That's not a toilet. It's a hole in the ground!
As long as you restrict yourself to upscale western-style hotels and shops, you may never see a squat toilet in Thailand. But what's the fun of that? You can get the same experience at Disney World. If you venture off the well-beaten tourist path, be ready to greet squat toilets with more than the comment above.
Traditional Thai toilets (like those in most parts of Asia, the Middle East, and — once — Europe) consist of a hole in the floor and the necessary accoutrements. In Thailand, a white porcelain plate generally surrounds the hole, with two slightly raised footprints. Adding to the experience, the porcelain plate frequently carries the brand name "American Standard," however unstandard such items may be in the America you so fondly remember when you first encounter a squat toilet.
You stand on the footprints, pull down your pants, and squat, trying to line up the relevant holes; this alignment gets easier with experience.
It also gets easier, with experience, to keep your pants out of harm's way. The first few times, it may be simplest to just take them off. At first, you'll probably also need to hold on to something with one hand to steady yourself.
In traditional squat toilets, a barrel of clean water sits beside the toilet. People use this water (a ladle or bowl floats inside) and their left hand to clean themselves, then empty a few more scoops of water into the toilet until all traces of their visit disappear. The water barrel is gradually replenished from a spring or brook (or from a faucet, if available), and this water remains pure. Wash your hands by ladling water over them, outside the barrel. Nothing dirty should ever be put into the barrel.
More likely, you'll choose to carry a packet of tissue with you. In this case, note that Thai plumbing often cannot accommodate toilet paper without clogging. In many toilets (including western-style toilets), you'll spot a nearby wastebasket for used tissue. Please use it! No, this isn't what you were taught growing up, but you were taught to treat your hosts with respect, weren't you? That means not clogging their toilet.
The above was ripped/stolen from a seppo website just to set the scene.
I always find the squat toilet somewhat entertaining as the only time I ever seem use them is when I'm in the village or whilst having a raging emergency bout of the 'Aztec Two Step.'
Which brings me on too there useage, in the village they are normally in a tin hut with a pitched roof, sloping from high at the centre point to low where the old squat is located in one corner. Now I aint the tallest of falang but I am still a good 6ft, number 1's are easy I can piss from the door entrance and still hit the the hole from a good 2 meter's, number 2's on the other hand can be somewhat challenging crouched low to avoid banging me head and also trying to aim the copper log or god knows what away from me undies and trouser pockets into the oblivion.
I really do dread using a squat, but when nature calls choices are limited.
Is it just me?