第九天: Day 9 // Ximending Night Market

今天很忙可是好晚

This morning will be the most memorable morning. On this important day we found a scale. And on this important day, we realized how fat we were.

It all started with Mike finding the scale. Before that, we were sharing stories of eating-too-much-but-it-was-so-good, my-family-making-me-eat-even-though-I'm-full and I'm-full-but-I-didn't-refuse-so-that-I'm-not-rude.

I'm crying because I gained 7 pounds in one week. How is that possible??!!! That has never happened before!!!!

The aftermath: Eating More

This is Andy, Eric's brother

As you might remember from a previous post - how cute!

We're good at being distracted...

Our display of US dollar versus Taiwanese money, the 

We explored SOGO Mall and then headed for a meal at the Train Station. There is a floor that they recently built with that is solely restaurants and shops. Before that, there was nothing there.

There are sections on the floor that are solely for those shops. For instance, there is an eating area for all the ramen shops and also for curry. The eating areas are all differently decorated. I'm not sure what area this was but I loved the look of it.

Dawn and I headed to eat some Taiwanese noodles while the boys went to eat Teppanyaki. The food was filling and I didn't remember to take a picture until I finished my last bite. 

At the train station lobby

We arrived at Ximending. This is where the young people hang out and often times celebrities are seen here.

Beautiful lights all around! The buildings were high and music was playing. There were a lot of young people out and about on a Monday night. It was a different sort of busyness than the night market from yesterday. It felt less chaotic and definitely more of the younger crowd than just A LOT OF PEOPLE. The roads were spacious and there was so much visually with the tall building lights and different large screens.

We were all extremely famished but then we stopped when we saw a large crowd. As we peered in, we saw a spray paint artist. He worked with great concentration and quick hands, a cigarette between his lips. There was not a glance or word to the crowd. 

He used a flame blower to dry and seal the colors.

We were glued. He literally tossed the finish art onto the ground and it was quickly picked up by someone. This was the only time the artist interacted. When you put money into the box in front, he will reach out his hand, quickly sign the artwork and hand it back. All without a word. Then without falter, he immediately started his work again.

I think everyone was glued because from the beginning strokes, no one had any idea what it would become. Only till the very last spray and he would spin it into the crowd's direction would we all go "oooooh" at the realization of the creation.

He tossed it onto the ground and Mike quickly grabbed it up.

The finished product:

Hunger long forgotten. It was amazing to watch him work and how quickly he started on a completely new painting.

He would tear regular cardboard into pieces and also crumple up newspapers and dab them in the spray paint.

Finished product. Eric and I grabbed it quickly before anyone else could grab it, and Dawn bought one that displayed two Koi.

We strolled on to find hidden treasures of food.

BINGO! The best bubble tea place so far! Eric and I ended up drinking 3 drinks from there. My favorite was mangosteen with jelly.

What do you do when you see a big crowd? Get in line, of course! We were in line before we knew what we were getting. A native Taiwanese dish of ay-chung flour-rice noodles. More information here: "Best Noodles in Town" blog post

Dawn scored with fried popcorn chicken that was drizzled in sweet-and-sour sauce.

The crowd eating their bowl of ay-chung noodles. This picture does not show the long line waiting for their turn to order.

We also ate Da ji pai - translated as "big chicken steak". Basically a large slab of chicken fried and seasoned in deliciousness.

We ventured off for some shaved ice dessert!

I found my favorite korean group on the wall: Cnblue!!!

If you don't know them, they are awesome! Plus, I give them major props for moving up in the music industry because of their talent rather than a recruitment to be groomed to be a "perfect idol" by major music companies. 

Here's one of my favorite songs:

Arrival. *insert glorious music*

Mango, boba, green bean and red bean on snow.

It's Chopper!

We found a magician performing along the way. He used Eric as a volunteer, who held onto a box that was tied up. He then tied up the ends around Eric's hands yet somehow in one swift move removes the rope.

The boys helped these salesmen move their rolling advertisement back in. 

On our way out, we went to see if the spray painter artist was still there since it had been quite a few hours. To our amazement and excitement, he was still there and still working just as fast. His last artwork we saw, he gave it to a little girl who was waiting. I then saw a trace of a smile on his face :)

Good night world! I ran out of toothpaste so I bought this brand. Those who can read it would understand. Oh my.