Quote:
Originally Posted by Stitchawl
If you ever have the opportunity to be a tour guide over a several day trip, you will really understand this problem. I've run into many people who simply 'refuse' to use an Asian 'squat toilet.' Refuse. For a while...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by maianhvk
About the "squat toilet"... I read somewhere that the bone structure and/or muscular system of a Westerner differs a bit from those of an Easterner, so people from Europe/the US have difficulties squatting, while we don't  |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stitchawl
I think it's more about habit. It's not all that difficult to learn to be comfortable with that position, it just takes practice. But I see here in Japan that it's being replaced with western style toilets everywhere, and my wife tells me that it's now something that teachers are instructing elementary students in its use as a 'cultural and historical' part of the curriculum!
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Apparently, our bone structure is different.
I learned about it a few months ago. I had to do a bone densitometry test. Before the test I filled in a form where they asked me my ethnic identity....
I absolutely hate this type of questions. When I saw it I went WTF?!?
Anyway, as usual, I ticked "other white"
The nurse read through the form and asked me why I ticked "other white"? The question earned raised eyebrows on my part. She said that I didn’t look like that...and explained that it was very important because after they get scan results they apply different bone density coefficient tied to the ethnical background. She said it is different for white, black, asian etc.
I explained that I have been Jewish from day one and was born in Ukraine and that my relatives lived in Ukraine, Russia in the last 200 years and before that in Western Europe. Maybe if we go back 2000 years then I could probably tick a different box. My looks? What could I do? Blue blood. Unmixed.
Re: squat toilet
That was the norm in the xUSSR. In all 15 Soviet Socialist Republics. One also had to possess a good body balance and navigating skills to wade to an empty “hole”. Lack of sense of smell helped.
However, accordingly to the latest researches this type of a toilet is the best for our health (besides the obvious hygiene benefits). Apparently it is the natural position for the
long toilet. You can now buy special contraptions in the UK, that you can fit over standard toilet in order to use it like a “squat toilet”.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Terminator
Another fruit smoothie, I've taken to drinking them for breakfast (When I have breakfast, 2 out of 7 days I won't because I either forget about it or I just don't feel like eating)
Healthier (I would think) that toast  |
When I was in Mexico, we had a buffet style restaurant with literally hundreds of types of food for breakfast. Guess at what “station” was the longest queue??!?! Toaster. Americans and Canadians were queuing to make loads of white bread toasts every morning. For the life of me I cannot understand it. Why travel somewhere and stick to the only food (an unhealthy one) you know? I mean, you might not like something. But not even trying?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sweetpea
I feel naked without out...
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Fantastic explanation.
This is exactly how I feel.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sweetpea
Except when I'm swimming. I'll put it on my necklace then (so it's still close to me). I'm too afraid I might lose it because my fingers will shrink a bit while swimming...
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One year ago I went to a jeweller and asked him to downsize my ring after I lost it when working in a front garden. Cannot describe how dismal and shuttered I felt. 3 hours later I went and dug through all the piles of soil and stones I created and found it!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stitchawl
I found a new tea this afternoon! I went into Osaka to a good import shop that has a nice selection of teas and found an Ahmad tea that they hadn't been carrying before. It's called "Hampton Breakfast" tea, and I bought a tin to bring home. It's a blend of Indian (I'm assuming Assam,) Kenyan, and Ceylon.
I've just brewed it up and am about to give it a taste....
Hmmm... very nice. Not an overpowering drink... I guess that Kenyan is an Uva... Nice balance of flavors... Certainly is made with Assam...
Overall, a pleasant tea, a bit on the weak side. I'll give it a try as my breakfast tea tomorrow and see if my palate is different in the early morning.
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Is not it Ahmad Hampton Breakfast tea that I am finishing the second tin right now? I am drinking a cup of it as I am typing.
If it is the same then
Not an overpowering drink...&
on the weak side would be my description of it. It is not even close to Ahmad English Breakfast.
This post is outdated.
Many hours went by...Cooked Pu-Erh in da cup.