Having traveled around the world, I hold special insight into the wide and varied spectrum of toilets. Whether I backpacked through Europe, Asia, or Africa I found some of the facilities quite foreign. Interestingly, many cultures have special customs and social norms in regard to using the bathroom area.

It was during my first trip to Japan that I was introduced to "toilet slippers." Toilet slippers were only to be worn in the bathroom. One morning, I headed to the bathroom in an eager attempt to wake up. I took off the house slippers at the bathroom door and placed on the toilet slippers. After I finished in the bathroom I headed for the kitchen. Unfortunately, when leaving I forgot to switch the bathroom slippers for the house slippers when I left the toilet area. My lack of awareness created quite a stir. My home-stay mother rushed toward me to take off the bathroom slippers and replace them with my house slippers. I found the whole commotion a bit comical. After that "hair-raising" event, I never again forgot to switch back to my house slippers.

Many of the social norms surrounding the use of the toilet is connected with keeping society protected from disease. When these customs came to be bathrooms were not as sophisticated as they are today. As a result, such items as bathroom slippers were invented to cut down the spreading of infection from articles in the bathroom. Toilet slippers stayed in the toilet area; insuring germs were not spread throughout the living space. Although at first glance you may not understand the various cultural customs that surround the use of the toilet, most, you will find, are linked to disease prevention.

Toilet Paper

I knew a man who collected small pieces of toilet paper from the countries he lived and traveled. I could hardly believe that collecting small bits of fibrous paper could be more interesting than collecting coins or other interesting native items. It wasn’t until I traveled to India and China that I understood his fascination with tiny paper squares.

When I travel I always brought along one roll of my favorite toilet tissue. I know this would be a short-lived pleasure while on the road, but it felt indulgent even for a short while. Once the roll of heavenly white paper was gone, it was back to the pink colored, wood-chip filled paper. It felt like I went from heaven to purgatory in a flash. The heavily dyed pink paper was thick and tough and the chips of wood pressed in the sheets were clearly visible.

One day, in Varanassi, India, my tissue supply became frightfully low. My rickshaw driver accompanied me down the street of vendors to secure a few rolls. The wire mesh baskets hanging from the doorways of vendors held vegetables, fruits, and some incidentals. In one basket my eye caught the sight of that shocking pink color. I knew it was the supply I needed. We headed over to the tiny shop and I pointed to the roll. The shopkeeper reached up and cut the cord that secured the roll to the wire. Dust and dirt covered the flimsy plastic cover. The shopkeeper grabbed a cloth, just as filthy as the plastic cover, and began to dust off the plastic and tissue. Dust the tissue? I was handed the toilet paper for inspection. I took a closer look and found small dead bugs in-between the plastic and tissue. Surely there had to be another roll somewhere on the avenue. I kindly declined the insect filled paper and moved on. Thankfully, I found another vendor with reasonably clean tissue. We walked down the street and returned to the rickshaw with four rolls of tissue paper. As the white woman with four rolls of tissue, I was quite a humorous sight for the locals. None the less, I felt successful and relieved.

Tissue paper is not commonly used throughout Asia. Many countries such as India and Vietnam wash themselves with water after they urinate and then wipe themselves with their own handkerchief. The custom of wiping oneself with paper without first washing themselves seems extremely barbaric in some cultures. Remember that different cultures have different customs, even when it comes to toilet paper.

In some countries, toilet paper does not go down the toilet bowl. Instead, a small wastebasket was located next to the toilet for used tissue. The primitive plumbing was not capable of flushing such matter. This was most prevalent in Asia countries.

Where To Carry Toilet Paper

I have found the best way to carry toilet paper is what I refer to as "divide and stuff". Instead of carrying an entire roll of toilet paper in your daypack or purse, carry smaller potions of tissue. Take five portions of toilet paper you would eventually use and roll the portions up into loose, flat squares. Place these squares of tissue in your socks, bra, daypack, and pockets. Try to always carry toilet paper on your person, you never know when you may need it.

Paying For The Bathroom

In some countries, a small charge or toll may be required to use the bathroom facilities. This practice was common around the world and a payment to use toilets was not completely unreasonable. The payment maintained the upkeep of the area and occasionally the provided toilet. In these instances, charge would either go to the service attendant or to the management of the building. Some facilities required a small token that is purchased from a machine or attendant.

Western vs. Non-Western Toilet Bowls

After deplaning and passing through immigration at the airport in Naritia, Japan, I headed to the much-needed toilet. The bathroom was painted in a soft pink; many stalls lined both sides of the bathroom. When it was my turn I headed to the next available stall. Rather than the standard western toilet bowl I was accustomed to, I was greeted by a white ceramic bowl embedded in the floor. I looked at the bowl and the bowl stared back at me. A small chuckle escaped from my mouth, as I knew, this would be the beginning of a great adventure. Needless to say, I developed quite strong thighs during my exchange program.

Asian bathrooms may at times have one western toilet in the facility. Often, when waiting in line I would be directed to the western stall. Many Asian women found it perplexing that I would use the non-western toilet without resistance.

The most interesting toilet I ever used was in India. We were traveling to Nepal by bus and it was time for a lunch break. The backpackers and natives poured out from the colorful bus onto the dirt road. The native women squatted beside the bus with their saris protecting any physical exposure and urinated. We western gals didn’t feel that was a viable option with dozens of Indian men looking on.

We headed to a restaurant, purchased a soda pop and prayed they had an enclosed toilet. They did indeed have a toilet that provided shelter from on-lookers. We walked out the back door and down a plank. Below us hogs were standing knee deep in was looked like liquid mud. Suddenly, I realized the tiny house we were heading to was directly above this hog "mud" marsh. I entered the enclosure, looked down the hole and saw the muddy pool and heard the snort of the hogs. I would never forget that toilet or those hogs.

How And Where To Find A Toilet

Tourist areas generally have public toilets well designated and available. Typically you can look for signage that will direct you to public restrooms. Many countries have the same gender characters depicting males and females. If you know the native word for toilet, it may be easier to be directed to one.

If you are unable to find a public restroom, try the following locations;

• Hotel
• Restaurant
• Café
• Train station
• Bus station
• Hospital
• Church
• American Express office

Toilets On Trains

When traveling by train take care when going to the toilet. The train racing down the tracks may make the job more difficult. Be sure to hang on securely to the provided railing to avoid slipping or falling.

Going to the toilet at night, take extra caution. Tell your travel mate you are going to the toilet and will be back in five minutes. Thieves may try to rob you while in the bathroom. Be vigilant of who is around you and always lock the toilet door behind you.

One night on a train in China, I had to use the toilet. I found passengers asleep around and in the toilet area. When I wanted to use the toilet I had to wake up the passengers and temporarily kick them out of the space. I was glad I purchased a hard-sleeper ticket and was not close to the toilet facilities.

No Where To Go In Katmandu

While sightseeing through the Katmandu Valley, Nepal, my mom had to go to the restroom and couldn’t wait any longer. I tried to convince her that she had to wait, there simply was no where to go. That was not the answer she wanted to hear. My mother was quite resourceful and in desperate need. Our taxi driver was parked on the narrow street, lined with home-dwellings and businesses. Mom struck up a conversation with some young girls in front of a sewing shop, explained her dilemma and offered them a few rupees to use their toilet. The giggling girls accepted my mom’s offer and allowed both she and I into their home. We strolled through the humble home and out the back to the padlocked dirt-floored toilet shack. To some it would appear as simply a deep hole in the ground, but for my mom it was heaven. As we left the dwelling I handed the girls the rupees and thanked them profusely. All ended on a happy note and my mom taught me something about being resourceful on a dime.