Taiwan Day 5 Notes

Daytime - Huashan 1914 Creative Park - an old factory built in presumably 1914 now converted into an arts mall. Similar to Liberty Station in San Diego. Accomplished 80% of Christmas shopping - this wasn't the plan, but so many fun things to purchase. Taiwan is like capitalism on steroids in some respects - so many little stores everywhere. Unsure if this is organic, cultural, a good thing or a bad thing. I suppose Hong Kong was like this back in the day. Lunch - kids got a break from Chinese - ate pizza. We had Hainan Chicken at Boon Keng Chicken. Not the greatest I've had, but solid. 

Other notes/comments-

Outside our apartment, you open the door and are literally right next to an alley where cars and motorbikes speed by. You wouldn't want a kid just to walk right outside without an adult.

Style-wise, the folks in Taipei do not even come close to what I think of as stylish. Very unlike what I think about when I picture Seoul or Tokyo...some folks are making an effort, but this is not a stylish place. Not a judgement, just something I notice. 

Saw an elementary school at recess. It looked like 90% of the kids were playing basketball. Is that at urban thing? A Taiwanese thing? A Jeremy Lin thing?

You often notice signs around Taipei that say "Air Shelter" with an arrow.