THERE’S ONLY one way to approach this topic, Poor alternative better than none re- quested by a 60-year-old reader who asked for an article on “toilet sanitation in the countries you have visited.’” She notes that ‘‘with arthritis in both knees”? some of the more primitive facilities (i.e. various floor level basins) are impossible. She’d really have a fit if she could see some of the primitive sheds and name-it I’ve en- countered in Asia, South America and Africa. It is the unlucky trav- eller who has a strong sense of smell, In North America, we are for- tunate that our heaith departments keep an eye on washrooms. That doesn’t mzéan that all are spotless — everyone has encountered gas stations, out-back restaurants and roadside conveniences that are disgusting, but the overall stand- ards are decent. There is no doubt that women are at a disadvantage but both sexes are apt to encounter un- pleasant side effects from food and/or beverages. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the traveller has been careless. Some have a high sensi- tivity to changes in their normal diet, while others have digestive tracts like the Trans-Canada Highway and can handle just abcut anything. I can only generalize on the topic of lavatory hygiene, and my notes follow. Anyone can en- counter a disaster at a time when the situation is urgent. © | have never encountered poor facilities in northern Continental Europe. e Bus tours, especially those catering to North Americans, make every effort to choose clean stops with conventional plumbing. This is often impossible in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. © Half-day bus tours are better than full-day tours for people, like my reader, with disabilities. e Skirts (io pantyhose) are eas- ier to manoeuvre than slacks. When a floor is awash with sewage you will not want to remove a Reebok in order to — well, I guess you get the picture. ePaper products are often missing. Facial tissues — lots! — are easier to carry than rolls. Never leave your hotel without a supply. ¢ Hand-washing facilities may be absent OR may be so grungy that you'd feel cleaner avoiding them. Packets of moist hand wipes are easy to carry. «Restrict your morning fluid intake. ¢if wandering around on your own, the washrooms in luxury hotels are invariably spotiess — go to the lounge, order a beer (you Barbara NcGreadie TRAVEL WISE don’t have to drink it!) and enjoy the clean facilities. ® Cancel any excursion if you have a hint that all is not well. Get a good book and have a Pep- to cocktail instead. Men: Don’t think you are in the wrong room if you find a lady seated at the desk in the ‘‘Men’s.”’ Washroom concessions are pri- vately operated in many parts of the world. She will give you clean towels, soap and often any other items you require -— razors or cosmetics (pricey, but available). Some will sew on buttons and fix errant zippers. Tips are man- datory? Ladies: Don’t be surprised if the pair of shoes showing under the adjoining stall are a pair of men’s brogues. In many parts of the non- English speaking world, washrooms are unisex. 1 blushed purple the first time it happened to me, sure that I'd mis-read the sign and had made an interne- tional fool of myself. Assuming that the toilet is a more-or-less conventional model, flushing may offer a challenge. First, look up. You may find that the toilet tank is suspended from the ceiling and has a chain hang- ing from it. That’s the flush. In Australia, | was stumped by the toilet in a friend’s home. The flush was a flat button on the top of the tank, confusing because it sported the manovfacturer’s logo. To me, it looked like a medallion instead of a flush. Some oddities I'v encountered: «Sets of steel footprints on which you stand over an open VENTURE TRAVEL CRYSTAL A Message To Uncompromising Travellers Everywhere: sewer pipe (Spain). © A waste-paper basket beside the toilet in which you discard us- ed paper (Hong Kong — in a public monument). © A shed (open sewer pipe, no footprints) with absolutely no light if you shut the door. Tricky! (north of Puerto Madryn, Argen- tina). * A two-holer shanty with old magazines —— not for reading ma- terial (Vancouver {sland). Another point that I feel is very - important for budget travellers is that hotel prices world-wide are soaring. The average North Amer- ican refuses to travel if he can’t have a room with an ensuite bath. I didu’t think I could, cither, but when it came to paying $100 a night instead of $25, I gave it a try. Honestly, it’s not bad at all. In decent B&B homes and smali hotels, the bathrooms are well kept. Even my fussy family has become used to the idea, par- * ticularly in Europe and especially in England. Unlike luxury hotels, the smaller places almost always serve a full breakfast as part of the price. The ‘‘luxury’’ places will give you rolls and coffee or tea, but if you want an egg it may cost you more than the whole hen. At the risk of soundiug critical, many Europeans don’t have the same obsession with daily sham- poo-shower routines as we do. I’ve rarely had to wait in line. On the odd occasion where the showers looked a bit suspicious, I’ve washed my feet last, stepping out onto a clean towel. Watch, also, for hot water meters attached to some showers and keep a supply of the proper coins right with you in the stall. Few things get your day off to a worse start than rinsing your hair in ice water. 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Chave had unulloyed satistac - tion from them, aad have worn them to work, at rest, on hebdays, while hill and rock climbing in S Scotland and tast April on trek in the Nevalese Himativas, where they not aniy withstood all that Nepal could throw at them but were alo the envy of my tellow travellers! | am particularly A impressed by thea comtort and the rapid speed al which they dry atter washing, bath in a Your Ship Has Come In! THE CRYSTAL HARMONY 2 : > There is nothing quite ; ee : ; Gen” Dr g Hirnalayan river and a British washing machine. Se what's the problem, Ehear you ask? The ZIPPPR! Last week it pave up the ghost and burst asunder when the handle bil avhatis the right name/) came olf th: ser.” cro “BS. Whee are vou going to open an outer athe UK? A shapin London would make ¢ mat” The siaper was quickly replaced and the Pants etumed te Dr Croall on Long tli Old Wises. bees, near Canterbury in Keal Tilley Endurables Tilley Endurables Western Ine. 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