Who Are The People In Your Neighbourhood?
When we first moved to Taipei, we didn’t really realise how fortunate we were to relocate to the area we currently live. Within only ten minutes walk from our apartment is Yuanshan 圓山 station. Before getting to Yuanshan station, you need to walk past the Taipei Expo Center and Maji Square. Coming from Beijing, I was amazed to see how well people make use of this multi-purpose covered space nearby the metro station. Each afternoon and evening we can find new discoveries and community activities. There are the ubiquitous groups of high schoolers sweating through hip hop dance routines, side-by-side with elderly practitioners of yoga and taichi 太極拳, and occasionally groups of acrobats and jugglers. Basically, there’s something for everyone. On weekends, the area is full with families, and as our first child is coming I find myself staring at all of the couples with “stroller” envy, wondering which model I’ll end up getting in the near future. Maji Square and the surrounding area is both the perfect place for a family outing, as well as being able to enjoy a late night cocktail or beer at one of the many bars. Below, I’ll give a brief introduction, at how it covers all the bases, even when you’re not sure what bases you’re wanting to cover.
According to Undiscovered Taipei, Maji Square was officially opened in 2013 and consists of 6 areas: farmer’s market, food fair, glasshouse market, exotic restaurants, and multipurpose performance space. On this particular weekend afternoon, our goal was not actually Maji Square, but the Taipei Expo Park’s former soccer stadium directly next door. Originally Zhongshan Soccer Stadium, the interior has been redesigned and is now used as a public space (mainly for hip-hop dancing and cosplay shows). There is an exhibition hall, and on this day, we decided to explore it for the baby products’ exhibition on display.
One of the things that I found very interesting at this exhibition was the fact that it was not just an exhibition for expecting parents, or parents of infants. Neither my wife nor I read the sign clearly enough and almost didn’t even notice the pictures of the lizards featured on the exhibition’s poster. As with Maji, where grannies coexist with hip-hop high-schoolers doing handstands to enhance their abs of steel, the baby fair itself was also happening simultaneously with an exhibition for exotic and rare pets and animals. On one side of the exhibition hall we were approached by a woman inquiring as to whether or not we would like to freeze our future child’s umbilical chord, while on the other side we were able to make contact with a writhing live snake that was the star of the arena.
Upon exiting the snake and baby show, we had worked up an appetite for sweets and so stopped by one of Taipei’s best donut shops, Haritts Donuts. Originally a chain started by the Sakai Sisters in Tokyo, Japan, each donut is fluffy, handmade, and not overly sweet. You can almost trick yourself into thinking you are eating something that is not that unhealthy for you when you bite into the pillowy softness of a Haritts’ Donut — at least you know your biting into something that is fine. It’s pretty much the only donut that makes me feel lighter after eating than before, simply because I know I’m giving my body a wonderful treat when I eat one of these treasures. My personal favourite is the white chocolate cranberry flavoured donut, but they don’t have these ones all the time. On this day we bought three flavours: caramel walnut, taro, and kinako sesame.
After enjoying our donuts and having a rest, we took a walk around the “exotic” food stall area and met a friend who was having lunch at a nearby Indian restaurant. On the way there, we passed a group of people who had formed a ring around a street performer. On the weekend just outside of the food court area visitors will be able to see some excellent performers, all of whom have trained their 20 minute sessions down to perfection. The performer who happened to be there on this day was one who seemed to be juggling a gigantic sort of cube. I always wonder how street performers choose their chosen niche and what makes a man decided to be an expert at the cube.
On this particular day, we were also lucky to encounter a nearby outdoor Christmas market packed with food stands, mulled wine, craft beer, people dressed as Santa, and Christmas tunes on the loudspeakers. Although the weather was warm enough to still be wearing shorts, there was definitely a festive atmosphere in the air, especially with families on the nearby grass splayed out enjoying the overcast afternoon and the occasional flyby of an aircraft landing at the Songshan Airport. I stood in line behind a man and his bearded dragon waiting to get a bbq sausage sandwich.
Looking around at the crowds laying on the grass, drinking my mulled wine, and watching a particularly boisterous young boy race around on his tiny bicycle in circles, I was once again reminded that I am living on an island in a bubble (or is it a bubble on an island?). It’s an island where its own identity remains in precarious flux, and yet, the life and community seems to be constantly blossoming and exploding in its vibrance. Although many of the people around at the packed Christmas market were wearing masks, there were many more who chose not to. As I leaned back and watched another girl try to get her kite to take flight in the air, I had to once again send out a deep note of gratitude just for being able to enjoy a Sunday evening within the bubble.
