I have a rule when it comes to travelling and toilets.

If you see a Japanese man go into a cubicle, then it's better to wait for that cubicle than to go into any empty one.

I'm not an authority on Japanese toilet habits but I can tell you that the Japanese leave them spotless.

Arriving at Istanbul, umpteen coffees, teas and water bottles on the plane, took their toll. Not being a fan of Istanbul airport toilets, I jumped at the chance when I saw a Japanese man breaking off waiting for his bags to go to the toilet instead.

I got more than my fair share of suspicious side way glances, I guess that happens when your standing outside a toilet cubicle waiting for a specific man to come out.

Out he stepped, I side stepped him and pirouetted in.

Locking the door, I turned around. Ahhhh spotless, the only thing my Japanese friend hadn't done was put a triangle on the tip of the toilet paper.

The lid was down. Raising it with confidence, I then realised the error of my ways.

People from Pusan, South Korea have the same bone structure as the Japanese. Unfortunately bone structures doesn't extend to toilet habits. I am still gagging at the memory of what I saw.