General Reports

Not looking for an argument, only information. Toilet paper is geared to flush down toilets and disintegrate, if the plumbing is "first world". SE Asian toilets often have inferior plumbing and so a bucket is used. Western high or medium rise apartments often have the same problem with water pressure.

My question is Indians and other washing their bum. How is that hygienic? How can you nip out of your clothing shop, have a crap, wash your ass and go back to measuring up your customer? What if you live in a village and have a high fiber diet like I do?

Back in the time of Louis XIV, guys would just drop their pants and crap all over Versailles Palace. So India was not unique.

But what is with bathing your bum? What are we missing?

Japan, prior to the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 ish, had awful or no plumbing and many died of diseases. The Japanese are now gone the other extreme. The Chinese have used their no 2 as fertiliser for thousands of years. Sweden imports the stuff "for fertiliser".

Thank you for your indulgence. I am all ears even though I am on Team Toilet Paper (or banana leaves in a push).

[QUOTE=LooseCannon;2531828]If you still think India to be a land of snake charmers and doom temple priests or what is shown in slumdog millionaire you are living under some rock. India is a third world country in the correct definition of the term by non aligning to US or communism. Calling India a third world country in a condescending tone shows your ignorance or false arrogance. You are out of tune with world order.

Majority of Indians not having access to toilet? That may have been the situation 30+ years ago. 30+ years ago when free flowing water was available in plenty, people did their business near rivers and washed up. That was a much cleaner way of cleaning up, much more hygienic that your two ply extra soft tissues. Now that waters are drying up and considering safety for women the government has campaign against open defecation and has built multiple toilets. Before government built, there were community toilets. Also, when did toilets become year sticks of sort. Some other ars'e will next say he thinks Thailand should be considered a third world countries because they are a lady-boy driven economy or France should be third world country because they don't speak English. Laughable these pompous fools are.

LC.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=LooseCannon;2531828]India is a third world country in the correct definition of the term by non aligning to US or communism. Calling India a third world country in a condescending tone shows your ignorance or false arrogance. You are out of tune with world order.[/QUOTE]Two thirds of Indians live in poverty. 68.8% live on less than $2/ day, over 30% live on less than $1. 25/ day. I'd call that third world country standards. Oh, and yes, I've been to India 11 times and travelled extensively throughout the country for work.

[URL]https://www.soschildrensvillages.ca/news/poverty-in-india-602[/URL]

[QUOTE=Kerrstar;2531919]Two thirds of Indians live in poverty. 68.8% live on less than $2/ day, over 30% live on less than $1. 25/ day. I'd call that third world country standards. Oh, and yes, I've been to India 11 times and travelled extensively throughout the country for work.

[URL]https://www.soschildrensvillages.ca/news/poverty-in-india-602[/URL][/QUOTE]Having worked there unhappily years ago, I would have to agree. India's per capita GDP ranks number 180 in the world and is approximately $2,104, making it a "middle income," country in the lexicon of development. By contrast, the Philippines, where I live, ranks 158 with a per capita GDP of slightly more than $3,400, and yet by any reasonable definition is a third world country.

There's no hard and fast definition of third world, and the more politically correct term now would be "developing country," but by my standards India has a very long way to go. I couch my definition in terms of quality of and access to education, gender equality, access to quality health care, quality of infrastructure, percentage of the population living in poverty, average life expectancy, infant and maternal mortality rates per 100,000 population and percentage of children living at or below the poverty lines. Using these criteria, India surely qualifies.

GE.

[QUOTE=GoodEnough;2531980]Having worked there unhappily years ago, I would have to agree. India's per capita GDP ranks number 180 in the world and is approximately $2,104, making it a "middle income," country in the lexicon of development. By contrast, the Philippines, where I live, ranks 158 with a per capita GDP of slightly more than $3,400, and yet by any reasonable definition is a third world country.

There's no hard and fast definition of third world, and the more politically correct term now would be "developing country," but by my standards India has a very long way to go. I couch my definition in terms of quality of and access to education, gender equality, access to quality health care, quality of infrastructure, percentage of the population living in poverty, average life expectancy, infant and maternal mortality rates per 100,000 population and percentage of children living at or below the poverty lines. Using these criteria, India surely qualifies.

GE.[/QUOTE]Excellent post on what development means. If I may I would add rule of law, independent judiciary, press freedom, level of corruption, access to opportunity. A more debatable perhaps more contentious issue is whether it is a true democracy and whether human rights are constitutionally guaranteed.

Four people in Oregon contract Covid-19 after receiving both doses of vaccine.

[URL]https://uk.news.yahoo.com/four-people-oregon-contract-covid-185954081.html[/URL]

Health officials in Oregon are investigating four cases where people contracted the coronavirus after receiving both doses of the vaccine.

The symptoms of the four individuals range from asymptomatic to mild, Oregon's Health Authority said in a release on Friday.

"We are working with our local and federal public health partners to investigate and determine case origin. Genome sequencing is underway, and we expect results next week. " the agency said.

These individuals were referred to as "breakthrough cases" because they got sick with the novel virus at least 14 days after receiving the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

The Health Authority said that such cases were not "unexpected" during the pandemic. "Clinical trials of both vaccines presently in use included breakthrough cases. In those cases, even though the participants got Covid-19, the vaccines reduced the severity of illness," the agency said.

Two of the cases were discovered in Yamhill County, and two others are in Lane County. Local health officials were now looking to determine the origin of these cases to provide the public with more information.

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8kodphRkAc[/URL]

Here is an Isaan lady finding a new use for rice straw. Her granny is better looking than most Pattaya hookers and harder working too. Work like this would be good for the go go girls who have lost their jobs but it would entail work and the starfish lot have an aversion to that. It is a shame bright ladies like her lack the finances to make a go of projects such as this but I guess it is the same the world over.

Looked at the 3 lists on Wikipedia.

Thailand ranks 77,82, 83.

India 142 on all lists.

Japan 22,27, 27.

South Korea 26,31, 31.

Against my stereotypical viewpoint, I had thought Irish people were poor yet they rank 3, 5, 5. Higher than USA, England, Germany, Singapore on all charts. Guess I should have worked in Ireland.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)_per_capita

[QUOTE=PedroMorales;2532051][URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8kodphRkAc[/URL]

Here is an Isaan lady finding a new use for rice straw.[/QUOTE]Thanks for that interesting piece of education.

[QUOTE=Martin00;2530722]Hello guys!

This is kind of a general post / discussion, but I guess I'll start from this regional forum as it would be my first choice destination.

As pretty much all of us, I'm stuck in this pandemic sh*tshow and looking forward to be travelling again, as I've always done for the past 10 years. I'm a long time world traveller, and in terms of mongering I've been in Asia / Africa / Latin America, always trying to be off the beaten path. It's been fun, but as I get older I guess I am a bit less adventurous, not to mention that due to pandemic a lot of places will be a no-go for a pretty long time.

Let me get to the gist of this post: I am reaching the fuck-you-money that will allow me to leave my full time job, with the aim to start travelling and be free again. I hope that by the end of this year we'll be allowed to traver to Asia again, which I think it will recover much earlier than Latin America and Africa for many reasons.
[/QUOTE]It's thailand and the choice is barely a choice. Its the only realistic option unless you have some special circumstance that makes a place particularly attractive, like having family or friends in an area or, I dunno, but it seems like that's not a thing for you.

Thailand is quite reasonably priced, western enough, and modern. The P4 P scene is easily the best in Asia, if not in the world, even with all of the naysayers and old timers. In Asia nothing else even comes close, particularly for the price. If you could afford to be banging supermodel escorts, you wouldn't be asking about Thailand on ISG. Plus I mean, you're in Thailand and there's plenty to do and see. Thailand is really the gem of the mix with a lot of stuff going on at a great price, English is spoken, tons to do, and killer girlie scene. Plus so many westerners and places catering to westerns to make transitions easy. If it matters, Thailand is also of course very safe and stable (even with the recent political unrest). On cost -- yes its cheap, but expect to pay much more than you think. You'll be on the upper end of estimates, then break it. You can eat cheap food all day or get a cheap ass apartment-- but you won't, and it all adds up. This kinda goes for all over of course, but thailand in there's cheap and a big(er) gap to the next level

Vietnam is interesting, but if you're looking for a sex scene, that's not a thing there anything like Thailand or a mongering spot. It exists for sure, but it ain't built up as an industry in thailand and likely never will be due to the govt. Vietnam is cheaper of course, but it would better for a fund trip or like a 3 month stay than actually living there. Cambodia or Laos is just a no and we don't need to go further than that. Philippines would only be an option if there as something special about the Philippines to you, otherwise its simply a bad option compared to being in Thailand on every level, a bit shitty, dirty, overcrowded and hectic.

I will say for thailand though, if you're interested in the sex scene, it means you live in Bangkok or Pattaya most likely. Ko Samui or Phuket could work (Phuket sucks balls though), if you want to be in the south. Chiang Mai, in the north, which is an awesome city, doesn't really have much of a scene. Bangkok has an MP or two on like every soi of sukhumvit with attractive girls that are willing to do anything you want for 2500 baht, with ease like you're walking into McDonalds and ordering a Big Mac meal. Thats a god damn rare commodity. The old days of the all you can fuck FKKs in Germany are kinda the only value comparison, but most of those were an absolute ***** to get to. In Bangkok you open your door and you're there, then you eat at a great restaurant, have a beer and everything is good.

[QUOTE=PedroMorales;2531905]
My question is Indians and other washing their bum. How is that hygienic? How can you nip out of your clothing shop, have a crap, wash your ass and go back to measuring up your customer? [/QUOTE]Indian Food are generally Spicy. It tastes good when you eat, but what happens the next day morning? Your butt-hole is on fire. What cools best? Water or TP?

Indian or Asian toilets are mostly squat and do. The indian Attire (both men and women) allows clothes to be tucked easily to keep them from getting wet. The squat will also force people to complete the activity quickly. No browsing cell phones in that position. The position also best suits natural bowel movement. The squating position makes it easy to wash without soiling the cloth as the clothes are already above waisteline. The water falls into the bowl after cleaning the A-hole.

Your tailor must have lifted his garments, taken a crap, washed up with his left hand and later washed up his hands with soap, dried his hands and came back to take your measurement mostly using his right hand. Indian thought process says Left hand (Mostly non-dominant hand), to be used for unclean activities washing up after toilet, pick up some dirty stuff like dust bin. Right hand (Mostly dominant), used for clean activities including eating, greeting, receiving or giving money or things as a show of respect.

Which cleans better? Water of TP? If TP cleans better why not wash vessels with TP? Why not use tp to clean your face without using water. TP may still leave a thin film of excreta matter around your bum hole. It may just spreads it around and putting more pressure to clean up may hurts your delicate parts. Water makes it squeaky clean. Before, Indians mostly use their non dominant hand to clean and also wash their hands after toilet, now they use bidets / faucets. Also, For most Indians its psychological that without water their toilet routine is never complete. A modern indian uses the water to clean and TP to dry. Personally, the first thing I normally do when I check the hotel pics is to confirm if the toilet has faucets. I have also never understood the rush to buy toilet paper before the pandemic. Anyway, To each, his own.

[QUOTE=PedroMorales;2531905]What if you live in a village and have a high fiber diet like I do?
[/QUOTE]In a village in India, you will not find a toilet paper roll in shops. Your high fiber content food also ensures that there is decent traffic in your lower interstine. You should be more careful about the hygine of your spot where the sun does not shine.

The Americans have given Biden a chance, You can give the water Bidet a chance. Your bum hole may thank you. Don't be shy, try it once.

LC.

[QUOTE=PedroMorales;2531905]Not looking for an argument, only information. Toilet paper is geared to flush down toilets and disintegrate, if the plumbing is "first world". SE Asian toilets often have inferior plumbing and so a bucket is used. Western high or medium rise apartments often have the same problem with water pressure.

My question is Indians and other washing their bum. How is that hygienic? How can you nip out of your clothing shop, have a crap, wash your ass and go back to measuring up your customer? What if you live in a village and have a high fiber diet like I do?.[/QUOTE]Not looking to argue either my friend but ever heard of washing your hands after you use the bathroom, whether you used toilet paper or just water? That's why they have sinks and soap dispensers in the toilets. It's not as if when you use toilet paper you can now start serving customers at the local mcdonald's.

The measuring your customer comment was hilarious though, I couldn't stop laughing at that one.

[QUOTE=Franciscass;2532026]Excellent post on what development means. If I may I would add rule of law, independent judiciary, press freedom, level of corruption, access to opportunity. A more debatable perhaps more contentious issue is whether it is a true democracy and whether human rights are constitutionally guaranteed.[/QUOTE]Interesting stuff! I guess the poster who said it depends on the point of view of the speaker was on to something. To you point though, I've been to Dubai, very modern place. Can't out my finger on why I still think it's a third world country, probably a combination of what you mentioned.

[URL]https://www.insider.com/are-bidets-are-healthier-than-toilet-paper-2019-8[/URL]

I have used squat toilets in Thailand and elsewhere after a hooker showed me the drill. Toilets, squat or otherwise, can be hard if you don't know hot to operate. I have been on squat share diving boats with no toilet paper and I cannot see how that could be clean or tidy.

Toilet paper is the only product designed to disintegrate in the sewage. Kitchen paper, wet wipes etc are all bad ju ju. Ditto condoms and tampons which women flush down.

I cannot see bidets working in modern societies. Yes, the bum is the garbage area out back and lumps do get left there. But there is a price to pay for everything.

How would you explain food poisoning, the infamous Delhi Belly?

Some conventions are good: the Eastern habit of taking shoes off indoors, eating dogs and so on but modern Western society has a different beat. Left hand, right hand, too confusing. Modern plumbing would set the pace a lot.

As regards spicy food, that is to kill bugs. It is the same in all hot countries. There are Nigerians who eat an almost all fiber diet. Fresh market for toilet paper there.

Hoarding is an interesting thing. Symptoms of a weak society, I think. That said, I am well stocked in toilet paper. It is the simply the way I shop.

Food for thought at least. Most of us are tourists, no matter how long we stay. The worst offenders are those who pretend to understand Buddhism or ways their people were not raised with. I guess bum washing is beyond me, unless I changed dress codes and much else as well.

Anyway, thanks for the info. Food for thought.

[QUOTE=LooseCannon;2532199]Indian Food are generally Spicy. It tastes good when you eat, but what happens the next day morning? Your butt-hole is on fire. What cools best? Water or TP?

Indian or Asian toilets are mostly squat and do. The indian Attire (both men and women) allows clothes to be tucked easily to keep them from getting wet. The squat will also force people to complete the activity quickly. No browsing cell phones in that position. The position also best suits natural bowel movement. The squating position makes it easy to wash without soiling the cloth as the clothes are already above waisteline. The water falls into the bowl after cleaning the A-hole.

Your tailor must have lifted his garments, taken a crap, washed up with his left hand and later washed up his hands with soap, dried his hands and came back to take your measurement mostly using his right hand. Indian thought process says Left hand (Mostly non-dominant hand), to be used for unclean activities washing up after toilet, pick up some dirty stuff like dust bin. Right hand (Mostly dominant), used for clean activities including eating, greeting, receiving or giving money or things as a show of respect..[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Kerrstar;2531919]Two thirds of Indians live in poverty. 68.8% live on less than $2/ day, over 30% live on less than $1. 25/ day. I'd call that third world country standards. Oh, and yes, I've been to India 11 times and travelled extensively throughout the country for work.

[URL]https://www.soschildrensvillages.ca/news/poverty-in-india-602[/URL][/QUOTE]You have quoted a website which is enticing you to donate. Will you donate if you are told only 30% are below poverty line. Yes 30% is huge and the 225 million people under poverty line as designated by World Bank strengthens your case. I am no finance expert, but what is not being considered is that Cost of living in India is pretty low. $2 in rural India is comparable to $20 in rural Germany? How you may ask, It is because food and other essentials cost much less. I argue that only if you pull up the rural indian and transpose him to rural Germany and expect him to survive with that $2 he earned and spend it on german living, it will be an unfair ask. Put him in India where his requirements are locally met, he would not be that badly off. Basic facilities and necessities are subsidised for the poor in India. Also Indians have a money saving mentality. They try to save for a rainy day and do not blow away their money as soon as they get it.

[QUOTE=GoodEnough;2531980]Having worked there unhappily years ago, I would have to agree. India's per capita GDP ranks number 180 in the world and is approximately $2,104, making it a "middle income," country in the lexicon of development. By contrast, the Philippines, where I live, ranks 158 with a per capita GDP of slightly more than $3,400, and yet by any reasonable definition is a third world country.

There's no hard and fast definition of third world, and the more politically correct term now would be "developing country," but by my standards India has a very long way to go. I couch my definition in terms of quality of and access to education, gender equality, access to quality health care, quality of infrastructure, percentage of the population living in poverty, average life expectancy, infant and maternal mortality rates per 100,000 population and percentage of children living at or below the poverty lines. Using these criteria, India surely qualifies.

GE.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2532080]Looked at the 3 lists on Wikipedia.

Thailand ranks 77,82, 83.

India 142 on all lists.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)_per_capita[/QUOTE]All the above are factually correct. Lets see another perspective.

Education:

India has one of the highest number of graduates coming out of technical colleges. Cost of Education is less. Students are not burdened with Student loans unlike in USA. His salary after getting the job will help his family getting out of poverty. In India, parents sponsor their kids education and when the kid starts earning, they support their parents during their old age. So if one person in the family breaks the shakle of poverty and gets out, the entire family is generally pulled out. Indians also send back money if working abroad.

Health care:

Government hospitals are poor, but almost every town has one or more hospitals run by some charitable organization or some temples or godman provides medical facilities at very affordable rates. Cost of Laser Eye surgery using the latest equipment in one such organization is less than $500 both eyes and cost of one dialysis session is less than $20. Which developed country can afford to give it at such costs. Obamacare has ensured that a person with throat infection can be billed $28000. How is Indian hospitals able to afford to stay in business? India does it by using its biggest so called weakness. Population. Like a wholesaler, these hospitals cater to more than 10 k patience per month? I am not exagerating. Consultation fees are less than 1 dollar and the extra is only the medicines in most cases of routine checkups. They also don't order unnecessary scans. No corporate intervention thankfully. The entire district / county is covered. Your access to high quality hospitals is covered here. India is getting known for its cost effective medical treatment and is on of the largest medical tourism destination.

India is also the largest supplier of generic medicines / vaccines. USA wanted HCQ to stem covid during initial period. Boom, it arrived from India. Moderna, Pfizer behind schedule producing vaccines, but India has already shipped multiple countries. The tier one countries have booked the vaccines and only thinking about themselves. India is sending free vaccine to others along with supplying their own front line workers.

We are not even talking about Indias space capabilities. This is not your regular "Third World Country" waiting for freebies from First world countries. Developing country yes. Need to take care of its own more, Yes. Is it in track? Definitely yes. Will it meet the Western standards of First World status, Never, Not our style. Ultimately, India has a problem of plenty. This problem has allowed it to have its required facilities and amenities while maintaing a low cost of living. These GDP, PPP all may sound good in paper, not scalable to the population of India or most of SEA. It only helps another opportunist to open up a website and collect your donation. You must be aware that almost all big NGO spend 70% of their funds on their corporate maintenance and only 30% reaches the intended target.

[URL]https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/india-has-highest-number-of-people-living-below-poverty-line-world-bank/story/238085.html[/URL]

[URL]http://cbsnews.com/news/cost-of-health-care-routine-doctor-visit-for-a-sore-throat-results-in-a-28000-medical-bill/[/URL]

[URL]https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-sends-22-9-mn-doses-of-covid-19-vaccines-to-20-countries-more-in-pipeline-101613142400644.html[/URL]

Why are we even discussing this. Gosh.

LC.

[QUOTE=LooseCannon;2532227]Education:

India has one of the highest number of graduates coming out of technical colleges. Cost of Education is less. Students are not burdened with Student loans unlike in USA. His salary after getting the job will help his family getting out of poverty. In India, parents sponsor their kids education and when the kid starts earning, they support their parents during their old age. So if one person in the family breaks the shakle of poverty and gets out, the entire family is generally pulled out. Indians also send back money if working abroad.
[/QUOTE]Sadly it also has a very corrupt education system. We've all seen the photos of parents outside of exam rooms pushing the answers into the rooms. I've worked with plenty of Indian graduates and I have doubted how some of them actually graduted. This is not just confined to India though, I've come across this elsewhere. I think it's even becoming an issue in Western countries that have turned higher education into a business. I've heard of lecturers in Australia being pressured to not fail students because the uni makes too much money from overseas students. In one case I heard about, a lecturer wasn't allowed to fail a student who couldn't speak English very well but was studying a Master fo Englist Lit!