Currently in Taiwan - Toilet Problem

LOneJay on 21/01/2015 - 03:28
Last edited 21/01/2015 - 03:29

I'm currently in Taiwan and in the room I'm staying, in the bathroom, there's a note taped to the toilet that reads:

"Please do not dispose toilet paper, sanitary napkins and others into the toilet. Thank you."

So I'm wondering, how am I supposed to do a no. 2 without disposing said toilet paper down the toilet? There's a rubbish bin next to the toilet but it seems unhygienic to throw soiled paper there. The shower and toilet are pretty much one-in-the-same so I could do a wash after doing my business but that seems a hassle. Currently been pinching as cleanly as possible and using a minimal amount of toilet paper to flush down the toilet. Thought maybe they have plumbing problems when people start flushing toilet paper down the toilet.

The Ozbargainer in me contemplated simply not wiping but decided I have standards to keep. Tried to find the taiwanbargain.com.tw forums but there doesn't seem to be one.

Also being NZBC, and with my limited understanding of Mandarin, pretty much every social interaction has been:

Shopkeeper - <Greets me in Mandarin>
Me - "Giddaymatehowsitgoin?"
Shopkeeper - "??????"

Travel

Comments

  • shadowarrior on 21/01/2015 - 03:43
    +1

    Check if they have a hand (spray) bidet or a toilet seat bidet. :\

    • OneJay on 21/01/2015 - 09:15

      Oh! Think I've got it! There's no bidet basin as such but the shower head is on a flexible pipe and at the base is a valve/tap that lets you switch between shower head and tap. The tap pours straight onto the floor and drain.

      The paper provided isn't a roll but in a nose tissue style box with the texture and consistency of Australian toilet paper.

      Thanks!!

      • shadowarrior on 21/01/2015 - 22:40

        Yep that would be it. The tap is usually there to fill bucket (some prefers the bucket and mug method over the hand bidet). :)

  • watwatwat on 21/01/2015 - 04:26
    +2

    Throw it in the toilet, you derp. They don't want to you shove hard napkins in their toilet and clog it. Toilet paper is fine.

    There is nothing ozbargainer about not wiping your ass. I distance myself and this community from your comments. :)

    • toristo on 21/01/2015 - 07:44
      +1

      If there is a sign requesting you don't throw it in the toilet, don't. There is probably a reason, and poor plumbing is likely to be it.

      Having traveled throughout Asia, this isn't unusual to see, and yes, seems unsanitary to us, but it's better than some other poor bloke having to unblock a watery mess made due to your ignorance of a sign put there for everyone's benefit.

      • OneJay on 21/01/2015 - 09:07

        I have noticed the toilets seem to have a shallower bowl than usual, and I'm also on the 6th floor. Could be it actually.

        • scrimshaw on 21/01/2015 - 10:38

          I never understood the purpose of shallow bowl toilets. You'd sit in it, then pee, then poo, then suddenly the poo/pee water gently grazes your ass as the toilet bowl fills up. And if you're a guy, your dangly bits will probably be submerged in sewage as well.

          Eeeeeww.

        • OneJay on 21/01/2015 - 11:03

          @scrimshaw:

          Sometimes I half flush after peeing because I anticipate splash back.

          Not such a gentle graze, more like splash damage.

      • tanoshiiki on 21/01/2015 - 10:32

        Also is frequent in Europe as well.

    • SnoozeAndLose on 28/01/2018 - 13:27

      In Taiwan, they want you to wipe and put it in the ribbish bin next to it. Small amount of toliet paper will indeed block their toliet and will take ling time to unblock.

  • Tnetennba on 21/01/2015 - 04:43
    +6

    I'm just sitting here wondering what the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation has to do with this.

    • gevidian on 21/01/2015 - 08:33

      NZBC - New Zealand Born Chinese.

      • OneJay on 21/01/2015 - 09:24

        Was going to put ABC for simplicity's sake but yeah nah.

  • scrimshaw on 21/01/2015 - 08:37
    +2

    Because of low water pressure and aims to protect the environment, you are never supposed to flush your used toilet paper down the toilet. You throw them in the bin.

  • retiredfeline on 21/01/2015 - 09:47

    Also being NZBC, and with my limited understanding of Mandarin, pretty much every social interaction has been:

    Shopkeeper - <Greets me in Mandarin>
    Me - "Giddaymatehowsitgoin?"
    Shopkeeper - "??????"

    Yeah, that's Taiwan for you, they mostly get Chinese speaking tourists, or tourists who stay in places where English is understood. Hopefully you are only there on a short stay otherwise you'll just have to deal with it.

    • OneJay on 21/01/2015 - 11:30

      Oh I don't mind. Most signs have prices listed and I just speak English, point, hand gesture and give enough change. Only here for a week and want to come back one day so intend to learn more conversational Mandarin.

  • JoyVee on 21/01/2015 - 13:41

    This custom of putting all toilet paper in the bin also applies in Athens. I always put it down to poor plumbing issues. They collect garbage every day. I found hosing your anus was very refreshing in a hot climate, bracing otherwise. Sometimes you have to check the angle of the hosepipe is suited to your needs. No toilet paper in the lavatory bowl applies throughout much of Asia.

    • scrimshaw on 21/01/2015 - 15:47

      I found hosing your anus was very refreshing in a hot climate, bracing otherwise

      Hmmmm. The japanese / koreans do this all the time with their automatic electronic bidets, and it also means you don't need to wipe and don't need to use toilet paper. In SE asia the practice of using a small bucket of water is also pretty common — though inevitably your legs and bottom half will be wet and you'd need a towel to dry yourself off later.

      • shadowarrior on 21/01/2015 - 22:37

        I can confirm your legs won't be wet, nor would your ass be wet, the trick is to direct the flowing water from the mug to your anus using your left hand…and clean it. The action taken by the left hand is somewhat similar to how you unclog drains with a plunger, so you don't really wipe your anus and turds with your hand and smear them around. Yes your left hand does come in contact with turd.

        However, most places around in SE Asia, the hand shower bidets are quite common. http://kitchenbathroomfixtures.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/0…

        IMO, it feels hygienic to use than the tissue paper smearing job. Also takes less water (reducing the amount of frequent flushes you need to make sure the toilet doesn't get clogged with toilet paper after you encounter Mr Stubborn back there).

        However, my local council (and most others) think that in-case the toilet is ever clogged, and at the same time the mains line is jammed and is getting repaired, and at the exact same time someone dropped the hand shower bidet into the clogged toilet full of crap, just when the check valve in the hand bidet self destructs, and at the very second whoever was fixing the mains pipe now solves the problem and opens the mains line, it can then suck in all shit water through the hand bidet into the mains and contaminate it. Hence, hand bidets are a high-hazard item. :| This requires a special device fitted for the hand bidet, which costs around $600 to install and somewhere between $100-$200 for it's mandatory annual inspection.

        http://www.lusanbidets.com.au/bidet-choice/backflow-preventi…

  • [Deactivated] on 22/01/2015 - 11:39

    There's a rubbish bin next to the toilet but it seems unhygienic to throw soiled paper there.

    That's where you throw toilet paper in many SE Asian countries, so I guess Taiwan isn't an exception to the rule. It's a bit strange at first (I originally thought it would stink up the bathroom), but if you're in a hotel or guesthouse it should be removed by the cleaners.

    Don't flush the paper though (or at least too much) - those septic systems are pretty poor quality and you're more likely than not to block the loo if you try!

  • spersephone on 26/02/2015 - 16:33

    I know this is an older thread, but I was in Beijing in December, and we faced this same issue. We were not told of the requirement in our hotel, and there was no sign stating that toilet paper was not to be flushed. However, one of the rooms occupied by my fellow students (study trip) had a toilet overflow problem, and they were yelled at for flushing their toilet paper.

    At least they've told you first - we had no idea and did what we thought was accepted, as it was a western style hotel.

    • FutureTech on 26/02/2015 - 17:19

      I think what happened to your friend was an isolated incident. Anyways some Chinese do be used to throwing the used toilet paper into the bin instead of the toilet bowl while others aren't. Of course its in the hotels best interest that no one flushes their toilet paper down so that they won't have to deal with a clogged toilet caused by that no matter how small the chance of it happening is. However in general I believe under normal circumstances most modern toilets in China would be able to handle some toilet paper anyways.

  • godoggies3 on 02/03/2015 - 07:55
    +1

    Happens in many parts of Asia mostly for plumbing reasons. Lot of waste piping has little grade compared to western countries (1:40 - 1:60)

    You also need to take toilet paper with wherever you go.

    Just Curious - Were you posting this whilst actually seated on the throne? If so I could understand your dilemma.

  • altomic on 02/03/2015 - 10:30

    There's a rubbish bin next to the toilet

    welcome to recycling at the next level

  • Eeples on 28/01/2018 - 13:07

    This is the case in many countries in the world including those in Asia and Europe.

    It is due to less robust sewage systems.

    Your choices…..

    1. Use a small amount of toilet paper; and multiple flush 1 or 2 sheets at a time. (But do not keep flushing if it’s blocked).

    2. Wrap used toilet paper with more toilet paper and make big wads. Put these in a small plastic bag and take it with you when you leave the room and dispose of it in a bin when you can.

    3. Wrap used toilet paper with more toilet paper and make wads and put them in your bathroom bin. Then on your way out ask for the room to be serviced.

    4. Learn to use the hose. (Google it).

    5. Use a combination of methods.

    Good luck.

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