When you're out and about exploring all the interesting things here, sooner or later you get the "call of nature." What to do? Unlike many other places in this part of the world, this is not something you need to be overly concerned about. That's because there are plenty of public washrooms.And they are clean. Among the cleanest (if not the cleanest) in Asia.
This being Singapore, this is not something that has happened by accident. The National Environment Agency, part of the Singaporean government, is responsible for keeping things clean and green. They oversee a variety of initiatives and programs ranging from the the local weather forecasting and pollution control to things like the management of the hawker centers (food courts) and public hygiene. This includes the public toilet system program, complete with a formal operating and maintenance guide.
The NEA also provides clever, catchy posters that are posted in many the toilets. Some of the points are pretty self-explanatory and common sense. However, some might require some explanation if you haven't traveled in Asia.
There are two types of toilets here, one of which is the "seat" type that is pervasive in the USA and Europe. The other is the "squat" type that you find just about everywhere in Asia. Both styles are available in just about every public toilet, so you always have a choice. Yet another way East meets West in Singapore.
Beyond the obvious difference between squatting and sitting, the techniques of using each style are different (example: you face away from the plumbing when using the seat variety and toward it when using the squat variety).
Judging from the posters, there must not be many cases of people attempting to sit on a squat toilet. But apparently, when the squat toilets are occupied, some people try to use a seat toilet using the squat methodology. The results are problematic, ranging from discourteous (dirty footprints on the seat), to the unsanitary (squat toilet have larger "target areas"), to the disgustingly disastrous (loosing ones footing).
The posters make this pretty clear.
And it is things like this -- the situations and problems of every day life that we had never thought about before -- that continue to make our experiences here so interesting and, well, educational.
There are two types of toilets here, one of which is the "seat" type that is pervasive in the USA and Europe. The other is the "squat" type that you find just about everywhere in Asia. Both styles are available in just about every public toilet, so you always have a choice. Yet another way East meets West in Singapore.Beyond the obvious difference between squatting and sitting, the techniques of using each style are different (example: you face away from the plumbing when using the seat variety and toward it when using the squat variety).
Judging from the posters, there must not be many cases of people attempting to sit on a squat toilet. But apparently, when the squat toilets are occupied, some people try to use a seat toilet using the squat methodology. The results are problematic, ranging from discourteous (dirty footprints on the seat), to the unsanitary (squat toilet have larger "target areas"), to the disgustingly disastrous (loosing ones footing).The posters make this pretty clear.
And it is things like this -- the situations and problems of every day life that we had never thought about before -- that continue to make our experiences here so interesting and, well, educational.
2 comments:
And what were your thoughts upon first encountering the "squat" variety? Yikes!
I see a new career in your future. Doing human interest pieces for the New York Times.
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