this honey, because it's sweet and taiwanese.
these soft pajamas from muji, so i'm stylish in my sleep.
these cloth napkins, so we use fewer paper towels.
this napkin from miyahara, because it reminds me of fun times.
taiwan series: taichung cultural and creative industries park
for the longest time, there was a derelict liquor factory across the street from my friend aileen's house in taichung. the facility was a ghost town all through my childhood, but was reanimated as a cultural event space and park a few years back. now they host concerts, exhibits, and other arty happenings there. it's a similar initiative to huashan 1914 in taipei, where long-abandoned spaces like tobacco and liquor factories are being converted into new creative venues. taichung cultural and creative industries park 「台中文化創意產業園區」is much quieter than huashan 1914, it seems, but it makes sense given that taichung is generally a much sleepier place than taipei. (but the weather is waaay better here.)
i went to the park around noon on a weekday, and aside from a few tour groups, it was pretty empty. the cafes open around 11am, although i think the exhibits open at 10am. mostly though, i like going there just to walk around outside. the old buildings have been restored and the landscaping is lovely, so it's a pretty relaxing environment to enjoy a walk and a cup of coffee away from the city streets.
if you get hungry, there are a few options, including the ark cafe 「方舟咖啡廚房」and sole cafe. ark has full meals but since i wasn't hungry, i went to sole for some coffee and a valrhona brownie.
check it out if you're in the area. i love seeing how abandoned spaces are being turned into useful and beautiful new parks, and it's nice to have one so close to my parents' house!
taiwan series: tea & ice cream @ miyahara
i've done a lot of walking on this trip. yesterday, i walked about 6 kilometers, first from my parents' house to miyahara near the train station, then onwards to an entirely different part of town. it's been a long time since i've walked that route - probably not since before i got my license! (scooter license that is...but hey, that's a legit motorized vehicle.)
anyway, miyahara has the most amazing ice creams. i can't stop thinking about them. they are light and gelato-like, meaning i ate a huge scoop and felt nothing but refreshed afterwards. they are divided into three sections: chocolates, fruits, and teas. i tried a couple of the tea flavors and they were all divine.
i settled on the earl grey tea, topped with toasted buckwheat and purple rice. may seem weird, but it was soooo good. it's also strange (but delightful) to taste traditional taiwanese teas like oriental beauty 「東方美人」in ice cream form.
the toppings were really interesting too. i want to try more of them! claire, aileen and i are planning to go back on saturday for lunch. stay tuned for a more comprehensive post on the delights of miyahara!
taiwan series: taichung alley plants
my parents' house is behind the taichung railway station, an older part of town that's remained relatively unchanged for the past twenty years. well, that's not really true - new buildings have gone up and old ones have been torn down - but these changes haven't really altered the feel or the look of the neighborhood much. on our street, there's the elementary school my brother went to, a hot pot place, and a night market past the next intersection. it's all mom-and-pop restaurants, bakeries, and tea stands, with the odd doctors' and dentists' offices on every other block. the one major department store in the area has been renamed four times (that i can remember) but it's still the same building with a new sign. i still refer to it by a name that's three iterations back and have no idea what it's currently called.
i have my rituals when i come home: i get a danbing 「蛋餅」from my breakfast spot, and i head to the nearest chunshuitang 「春水堂」for some bubble tea and fried turnip cakes (theirs are amazing). i also always go to my dentist and optometrist, because if you know anything about the affordability and quality of taiwanese health care, you'd come to taiwan for all your medical needs too. and when i'm done with that stuff, i get back to eating... there's lots of it to be done! all that eating means that i've gotta burn it off somehow, and that's where shopping comes in. :) or if i'm taking a break from conspicuous consumption, i'll just take some walks around the alleys. this time, i noticed these magenta pink flowers everywhere. if only flowers bloomed in new york at this time of year!
i suppose these plants have been here all along, but before my relatively newfound love of leafy things, i never really noticed them. i'm only now appreciating all the ad hoc greenery lining the streets. i'm going to have to start identifying plants through garden compass! (it's a great plant ID tool where you just take a photo of the mystery plant in question and then they reply with an identification within about 24 hours.) it's too bad i can't take some of these varieties back to brooklyn with me...
taiwan series: it's good to be back
i woke up this morning at 4am, thanks to jet lag and a strange call from delta airlines. i really need to remember to set my phone to "do not disturb" while on the opposite side of the world. by around 9:30, i was ready to get out of the house so i went for a walk in the alleyways nearby. it's muggy and warm, and feels not at all like november. this is how taiwan always feels in my memories.
whenever i come home, i make an effort to walk by this house, which is conveniently near my favorite breakfast spot. it's so simple - all straight, spare lines and monochromatic. i also love the way the flowers are weaving their way through the fence, and the pink against the charcoal, wood, and white.
i'm due for a nap now (totally losing the battle against jet lag today...) but will be back soon with more of taiwan. we go to taipei tomorrow and ilan monday! xoxo