Recently, a fan left a message saying that he is a Virgo with a very serious case of mysophobia. He feels that not showering for one night might cause him to have a mental breakdown and be unable to breathe, but he really wants to go to Tibet. What should he do? Here are some experiences shared by other fans to address this issue.
Current state of sanitation in Tibet:
The environment in Tibet isn't as bad as many people imagine. Lhasa and Shigatse are quite nice, with clean hotels and toilets in tourist areas, and hotels offering hot water for showers. However, the environment is relatively worse in areas like Everest and Ngari. Everest only provides simple toilet stalls, but no showers. Similarly, showers are not available during the pilgrimage around Mount Kailash in Ngari (about 3 days). In Ngari, public toilets generally don't have flushing, so be extremely careful, or you might fall in and end up in a mess. However, the toilets in accommodations are generally better.
Customized Tibet tours by booking in advance ▶▶
What to do when showering is inconvenient in Tibet?
If you find the lack of showers and poor toilet conditions unacceptable, you can skip Mount Everest and Ali and go to Lhasa, Shigatse, Yamdrok Lake, Namtso Lake, and Nyingchi instead. These places have relatively better environments and you won't have to worry about showers.
If you don't shower in Tibet and still want to go to Mount Everest, in Ali, you can:
1. Bring your own sleeping bag so you don't have to worry about the bed being unclean in your accommodation. You can also bring your own urinal (urinal, also called a chamber pot, is mainly used by men to hold urine; in modern times, spittoons have also been used as urinals), so you don't have to use the toilets there.
2. If you can't accept not being able to shower, you can use a towel to dry yourself. You can bring a bottle of Six God Floral Water (a type of floral water), or if your budget allows, you can bring Chanel perfume. Spray it on frequently, and you'll feel fragrant all the way, even if you haven't showered. You'll even make the whole group smell nice, so no one else needs to shower either. You can also bring no-rinse shower gel and shampoo; just apply it yourself without using any water, and you can shower anytime, anywhere. Perhaps after developing this good habit, you won't be so fastidious after the trip, and you'll save a lot on water bills.
3. When using the restroom at Mount Everest or in Ali, you can imagine yourself as a prince/princess, and the restroom as a magnificent palace built for you. The excrement below is actually colorful, macaron-flavored candy, fragrant and dreamlike. You can indulge in your fantasies and become completely absorbed, but don't get too carried away, or you might fall asleep in the restroom. Alternatively, you can wear an eye mask and nose plugs when you go to the restroom. Out of sight, out of mind; if you can't smell it, it's like a fragrant treat. Imagine yourself in a dark ancient city, all alone, and you can completely let loose.
4. You can also think of peeing as singing and pooping as dancing. Singing and dancing on the snowy plateau is a very beautiful and romantic thing.
The above is a sharing of experiences from our team members. It is true that the environment in Tibet is not as good as that in big cities. However, if you still yearn for this place, why not change your perspective and imagine the things you cannot accept here as wonderful things? Perhaps you will have a better travel experience.
Customized Tibet tours available by appointment ▶▶
Recommended Itinerary
Lhasa-Shigatse-Mount Everest-Namtso 8-day tour ▶
Lhasa - Mount Everest - Sacred Mountain and Lake Manasarovar (Kora) - Namtso Lake - Lhasa 16-day tour ▶
Personalized itinerary ▶
