Taiwan Day 6-7

Again working somewhat backwards - Beitou Hot Springs. So Taipei is essentially surrounded by mountains (and a river mouth). Up north is a long dormant volcano. And therefore hot springs. One can rent a room at a hot springs hotel (radium kagaya) just to hang and take baths and chill out in a private area. Enjoyable way to spend a morning without the kids. You can ride up there on the MRT (metro).

Afterwards, we swung down to the Taipei Railway Station to buy a bento box lunch. These lunches cost under $3. They are a glazed pork chop, rice, some bok choy, a braised egg (popular snack), and a fish cake. Incredibly popular at the major railway stations across Taiwan for commuters. The weirdest thing about them: the railway makes them. This would be like Amtrack making sack lunches in the US and selling them at Amtrack stations - only the lunches are beloved. It was a good lunch. Great, if you consider the price. 

Next, over to Dongmen Station and Yangkang Street. Ate delicious mango shaved ice, scallion pancakes, hung in a park, wandered around the neighborhood. Probably my favorite neighborhood stroll thus far - just lots of cute shops, spots, places to eat, etc. I later find out it's "one of the coolest streets in the world" according to internet travel websites. We grabbed some beef noodle soup to take home for dinner. Solid. (Lao Zhang Beef Noodle Diner)

The night before the above, we went out around our neighborhood - couldn't get into the cool whiskey bar (closed for private event). Wandered around to some streets that seemed Japanese to find a bar. Eventually landed on a place called O-Bar. Rules of this place: 2 drink minimum plus a service fee, which I think was more expensive if the waitress girls hung out at your table. We declined this option, but the rest of the tables seemed to be doing it. A bit strange. 

Before, we had hot pot dinner. Not the type of hot pot I was used to - the broth was more pickle flavored and I guess getting rarer and rarer to find in Taiwan. Mainland/Chinese hot pot getting more popular here. 

Before that, we spent the day at Taipei Children's Amusement Park - half Great America, half carnival. Good bang for the buck compared the hundreds I spent at Universal Studios recently to wait in line 90+ minutes for things. I think it cost $7 to get in per person. A few of the things were extra cost - like a kids mech armor game and a go kart track. No lines. 

Night before, a big Thai dinner with extended family. Lots of fun. Drank some Chinese moonshine. I have no idea what you call it. Also tried intestines last night - not for me. Lots of opportunities for adventurous eating and drinking out here.