Ode' to the Dollar Store

American's have no idea.

Their idea of a "dollar store" is the Dollar General or American Dollar - leaving a bad taste in ones mouth even for cheap party decorations. The truth is, the only good an American dollar store ever did is provide some mild entertainment, ie. "people actually buy this stuff?!"

The one notable exception being us CSU Alumni who fondly remember running over to the dollar store on N. College Ave. to purchase some sort of "new toy" for a donation in exchange of a gleaming-foil wrapped Chipotle burrito in all its glory.....drool...

But my friends, that is the ONLY exception to the dollar store rule and I challenge you to prove me wrong! ie. post a comment if you have anything interesting to say! Entertain ME for a change!

Okay, so here we are in Bucheon in the Land of the Morning Calm. Bucheon Station - hub of busy commuters and gawking students alike. The west route takes one into Seoul and the east out to Incheon. This place is just packed with every kind of food vendor (think Anthony Bordain) and store front you could think of - vibrant colors- the constant yammer of Korean - new smells both good and bad - masses of people moving like tides in the Yellow Sea- orderly chaos.

Then smack in the middle of this circus (that some would call intense - or was that in-tents?) is a Korean dollar market.

Envision, my friends, a Wal-Mart/AceHardware/BedBath&Beyond, with every type of home-ware item, to every type of convenience-store item and everything in between. This is the type of stuff you just can't live without - soap, laundry detergent, water, dishes, clothing, jewelry, dog food, underwear, candy, tools, tape, shampoo, air-fresheners, etc. etc. etc. And you can find it all here for w1,100 each, no more, no less. These are cheap Asian goods at their finest!

And they call my stories ani-climactic...