When I saw too many lights in a nighlife – 02.20.16
After a day that is packed with tourist spots and random discoveries, what followed was a night as filled – with a LANTERN FESTIVAL, more MARKET and STREET FOOD finds and beer in XIMENDING and all else random in between.
My sole destination for that night was a suggestion from the hostel crew after having told her that highlight of this trip would be an attempt to go see the Pingxi Festival. It could be some sort of premonition that I would fail in that to-do but for some reason, she suggested that I see a festive event in the city happening on that night. Since I had nothing planned except maybe some beer in the area, I gave it a go and ended up finding another market in the area which I enjoyed as much what I visited earlier that day.
* Witnessing the staples of busy district
In every city I go through, I make it a point to visit areas where there is most activity. Since my hostel in Taipei is near one, I spent some time walking around and in the process saw what are common —
Nightlights from the many establishments
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Street performers
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People, of course
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Stalls that are obviously more popular than others
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* Joining the locals celebrate at a lantern festival
It has been in my to-do list to witness a festival but I was thinking of one in my home country. Though it was not one I was very excited about, it was a truly memorable first – in another country. I remember walking with crowds of people as I check out the lantern exhibits and in the background was this program of performances in language I could not understand.
Centerstage
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Just one of many monkeys that night
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Line to lanterns on exhibit
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Hybrid of New Year and Christmas
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Just look up
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What’s at the top
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* Feasting on more cute finds in another market
Place called Maji Maji – with that 2 there
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Just because I am a fan of this TV series called The Big Bang Theory
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Space for food and its enthusiasts or just hungry ones
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A favorite drink in various languages
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The Little Prince!!!
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Enclosed space for stalls
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Is that cat real or not?
(I checked)
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This one’s a sound sleeper
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Fun how these shops are creatively set up
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For perspective
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If only I was hungry
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Are those Maji and Maji?
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All warmed up
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Hmm what is that
Christmas tree idea alert
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From another perspective, I still could not figure it out
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Diamonds
‘Ordinary’ lanterns
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The event from the train station
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From a little to the left
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* Trying another street food from a night market
Forgive me as I could not remember the name but after Expo Park, I dropped by a market just to check it out. There was a lot to see but I remember having had enough time with too many people that I just checked out the food stalls on the side.
Frying milk
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And now deep-frying ribs and cuttlefish
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And now I just don’t know what this is
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More sausage, hehe
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More sausage
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Event souvenir
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* Finding more fun at the MRT
Stations and train never run out of interesting people and stuff.
Holding your butt
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* Having another beer night out and in
Having known that there is a compound of bars near my hostel, I came back to this place behind the Red House for rounds of beer. My first beer was in one in outdoor seating but when it got too cold, I had to transfer to one with free seat inside.
More lanterns, more fun
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That candle didn’t give off enough heat
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No hiding where I am
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When I could not take the col
Something warm before I went to bed
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… and to cap the day off is this view from my hostel bed
(Sorry, stranger roommate. But you did scare me)
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How to get there and other practical details
TAIPEI EXPO PARK is within walking distance from Yuanshan Station.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kristina Correa (or more known to almost all people in her life as Teng) is based on the city of Manila in the Philippines and whenever she can, cools off with routine and gets her doses of happy someplace else. She doesn’t mean to inform and help plan (as obvious with her laziness with details) but hopes her stories and photos can inspire you to create your own.
I am no travel planner. 