7 March 2017
Major rain no dampener
Vegetarian food in Taipei
Theres a flood. And yet still I went out without my raincoat. Not really a problem, there is an extensive underground network of tunnels.
In these tunnels you can see all manner of things, including the biggest assembly of kids practicing whatver the Taiwanese Gangnam style routine is I have ever seen.
What I dont understand is how anyone can ride around on scooters in so much rain, and survive. However I did notice a lot of ambulances when I briefly arose to the surface.
One good thing about Taipei and their crazy footpath situation is that largely every storefront is undercover, so despite enough rain to drown a small child, you can wander around and look at shops selling inflatable pools, or every kind of ladder or sprinkler fittings or tea pot heating elements without getting wet until all hours of the night.
When I got back to my hotel I went into the convenience store next door to buy a pepsi, I am at the back of the store selecting my beverage of choice when a guy comes in off his scooter, soaking wet, carrying for some reason a big tray with multiple cartons of eggs stacked high. He then proceeds to slip over and land on the eggs. Both he and the girl behind the counter found this to be hilarious, except now I am trapped in the store with no way out except through a sea of broken eggs.
But how did he ride along carrying the eggs? He was wet and wearing a helmet. This is a mystery that will never be solved.
Yes, its raining a lot, scooters are floating away.
Time to head underground. And wonder how the underground doesnt fill up with water. Maybe it does.
Heading further underground, to enjoy all the wonders that Coldplay Avenue has to offer.
Still further underground is a truly excellent food court. I pondered pizza for a while. Decided it was too unhealthy.
Just part of the big food court. I counted more than 50 different outlets. There are various smaller restaurants around the outside with their own seating also.
Instead of pizza I chose the most healthy option available, pay by weight vegetarian buffet. Yes seriously.
Total cost under $3. I wish they had this in Australia, its the perfect meal if you then want to go somewhere else and eat dessert.
When trapped indoors I am not above taking photos of my starbucks matcha tea latte. I note it has a smiley face. I always get a smiley face instead of asking my name. I think smiley face is code for foreigner.
Now that I was full of vegetables and green tea powder, it was time to head further underground, and into the lowest pits of Taipei, which is book street.
This entire underground area is all bookshops, with no customers.
A bit further along and they have set up the dancing area for children, with mirrors and murals.
So there I was, a middle aged, unshaven foreigner in black camo pants covered in mud from earlier, with a dodgy looking pony tail and slicked back hair taking photos of children dancing.
The police were very understanding.
Shin Kong Mitsukoshi has stores on either side of the road, much like Sogo last night.
This cat enjoys sitting here watching everyone go by.
And heres some proof that I am a lunatic. I climbed up onto the overpass to take a photo of traffic in the rain. Nice reflections. The people below assumed I was going to jump.