Crowds prompt thirsty resident to wonder aloud when convenience store refrigerators will be replenished

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/06/28
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — An Orchid Island (Lanyu Township) resident mocked the sight of drink shelves emptied quickly by tourists at a local convenience store during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, saying, "Is a typhoon coming?"

Since the beginning of the long holiday on Thursday (June 25), more than 3,500 tourists have landed on Orchid Island, which is off the coast of Taiwan's southeastern Taitung County. As a holiday heatwave has been roasting much of the nation, including Orchid Island, most of the drink shelves at the 7-Eleven convenience store on the island were emptied by tourists as soon as they were replenished, according to CNA.

The fact that the island's Hongtou (紅頭) and Dongcing (東清) villages are also holding millet harvest festivals during this period has contributed to a larger than usual number of visitors to the island. Each ferry to the island reached its passenger capacity during the first three days of the holiday.

A convenience store clerk said that as the sun was belting down on tourists over the holiday, drinks were the hottest merchandise, and other items such as instant noodles, bread, and packaged snacks were selling well, too.    [FULL  STORY]