22 March 2014
Taipei is human friendly
As soon as I set out from my hotel, I realised how much of a nicer city Taipei is to Taichung. I just offended 3 million people who dont read this.
The footpaths are much better, theres rubbish bins, most restaurants have their kitchens somewhere other than on the street, theres a subway system, buses have route maps, theres no smog at all, theres pedestrian only shopping and eating areas, public toilets, trees, parks, maps on street corners, the list is endless.
I have been here 3 times before, but I guess I kind of forgot. Much like going straight from Japan to Taichung and noticing differences, going straight from Taichung to Taipei gives an opporunity to directly compare. And piss off the citizens of the lesser place.
So at the risk of not being funny enough, again, better tell some funny stories with the limited photos.
Holy crap a rubbish bin. Taichung banned these so they dont have to empty them or something. Despite my commentary, there really isnt any rubbish on the streets there, so who knows where all the rubbish goes.
This photo taken to show the total lack of any discernable smog.
Ximen area. Its early and quiet, 2 hours later and I couldnt move here.
Its early but this chicken store has a huge line. Everyone is buying the same thing, a chicken schnitzel in a bag. Just chicken breast meat, hammered flat, coated in flour and bread crumbs, and deep fried. No sauces, nothing. Enjoy.
This rapper is being filmed and may even be live to air as theres a truck nearby with a satellite dish.
Now theres a few things to note, many wannabe rap stars exist in Asia, they all rap in English.
Chinese in particular, which only has 1 syllable words, is unsuitable for rap.
However I wonder if this guy really understands what hes rapping about, because its the most obscene lyrics I ever heard.
He is going into very specific detail about a very specific act he intends to perform on all the hoez and bitchez.
I will give you a hint, all the former prime ministers of Malaysia are in Jail for it.
Theres a huge crowd, except by this guy under the werewolf. He stands alone.
Nearby is a market for handicrafts selling the same crap the same sort of markets sell in Australia. Home made jewellery, honey in little jars, hand cream, t-shirts with some sort of ironic message.
Just over the road is what is labelled the Taipei archives. It appears to me to be a well. You keep your archives down the well.
There are also streets full of shops for kids that roll up on their scooters, carrying their skateboards, and put on their tough guy baseball hat, and hang out near the city commissioned graffiti.
There was even a skateboard park area, but unfortunately I think even I would be better at it.
For dinner, I ate like a poor person, in a local place, total cost $1. The grandma that served me was ridiculously excited to see me. She charged out with a fork.
I told her in Mandarin that I prefer chopsticks, and she was even more excited, and sat down at the table, and spoke for 30 seconds in extremely fast Chinese, of which I understood maybe 2 words....
So I told her I dont understand, I only speak a little Chinese, and she laughed and left.
My dinner is some kind of balls in soup. Possibly actual balls, I have no idea!
After grandma left, I was all alone, cutting a pathetic figure in the back area of the huge restaurant, seated on my own far from anyone I might offend.
Bonus photo due to lack of photos, my snack. Mochi from the Carrefour megamart. I dont like them much, never have, and these are mystery flavours, but a sash wearing helper lady talked me into them.
Her persistence paid off eventually. She worked hard to get that $1 out of me.