This is a picture of your average pit toilet in Papua New Guinea. I have to admit relieving oneself in a pit toilet is not the most pleasant or easiest of tasks which i found out on my recent trip to Karkar Island.
I usually avoid going to the toilet until it's absolutely necessary. This one time it was absolutely necessary. It was early morning and before I took my daily wash I strolled into my local pit toilet.
Not being that adept at using these kinds of latrines I usually brace myself against a wall, propping myself out while I vacate the old bowels. This time was no different so as I squatted i held one of the walls. Using no more force than I usually i felt the wall move and then i realised I had pushed it over and it was falling off. Worried about exposing myself in an awkward position it only got worse when I realised the roof too was falling and the whole building was collapsing.
With pants around my ankles I waddled away from the middle of the building which was falling down directly on me. Imagine me crouched like a frog amongst the rubble of the toilet and hearing the villagers running to my aid. Thank God I was able to hoist my pants back up around my waist before they came to my rescue!
The owner/builder of the toilet started apologising profusely as I also did to him thinking I had knocked down his one toilet. In my defence I have to say he didn't have a great building record as the house he built for his mother collapsed about a few days into my stay there. Luckily she had passed away a year ago!
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