Visiting after being away for a while

Hi!

This is an amazing forum! I wish there had been something like this available when I first moved to Taipei.

I’ve been lurking for a while, and thought I say HI! and ask a question.

I lived in Taipei for a few years in the early 90’s, and I’ll be visiting soon. I’ve been back once since then (loved the MRT), and am wondering what you all think has changed the most in the last 10 years or so.

Also, fun places to check out/hang out in Taipei. (You define fun :wink: )

Thanks!

Steve

You won’t find Guanghua Market any more. I still have to get used to the new look of the intersection without the bridge.

Really? Where did it go? I presume there’s something like it still around, surely!

HG

Really? Where did it go? I presume there’s something like it still around, surely!

HG[/quote]

They tore the whole thing down, and relocated all the vendors to a new quonset hut compound built in a field a couple blocks away from the original location. You can still find most of the same stuff at the same prices that you could find at the original Guanghua market.

Is/was that the computer/used book mart near BaDa?

If yes, it was a hole, but could also be fun. I used to go there for used English language paperbacks, but stopped going when it became a porn mart. Not that I have anything against porn, but there were too many people standint too close together as they “shopped.”

I heard that Dan Ryan’s and the Hard Rock Cafe are gone. True?

I know that my old gym Clark Hatch is gone.

Steve

Well, you mentioned the biggie: the MRT.

Also: Breeze Center, Jason’s and City Super, where ypou can find a wide variety of cheeses and other Western foods that we could only dream about (or go to Hong Kong for) 10 years ago.

Girls no longer ride side-saddle on the backs of scooters (illegal and enforced).

Civic Boulevard has replaced the old train tracks, which are underground.

Roxy, Kiss and the Hard Rock Cafe are no more, Grandma Nitti’s has moved and expanded, Wendy’s and Hardee’s are no more, and Starbucks is everywhere. Isn’t Dan Ryan’s still here? Next to The Shannon?

Guanghua Market was torn down 5 months ago, but as mentioned above, all the shops have moved to where the old impound lot was. This includes the music shop, the used book shops, the porn shops, the electronic gadget shops, the sports & kung fu equipment shops, the computer hardware shops, the military surplus shops, the software shops, and even the guy who sells sausages on the street - they’re all still there.

We have Forumosa now.

Well, you mentioned the biggie: the MRT.

Also: Breeze Center, Jason’s and City Super, where you can find a wide variety of cheeses and other Western foods that we could only dream about (or go to Hong Kong for) 10 years ago.[/quote]

Are Breeze Center, Jason’s and City Super all the same type of places? I heard that Costco is in Taipei, kind of figured that would be the place to get that type of thing.

I’m kind of a wallflower (can a guy say that?) but like to check out clubs from time to time.
What’s good now?

Thanks!

Breeze Supermarket, Jason’s and City Super are all high-end supermarkets in the basements of high-end (think Gucci, Prada, Dior, Louis Vuitton) shopping malls.

Costco is also here, and you can get lots of Western stuff there. It’s just not in a convenient location for those of us without cars.

some more recent and future changes

the blue MRT line now goes all the way to Tucheng

there is now a freeway from Taipei to Yilan (with tunnel and all)

there will soon be cable cars at Beitou (to Yangmingshan), and at Maokong

Taipei 101, Breeze Center, Living Mall, Mirarmar Entertainment Park (with Ferris Wheel) opened in recent years

a new Sogo Dept. Store branch is under construction at the intersection of Zhongxiao and Fuxing

I wonder how all these new shopping temples can generate enough business to make a profit…