MB Meets World

I feel it is my duty (pun intended) to give some advice to future travelers about toilets and bathroom manners. Real talk, peeps!

1. Most places I visited have plumbing systems with very small pipes. Toilet tissue, therefore, is placed in garbage pails next to the toilet, not flushed.

2. I prefer “western toilets.” Many years ago in France I used the type of toilet that is a hole in the ground and requires one to squat; I wasn’t good at it in my 20s so now in my 60s I avoided those! Strong quads required. Skirts/dresses preferred. Penises helpful.

3. I am very glad I learned from Nana to always have tissues or napkins with me. Indeed, baby wipes were helpful. Toilet paper was often not available.

4. I wish I was better using bidets. I wish other people were better at using bidets. Many toilets had a hose next to the toilet to use as a bidet, but many times this meant that the whole toilet and floor were soaked. Ugh!

5. In Taipei, if someone knocks on the door, the expectation is that the person on the toilet knocks back.

6. Don’t expect a system to dry your hands after washing. Sometimes there were paper towels or a dryer; often there were not.

Not dissing the ways things were different, but if you didn’t know, now you know.