Taiwan: Night Markets

#8 Night Markets

Night Markets are a microcosm of Taiwan. Everything great about Taiwan can be seen and experienced at a night market. The sights, smells, tastes, feel, people, and prices are all what make Taiwan great.

If it’s food you’re after, there is no better place. My last meal in Taiwan will undoubtedly be at a night market. The options and prices cannot be beaten. Now it may not always be the healthiest food, but who really cares about that. You can go from starving to stuffed for around $120nt which is $4usd. The variety of food to be purchased at any night market is outstanding. You want dumplings, sausage, fruit, sushi, fried….anything, stinky tofu, and just about every other type of food in Taiwan, you have come to the right place. (Ask Cousin Jodie about the things that are available on sticks) I would name all of the food that you can get at a night market but that would be boring. Pictures are better for that. What you cannot experience by reading this blog is the tastes and smells. The smell of stinky tofu is enough to make any green traveler gag….but I have grown to appreciate it. (notice I didn’t say like) It has a special place in my heart.

Now on to the shopping. Some of the girls I work with can blow a lotttttt of money and time at the night market. They love it. For me, it’s what’s keeping Night markets from being higher on the list. Waiting around for the girls to shop is about as exciting as a ku football game. Only there are more people at night markets than at ku football games. However I do enjoy being able to buy a new pair of prescription glasses or sunglasses with eye exam for $15-$20. I also enjoy the amount of random stuff at unreal cheap prices, most notably the t shirts with incorrect English or ChEnglish as we call it. I can handle watching them shop as long as I have food and banana milk with me, once those run out I get antsy to leave.

There are many different types of night markets. Some focus on local food and fruit, some on entertainment, and others on shopping. Here are some random pictures from a few night markets. I focused mostly on food.