Only in Ecuador: Maximize Your T.P.
Some of you may recall my initial “Only in…” series (OIA: Only in Asia) wherein I posted short curiosities (like… one of my Vietnamese students giving me a package of underpants for a present!) that I observed while bouncing around Asia.
Now that I’m tucked into a whole new continent (specifically the country of Ecuador), I’m likewise finding some surprising customs, products, etc. that I’ve never bumped into in my travels before. Thus – it seems only right to start a whole new parallel “Only in…” series for my new home in Ecuador.
And what better to start with than…
TOILET PAPER!
Nary a smidge of wasted space…
Yup, it seems the Ecuadorians have elevated the economics of T.P. to a fine art. Oh sure, you can certainly buy the usual T.P. rolls with the hollow cardboard core, but…
Why would you, when you can glean an extra wad of tissues – by plugging those hollows with an extra bitty roll?
In short, the Ecuadorians leave not a miniscule of empty space when it comes to T.P. It’s the full-meal-deal. Arguably fully 5%-15% MORE tissues to wipe your bu, errr… do the job.
Of course the “plugged” rolls cost a smidge more ($2.00/4 rolls vs. $1.70 for the standard “hole” variety that you and I have been using since we were tots). But why package and ship AIR for heaven’s sake?
Personally I think it’s BRILLIANT!
What about you? What exotic flavors of T.P. have you discovered in far off lands (or in your own hometown)?
About the Author
Dyanne Off-the-beaten-path travel is my passion,and I’ve always lived life “like-a-kid-in-a-candy-store” – eager to sample as many flavors as I can. Indeed, my life motto has long been: This ain’t a dress rehearsal, folks!
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Off-the-beaten-path travel is my passion, and I’ve always lived life “like a kid in a candy store” – eager to sample as many flavors as I can. Indeed, my life motto has long been:
Well I’ll be darned! That is something, I have to admit, I’ve never thought of let alone seen, yes quite ingenious! I like that the “travel size” would be handy to carry on short trips out of town.
How fun (wish I was going!) at Kathy’s deco painting class, acquiring furniture, a real sign of putting some roots down!
Yes an added bonus and win-win all around, Sue.
And yup… acquiring ANYTHING (save a scarf or an umpteenth pair of earrings to tuck in my backpack) is a HUGE step for me. While I’m truly looking forward to the furniture painting workshop next week, I must admit I’m a good bit shaky about putting down the “R” word (Roots!)
lol, does this mean I’m uh… finally “growing up”??? 😉
Oh heck no, we don’t need to grow up! And ya know roots can be pulled up, if needed (desired) too! (as you well know!)
OMG—– How have I managed to miss this TP? Don’t you just love it? I did a post whose tag line was “Toilet Training in Ecuador.” I’m curious to see what you share next!
See you Monday!!!! Can’t wait!
Hugs,
Kathy
Yes Kathy, I’ve only (yet) seen such ingenious TP at a little kiosk near my apartment along Calle Hermano Miguel. No doubt I have many more such “Only In Ecuador” marvels to look forward to discovering.
And yes, YES – your fabulous furniture painting workshop starting on Monday. Surely a turning point for me in my heretofore nomadic life (imagine the TL – acquiring FURNITURE!!)
That’s actually quite clever!
I KNOW Patti! Don’t you wonder why… if Ecuador can do it – why not the U.S. of A.?
I could be wrong, but I suspect the reason they do this is to give you small rolls of TP to take with you when you go out. Many public restrooms in EC either do not have TP or you have to get some outside in a dispenser before you go in, or they are just out, so people carry packs of tissues or these small rolls with them. Not as needed in the US 🙂
Yes Kathie, it’s the same in Asia (indeed in most all developing nations). That’s why I ALWAYS carry a wad of tissue when I’m out and about (either those little packets of Kleenex else a grab-‘n-fold wad from my home/hotel).
And yes too, perhaps not so needed in the U.S. – but I can tell you there’s been PLENTY of times in my native land where I hurriedly dropped my panties – only to discover that the roller was oh so sadly empty. ;(
Besides, as I said – why package and ship AIR? Filling that core with something useful (and thus packaged with less plastic and fewer truckloads per swipe) equals more environmentally friendly and a smaller carbon footprint, than the cardboard core variety. And surely wiping your tush with cardboard isn’t exactly ideal – so think of all those trees hacked down to make a gazillion-trillion useless cardboard tubes.
In short – I’ve found that many of the “Necessity is the Mother of Invention” solutions utilized in the developing world, turn out to be truly brilliant. And indeed the 1st world could learn a thing or two from the 2nd and 3rd worlds.