
Ayutthaya is an ancient city, and we spent the morning walking around the burned and scattered ruins taking pictures and listening to the history of the place. It was then that nature called. This is where I encountered the dreaded squatter toilet. The squatter toilet (as opposed to what the Thais refer to as the “western-style toilet”) is a strange sight to those who have never seen one before, as I had been. It is a regular toilet, except that it’s only about six inches off the ground, and instead of sitting on it you are supposed to place your feet onto a plastic, ribbed area, pull your pants down, and complete your mission.

After envisioning myself falling backwards into a basin of E. coli, I decided against the standard squat, and instead hovered as best I could. My legs were killing me from climbing up the Temple of Dawn from the day before, so the hovering did not work out so well. I took a picture to remember the moment, and left the room (which I had paid to use) having to pee just as badly as I had before entering.