Taiwan Storyland

If you want to get a glimpse of what life was like in Taiwan about 40-50 years ago, there is a new museum / playground / theme park right in the center of Taipei (near the TPE train station).

Jo found out about it before we scheduled our TPE AIT trip (from the previous post), so putting them together would make for a good half day trip. Indeed it was.

It is called "Taiwan Storyland" and while it is a bit on the small side, I was pretty impressed with the set up. Nestled under the ShinKong building and taking up what felt like 2 whole blocks, you were transported into Taiwan life, circa 1960-1970's. Overall, it was nicely done and it gave me a look at what Jo's childhood looked like in some ways.

Here is some info from the booklet we got:

Roads and streets weaving in an indoor space
A museum designed to present the ordinary life in 1965
A place where you can search for information on culture,
history and civilation and food across Taiwan.
A pebble paved passage, a trip to the good old days.

Imagination and nostalgia for the past wind
extend in the old streets.
People's friendliness and old neighbor's kindness
float in the air.
A miniature of an old city forty years ago
is here to arouse your sealed memories and touch you.

Welcome to Taiwan Storyland!

Anyway, enjoy the pics:


Jo at one of the entrances' pictures

Jo pretending she is a puppeteer at a "Bu Dai Xi" show -
was a very common form of street entertainment

:



Jo the night stall vendor - Hmmm,
do I smell Stinky ToFu?

Jeff at the entrance, trying to 'blend in..." Is that a handsome Taiwanese man?

I am not sure if Jo had a bike like that,
but I sure a lot of people did. The sign
abover her is for "Hei Song" soda, one
you can still buy today!

Jeff at the Apothcary's shoppe - or at least it would be that in England. Here it is a Chinese Medicine shop with all sorts of goodies in those little drawers. That is Ginseng behind me.

When we passed this, Jo said "Hey! That is the
uniform I wore to school!" I asked even with the bright orange hat? Jo said yup.

Jeff admiring one of the vintage
Heart Throbs of the time - and of
course desirous of the product
she is selling! Green Oil. Heck,
it is GOOD stuff - don't know what
is in it (common for a lot of Chinese
things), but it works for headaches,
pains and a whole bunch of other
things. I have some on my desk
right now.....

With all the cell phones today, you are hard
pressed to find a public phone. I wonder who she is calling?

The ubiquitous Happy Banana Boy. Need I say more?

Jeff is hoping no one is taking notice of the urgent need to relieve himself. I mean come on, it is supposed to be circa 1965, right? There were very few public bathrooms! However, too bad I totally disregarded the sign in blue saying explicitely "Do not pee on wall!" But what could happen?






Anyway, hope you liked the pics and the little blurbs. If you have a chance, get over here and check it out.

It is a nice way to spend some time in TPE and to explore more about Taiwanese history a bit.

Til next post, (a lot is happening),

Jeff & Jo

Doh! Damn Coppers!