Asia's best kept secret…

From the ridiculous to the sublime: the plan for Saturday was to head to start moving into my apartment and purchase some much-needed items at Costco. One MRT and one bus ride later  (costing less than 10 cents US!) one of my co-workers and I were outside of RT-Mart and Costco. Looking at the ROWS of scooters outside of each, it wasn’t tough to figure out that both stores were mobbed – and you know much much I love teeming crowds in enclosed places – NOT! At any rate, we started at RT-Mart to look for some basic items I’ll need once I move out of the hotel. One hair dryer, two laundry-drying hangers, and several cleaning items later we were headed, bags in hand, to Costco.  One thing to keep in mind here is the size and weight of items being purchased as they must be toted everywhere until you get home. Also: in most stores,  you pay (10NT) to use a shopping cart. At Costco it’s free! (Funny how it’s the little things that stand out in any new experience!) At Costco I found an electric tea kettle, water filter pitcher, and lovely fluffy towels made in India. Interestingly, the folks here speak Chinese but you’ll be hard pressed to find many made in China items for sale.