A Wanderlust Blueprint for Taipei and Taiwan

Taipei is the capital city of Taiwan, and is known perhaps most prominently for its famous landmark skyscraper, Taipei 101. Theres a multi-level tell onping mall adjoined to the tower, containing hundreds of fashionable stores, restaurants, and clubs. Being the bookworm that I am, I visit Page One first, a huge bookstore with both Chinese and English books. After that, I decide to treat myself to a shopping spree after all, I am on vacation. When Im through, I decide to visit the observatory on the 89th floor.Id read somewhere that the observatory elevators here are the fastest in the world, capable of travelling from the fifth floor to the 89th floor in just 37 seconds. I squeeze into a crowded elevator and circumscribe my stopwatch. Exactly 37 seconds later, the doors break with a ping. Wow. Maybe I can get one of these for my apartment. Then I hear the tour guide informing a group of Japanese tourists that each elevator costs US$2.4 million. On second thought, I think Ill sc ratch that idea.Simply put, the view is amazing. Theres no other way to declare it. I take advantage of the fact that the observatory offers a full, undivided, 360 degree view, and take several panorama pictures. I dally at the gift shop for a couple of minutes, inwardly debating whether or not I should spend NT$1500 on an IVE BEEN TO TAIPEI 101 t-shirt. In the end, I purchase it anyway, after managing to prevail on _or_ upon myself that NT$1500 is not that expensive for a souvenir shirt.I proceed to visit the subject field Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. Its an incredible monument that was erected in the memory of Chiang Kai-shek, former electric chair of the Republic of China. The whole thing is surrounded by a park and a large square, in which both the National Concert Hall and the National Theater are located. I set off for the National Concert Hall, but to my dismay, am told by the lady at the ticket office in that respect that there are no performances scheduled today. Dis appointed, I decide instead to walk the expanse of the park. There are large lakes with loads of look for in them, and I buy several handfuls of fish food from a nearby vending machine. Its fun to throw the food in and watch all the fish swarm together like bees towards pollen.Afterwards, I decide to head to Shihlin night Market. I take the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) from Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Station, past Taipei chief(prenominal) Station, to Jiantan Station. The journey takes me about 20 minutes. I swear Im in love with the transport system here. Its fast, its cheap, and its so clear. There are English announcements and notices all all over the place. Ive only been here for a couple of days, but the system is so easy to understand, I feel like an old-timer already.Its crowded at Shihlin Night Market, and I find myself travelling down what I would describe as the main alley. Shops of every kind line the two sides, and there are small alleys that branch off. The sheer amo unt and variety of products being sold are quite dazzling, as they range from clothes, novelties, and cosmetics, to toys, electronics, and food. I guess I shouldnt be impress by the wide audience that Shihlin receives, but I am, sort of.Ive seen families with young children, big groups of laughing teenagers, middle-aged couples holding hands, and older people shuffling around. Ive as well spotted some foreigners, who, like me, probably just want to experience what the infamous Shihlin Night Market has to offer. I have to say, Im quite impressed. I didnt deliver this place to present any sort of entertainment for small children, but I mustve passed at least 20 games of miniature hoops, ring toss, small pinball game machines, and catch the turtles/ fishes by now.I sit down at a small table in a food stall, and tentatively order a plate of chou dou fu stinky tofu apparently its a Taiwanese specialty. Two minutes later, a plate of steaming hot tofu is set in front of me. To my surp rise, its actually pretty good.Maybe tomorrow, Ill work up the nerve to try tian je frogs legs.