Another Homage to a Taiwanese Classic

Salt'N'Pepa said, "From seven to seven, he's got me open like 7-Eleven."

This could be unofficial anthem of Taiwan, if only because Taiwan ranks fourth in the world for the number of 7-Elevens crowding its streets. Nearly 5,000 7-Elevens dot the streets and alleys of Taiwan, offering everything from bubbling hot pot goodies, to steaming hot dogs to cold cases full of every variation of tea imaginable. You can also buy underwear, cosmetics, candy. You can pay your bills, fax documents, withdraw money, plus about a dozen other things I don't even know how to use.

They are so ubiquitous, that you can stand in the doorway of one 7-Eleven and look down the street at another. I thought I'd found the closest 7-Eleven to my grandparents' house, and was indignant when they insisted La Di, their home-help, chaperone me there, only to discover there was an even closer 7-Eleven--half a block, rather than one block away. Huh.

Basically, you could live solely on a Taiwanese 7-Eleven. In fact, as a new arrival in Taiwan, I was told that if I forgot to stock up on anything in preparation for a typhoon, I could always find food at 7-Eleven.

Because 7-Eleven *never* closes.

When my sister and I visited for the first time in 1993, after not having been since 1981, it was the 7-Eleven hot dog we talked about for months afterward.

Amid all these 7-Elevens, there are yet more convenience stores! OK, Family Mart, the old Mom-and-Pop place. But for its iconic status, 7-Eleven is the King of Convenience Stores and I tip my blogging hat to it.

謝光臨！

Wow...I've found a homage more glowing than my own. And he covers all the other services I didn't even know about! Link.