Herman Melville once said, “There is no folly of the beasts of the earth which is not infinitely outdone by the madness of men.” Although the quote comes from the legendary novel Moby Dick, it is possible Melville was inspired to talk about the madness of men as a result of his travels about the globe, and his exposure to some of the ingenious, shocking, horrifying, and inspiration types of toilets used by cultures around the world.
Washout Toilets
This German style of toilet known as a “washout,” appears at first glance to be the exact same as a standard American toilet. Things change once you lift up the seat and look inside. Hopefully, the last user flushed. Washout toilets have a built in shelf where “waste” is supposed to rest, and stay available for inspection, before it is flushed down the toilet. Sometimes it is best to avoid curiosity.
Recessed Toilets
Hopefully, you have been working out, or at least working on your squats. Many cultures around the world do not make use of the traditional style toilet seen in American and Europe. Japan, Thailand, and Malaysia use recessed toilets. These toilets are holes in the ground, attached to plumbing. There is no convenient seat on these toilets, rather the user must crouch down carefully over the hole, before doing their business. It is extremely important to stay balanced. The consequences of tipping over are truly horrifying.
Not Quite a Toilet... Bidets
Bidets are popular in many regions around the world. They are open porcelain sinks, which are usually placed next to a toilet, below waste level. This sink isn’t for your hands and face, rather, it is for everything you have below the waste. Water shoots up out of the bidet and cleans everything which is crouched above it. Many cultures actually prefer to use bidets, rather than toilet paper.