Meet Instagram's Squat Toilet Star

From exotic pets to ironic fashion labels, being a hit on Instagram has always somewhat involved the notion that whoever is posting these photos is living a great life full of immaculate food and tons of friends. On the other end of the spectrum, the man behind @selfiekamarmandi is gaining fame for his hyper ordinary and somewhat depressing life.

Muhammad Qosim Kalabahi's account, in all its hyper-ironic and throwaway glory, embodies the nothing-to-lose attitude of modern day social media personalities. His photos find him posing in dull-looking bathrooms, all seemingly yawning with the familiar moist and suicide grey walls we expect at a gas station. That dullness exemplifies the unfiltered life of a regular Indonesian whose #travelgram is the antithesis of the grossly indistinguishable luxury shots of trust-fund fashion kids, jet setters, and reprehensible 'foodies.'

Even though @selfiekamarmandi, literally 'bathroom selfie,' seems nonsensical, the accounts growing popularity is making Kalabahi a very happy man. He says really doesn't really have a reason as to why he dedicates his time doing what he does, but he admits he really likes the attention.

Kalabahi, a former construction worker and theology student from North Sumatera, talks to us about what makes a great bathroom and why he feels at home when he see's a squat toilet.

VICE Indonesia: How did you come across the idea for Selfie Kamar Mandi and do you remember the first bathroom selfie you took?
Muhammad Qosim Kalabahi: It just came suddenly, even before I had the Instagram account. The (original) account was actually on Facebook, it was set up by a friend of mine from Medan. I don't remember the first bathroom selfie I took, it might have even been the first photo I posted to Instagram.

Did you start doing this to put across a certain idea?
No. My idea was to take as many bathroom selfies as I could and eventually get in the Indonesian book of records (MURI).

Does your job make this whole process of finding new bathrooms easier? And are there particular kinds of bathrooms that you prefer to take pictures of?
I used to work construction but now I repair air conditioners. So when I go to grab some water to clean the A/C's, that's when I take photos. I really like traveling, all kinds of bathrooms interest me, but right now I am into taking lots of selfies in bathrooms in villages—the ones that are located outside the house or have no roof.

Are you aware of other similarly gag social media accounts?
Yeah, I am.

What do you think of their popularity—and yours?
People are naturally attracted to new things, thing that not many people do, people who are anti-establishment.

Which parts of your personality do you think this account showcases?
Oh, since I am lebay (a person who exaggerates things), alay (a rather demeaning term for trendy looking people from a poorer background), because I like to be the center of attention.

Which bathrooms has been your most memorable ones?
They tend to be basically all the same, but I would say the one at the Jayapura governor's office was the most memorable. Governor Sri's bathroom, which had lots of toiletries like soap, shampoo and hair cream. The family bathroom of the Keerom governor's house, which had a CD player next to the toilet. Tunjungan Plaza in Surabaya, the train station in Semarang, and the Perak bus station.

What about your own bathroom?
My bathroom at home in Sulawesi has a massive tub. But where I'm living right now in Jayapura, there are two bathrooms, both of them are squat toilets.