DAY 1: TAIPEI
Enroute to our hotel from the airport at night, we came across a typical small food shop. Here, the shop is selling noodles and "dong fen", a glassy and slippy noodles common in both Singapore and Taiwan. You should try that if you have not tried before.
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DAY 2: DANSHUI
Taiwan has an aging society since 1993. More than 7 percent of the total population are above 65 years old. Here, a group of elderly people gathering around danshui area, playing chess, passing time, and getting together with their fellow friends.
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A lonely migratory bird searching in the dark, murky danshui waters for food. Due to water discharges from the city dwellings and drains, the waters around danshui may occasionally give off a slight foul smell, especially at low tide.
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An old, battled boat left high and dry on the berthing area as the tides goes out. Such boat is a common sight here in Danshui, especially on the left coast of the "lao jie", where there are some "slums".
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Run-down, rusted brown zinc plates houses on stilts near the MRT station. Rubbish and stench-filled run-offs from the nearly canal accumulates around these houses before the tide comes in. I wonder how the people live in such conditions. :(
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On route to a casual walk along the coast of danshui, towards the boardwalk of mangroves. Taken off the reflection of a tour bus. Pretty nice smooth reflection eh? Must be a new coating of V-kool.
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Against the backdrop of "Hao Suo Zai". The words has the meaning of "Good Place to be". :) This was taken just before the path to the mangrove boardwalk.
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Bicycles are common modes of travel. In fact, Taiwan has a brand called "Giant" which manufactures pretty good bikes. www.giant-bicycles.com
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We did not go all the way to the boardwalk as it was too far away, so it's just a short, leisurely walk. Water is precious in this cold, dry weather, as Pei demonstrates. :)
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This is the long walkway/path with ups and downs before it goes into the boardwalk area. In fact, there is an army camp nearby and I was "asked" not to take any photos or else ...
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At Danshui, just opposite of "Old Street" or "Lao Jie" (淡水老街). Many small boats were berthed here. Because the tide has gone out, they were left on dry ground. The land in the distance opposite is the "Ba-Li" area. (I think)
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Hot and yummy quail eggs on the stove. These eggs are skewed together; about 5 to 6 eggs per satay stick is sold for about 20 NT$, about 1 SGD. I wonder if the people are aware that these eggs are extremely high in cholesterol??
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Thirsty after all that eating and walking along the stretch of 淡水老街? Have a drink! You can find Sour Plum, Winter Melon, Tangerine, Grape drinks on sale here along the street.
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This is special version of the "sausage". The white "sausage" is not made of meat, but glutinous rice, with some vegetables fillings. The ones behind in brown colour are the taiwan pork sausages. Both are yummy! The white one is interesting cos we don't get them here in Singapore.
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Here's the Hulu stall which sell candy-coated haws strung on a bamboo stick. For most stalls, they also offer fruits such as strawberries on these sticks too.
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Huge packs of cotton candy! Yum! But I did not buy it as I have other interesting food to eat in Danshui! hehehe...
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Freshly prepared prawn rolls! This 蝦捲 sells for 4 on a stick and costs me about 20NT$ or 1 SGD... Crispy and lightly sauced. Can try if you go Danshui.
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Strawberry Hulu on sale for NT$10 or 50 cents. It's very popular with the young and children. The hulu has a crispy sugar coating with soft and sweet fruit centres. Those folk with sweet tooth may like this!
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A mother and her daughter sitting along the bench along the street, having a good time eating and sharing their food. Looks like a cuttlefish and fondue to me. :)
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This is Smelly Beancurd (臭豆腐)! A special food of Hong Kong and also here in Taiwan. I think that HK's 臭豆腐 is much more stronger in smell than the ones in Taiwan. To me, it smelled like choked dirty drains in fresh produce markets and smell pretty bad. People who likes it swears that it tastes delicious! *brr* ;P. Btw, it's actually beancurd fermented in a special vegetable and fish brine.
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Performance by an elderly man. It seemed that he has quite a number of credentials and even has a nicely taken photo of him blowing on his musical instrument shown also in this photo. Very much the looks of a traditional chinese music performer.
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This is a sugarcane stall very close the ferry alighting/boarding point. This is a special type of sugar cane called "white sugar cane". It is cooling and good for people who have eaten a lot of "heaty" and deep fried/grilled food along the streets.
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What are you looking at?
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Close up of the Hulu. This is special with small black berries separating the strawberries. Every 20 or 30 metres along the Danshui Old Street, you may be able to spot these on sale.
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