- A pneumatically-operated free-standing toilet (for night-time use only) in our en-suite attached tent bathroom that required pulling a handle to suction down the waste until the staff emptied everything in the a.m (lucky them); and

- A pre-dug hole in the ground toilet, again in another en-suitte attached tent bathroom that came equipped with a bucket of dirt and a scoop to cover the waste. (Actually, I became quite fond of our little bucket.)

And then there are the various bathrooms in guesthouses and small two or three-star hotels that usually fall into two categories:

- Some with independent water heaters on the wall that you need a degree to figure out; and

- The occasional bathroom that has either a rubber pipe running out the sink bottom into a bucket under the sink, or all over the floor when the tap is on.

This bathroom is the kind that takes a lot of preparation. Looks innocent, clean and ordinary, doesn't it?

Notice the water heater, and shower attached to the wall and drain on the floor right by the toilet. THESE are the steps for using an all-in-one bathroom like this - REMOVE the roll of toilet paper, all towels, toiletries and anything else that you don't want to get wet before proceeding! (I can't emphasize enough...REMOVE EVERYTHING.) Check to see if the sink water is going to run down a pipe or all over the floor... shut the toilet lid....figure out how to use the water heater....test it first to see if you actually have hot water for more than 20 seconds....if so, put on tevas or flip-flops, otherwise you are going to break a leg sliding on the wet floor....take your speedy shower and hope that the water will: (a) stay hot; and (b) go down the drain and not into the bedroom area. Then use your flip-flopped feet to squeegee the water towards the drain...throw down a towel to mop up the floor...and you have had a successful shower.

Congratulations and don't say you haven't been warned by two people who have learned the hard way!