these toilets are old school, and to their defense, are more hygienic to your backside. Think about it, you're not placing your naked skin to some seat that many before you have done and who knows how clean they were. Also, those flimsy paper halos we place false hope to protecting us hygienically, do not exist here. There has been one rare occasion flip side to this scenario of course, where I'm met with Turkish toilets in stall after stall, only to come to the one Western toilet and find one hell of a present on the seat. To me, I worry about my aim into a hole in the ground, but when I saw that doozie, I thought "now there was a person who is use to the hole in the floor and thus became the tourist to the seat". I have come to believe that the women of this region, even the little old ladies must have thighs and buns of steel from their choice of throne. I have on a certain occasion needed to have a wee so bad and with only a squatter available, release myself like the mighty Niagara Falls, in quantity and in force, and perhaps, maybe, possibly had the unfortunate mishap of misting onto my shoes in the process. A Turkish pro, I am not.
It was mentioned to me before this trip by a few friends, that there is a handy dandy funnel device that marries up to the lady bits, and thus allows you the standing power that was only reserved for the men folk(and certain porn stars). It's a novel idea really, until one stops to think about having to clean it with nothing available to do so, or to stow a urine drenched item amongst your belongs until you can properly clean it.
Another common occurrence I've encountered is toilets with no means of wiping at all. Or if your lucky enough, you'll be greeted at a public loo with the paper being held for ransom by a surly attendant. I can imagine them thinking "go all you want for free, but enjoy your soiled bits" Clever ploy.
A good portion of the trip in Eastern Europe is countryside. Try as I might to hold it until the next tiny village or hopeful clean facility, more often than not, I was foiled. At first the thought of being caught with my pants down while some horse drawn cart and driver was enough to cause stage fright. You get over this quickly however, when you realize you can either suffer on a bumpy bike or find sweet relief behind a healthy thick bush.
My best advice to ladies traveling by bicycle or even on the road, bring a package of bio-degradable traveling wet wipes, they're great for all sorts of occasions. While in nature, make sure you've got good coverage where the foliage doesn't grow to high towards your undercarriage, and don't wipe with nature. I can say that as a result of this trip, I have gotten quite good with my squats and now travel with a supply of wipes or tissues on my person.
Haha, it's a man's world. Stay classy.
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