Hey fellas, what do you suppose they’re asking? And how would you answer?
I wonder who decides?
The Mirik Sports Association runs the men’s toilet by the lake in the village of Mirik in West Bengal, India. I suppose they run the women’s too, but I couldn’t find it so can’t share any signage from it.
But the men’s sign says the price, in rupees, varies according to size. I’m still wondering whether the size—short versus long—refers to the time spent, the size of offering or the ‘equipment’.
A fellow traveller reckons he’d declare ‘long’ every time. Never mind the expense! What do you think?
P.S. Five rupees is about 10 Australian cents.
P.P.S. Don’t forget to stop by my cooking blog.
Where to next? 
The long and short of it is your “fellow traveler” either has too much dispensable income or too little “outcome”.
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Hahahaha! I’ll pass that on! By the way, I’m not referring to Poor John. 🙂
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Hahahaha! I bet the people who wrote that sign knew exactly the confusion it could cause and got great pleasure from anticipating it
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That never occurred to me, but I bet you’re right!
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I wonder if the long is a long drop toilet and the short is a urinal. Could you not have sent poor John inside to solve this mystery?
dorothysstories.wordpress.com
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Brilliant thinking. I should have posted this when we were standing in front of the place. 🙂
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I thought it might be how much liquid you would get rid of. Then again I like Dorothy’s idea. Yes why did you not send John in?
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I’m still scratching my head and wondering why I didn’t send him in. On the other hand, he is a bit of a cheapskate so probably wouldn’t have wanted to cough up even five rupees for a pee. He’s so pleased with himself that he got a haircut yesterday for 80 cents.
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LOL on the 80 cent haircut. Many men would be proud of that low cost! Dorothy must be right.
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Poor John was so pleased with that price. When he travels he tries to get a haircut for $2 or less.
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Just had a morning Chai thinking of you and Poor John.
I vote length of time as maybe it’s used for clothes changing or they offer showers also?
Just a guess, still savoring my Chai so a little distracted.
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I think the only showers were if you jumped in the lake. 🙂
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😛 funny!
are you enjoying miric? I have been there when I was a kid. Don’t remember much
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I lived in Lebanon for 2 years with the Canadian Air force. We lived in the Baalbek mountains. Then we were moved to the refugee camps in 1972? Then we were flown to Cypress . I think I might have met Karen Booth at her restaurant there? Then in 1972? The Olympic disaster happened. I was on the German base at the time waiting the next flight out to Trenton Ontario. It was a tough time. I have to think you have more energy then me Peggy.
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Jeanette, you were in Lebanon in very challenging times. My hubby and I were there in the the later 70s and early 80s. We’re hoping to meet Karen later this year in France. Fingers crossed.
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Mirik was lovely, but we were there for just one afternoon.
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I’m somewhere in the middle. How many rupees do I owe?
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Probably 100 for being indecisive! 🙂
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I have been Googling since I was curious about the sign… and did see several other similar signs.
My best guess is that a long toilet is a western style toilet and you can sit on it (if you want to). And a short toilet are the ones that are flat on the ground, to squat down on but not to sit on.
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Sounds logical to me. In many places, there are western toilets with signs showing that you aren’t to stand on the toilet base or seat (as you would on a squat toilet). Sure wish I’d sent Poor John in to investigate.
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You have opened a lovely discussion and make us laugh. Still the mystery remains and the question unanswered 🙂 🙂 🙂 Thank you Peggy
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Hi Adrian, when Googling toilets Western toilets are often referred to as being”long” (high from the floor)…. and the typical squat down toilets in Asia can easily be called “short”… Some poster on this blog was from India and maybe he can shed some light on all this.
Sy S.
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Maybe I can get Anand to check it out the next time he’s there.
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I think it’s about the size of the deposit you put in the loo. The bigger the deposit the longer you are staying….
N.
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I also think it’s about the size of the deposit, but then who has to measure! 🙂
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ha ha ha….
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🙂
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I think a “Long toilet” is a western toilet and a “Short toilet” is a squat toilet. Or a “Long toilet” is a male toilet and a “Short toilet” is a female toilet, or other way round?
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Quite possibly any of those options. It’s all a bit of a puzzle.
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