Taipei

After disembarking from my NCL cruise, I had a full overnight in Taipei to explore before heading home. I stayed near the lively Ximen neighborhood, which turned out to be a perfect hub for a little sightseeing, street food, and some quirky dining experiences.

My first stop was Don Don Donki, Taiwan’s version of Japan’s Don Quijote discount store. It had the same bright lights and overwhelming product lineup, just localized for Taipei shoppers. From there, I walked over to Ramen Nagi Ximen for an amazing bowl of pork broth ramen. This place felt legit from the moment I stepped inside, with its open kitchen and focused staff.

For dessert, I gave in to the tourist gimmick of the Modern Toilet Restaurant. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’ll say this: eating soft-serve out of a mini-toilet bowl is now officially checked off my list.

Even with all that, I still had room to snack, so I wandered the night market area. The street food scene here really shines. I tried candy-coated grapes, grilled corn on a stick, and sweet potato balls. Every bite was better than the last, and the energy of the market made it hard to leave.

The next morning, I made a pastry pilgrimage to Chia Te Bakery. If you haven’t had their pineapple cakes, you’re missing out. I stocked up to bring some home and then headed to Taipei 101. The weather was rainy, but the views from the observation deck were still impressive. Looking out over the dense city, framed by mountains in the distance, really reminded me how much this place has to offer. I wandered the high-end mall a bit and wrapped up the day with a warm bag of donuts from Crispy Milk Donuts.

Taipei gave me a great sendoff. Even with just one night, I got a good taste of its character.