The city still bustles below my hostel room as I enter this post at 2:05am Friday morning.
The city of Taipei is a place of movement, much like many urban cities. Surprisingly, I saw perhaps 4 or 5 westerners while riding the metro today. However, English translation is all around the city. After a message is spoken over the intercom on the metro in Mandarin, an English translation is offered. English is also on signs, sometimes misspelled, but there. In this picture, for example, "Fisherman's Whart." That was a must see.
The Fisherman's Wharf is located in DanShui, the northernmost stop on the metro station. Liz, another University of Puget Sound student, and I took the bus over to the wharf.
I am not sure if it was the driver or the standard, but our bus driver drove like many would guess a taxi driver to drive - swerving, narrowly dodging mopeds and scooters, taking turns at speeds normally reserved for smaller vehicles, the smell of old cigarettes - yes, it was quite an experience.Once we arrived at the Fisherman's Wharf, safely, we headed over to these smalls shopping booths. Liz bought a pair of sunglasses while I tried these on.
I think they make my head look small. Everybody at these shopping booths were trying to sell you something. Especially those sunglasses.The wharf was a cool place. There is a large white bridge that brings you to a row of restaurants and more shopping. 
There were not many people around the wharf, and many of the restaurants were just starting to open for lunch. Boaters and tourists were just about the only people at the wharf.
After leaving the Wharf, we headed for lunch in downtown DanShui.
The streets are lined with more scooters, big surprise, vendors selling everything for clothing and apparel to make-up and electronics. Ads jet out into the streets grabbing the attention of any who walk near. As you walk in the streets the humidity is almost unbearable, bringing water is essential. However, as you walk next to these side shops, the air conditioning cools you down, almost drawing you in.
Finally, Liz and I found a place to eat. We're not sure what we were eating, we think it was octopus soup. But nonetheless, it was "hen hao chi" (delicious).
Ordering food without pictures is both hard and perhaps a little dangerous, mainly because you don't know what you're getting. Lunch was along those lines. I was not sure how to read the characters, so I asked "di yi ge shenme?" (what is number one?). She told me how to say what it was, but not what it was. So I tried it.
The place we stopped for food smelled great and had many people sitting - so we figured it must be good if the locals are eating there.
The kitchen is right in front of where you eat. The meals are cooked before your eyes.
After lunch, Liz and I headed back south on the metro. I will start refering to the metro as MRT (Mass Rapid Transportation), that's what the locals call it. The MRT is emaculate.
No food or drinks are allowed, along with chewing gum or smoking. If you are caught doing any of those you will be fined $3000NT, the equivalent of nearly $100US. Liz and I bought MRT cards - best single thing to do when you arrive in Taipei. 
The MRT is simple, you can even leave it in your wallet and just wave your wallet over the sensor. The card works on the metro and public buses. The card has $500NT credit, which lasts for a good while, a week or better, depending on how many stops and places you go. It is cheaper in the long run.
We travelled down to Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall.
An amazing place. At 2:00pm, we made it to see the changing of the guards. Looking out from the Memorial, there is a large square that is equally as impressive as the Memorial itself. 
The large openness of the square allowed for a breeze to cool us off during the middle of the day, despite the high humidity.
After Chiang Kai Shek, we went to Ximen. Ximen was one stop west of the MRT main station.
It is a shopping meca. Name brands fill the streets. Mainly younger people shop here. If you're looking for the current fashion, go to Ximen.
After walking around Ximen for about an hour it started to rain. Taipei is suppose to have a tropical storm today. The rains came a little early. After about a day full of adventure we went back to the hostel for shelter and a nap. Our goal was to make it to the night market in Shilin. We ended up being too tired and decided to turn in.
We'll save it for another day.
- Ryan
There were not many people around the wharf, and many of the restaurants were just starting to open for lunch. Boaters and tourists were just about the only people at the wharf.After leaving the Wharf, we headed for lunch in downtown DanShui.
The streets are lined with more scooters, big surprise, vendors selling everything for clothing and apparel to make-up and electronics. Ads jet out into the streets grabbing the attention of any who walk near. As you walk in the streets the humidity is almost unbearable, bringing water is essential. However, as you walk next to these side shops, the air conditioning cools you down, almost drawing you in.Finally, Liz and I found a place to eat. We're not sure what we were eating, we think it was octopus soup. But nonetheless, it was "hen hao chi" (delicious).
Ordering food without pictures is both hard and perhaps a little dangerous, mainly because you don't know what you're getting. Lunch was along those lines. I was not sure how to read the characters, so I asked "di yi ge shenme?" (what is number one?). She told me how to say what it was, but not what it was. So I tried it.The place we stopped for food smelled great and had many people sitting - so we figured it must be good if the locals are eating there.
The kitchen is right in front of where you eat. The meals are cooked before your eyes.After lunch, Liz and I headed back south on the metro. I will start refering to the metro as MRT (Mass Rapid Transportation), that's what the locals call it. The MRT is emaculate.
No food or drinks are allowed, along with chewing gum or smoking. If you are caught doing any of those you will be fined $3000NT, the equivalent of nearly $100US. Liz and I bought MRT cards - best single thing to do when you arrive in Taipei. 
The MRT is simple, you can even leave it in your wallet and just wave your wallet over the sensor. The card works on the metro and public buses. The card has $500NT credit, which lasts for a good while, a week or better, depending on how many stops and places you go. It is cheaper in the long run.We travelled down to Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall.
An amazing place. At 2:00pm, we made it to see the changing of the guards. Looking out from the Memorial, there is a large square that is equally as impressive as the Memorial itself. 
The large openness of the square allowed for a breeze to cool us off during the middle of the day, despite the high humidity.
After Chiang Kai Shek, we went to Ximen. Ximen was one stop west of the MRT main station.
It is a shopping meca. Name brands fill the streets. Mainly younger people shop here. If you're looking for the current fashion, go to Ximen.
After walking around Ximen for about an hour it started to rain. Taipei is suppose to have a tropical storm today. The rains came a little early. After about a day full of adventure we went back to the hostel for shelter and a nap. Our goal was to make it to the night market in Shilin. We ended up being too tired and decided to turn in.
We'll save it for another day.
- Ryan
Thanks for including me. I am looking forward to keeping track of you!
ReplyDeleteThanks! How is everything back home?
ReplyDelete