By Chip Manush

Shortly after arriving in Johannesburg, while we were waiting for the porters to take our luggage to the bus, I stopped in a restroom in the airport. I walked to the end stall and without really paying attention, I walked in and locked the door. Then I turned around and to my surprise there was not a toilet in the stall. Instead, there was an odd sort of dais set against the back wall of the stall. There was a large porcelain bowl sunk into the dais. I could not help but stand there in the stall and stare at the thing for a moment. Confused, I turned and walked out and into another stall, where, thank goodness, there was a normal toilet. Needless to say, I’m glad that I looked before I leapt, or in this case, sat. (March 7, 2012)