Here's what bathrooms look like all around the world

24.07.2018 17:04

public bathroom stalls Mindscape studio/Shutterstock

When it comes to traveling somewhere new, you likely look forward to encountering a new language, eating a variety of new foods, and experiencing a completely different environment than what you're used to. One of the things that seem to vary the most are the restrooms.

Restrooms, as US citizens know them, aren’t the norm around the world. Even the very act of sitting on the porcelain throne is not always the norm — 15% of world’s population practice open defecation, which means they go to the bathroom in fields, forests, or other available outdoor space, according to World Toilet.

Knowing what to expect makes all the difference, and it allows you to prepare when you travel somewhere new. Here are some of the differences in bathrooms around the world.

While many public restrooms in the US are free to the public, expect to pay a small fee to pee in Europe.

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Many countries in continental Europe, including Germany, Sweden, and France, charge visitors to use the facilities. The cost is small — €1 or less — so it’s always helpful to have some coins on hand. If you’re not required to pay for use, you may still see an attendant inside working and a jar or plate set out for tips.

While this common custom irritates many US travelers, the amount goes towards maintaining the space, keeping it clean, and stocking it up with toilet paper and soap.

“Isn’t it really worth a few coins, considering the cost of water, maintenance, and cleanliness?” Rick Steves, travel writer and author told NBC News.

Squat toilets, which travelers often expect in Asian countries like Singapore, Thailand, or Taiwan, are more common than you’d think.

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Before the throne-like, flush toilets which became popular in the 19th century, people used outhouses, chamber pots, or simply holes in the ground. While most people associate squat toilets with countries in Asia, but you’ll also find them in sub-Saharan countries like Kenya or Tanzania, and even certain parts of Europe like Russia or the Balkans.

Squat toilets themselves can have some variations, but the sentiment is the same: there’s a hole in the ground and a place to rest your feet on either side. They’re sometimes made of porcelain or metal, and you’ll either have the option to flush or there will be a bucket of water and a cup nearby to clean up the area once you’re done.

Western-style toilets are appearing more frequently in larger Asian cities, though, due to a “toilet revolution.” Since 2015, China spent $3 billion renovating 68,000 public restrooms at popular tourist sites, according to NPR. You can also expect to see squat toilets in Tokyo swapped out for high-tech ones by the 2020 Olympics, reported the South China Morning Post.

Bidets are popular in Italy, Portugal, Japan, Argentina, and Venezuela.

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According to The Atlantic, the bidet was invented in France in the 1600s and is used for cleaning the body after going to the bathroom. You’ll find these in places like Italy and Portugal, Japan, Argentina, and Venezuela.

While the bidet never really caught on in the US, it’s believed they’re less wasteful and more sanitary than using toilet paper.

"Think about using dry toilet paper. You're leaving a residue of stool and bacteria, whereas if you're using a bidet, you’re washing that away," Phillip J. Buffington, M.D., the chief medical officer of the Urology Group in Cincinnati, told SELF.

Traditionally, the fixture is separate from the toilet as a small toilet-looking basin with water controls, although it may be a separate sprayer and hose right by the toilet — dubbed a “bum gun” in Thailand. If you’re lucky, you may also find them as an addition to the toilet like with some of Japan’s elaborate loos.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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