I took a trip to Taiwan to visit Matt and Sam, this year's Luce Scholars in Taipei. Friday night, I headed up Taipei 101, unfortunately too wrapped in persistent fog to offer much of a view.
After that, I met Matt for street market adventuring and tasty noms. Highlights included massive fried chicken slabs and fermented tofu. Chicken because of the excellent taste, uniquely tangy and spicy, kind of like Lucas candy. Fermented tofu because of the awful smell that precedes an equally interesting taste.
On Saturday, I wandered over to 228 Memorial Museum, commemorating the rioting, followed by widespread repression of the local Taiwanese population shortly after World War Two.
A little later on, I headed to Longshan Temple to see the sights and eat at the adjoining night markets. I wanted to eat spicy, and so following the Korean color code, I embarked on a fruitless search for red food. Matt later told me that there is no such thing in Taiwan.
That night, I searched out the Taiwan Beer factory for more slightly strange food accompanied by excellent beer and live music. Apparently the facility was changing owners, providing a good excuse for a party in this very industrial and somewhat hidden beer-garden.
On Sunday, I slept in, then headed to "camera street" and Ximending. I found a very cool Nikon mirror telephoto,
Matt found gigantic soap bubbles, and we all had a great time.
Then back to Seoul in time for us to move lab buildings. The new space is really nice!
And last but not least, a walk in my (cold) backyard.
