Ah yes, I know this. My mother is Malay, I think it is a Muslim custom to clean yourself properly with water after relieving yourself, and every time I go to Malaysia and stay with relatives, I find myself sneaking paper into the (often squat) toilet, as I am probably too Westernised to use the water alone… And the Asian custom of removing your shoes when entering a home is something I’ve known since childhood – and generally change to house slippers when I get home to my flat.
Very evocative writing. I have visited the markets in Old Delhi (backpacking with my brother, about fourteen years ago) – and although I am used to markets in South East Asia, I definitely experienced the overwhelm of smells and sounds and the constant press of people (and animals) when travelling through India.
