In and Around Taipei

Close to Our Apartment

It’s overcast but not raining and a very comfortable 22°.

This is a day for walking the city.

We check out the local Tianhou Temple (built over 270 years ago), dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu.

Nearby is the Rainbow Crossing in Ximending area and the marker where the Ximen Gate was located before it was destroyed by the Japanese.

Dihau Street and Taipei Scooter Waterfall

We walk a ways to Dihau Street, which is one of the oldest areas in Taipei. There are a lot of stores selling natural medicine, produce, handicrafts and a cute lantern store. There is also a local Taoist temple called Dadaocheng Cisheng Temple.

Nearby is an off ramp for motorbikes only crossing the Taipei Bridge. Our tour guide from yesterday suggested that it is cool to watch all the bikes coming down the ramp from the bridge, especially at rush hour…the spectacle is known as the Taipei Scooter Waterfall. Click here for a video (not my own).

Bao-an Temple and Confucian Temple

We stop for some bubble tea before heading to Bao-an Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the mid-1700s.

Across the street is a Confucian Temple. Also very pretty.

We are near the airport and I cannot get over how close the planes come as they are landing. It is really quite cool.

Huashan Cultural Park

We grab the subway to Huashan Cultural Park. It used to be a wine factory and is now converted to a park and unique stores. I find one of them that has one of the best thought out travel backpack/purses. It is a bit pricey but so well thought out. I have to get it.

Modern Toilet

Purchase made, we head back by subway to our home base in the Ximen District. There is a restaurant there that I am just dying to check out called the Modern Toilet Restaurant. It is all poop and pee themed…yes I know, immature but hilarious. The decor is fun, the menu is funny but the food is mediocre. I’m still glad we went.

Shilin Night Market

We drop stuff off at the apartment before heading out to the Shilin Night Market. It is a real mix of shopping stalls, food and carnival games. We peruse the many, many food stalls and I decide on three different food selections that I want to try. The first is a very large portion of grilled King Mushrooms with your choice of toppings. There is a long line up but I want to try them. I have the seaweed and the rose salt toppings. They are delicious but so filling that I cannot eat anything else.

There is a great 3D LED sign of a pooping tiger. Click here for a short video.

As with most night markets, there is a temple in it.

We head back to the Red House cultural area where we find a pretty place for a drink before heading back to the apartment.