A friend asked me what hardware stores look like here. So I thought I'd post a couple of pictures of them. First, here is the plumbing store where I bought the kitchen and bathroom fixtures. It is a small shop but it has most of the things necessary. They did have to order the kitchen one, but it only took a couple days.
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| Hengchun Plumbing Store |
Next are two shots of the hardware that has tools, bolts, hose, some paint, etc. They are very typical of SE Asian Chinese stores. They all spill out on the sidewalk in front. They are narrow, as if store front was taxed by the width but very deep.
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| Hengchun Hardware Store outside |
There actually is a second isle to the left, but only accessible by the owner and he is thin!What appears to be the back end of the isle is only the first segment. There are 3 or 4 more parts of the store going way back. Big bolts, rope and plastic hose are in the next segment and cement, fencing, etc. next. I haven't been all the way to the back. You can just see the owner leaning back into the isle just before the aluminum ladder.
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| The one isle |
I bought a pair of medium channel lock pliers today for about $9 USD, so no great price break on good tools. I don't remember any other prices, but cheap China stuff is cheap, but USA/Australian is not.
