Which Squat Toilet? European; Asian and Middle Eastern Options

Westerners traveling to Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe on business or vacation may be confronted the squat toilet.

The most advanced squat toilets can be found in Japan. There, you'll find your glistening porcelain laid into a paneled floor and wall unit, with a tank affixed to the wall allowing you to at least flush using gravity.

In Europe, squat toilets come in two varieties. One, like the Japanese model, lies flat to the floor and often has treaded areas where you can securely plant your feet while you squat to take care of business. A more precarious option is the pedestal style squat toilet. These look like a Western toilet without a seat, but also featuring wider treaded areas for your feet.

Then you have your Middle Eastern toilets. Developed first in Turkey, the Middle Eastern squat toilet is very much the same as the European toilet which lays flat on the floor.

Whatever option of toilet is presented to you, if you're a Westerner, you may need some practice before you try balancing on your feet in a squatted position.