5 March 2017
The unprecedented 4th update
Raohe night market in Taipei
As forecast, here is something that has never happened before, a fourth update on a single day.
This is largely because my day started on Saturday at about 9pm when I left for the airport in Melbourne. I have not slept since I woke up early on Saturday morning, it is now Monday morning Melbourne time. Surprisingly I dont feel tired, but I am tripping over a lot and I did try to pay for water with Australian dollars, probably time for bed then.
Before that, a brief tale of where I went. Due to my unending quest to do over 20k steps every day, a record I have kept without exception for 9 months now, and is the reason I chose the flight times that I did, I still needed to get more steps, lots more, 15,000 more. Thats a long sentence, this is going to descend into chaos.
So I picked up google maps, which means loaded a website on my laptop, and drew a line bearing due east, for the new hot night market thats taken over from the old tired night market of Shilin. Shilin got done up, now no one goes, apparently, the new place is on the eastern edge of the city and is called Raohe. Getting there got my 20k steps plus a lot more, it also took me along a long road for a long way until the long journey ended at the night market. I caught the train back.
This is the long street I walked down. It had footpaths most of the way which is a bonus. I tripped over a lot because every shop maintains their own footpath, all at different levels. So many levels.
The taxi driver is livid that I am taking his picture, theres no way he can chase me so bad luck for him.
This is the Taipei stadium, which was under construction when I was last here. On there this evening is the womens formal ball gown 9-ball Asian championship.
You might think thats a joke, but its on live tv. Its women playing snooker / pool in fashionable formal gowns and being marked on their performance.
Nearby the arena is a Lego cafe. The greatest idea ever. They sell drinks, cakes, and have a huge amount of Lego to use. You can also buy Lego.
I would go to this but if you went in Australia you would be arrested and jailed unless you are Archbishop Pell, in which case the Pope has your back and you can get away with whatever you want.
This polar bear is below the legal age for drinking. I started a trend with this photo, as soon as I took it 4 other people including 90 year old grandmas had to take the same photo.
I stood at this intersection for a while and admired concrete pillars. Theres trains in amongst it, 2 different kinds.
Finally at the start of the night market. It was way too busy to take any photo of how busy it is once inside. So busy that they have stalls in the middle and people policing that you walk all in one direction either side of the stalls.
If you want to go back the other way you have to wait for a designated gap between stalls selling stinky tofu or boiled entire squid. It took me over an hour to go to the end and come back.
Taiwan night markets are famous for their food, this is a giant spring onion pancake. The cook pulls bits off and adds other stuff before cooking in entirely too much oil.
Taiwan version of Japans Pachinko. Its a lot quieter.
The end of the night market street has a temple with suitably garish colors. The other amazing thing about the night markets is they are only at night, all the stalls are gone during the day. They re set up every single night and boil vats of oil in the street.
Each time a night market burns to the ground, which seems to be often, they try and make them nicer and safer, and then no one goes.
Its still new year in Taiwan.
I have no idea why there were so many lights in the dark back streets nearby, there were basically no people enjoying them, so I did.
My dinner, I had to wander far away to get a place with a seat, otherwise I would have to stand and eat beatles off of sticks. I wanted something fairly light, so I had wonton soup and pickled vegetables. It was actually quite delicious.
On the way home I stood and admired the train station ceiling. Which is made from tubes of glass of varying sizes to give the impression of a topographical map. Why? I have no idea, no one else seems to notice it.
Thats all for the 4th update!