TAIPEI – FEELING LIKE A STAR AND EATING FROM THE TOILET

Have you ever had a feeling like everyone is staring at you and you don’t know why? I’m sure that the answer is yes. Maybe you had a bad hairday or some chocolate on your face. Or maybe you don’t look like most people in Asia and you decided to visit Taiwan. Where people are curious. It’ll be an experience of the lifetime, I promise.

It was my first trip to Taiwan. I didn’t have idea what to expect. People started boarding. Most of them are Taiwanese people, going back home and a few tourists. I was standing in my ironed uniform, having a huge smile on my face, hoping the flight will be smooth. I was already dreaming about all the Asian street food I was planning to eat as soon as we get there.

Feeling like a star!

One lady came to me with a mobile phone. Started speaking a few words in English she knew. “…picture…you?” Yes, sure. I thought she wanted me to take a picture of her on the plane. Many people are excited to travel with an airline like this. But no. She wanted to take a picture of me. Sure. But why? I posed for her picture and suddenly another person came to me and took pictures. One more took a selfie with me. And so on. 18 people in total. Counting only the ones who asked or waved at me to smile for their picture. Many people turned their phones my way and took a picture so I wouldn’t see them. I felt like a star. There have been many more flights where people have been taking pictures with me. But not more than on this flight. 

Let’s discover Taipei!

In the morning, waking up in Taipei, I went to the city with a colleague. I love discovering new places, I had a map and a list ready. I wanted to see as much as possible. 

We came to the park where people have been practicing something like yoga. We stopped and we’ve been watching them, how they have been moving in slow motion, moving their arms, stepping from one foot to another. All of the sudden, my colleague passed me his bag and joined them. He found his space behind them, so as not to disturb them. But of course, they realized that some foreigner is behind, trying to copy their movies. It looked funny but so calming at the same time. They smiled at us and accepted the new member of the practice. 

More pictures, please!

Later on, we’ve been walking the streets when I saw a tiny stationery shop. I wanted to enter, I like all those little gadgets you can find there. Even more in Asia. We entered and the owner of the shop looked like he is going to have a heart attack. He was staring at us, completely surprised. We said hello and looked around. He started shouting something to the room behind the shop. A young man came and they both were staring at us for a moment. I picked something small and paid for it. When we’ve been about to leave, the young man gathered all his English and asked if he can take pictures with me. And then his dad. And then all of us together. We weren’t in the uniforms. We were wearing casual clothes. Just casual people. I guess they haven’t seen many people from countries outside of Asia there. So we’ve been like superstars for them.

This feeling was with us all day. People have been turning their heads when they saw us. Literally staring. But I had one more experience ready for that day. Something really special.

Toilets everywhere…

In Taipei, there is a restaurant, unique, the only of its kind in the world. There was a report about it on TV a long time ago and I thought to myself that it is so bizarre that I want to see it. The restaurant was made with the theme of toilets. And poo. Absurd? Let’s see.

From the very first step of the staircase leading to the restaurant, you can see it will be something special. Graphics, texts, all pointing at the toilet. The table tops are on top of the toilets. You are sitting on the closed toilet seat while eating. Food is served in bowls in the shape of a small toilet. Drinks are served in a small urinal. But the funniest (or the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen?) is the ice cream. This is the one thing you have to try there. It is served in a potty with chocolate ice cream designed to the shape of poo.

…and how does it feel to eat from them?

I ordered rice and meat in some sauce. And ice cream, of course. It was delicious, nothing special, but good. Near the bar, there is a place with souvenirs, keychains of toilets, poos, and even postcards. One of those postcards is part of my collection. We took a lot of pictures there. The huge smiles on our faces are a confirmation that we enjoyed it a lot. Such a bizarre yet original place. 

What more is to see in Taipei?

Taipei is such a large city. It offers everything, that you can expect from an Asian metropole:

• Tasty and busy night market full of street food and small shops
• Jaw-dropping temples
• Beautiful parks full of trees and grass where you can relax
• National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is one of the must-see places
• Markets with the most recent technologies and gadgets. One of them is near the Modern Toilet restaurant

What about you? Have you ever visited a place, which seemed really crazy, or experienced something weird? Have you ever been a superstar in a foreign country? Let me know.