Finally I have some free time to visit Taipei. Why finally? How to explain I did not find at least a couple of days before to walk around, visit places during two years (already!)? Well, I visited touristic places for sure.
But when it comes to live a 'normal' life in this city like I usually do in Tokyo (going to restaurant/shopping/exibition/theater...) I dont know much.
When I came back to Paris during Christmass I realized how much I missed going to see a movie in a theater. Last week-end I've been to Tokyo and I found that actually I missed cultural activities in general (actually I've been to Tokyo in a first place because I missed Mih0 but that's another story).
So this week-end I decided to play it the parisian-way in Taipei. First of all, the weather was perfect: it was cold and cloudy, a little raining but not too much. Second condition: I had to take the train to reach my destination. Train is good because it lets you focus about the environment and not about things like: Is it Zhongshan road or Chongxiang road? Is it really forbidden to park on yellow lines (in this case why red lines exist)? I took this picture near the central station, and I think it tells you exactly why you should prefer train or subway in Taipei.
First destination was the moca (http://www.mocataipei.org.tw/) , the museum of contemporary art of taipei. I let you check the website if you're interested. First good point compared to the equivalent in Paris: it's one euro and there is no queue to get in. The place is big (the building was made during Japanese occupation, a school I think). There were concerts near the front door all day and the staff gives you pen if you want to draw on the sidewalk. Exhibition itself was partially interesting but I was surprised to see that actually Taiwanese artists are very active, and supported by government organizations and private companies.
Check this one: http://www.ykon.org/ recognition of Taiwan by micronations. If you never heard about micronations like sealand (http://www.sealandgov.org/), it's time to waste one hour before the lunch break to learn about this very unrelevant fact that there are micronations in the world and that you could maybe create your own.
Rest of the day was about walking around to see how fast I would get lost in Taipei (about 2 minutes, time to get out of the subway station). I finally found a theater which plays independant movies, does not sell popcorns, has poor seats and small screen for the same price as a multiplex (or cinecon for Japanese readers :P). I almost felt like I was in mk2 Beaubourg when the movie began with the "Un film RadioFrance" trademark (the story of an old lesbian pianist who fall in love with her assistant, unhappy-ending, great actors but no scenario, fullfils pseudo-independant french production requirements).
Some will say I am trying to reproduce my french way of life in Taiwan now, may be true. Still, places I have been to were crowded and not so many foreigners. So I actually believe I can find some good oportunities to meet different people. I'll keep digging.
But when it comes to live a 'normal' life in this city like I usually do in Tokyo (going to restaurant/shopping/exibition/theater...) I dont know much.
When I came back to Paris during Christmass I realized how much I missed going to see a movie in a theater. Last week-end I've been to Tokyo and I found that actually I missed cultural activities in general (actually I've been to Tokyo in a first place because I missed Mih0 but that's another story).
So this week-end I decided to play it the parisian-way in Taipei. First of all, the weather was perfect: it was cold and cloudy, a little raining but not too much. Second condition: I had to take the train to reach my destination. Train is good because it lets you focus about the environment and not about things like: Is it Zhongshan road or Chongxiang road? Is it really forbidden to park on yellow lines (in this case why red lines exist)? I took this picture near the central station, and I think it tells you exactly why you should prefer train or subway in Taipei.
First destination was the moca (http://www.mocataipei.org.tw/) , the museum of contemporary art of taipei. I let you check the website if you're interested. First good point compared to the equivalent in Paris: it's one euro and there is no queue to get in. The place is big (the building was made during Japanese occupation, a school I think). There were concerts near the front door all day and the staff gives you pen if you want to draw on the sidewalk. Exhibition itself was partially interesting but I was surprised to see that actually Taiwanese artists are very active, and supported by government organizations and private companies.
Check this one: http://www.ykon.org/ recognition of Taiwan by micronations. If you never heard about micronations like sealand (http://www.sealandgov.org/), it's time to waste one hour before the lunch break to learn about this very unrelevant fact that there are micronations in the world and that you could maybe create your own.
Rest of the day was about walking around to see how fast I would get lost in Taipei (about 2 minutes, time to get out of the subway station). I finally found a theater which plays independant movies, does not sell popcorns, has poor seats and small screen for the same price as a multiplex (or cinecon for Japanese readers :P). I almost felt like I was in mk2 Beaubourg when the movie began with the "Un film RadioFrance" trademark (the story of an old lesbian pianist who fall in love with her assistant, unhappy-ending, great actors but no scenario, fullfils pseudo-independant french production requirements).
Some will say I am trying to reproduce my french way of life in Taiwan now, may be true. Still, places I have been to were crowded and not so many foreigners. So I actually believe I can find some good oportunities to meet different people. I'll keep digging.
