Image Courtesy of Sally Cronin
My iPad Mini tells me this picture was taken at 6:31 a.m. A thin fog hung over the city our first morning. Sue hadn’t slept well and had been up and down all night. My unconscious-self had not moved all night. I heard nothing. Sue picked up the wake-up call, “You wake up now.” After a quick shower, I felt refreshed and hungry. The previous meal hadn’t been substantial.
Breakfast had started at 6:30 a.m. The eating area this time was on the second floor unlike the first one for dinner the night prior. There was no shortage of choices: buffet style for visitors from both east and west. The usual items such as bacon; sausages; eggs boiled or eggs to order; various familiar cereals; yogurt; bread to slice; rolls; butter and jams were available. As well, roasted potatoes, corn, pasta, congee soups, spring rolls, and a variety of vegetables and more were on offer. Of course, an assortment of juices, coffee, tea and sliced fruits: watermelon, cut-up oranges, bananas, sushi, and tossed and bean salads were available. Prior warnings, by the travel agency, about not eating anything not boiled, were uppermost in our minds. I passed on most of these, though the presentations made my mouth water.
Introductions: At 9:30 a.m., our guide, waited in the hotel lobby and the bus waited outside. The dazzling morning sun had burned off the fog and the fresh air smelled of glorious summer. What a leap from winter, which we’d left behind almost two days ago, to a balmy Chinese spring.
Our tour guide was called Robert in English. I believe he was 40-something. He had the hint of a tummy but otherwise has an average five-foot-five, or six-inch frame. He didn’t avoid eye-contact and his command of English was excellent.
Our bus driver didn’t need to speak but he helped the ladies step up into the bus. I evaded his assistance. I didn’t want help. I don’t need any—not yet. Our traveling companions, the English 8 Group were all retired and eager to start.
Jim and Carolyn (Canada)
Russ and Bonnie (Canada)
Ernesto and Lorena (Mexico). They have a daughter in Canada who fingered the travel ad
Sue and I (Canada)
Upon arrival at the Temple_of_Heaven, the ladies squirmed and the inquisition began. “Where are the washrooms, please?” Who knew the ladies all followed an unwritten rule: never miss an opportunity. My mantra had begun at Chicago airport.
Park Bathroom
- Had both squat and pedestal toilets
- Men’s and women’s washrooms across from each other, separated by sink area
- No toilet paper supplied
- shared sinks are in between the two
- Both sexes wash their hands side-by-side
- Soap supplied
- Driers weak, no paper towels
- Counters drowning in splashed water
I lucked out with a pedestal toilet, but the floor and toilet seat were a wet mess. How does this happen? Thank goodness I came prepared with my own paper and dried up the worst bits so my clothes wouldn’t get dirty. I managed not to slip and fall and I hadn’t even needed to use a squat toilet. I hadn’t thought to pack a change of clothing. My first flush was an oopsie. I forgot to put the paper in the basket and instead flushed it. The sanitary system cannot handle paper well due to the extreme volume of usage. We were stared at. I smiled, washed my hands and waved them around when the drier didn’t work. It felt strange standing shoulder to shoulder, next to a man, in what feels like the women’s washroom.
Temple of Heaven (the park)
The area was park-like and filled with young people, seniors and everyone in between. We had come dressed for summer and removed our light jackets. The day was warm and the air clear. Most of the locals wore wool everything, long sleeves, hats and quilted jackets.
Even the older folk stretched limbs (legs) against wrought iron fences or practiced Tai chi. The younger groups—most of them female—danced to music (comparable to line dancing or Zumba here).
A few of the older generation (gulp) were contortionists. Say what? I have pictures to back ME up. See. Ouch. My back and legs can’t do that. My teeth hurt to watch. How is this still possible at this guy’s age? He must be over 75 at least.
The man in the red sweater holds something akin to a bird (as in badminton). Demonstrations for its use look similar to a soccer player keeping his ball in motion. The feet and ankles are kept active. An effective exercise, I think and your competition is a small white plastic thing with feathers you must not allow to touch the ground.
- Hawkers everywhere, with shawls, scarves, kites, badminton-like birdies etc.
- Hawkers were persistent but not rude
- Young and old come to the park for exercise and fresh air
- I saw no dogs walked
- Birds taken for walks. Their cages were hung on tree limbs
- It was the weekend, a Sunday
We had free time to wander the park for about 20 minutes. Throngs of people surrounded us everywhere we turned. I imagined all these people were occupants of the many tall apartment buildings around the park. Their belief is fresh air and exercise are necessary to a good life. I kept a low profile—I might have gawked once or twice—the locals stared openly. It is their country after all and we were the oddballs.
Next on February 3, Beijing Part 4,
© 2017 Tess @ How the Cookie Crumbles
FYI: This is a re-blog of the best parts of my trip in 2014.
January 27, 2017 at 6:05 pm
I’m afraid if I ever tried to use a squat toilet I’d never get up. What an interesting experience. 🙂
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January 27, 2017 at 6:14 pm
In the 70s every day I watched (PBS) Richard Hittleman’s Yoga for Health. I got really into it. Too bad I didn’t keep it up for more than a couple decades. Anyhow he used to always say “You are as young as your spine is flexible!” Apparently that guy is pretty darned young. 😀
Thanks for resharing your trip of a lifetime. Mega hugs.
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January 27, 2017 at 6:25 pm
I remember similar squat toilets in France many moons ago. Not an experience to repeat 😉 Great post, Tess x
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January 27, 2017 at 6:28 pm
Oh, I’m enjoying this.
Squat toilets I can cope with as that’s what we had in Afghanistan – communal is a bit different, though.
That ‘elastic man’ photo is eye watering.
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January 27, 2017 at 7:55 pm
Interesting, Tess! Remember squat toilets in the Japan countryside. Good the weather was decent in the spring, not as much pollution. Thanks for your trip details and photos! Look forward to the next post. 🎼 Christine
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January 27, 2017 at 9:05 pm
So this was before smart phones and their built-in alarms. I’m so glad the days of wake-up calls are gone!
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January 27, 2017 at 9:27 pm
I can’t imagine how they can get things so right and so wrong t the same time as with your breakfast or cooked dinner choice. Surely they must have seen no unisex toilets during their fact finding expedition prior to building toilets for Westerners ? That must have been to strangest ‘spending a penny’ ever.
xxx Massive Hugs Tess xxx
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January 27, 2017 at 9:42 pm
Great photos, Tess. It seems that we westerners always have an experience with the eastern toilets!
I do hope you come back with some new contortionist skills. Nice photos.
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January 27, 2017 at 10:22 pm
There are some things about travel……
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January 27, 2017 at 11:59 pm
Oh my on so many counts! I wonder if they are such great contortionists because of using the squat toilets? 🙂 Great photos, for sure!
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January 28, 2017 at 1:30 am
Fun re-read.
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January 28, 2017 at 4:09 am
I hate those squat toilets, you find them here and there in Africa as well. Lucky you had your own supply of loo paper. I have also learned to do that. Looks very interesting but I love the UK and have told my husband that when I have exhausted every museum and literary and historical point of interest that the British Isle has to offer, then I will look at going to the East. Tee hee, that will never happen…
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January 28, 2017 at 4:21 am
this is so interesting, great meaning and valuable….this makes a lot of sense to learn about many other possibilities..
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January 28, 2017 at 5:26 am
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
It is time for the week trip to China courtesy of Tess Karlinski and this week it is contortion in the ladies washroom and in the park.. I am with Tess.. the first thing I look for is the loo…oh my the worst we saw were in France in the early 80s squat toilets, no paper and no doors.. no way.. As always a delightfully entertaining and detailed guide.
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January 29, 2017 at 4:38 pm
At least we had doors and choice of pedestals vs. squats and nowhere to hang anything. You had to have five hands not to have yet where you didn’t want it. 😀 😀 Beginner’s luck helped acclimate in times of no choice. Did I mention we had doors? Wonderful doors with locks?
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January 30, 2017 at 3:52 am
That is a relief… I once when to a place where the toilets where just placed side by side and you could chat to your neighbour.. I hung on…xx
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January 28, 2017 at 5:53 am
Apparently in countries where squat toilets are the norm, there is a very low incidence of the bowel disorders common in the western world!
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January 28, 2017 at 4:17 pm
If I squatted there, I would still be there, trying to get up lol!!
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January 28, 2017 at 5:02 pm
well i think I’m flexible but really do they not have ligaments? Bones? Are they exoskeletal? Amazing that they can do that.
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January 28, 2017 at 7:22 pm
Really enjoyed the photos, Tess. So interesting to see how other parts of the world live. I want to say I wish I was that flexible but on second thought…. lol
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January 28, 2017 at 9:59 pm
Not eating most of that delicious-sounding food because it wasn’t boiled would have been the hardest part for me. Well…. having to use a squat toilet might have topped it. But fresh air and sunshine after leaving winter behind would certainly have been a plus! Thank you for another grand virtual adventure, Tess 🙂 ♥
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January 28, 2017 at 10:14 pm
Omg, couldn’t get passed the bathroom. The thought of slipping in that wet mess and sound effects shared in a unisex public washroon. Yuck! Lol 🙂
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January 29, 2017 at 11:59 am
My goodness, some of those people are bendy!! I don’t like the sounds of those loos much Tess. Good job you were well-prepared! 🙂
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January 30, 2017 at 1:11 am
In some countries the toilets become the biggest adventure of all!
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January 30, 2017 at 5:09 am
Wow! What a start! Flexible or what? I was surprised to find one of those squat toilets in Florence at one of the museums (I also took a picture but I don’t think I’ve shared it. I remember later it was a good way to orient ourselves as to which pictures were from where). Great to catch up! Thanks, Tess!
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