Usually when I head to public toilets I don't generally like to "make noise" while I'm doing my business. I mean, it's embarassing right? I mean there are ways and "positions" which I manoeuvre into to make minimal noise. e.g. put toilet paper into the toilet first and then pee... and other secrets which I think shall remain secret for the sake of face!

So today while at work I was busting to the toilet after being so busy doing much work. So I went charging into the toilet and let it all out "PSHhhhhhhhhhhht" ... I thought.... geez the lady in the cubicle two down was pissing like anything also, so I might as well let it out. The faster the better right? I didn't really think who it might be in the cubicle 2 down and I didn't really care... but obviously I should consider it next time since people might get funny thoughts in their little heads after the peeing fiasco of "much noise"!

*flush*

I come out of the toilet to meet my boss at the basin... *GASPS* talk about *awkward.* So we had a little chat about how I'm getting along in my position etc. and it was fine. By the way, my boss is a super nice lady! I mean SUPER! I really like her - not trying to suck up or anything... but she's the kind of lady that exubers confidence and good leadership qualities. Able to negotiate and give and take, good listener to advice, always ready to improve and a great speaker. I wish she was my mum! lol Anyway, enough about my boss... I'm supposed to talk about toilet etiquette.

I know it's a natural human process to pee... but there are toilet etiquettes. Should I have pee'd in silence? My urge was to get it out as quick as possible since I was so busy at the desk and wanted to hold my pee as long as I could before I had to get up from my desk.

The Japanese people have toilet etiquette down pat though.

Article from wikipedia.

Many Japanese women are embarrassed at the thought of being heard by others during urination (see paruresis). To cover the sound of bodily functions, many women flushed public toilets continuously while using them, wasting a large amount of water in the process. As education campaigns did not stop this practice, a device was introduced in the 1980s that, after activation, produces the sound of flushing water without the need for actual flushing. This device is now routinely placed in most new public women's rooms, and many older public women's rooms have been upgraded. The device is activated by pressing a button, or by the wave of a hand in front of a motion sensor. After activation, the device creates a loud flushing sound similar to a toilet being flushed. This sound either stops after a preset time or can be halted through a second press on the button. It is estimated that this saves up to 20 liters of water per use. However, some women believe that thedevice sounds artificial and prefer to use a continuous flushing of the toilet instead of the recorded flush. So far, there appears to be no demand for these devices for men's public toilets, and the devices are almost never installed in men's restrooms.

The Japanese are so concerned about the peeing noises they make when going to the toilet that they need other noises to counteract their peeing noise! It's a bit insane, but if you think about their cultural environment I guess it makes sense because they are such reserved and conservative people.

I went to Thailand and I noticed their toilets are a little different from Malaysia. They still use squat toilets but the amount of room they give you to put your feet is absolutely ridiculous! One wrong move and you're down in your shit! And plus, did they ever think... what if Michael Jordan, Yao Ming or Shaq needed to use one??? Where on earth would they put their feet? Their feet is probably as big as the toilet hole!!! It would be impossible for them... unless their legs were so long that they could actually squat with their feet on the floor! At least with Malaysian squat toilets, the hole is actually platformed connecting to the walls. You know what I mean right?

I'll tell you my experience in Malaysia. There are some pretty gross toilets in Malaysia, but I don't recall them being as bad as back in 2002 when I went back. Maybe because they've upgraded and most toilets are Western sit down toilets.

ANYWAY... in the ladies washroom... CONFIRM the floor will be wet in Malaysia! I will bet anyone on that!!! And there always seems to be a terrible stench coming ... it's so sickening I always have to hold my breath when going to the toilet then tip toe all the way out (unless I'm wearing shorts of course) Ughhh... the toilets up in Cameron Highlands where the tea plantation was pretty bad. I almost chucked...

I remember the worst toilet I ever went to... was actually on my last holiday. Sheesh... I was busting like anything - and since my bladder sucks and doesn't do it's job properly... I generally have to go pee a lot even though I don't drink a lot of water! I get scared of drinking too much water in public because it means - sooner or later I'm going to have to pee... and peeing involves entering a public toilet! So anyway, my cousin was driving me around Klang and we finally got to some food place and she told me to get down and simply find a toilet. I went to the closest one...

TIP: Do not ever go to those mamak stall toilets... they are the grossest ever!

But I was a bit desperate by then... so I went in and it was tiny and yucks, the toilet was so friggin dirty and the door was dirty, I was half squatting, holding my breath and closing my eyes praying thatwaiting for the business to be done. Then I ran out of there! Worst experience ever.

I think the toilets are generally dirty because I heard from someone that "Malays can't use toilet paper to wipe their ass, so their use hosed water," but apparently that's not true. Malaysians prefer hosed water because it's more hygenic but it leaves such a watery mess on the floor! I can't stand water on the floor in bathrooms! It really annoys me!

That's another thing I noticed in Malaysian household bathrooms - THE FLOORS ARE ALWAYS WET!!! Unlike the dry floors we have here...

I must say though, the toilets in The Gardens are pretty decent. I actually like them a lot because they're super clean!!! I didn't get to try out the paid KLCC toilets! haha...

Sometimes I also wonder if Malays know how to use Western toilets... I mean squatting on the seat of a toilet that is clearing for sitting on c'mon!!! And they leave dirty shoe marks on the toilet seat!!! *shudders*