In restuarants, you get background sounds played of waterfalls, birds chirping....it all comes the moment your behind hits the seat. Automatic flushes of every sort you can imagine, warmed seats, sprays, buttons for Africa, you name it, they've got it. It's actually very nice.
But one does on occassion see the exact opposite of these toilets. You see raw basicness. Crude simplicity. Blindfolded hygiene. I've seen these sorts in supermarkets, along walking trails, and so on. I'm sure they're at train stations too.
Picture this: you need the loo. You gotta go. Asap. No more waiting. Find one. Hunt for the picture sign. Yup, there's the sign. Phew. Speed up your steps. Open the door. Peer in. Take another step in (remember, you've waited so long, you've got to go). Door closes behind you. Your fate is sealed. Step into the public restroom further, push a door lightly...squeak...eyes enlarge...big effort to control jaw not dropping visibly...brain cells panic....toilet = porcelein-ed hole in the ground....fight or flight? ....quick recheck as to how urgent nature's call really is....yup, it's bad. Ok. Fortunately, you're alone. That's a bonus. Enter by squeeeeeezing in. Close door and lock. Check the place out. Hmmmm....which way is front and which way is back. Squatting is required. Feet on either side of the hole. I don't know if I squatted in the right direction, but I tried to be as logical about it as possible in the moment. Thoughts while in there....well you might imagine my fears.
Now, add this to the dimention: take Josephine in there with you. You both have to go. Erm. Fortunately, I haven't had Evie in there too. But it can get quite "challenging", to say the least.
Boy, it's good to get home to the comfort of the other end-of-scale Japanese toilets!
:-)
