30 March 2011
Ximen
This evening I set out from the hotel just before dusk and headed south. I wanted to get to the area known as Ximen, which is apparently the 'youth' area of the city.
It took no more than an hour to walk there, stopping along the way to watch stuff happening in the streets. You cant miss Ximen, its at least 20 streets closed to traffic with masses of bright lights and people.
The focus is on youth fashion and street food, but theres also lots of performers (really really bad karaoke style singers with very loud speakers).
I didnt really want deep fried battered sausages or octopus balls, so I ate at a burger chain, but dont scoff until you see what it is. Its not like I ate at mcdonalds.
I caught the train back, stopping at the main Taipei station to pick up my high speed train ticket to Kaohsiung, which is where I am going on Saturday. This was a pain free process, even though I didnt have my passport with me I showed the girl my email confirmation on my blackberry and she gave me my ticket.
Its fairly important to remember which subway exit you need, once I got back to my station, I got lost, but thats OK I found another night market to look at.
This is just a typical street where I stopped to watch traffic go past, the street goes on forever and ever into the horizon. I made a video of the hilarious traffic here, but because I suck at internet I havent figured out how to make a video player to embed in my site. I refuse to use youtube or similar and just embed it, I want to make my own!
And heres a street full of scooter repair shops.
Nobody likes a god damn fuxing elementary school
Heres Ximen at dusk, it got much busier as it got dark.
Of many of the streets theres places full of tiny shops like these, selling secondhand mobile phones. I havent really found electronics shops like you find all over Hong Kong, a few Sony shops, LG shops etc. But nothing like Fortress or Broadway.
This is an example of a brightly lit corner, lots of people waiting behind me to cross, I stepped in front of them and balanced my camera on the control box thing for the traffic lights.
I hope you appreciate how dangerous this was.
OK, its time for Zombie cosplay geisha girls. They sort of sway slowly like zombies. They dont do anything else.
Honestly, I cant sing, but I can sing much much better than this guy, he was singing lady marmalade too, you know 'Kitchy kitchy koo koo ka ka!', 'Shalla kalla fur ko kike'. And god damn was it loud.
More zombies, I think they are following me! Whilst I was watching, a tiny little old grandma patted my head, her grand daughter was apologetic, and I think in broken english she told me her grandmother likes my hair and to pat a head full of hair brings good fortune. I expect to wake up bald in the morning, or possibly turn into a zombie.
Heres where I got my bubble tea. So damn cheap. Ive had 2 today, they probably arent very good for you.
And this is my meal from Mosburger, the japanese burger chain. I have got a something something beef rice burger. The bun is made of rice, not bread.
The side salad is just lettuce and corn. A very mediocre meal, but a unique experience. The place was full of school kids doing their homework.
And heres a closer shot of the rice burger thing. It doesnt seem to fall apart.
Finally, obun for dessert, I had a custard one with fresh sliced strawberry also inside it.