How history still plays a role

From one end of the world to the other, no sane man can escape needing the toilets as part of their daily routine. Our roles can shift from a guest to a host, a buyer to a seller, a believer to a non-believer, a traveler to a local dweller- but the basic needs stay and do not change. Our preferences and circumstances do though; they can vary greatly, making us think that we are in need of certain facilities more- or less- than other people around us.

More notably for travelers, toileting is far above 'facility'- it is an absolute neccessity. In every stop and destination, and in the time between them, our minds would now and again be stormed with at least a touch of worry on the type of toileting in store for us in the next halt. Timing is a major issue, because we travelers are bound not only to our journey but also the toilets' operational hours. To some people with a greater degree of fussiness, this can be a thoroughgoing preoccupation.

Fortunately for the two lost Malaysians in a regular night of Sarajevo, the toilets in BBI shopping complex were luxurious. We were very satisfied with the facility, a service which we dont have to pay a penny for. Up until then I have failed to observe a very starked reality, depicting marked difference between two countries which shared a common political and social identity. The difference is probably theological in origin; one party viewing water as a basic individual right and charitable means, the other sees it as a door to economical gain. To put it simply, as far as our legs have taken us, every working toilet in Croatia- from the unattended to the lavish- demands payment from its users. In contrast, not a single toilet (and for that matter any other water facilities) in Bosna is not free. We walked across Mostar and in the middle of Sarajevo, and have used toilets in reputable hotel and shopping complex without having to worry about keeping a spare change to be given away at the counters. Nothing less to expect from a country in which Islam can be found in the roots of its traditions.

At this point it is almost an obligation for me to include the observations from Al-Djazairi, my all time favourite author on medieval history of the Orient vis-à-vis the Levant, who maintained that such phenomenon is not new, and has existed for almost a century now, if not more. While Islam regards water as clean and purifying, its opponents see it as unclean, loathsome, and dishonorable. While Muslims are proud to 'bathe' certain parts of their bodies five times a day, their adversaries would avoid water as much as they can, until that we can find in their history a laughable quote from a royal queen who was proud to have not touched even a single drop of water for as long as she had lived. Just to be sure- she was, at that time, in her age of frailty.

Now it shouldn't be a wonder to us that Bosna treats "the need of water" with high regard, ensuring that everyone is given his right to such basics. It is a religious duty, in which God's extensive mercy is earned.