Ever had one of those dreams where you are bursting to use the toilet but events somehow prevent you from doing so? Well I had a somewhat bizarre real life version of that.

We visited a lovely island in the Mekhong in Lao called Don Det. It was a lovely place with a very simple way of life. there was no electricity and the accomodation consisted of bamboo huts on stilts with splash showers (big water filled urns with containers to splash yourself) and two outside squat toilets.

One night (probably after one too many beer Lao) I got up to visit the squat toilets, which were each romantically lit by a single candle. the doors were both open and as I turned to enter I noticed that the left hand cubicle had a toad sitting dead centre of the doorway. Now, I had recently been told by someone that some toads are poisenous if touched and in my semi-awake state this all came back to me with clarity and I began to favour the right hand door. Unfortunately, as I peered into the gloom I could see a smallish black scorpian climbing up the wall.

I was now in quite a dilemma and spent a few minutes watching the scorpian climb all the way to the top corner of the cubicle while the toad remained stoically in his spot. It came to the stage where my bladder screamed at me to make a decision and guess which one I chose? Yup, the scorpian.

My choice was based on the fact that I didn't think I could safely get past the toad without touching it, yet the scorpian at least appeared to be TRYING to get out of my way. I only discovered the stupidity of my decision the folowing day when I was told that the small scorpians are the most deadly and the toad is rarely likely to even cause a rash. Maybe I should have cut my losses and peed in the Mekhong and hoped that the water snakes didn't get me!