Cultural Differences

Apparently caucasians struggle to use these. Here's a blog excerpt:

1. How to use a squat toilet
First time I was confronted with one of these bad boys, I was mildly horrified. I see where the feet go, but what happens to your jeans? How to you avoid, um, splash back? How do you balance? I must've looked like a drunk Spider-Man that first time, hands propped against walls to hold me up while I desperately tried to keep my hanging jeans out of the way. A few trips to Asia later though, and I could almost say I prefer them to western dunnies. Almost.

The comments accompanying that blog post were absolute classics:

* I was absolutely horrified by squat toilets and thought I would never use one to do a number 2. Well on the Inca Trail I had such terrible diarrhea that I spent a whole night in those squat toilets and overcome my fear. I could do it ANYWHERE now.

* Every trip for me has taught me more about myself.... But I can't use a squat toilet- the mess is horrible.

* I don't know what's worse, squat toilets or "normal" toilets that you're not suppose to flush toilet paper down it...but instead wipe, and chuck it into the open rubbish bin next to the toilet.

* I'm surprised why the squat toilets is a big problem. Give me one anyday instead of those urine soaked seats of western style toilets. Unless you're in an office building or hotel, you'll never find a clean toilet so I really don't want my skin touching someone elses urine..

* If its a public squat toilet you don't need to wipe the sticky seat or make a seatcover out of half a roll of toilet paper - problem is - and, this is key to western people' s horror at the sight of the squat toilet - you find you can't squat or hover that well when your staple diet for the past 20 years has been Big Jacks, Hungry Macs, Big Bird and Fried Rooster with fries and desert for a dollar more.

* Ah. Squat toilets! You really haven't lived until you've had the runs while travelling India on a rocking train. Talk about trying to hit a moving target!