Shopping

The other night we went to a store that is kind of like Home Depot crossed with Walmart crossed with Dick's sporting goods, with a McDonald's and a pet store thrown in. It was a very large, eclectic store! I can't think of anything you can't buy here.

The pet section was very large and had a wide variety of fish, insects (meant as pets, not lizard food), birds, dogs, and rabbits. They even had a 6ft iguana and chickens for sale!

We looked at the bikes a bit since we do want to purchase a couple soon. We found the best prices there. Independent bike shops are so expensive, with a regular bicycle starting at $600. While you could get some higher end bikes at this store, too, there were plenty that were Walmart-esque prices. Bikes are a major mode of transportation here, unlike in the US where they are seen more as toys and for leisure. Because there is a larger, more serious demand for them here, they are made by companies you wouldn't have expected. Some popular bike brands include Hummer and Bridgestone. They even come with a dashboard with gauges!

Some other interesting items include every type of toilet paper you could ever think of. Hello Kitty, fruit scented, flower scented, a rainbow of colors and designs... the paper has to be just as interesting as the toilet seats! Speaking of toilet seats, most here are electronic and can do everything but your taxes for you. They are heated, have bidets, and play music and spritz air freshener.

My favorite toilet related option here is the sink built into the tank. When you flush, the water that flows in to fill the tank back up comes through a faucet and you can wash your hands. The dirty water from your hands drains down into the toilet tank to be used when you flush next time. I think all toilets everywhere should do this. It saves space and resources and is better for the environment.

We didn't even scratch the surface of this store. It's so huge. We can't wait to go back and explore some more.