One week into the trip we were both in need of a “do-nothing” morning. We slept late, read emails, I wrote while Tristan played computer games.
When we finally got ourselves moving, we headed to Ximending, an area Tristan wanted to explore. That didn’t surprise me, Ximending is known as a “cool” entertainment center geared towards the young. There are endless gaming stores (to buy both games and action figures, as well as to play). Clothing shops offer the latest streetwear, quirky fashion, and edgy accessories—platform sneakers, oversized tees, and pop-culture-inspired everything. There are loads of hair stylists and beauty shops selling Korean and Japanese cosmetics. Shop after shop displayed shelves of collectible toys, anime figures, and K-pop merch. There are bubble tea stands every few feet, and some of the themed cafés looked like they’d been plucked straight out of a video game.
It was extremely hot, 95 degrees, and very humid. When I saw a Starbucks, I suggested to Tristan that he explore while I nursed a drink in the airconditioned space. I had a lot of company enjoying the different kind of “cool.”
After he’d played some games and wandered around, we headed to the officially designated Ximen graffiti wall and park. There wasn’t much graffiti (i.e., scrawled names and brands) but there was wonderful street art. Both of us appreciated the bold designs and creativity. The area covers several blocks and the walls of two city parks.
As we reached the end of the graffiti area, I spotted a temple. We walked over to explore it. From the side it looked tiny, and I expected a modest interior. Instead, the temple occupied half a block and was quite elaborate. We spent quite a bit of time examining the interior (though it was excruciatingly hot).
At that point, despite using a small electric fan, I was dripping sweat. We found an airconditioned tea shop. I took ice from my drink and used it to cool myself down. It was a first for me but I was desperate. Tristan didn’t seem to be as affected by the heat, so he went out to explore a bit more. I was content to be stationary.
When we met up, I hailed a taxi to take us to a restaurant in a different part of town. We met Natalie, the niece of my friend Ichun. Natalie is Taiwanese and is attending college at Case Western in Ohio. Both Tristan and I appreciated the opportunity to ask a lot of questions about Taiwan culture. Natalie is lovely, happy to help us understand her culture and her transition to living in the US. She attended summer camp in the US for several summers before going to college.
When we wanted to order dinner, Natalie helped us to order popular Taiwanese dishes. We had quite a feast. Despite our eating a lot, much of the food remained. Without asking, the server took the leftovers and came back with a doggie bag. I noticed almost everyone leaving was toting one or two bags. It was a fun evening with charming company.