TAIPEI. POST SCRIPT

7th Dec 2023

The main Post Office in Taipei

The main post office frontage (above), on Beimen Street (near the main railway station) is enormous, on two floors, and is about 300yds long down the street to the right. The original elegant building, much as above, was built by the Japanese in the late 19th century. It burnt down in 1913. It was replaced by a less attractive version. It was decided to reconstruct it in the original 'Imperial' style and this was accomplished, after 5 years work, in 2009. There are at least 20 desk stations, all manned, along the gleaming and brightly lit ground floor. You push a button for a numbered ticket and wait for station to become free. There was little delay. I went in there to post some cards (yes, very old fashioned) to the UK on the 4th December. It took me ages to stick all the stamps on. I was warned by the charming 'postie' that, because of Christmas, it might take some weeks for them to arrive. As it happens I have had confirmation that at least some of them arrived 9 days later. Amazing, especially considering the 'Royal' Mail delivery system in my part of UK has completely collapsed (I was getting home deliveries once every 10 days if I was lucky!)

Left: These are not poor people queuing up to get their dole handouts (I suspect the welfare system in Taiwan is somewhat less generous than in UK). This is a queue  at one of the many streetside takeaway food stalls. The barbequed food at these stalls is magnificent and the best ones attract queues like this.

Talking of food stalls, there are several 'night markets' around town, as per photo. These start operating at about 6pm and take up the width and length of a whole street. The stalls are set up and then dismantled when the markets close (I don't know at what time!). The markets can be huge, with long lines of stalls, most of which seem to be barbequing a bewildering variety of strange foodstuffs. Seafood is particularly prevalent. I enjoyed a particulary tasty beef noodle soup. Others sell toys and handicrafts or even have mini-shooting galleries (air-powered BB guns). These markets are very popular and I find it difficult to understand how so much food can be sold profitably and with so much graft involved buying, daily, the raw product, and setting up, cooking and then dismantling the stalls. The Taiwanese are not afraid of hard work!

Another feature of the city is the enormous proliferation of '7Eleven' and 'Family Mart' mini-supermarkets. There seems to be one of each on every street! They provide a compehensive range of food (some cooked on site), drink, pharmaceuticals, electrical goods etc. etc. I just don't understand why there are so many (and there are other bigger supermarkets around) and therefore how each can be profitable. As a tip for you: 7Eleven takes all credit cards whereas Family Mart only takes Taiwanese ones.

If you want an alcoholic drink in a bar it is difficult to find one open until around 8.00pm. I'm not sure if this is a Taiwanese policy to prevent heavy drinkers (ie. people like me) from getting over-refreshed during the day. However I found a very swish hotel, the Citizen M, near the North Gate, which has a luxurious lounge bar and serves alcohol 24hrs a day! Right: Citizen M hotel and the old North Gate.

Left: The stairs leading up to the first floor luxury lounge. I must admit the drinks here are quite pricey which has the benefit of restricting the intake of alcohol to meanies (sorry 'thrifty') people like me! It also has the benefit of being quiet and not playing "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" etc. over loudspeakers which is currently an irritant in many other local establishments.

There was a downside. The wide-screen TV in the lounge was showing the BBC news channel. As such I was confronted with this sight (right). Our smarmy Prime Minister blowing hot air and spouting yet more pledges, plans and promises which, if past record is anything to go by, there is absolutely no chance of him delivering.

Left: The Main Station. I might have mentioned this enormous establishment previously. This vast building is actually one of three which interlock underground. It extends 3 floors below ground and houses the variety of railed transport; City Metro, High-speed and local trains and possibly others with intials I didn't understand, together with a large number of shops and cafés including a huge underground shopping 'mall'. It is sparkling clean and well lit (as are most places in the city). It really is a maze of interlocking passageways, elevators, illuminated signs which served to baffle me and, significantly, as I discovered, signs to at least 8 numbered exits. It is easy to get totally disorientated. It is crucial to remember the number of the entry you came in through, otherwise when you come to exit you might find yourself walking miles, up and down, in the wrong direction. 

Right: Part of the main foyer. Fortunately I subsequently discovered, as with all stations throughout the country, it has a very good 'customer information desk'. Not only were they vital but all extremely helpful not just with the rail services but all other touristy type information you might need. They don't just tell you where to go, they wiil often actually take you there! On one occasion after getting lost again, I asked where I could buy some postcards. The lady on the desk gave me 6 nice postcards, gratis, from beneath the counter! I did eventually begin to suss out how to find some of the platforms I needed.....and find my way out of the correct exit!

A small issue of note in this, and other cities, is the business of crossing a road. Many of the roads/streets are wide and with several intersections at junctions. The little illuminated pedestrian 'man' sign on the opposite side can stay red for several minutes. Fortunately I was never in a rush otherwise this could have been a bit frustrating.....and nobody jumps the pedestrian lights here!

Well, I think that's definitely it from Taipei for the time being. I left Taipei on 8th December and am writing this having already travelled to three other interesting locations down the west coast, so well behind on my 'reports'. I hope to catch up at some point.

In the meanwhile.........