Taiwan Part 4

We spent our last night in Taipei walking the streets of Ximending District which is like a small scale version of New York's Time Square.

Per Wikipedia:

Ximending is now called the “Harajuku” of Taipei. The local bookstores sell Japanese magazines, books, CD albums, and clothing, making it a heaven for the “Harizu”, or Japanese culture adorers. Individual vendors gather in the streets as well as the large business buildings, such as Wannien Department Store and Shizilin Square in the early days, and Wanguo Department Store and Eslite 116 in the later period.

Due to the density of young people, Ximending is comparable to Shilin Market and the Eastern District to be areas with the highest crime rates. In addition, Ximending is well-known for Enjo kosai (Japanese for student prostitution).

Unfortunately the most scandalous thing we witnessed that evening was a bunch of street food vendors being chased away by police.











The MTR at Daan Station


I think Nat's ready to head home


Getting in some last minute souvenir shopping and sightseeing before our flight home






supersized mochi


have you ever seen an egg tart this big?


our last meal in Taiwan has made us delirious








these chefs ain't got nothin' on the makchef


tai mei fever!




Nat sleeps peacefully at airport check-in while we scramble to rearrange luggage to meet the weight restrictions


finally found a jade cabbage at the National Palace Museum store in the duty free area of the airport terminal


Farewell Taiwan - our first trip to Taiwan surely won't be our last. I would love to come back and perhaps see the more rural areas of the country. Now it's time to head home and shed the 14 lbs I gained in just 1 week!


Here's a link to the full album of photos taken on this trip. Enjoy!