Coming to Indonesia opens the mind to new ways of doing things: new foods, new forms of transportation, new ways of looking at life, and new ways of taking care of daily hygiene. The above photo may seem strange to all who live in the Western world, but the squatty-potty (as I affectionately call it) is actually used by more people in the world than the porcelain throne found in most American homes. Other features vary as well. To the left you see a big tub of water. No, that’s not for jumping into as a make-shift bathtub. Instead it’s a water reservoir (called a bak) that holds several functions: 1. To provide water to “flush” the squatty-potty 2. To provide water for your “dipper shower” 3. To serve as a vital water reservoir since water supply from the facet is not always consistent. You’ll also notice that this is a “wet-floor” bathroom. An added feature in our bathroom is the game called “Kill the Cockroaches that Crawl out of the Drain.” I set a personal record two days ago by killing 5 during one bath, without my contacts in or glasses on. It sure makes bathtime a whole new experience.
