Okay, I didn't go to Japan, but on the 19th and 20th of Aug, I went to 台北地下街 (Taipei City Mall), yes... twice in two days. I have a problem. Anyway, the mall is filled with amazing anime/hobby stores and has a great selection of Japanese and Indonesian restaurants.
It all started one afternoon, when I was lounging around my room. I woke up pretty late, and I was sure my 早餐 (breakfast) spot, La Morning, was closed. So I was pretty bummed out, I felt like I wasted a large portion of my day, in 台灣 (Taiwan), how could I?
I decided to go to the mall, and check out some anime-stores. As you may know, I am a HUGE Otaku (anime-lover)! So I travelled to the mall, it's one of my favourite places, and it's good exercise (it's a pretty long mall, at least the longest one I've been too). It's a lot of fun to go into each store, and peek at all the goodies that they have. Everytime I go, I must remind myself not to spend. Each time I find something I hadn't noticed before, it's amazing, and I love all the Otaku stuff. So of course, going there was the only logical thing to do.
On both days, before taking the MRT, I popped into the bakery across from the bus stop, since the buns would be fresh. On the first day, I got a Danish 紅豆 (Red Bean) bun and a Longan bun.
The Danish 紅豆 (Red Bean) bun is, from all the buns I've tried, my favourite. I bought the Longan bun because they're my favourite fruit. This bun had nuts in it, and it was okay, but I wouldn't get it again. On the second day, I only got one bun, because on the first day, I ate too much, and was full after dinner. So, again, I wanted to get a quick bun, and try something new. I got a Rum, raisin, and walnut bun.
This bun was pretty good, and I felt like an adult getting something with rum in its title. It was kind of dry though, but it's good to try new things, and maybe I'll get something soon! Here's a picture of the bakery,
(right when I pulled my phone out for a shot, she walked over)
Now, on to the good stuff, my imagined trip to 日本 (Japan). After walking around the mall for a bit, I got hungry and was really craving 拉麵 (Ramen), a Japanese noodle-soup dish. So, after peeking at various restaurant menus, a girl noticed me looking, and gave me a menu and an order-ticket (where you mark what you want). The menu had pictures, and I prefer restaurants that have the little order-ticket, as someone that doesn't really speak 普通話 (Mandarin). On the first day, I ordered a 拉麵 (Ramen), with 雞 (chicken).
Holy mother of... It was huge, and delicious. They also gave out free tea and soup.. paradise. . If I didn't have a strict rule of not getting things twice, I'd order it again, and again, and again. After I finished, I was completely satisfied. Although this meant I wouldn't be able to try other Japanese food, I was happy and full. On the second day, I returned, but with a different approach. 1. get a smaller dish, 2. try new things. So, on the second day, I got a rice and chicken plate that was on their "snack" section. I don't think they know what snack means.
This too, was delicious. Again, I'd like to thank their picture filled menu. Again, I got 雞 (chicken), but cooked in a different way, and it was goooood. The dish also came with a wide assortment of side dishes; veggies, tofu, and more veggies. It pretty much filled me up, but I still had room for a teenie-weenie bit.
After dinner, and a little bit more window shopping (why must everything be so expensive and amazing? - I want my future house to look like some of the stores; their displays are amazingly cool) I decided to get dessert. There was a little shop that sold Japanese-inspired pastries. I decided to get something, new, I had tried the fish-shaped pastry before. I got a stick of sweet, warm, goodness.
It was sort of like a Japanese-churro, but with less sugar, so I didn't feel too bad/unhealthy eating it. It's definitely on my recommended list, a long with pretty much everything else at the mall, haha.
As you can see, a lot of the decor at the mall is inspired by 日本 Japan. It's cool hanging out at the mall, it's almost like going to Japan (or so I imagine), while in Taiwan!
Here's one of the first pictures I have of the mall, before I started teaching.
That's a picture of me standing next to Mayuri Shiina, Rintarou Okabe, and Makise Kurisu from Steins;Gate, my favourite anime, haha.
Now, I know Japan has more to it than it's anime and food, but those two components are really emphasized at the mall.
Window shopping at its best,
JC(3.14)
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