Bathroom stuff is not the most entertaining thing to read (or write) about on a travel website. However, the reality is the more you know about the subject the better off you are.

It’s Journeyman’s job to help you travel the world with the least bit of discomfort. Here, then, are tips to keep your body running like a well-oiled machine. And, if you do run into trouble we’ve included tips for that aspect as well. Healthy journeys, everybody!

Read the book How to Shit Around the World

There’s no way, and probably no good reason, to be subtle about it – diarrhea, parasites, and other gastrointestinal unpleasantries can be part of the price travelers pay for trying to see the world. Fortunately, this frank, witty guide lets world-explorers fight back against their invisible assailants. In this book, a noted traveler and writer, Dr. Wilson-Howarth explores such issues as sanitizing unhealthy water, safely consuming exotic foods, avoiding dehydration, keeping good hygiene on the road, and immunization.

A special section details the dreaded creatures – spiders, leeches, worms – that can put any tour into a tailspin. With special tips for children and elderly travelers, as well as ways to dodge ailments such as malaria, typhoid, and hepatitis, How to Shit Around the World is the perfect, if not the most polite, traveling companion. You can load it on to your Kindle and take it with you for $US7.96 at Amazon.com.

Toilet Tips for Women…

When it comes to using non-western and often, sub-standard bathroom facilities men are far less concerned and they get things done a lot faster than we JourneyWomen do.

– For one thing ‘their equipment’ is better designed and much more appropriate for use in Third World toilets.
– Guys are definitely not as squeamish as we are about wet seats, messy floors and yucky smells.
– They go in, use the loo, come out and never comment on their experience.
– Women, on the other hand, will ask your opinion on what the bathroom was like before they use the washroom.
– They will also offer their own detailed description of the facility when they are done.

Best Bathroom Times on an Airplane

Sick of standing in long queues for the bathroom on flights? The key to finding a free washroom is all in the timing. Usually, most passengers wait until after the meal trays are completely collected to clamber over their fellow travellers. Then they have to wait, wait, wait for interminable lengths in the loo-line-up. Here are a few “hostie”(that’s what we call flight attendants in our part of the world) tips about the best times to “Go” on an aircraft.

More…

What to Do if I Get Food Poisoning?

If you get food poisoning or a stomach illness, then a visit to a local doctor might be in order. Many of them are familiar with traveler’s diarrhea but also with any lingering viruses circulating in the region.

Stick to a steady diet of oral rehydration salts, rice (bread is a substitute if you are not gluten-intolerant) and bananas. Hydrate as much as possible.

Trioral oral rehydration salts are recommended by the World Health Organization, but in the event you don’t have them I have never found a pharmacy in my years of travel that won’t stock a version of these tablets in their stores. They don’t taste great but they are important if you do get sick.

(Jodi Ettenberg, Legalnomads.com)

Emergency Treatment for Diarrhea

In the event you become ill in the middle of nowhere and you are not prepared with medication of your own, try this method. These three items are available almost everywhere.

Buy a bag of salted potato chips (to replace salt)
Coca-Cola (drink it flat for glucose)
A banana (for potassium)

When You’re Sick on the Road

It’s never fun being ill but when you are at home at least you have friends or relatives to keep an eye on you, bring you chicken soup or drop off a video while you recuperate. Catching the flu or dealing with an upset stomach on the road is a much different story. Number one there’s no medicine cabinet to go through to find your aspirin, cough medicine or pink pills to settle your tummy. Secondly, it’s harder in a hostel to stay in bed all day because of their rules and it’s painful to loll around in a 5-star hotel because it seems like such a waste of travel money.

So based on the many days I’ve been on the road and the sore throats and tummy upsets I’ve endured along the way, here are my 12 suggestions for being prepared to nurse yourself back to health should you feel sick along the way. Or, in more dire circumstances we offer tips on how to find medical help when you need it. Click!

Delhi Belly and Me: A Guide to Travellers Diarrhea

A doctor writes … For travellers to far flung places, some things never change. Baggage gets lost, bugs bite, and ‘poop’ happens! By the latter, I refer to the fact that around 30% of you off to warmer climes will experience some traveller’s diarrhea, more affectionately known as Montezuma’s Revenge, Delhi Belly, Tourista and much more. Here is my advice on the subject… Click!