Public toilets the unglamorous reality on the road squat versus seat paper and what to carry

Local woman so the honest unvarnished toilet truth Squat versus seat you will meet BOTH western style sitting toilets are common in hotels guesthouses malls nicer restaurants and many tourist places squat toilets (the floor pan you squat over) are common at basic places bus stands older public facilities and rural spots so be ready for either Clean or grim a spectrum the hotel and guesthouse and good restaurant toilets are generally clean the bus stand and roadside public ones can be basic to grim the cleanest reliable bet on the road is a decent restaurant or hotel (pop in buy a drink use the loo) or a fuel station the petrol stations often have usable toilets Paper or the water method KEY cultural point Sri Lanka (like the region) traditionally uses WATER not paper there is usually a hose (the bum gun spray hose) or a tap and bucket beside the toilet you wash with water using your LEFT hand (which is why the left hand is the unclean one for eating the eating threads) for a beginner the spray hose is easy aim and rinse and many places now also have paper OR you bring your own Carry the toilet kit ALWAYS carry your own toilet PAPER or tissues (not guaranteed especially at basic and squat toilets) hand SANITISER (soap is not always there) and a few coins (some public toilets charge a small fee and may give you a bit of paper for it) maybe a small soap this little kit saves you constantly How the water method works if you want to try it use the hose or scoop water with the right holding and wash with the left then the soap and sanitiser after it is hygienic and refreshing in the heat once you adjust no obligation though paper is fine Finding decent toilets on the road plan around the good stops use the hotel or a nice cafe or restaurant toilet when you can (buy something) the fuel stations on long drives the better sites have facilities go before you leave a good base do not bank on the next basic stop Etiquette dispose of paper in the BIN not the toilet at many places (the plumbing cannot take it like the hygiene threads) keep it tidy and the small fee for the attendant is normal The prepared road kit carry paper sanitiser coins and a small soap use restaurant hotel and fuel station toilets for clean ones be ready to squat and to use the water hose bin the paper and you are caught out by nothing