Another kind of beef noodle soup in Taipei is called “mian xian.” The noodles are thin and soft, while the broth is thick, almost like gravy. It comes with chewy coils of beef intestine.

Umbrella theft apparently isn’t a problem in Taiwan. Or else people aren’t attached to their umbrellas.

The people of Taipei are unusually nice. When I moved to Hong Kong, the first taxi driver at the airport dumped by bags back onto the sidewalk because he didn’t recognize the address I gave him. In Taipei, one taxi driver spent 10 minutes poring over a map with a magnifying glass so he could find my hotel. A Taiwanese woman who gave me directions chased me down when she realized they were wrong, called her friend, and led me around until I found what I was looking for.

Taiwan is known for its beef noodle soup, and Old Wang’s is a great destination for a slurp. The noodles here are thicker than some egg noodles, and cooked al dente. The chunks of brisket have had the toughness braised out of them, and disintegrate at the poke of a chopstick. The broth is spicy, with a strong star anise flavor. You can add chopped up pickled cabbage from a bowl at your table.

This is what you get on a short-haul flight in Asia.

Haven’t you always wondered why the washer is always separate from the dryer? They both spin don’t they?

Behold this example of Japanese ingenuity: a combination washer-dryer.

I saw this at a friend’s apartment in Taipei. They have as little space as Hongkongers.

Who hasn’t dreamt about wandering down a street one day with a growling stomach, only to pass by a whole roasted suckling pig being carved up?

You can’t find this anywhere in Taiwan. Apparently it’s an “aboriginal” tradition, that exists mostly for tourists in the picturesque towns outside Taipei. I saw this in Wulai, about 45 min south of the city.

Says this sign on the campus of National Taiwan University:

Caution! Falling palm frond

The single ride tokens for Taipei’s MRT subway would make good poker chips.

The Taiwanese version of a hot dog on a stick: the tater dog. If you want tomato sauce (read: ketchup), the hot dog vendor will brush your crispy dog for you.

Bubble tea (or “boba”) originated in Taiwan in the 1980s. By the time I was a kid in Toronto in the 90s, you could find a shop selling bubble tea all over town (most of them also sold photocopies, which seemed like an apt arrangement, especially for students).

In Taiwan, bubble tea doesn’t come in flavors, like it does in N. America. Most people seem to order straight tea, iced, with honey and the tapioca pearls. The pearls I had in Taipei were much softer and less chewy.