Photo Entry: Wan Hua, the dark side of Taipei

For the past two decades, Taipei has been transformed from a city with chaotic streets to one that is considerably organized. With MRT lines and dedicated bus lanes, and well mannered taxi drivers, "civil manners" started to become the norm. Even the city has more distinctive zones for residential, commercial and entertainment events. However no matter how one cleans his own room and keep it tidy, there's always one spot where chaos is allowed to take place, because if not, volcano will blow.

For Taipei city, that's Wan Hua district. Specifically the area around Long Shan Temple and Hua Si Street. Street vendors selling found items, beggars, monks(not much different from beggars), homeless and all sorts of other interesting characters roam the streets along with tourists and regular folks who come by as a part of their routine lifestyle. Then when night falls, the Hua Si Street night market comes alive. Unlike other famous night markets, things that you can find here are a little more than entertainment. Snake cuisine, adult entertainment etc. Actually, it used to be even more tasty in the past, but the government has put in efforts to tone it down a bit. So what you get now is the diluted version of the past.

Still, it is a very colorful experience just to walk around the area and I doubt it is possible to get bored of seeing what goes on here.





























The mirror prints advertisement of private investigator service while using Buddhist phrases to wish people well, while there is a rack with cups and drinking fountain below it for anyone who's thirsty. There are just so many conflicting and irrelevant items being put together that makes it an interesting scenario.

































Street vendor literally landed on his side while falling asleep.







A girl diligently working on her homework on the side of the pedestrian walk way, in front of the shop her parents own, and possible her home as well.

















This is as much as one needs to open a business.





Vendor selling single shoe. I happen to spot a shoe that I used to have. I guess there is a market for single shoe sales other than serving the one-legged consumers.





You will see many of these very well dressed old men lingering around this area. I don't want to make sweeping statement about them, but many of them dress up to meet girls. In the past, young girls who want to offer some attention for monetary favors keeps these men company. Now, probably the older ladies in "tea shops" to keep them entertained. Many of these old men are veterans who fought in the Chinese civil war against the communists. Many of them came without family, and lived their live without family too.





















































Interesting clues to why people come to the temple.









I don't know that people still pay for these...











Sausage vendors providing supplement for exhausted guests...