Taichung Shorts

April 7th 2019

To keep the backlog of places and stories small, here's just a few bits and pieces from our three days in Taichung:

Mainland Visitors

Has the Chinese government sent a brainwashed communist spy to keep an eye on us? Possibly. Maybe. Probably.
We're still super stoked to meet Alex again in real life after seven long months.
After the Quake, Part II

The earthquake museum in Taichung is one of the destinations of the city. It is built on the grounds of a high school that was completely destroyed in the largest quake in Taiwan's modern history in 1999.
In the museum, we learn which kinds of buildings are especially vulnerable to earthquakes and which possibilities exist to build safer structures — Tech-Nils gets his money's worth, too. We also learn about the early warning system, which deploys a few precious seconds before the quake hits and allows people to get to (relative) safety in time. The alarm signals are immediately broadcast to every TV, radio, and mobile phone. Trains perform automatic emergency breaks so that they, in the best-case scenario, come to a complete stop before the actual quake starts.
Highlight of the exhibit is a simulation of the quake of 1999, which is impressive and terrifying at the same time.
Big City Life

After we've worked our way through the museum, we take one of the (free, awesome) buses to the Northwest of Taichung. Between the extravagant architecture of the Taichung National Theatre and the dense array of modern high-rises, we feel a bit like in New York.
Three teenagers are perfecting their Hip-Hop dance choreography in the reflection of the sliding doors of the city hall after sundown — we sit down on a bench nearby and watch for a while.
11:26, at the bus stop

While we're waiting for our bus, Jan spends $20* on two fruitless attempts to fish an 'Adult Actress Poker Set' from one of the countless claw machines lining the streets. Other popular prizes besides the classic stuffed animals include manga-figurines and (new) underwear (I don't understand it either...).
Time well spent, if you ask me. And I'd like to mention that 20 NTD are just around 60ct, so you really can't lose.
*Update 08/04: We're up to 40 NTD now

Sex and Drugs and Sinopop

ASEAN Square, Taichung — A poster on the elevator doors bears Taiwan's Anti-Human-Trafficking hotline in four languages. The elevator itself is completely lined with plywood, in the cabin we are, again in multiple languages, reminded that possession of drugs or weapons can result in deportation from Taiwan.
To be short: It's a strange place that Alex and Jan dragged me to on their search for some karaoke bar.
At least that karaoke establishment does indeed appear to exist on the eight floor of the building — Alex is talking to a young employee who is slightly confused as to our intentions: Do we want a room (karaoke) or a room (Love Hotel, wrong floor)?
Suddenly Alex is not so sure that this is just a karaoke bar anymore and decides that we should check back at an earlier hour.
I somehow manage to get out of that and go out taking some pictures in the streets of Taichung instead, hoping that Alex and Jan aren't harvested for vital organs or something while I'm gone.
While the selection of English songs wasn't great and my Chinese isn't good enough to read the lyrics (it's just those pesky traditional characters...) we still had a lot of fun.