22 March 2017
Surprise parade
The blue cultural zone of Tainan
Before I go on, I dont understand why I cant engage with my phone in an interactive conversation which teaches me to speak Chinese.
Wouldnt that be superior to every other app ever? It listens to you, speaks to you, answers you, asks you things, introduces new words.
There should be two modes, screen free where you can just talk to it using your headphones / mic as you walk down the street all day long, and a screen mode that shows you the characters and pronunciation clues using text for new words.
This is a billion dollar idea and there simply must be people working on it already?
Anyway, late this afternoon I was hanging out in my room trying to keep the cleaning staff out, when fireworks and music started coming from outside. I ignored it and went in the shower.
When I got out of the shower it was still going, I was sure it would stop before I could get dressed and go outside, so I ignored it.
Eventually I decided to go see what was going on, and it turns out there was a surprise parade in my honor. It had stopped directly out the front door of my hotel until I walked outside. They all acknowledged me, then continued on with their parade. I am not making this up!
After that, I found a huge new part of town that I hadnt read anything about on any website, so I guess it was new. It was nicer and more modern than the other parts, lots of movies, music videos, wedding photos and advertising photo shoots were going on there simultaneously.
I waited to be invited to join in, now that I am parade famous, but I guess they were too in awe of my presence.
Part one of the parade. LED truck.
Part 2 of my parade, my chariot. I politely declined.
Part 3 of parade, my gigantour guards.
I walked in the direction of these buildings thinking they were hospitals. Turns out they were flash hotels and a big department store and even an ice skating rink, as you shall see.
Over the road is the blue cultural zone, this is the mascot. It was in this area all the movie making and photo shoots were going on.
I got a good view of the enormous department store from here. I say department store a lot on my various trips.
Here is some art work.
More art work, cat themed of course.
Me, my little blue friend, and a cat. It was all happening.
This woman was earlier appearing with 4 much younger dancers in matching outfits whilst she mimed a song with an elaborate multi camera setup.
Time to head into the big store, 5 basement levels! One of which has Tokyu Hands.
Tonights food court. Its not the same as any of the previous food courts I swear.
Dinner was Coco curry, which they also have in Taiwan, or as some like to call it, little Japan. I had the tofu and eggplant omurice variety.
The upper levels had lots of exhibitions. I believe this one is cakes made by the various bakeries and dessert places in all the basement food halls.
Final photo is from a different store, this one under a hotel is 3 basement levels of youth shops, but also about 10 great restaurants including one I wish I went to instead of Coco curry specialising in Sichuan food.
Which reminds me the upper levels of the other store had an awesom Hunan style restaurant called 1010. Which warrants further investigation.
But I digress, 3 levels underground is an ice skating rink.