This morning began with a visit to the Taichung National Theater also known as the Taichung Opera House and it completely exceeded my expectations. The building itself is a work of art. From the outside, it looks like something sculpted by wind or water which was the concept apparently, all smooth curves and organic forms, with no hard edges in sight.
Inside, I took my time exploring every floor. Each level showed something different from small and quiet pockets of light and shadow to winding hallways and an opening to the outside on the rooftop that had a garden and restaurant. The acoustics were interesting too, our footsteps echoed in a gentle, almost musical way because of the quiet and stillness it had. There was a sense of calm and thoughtfulness in the design that I really liked.
At one point, I stopped at a small café inside the theater and got a cup of ice cream. I wasn’t expecting much, but it was actually really good matcha flavored ice cream. Sitting there by the window, enjoying the treat while looking out over the city through the sweeping glass walls, felt peaceful and kind of magical.
Afterward, I left the opera house and headed to Lukang Historical Town. The opera house was futuristic and fluid, Lukang was all charm and tradition. I wandered the narrow streets, taking in the old buildings with their wooden beams, red brick, and historical markers. I didn’t really buy anything because most of the stuff was meant to be cooked but I did end up eating some dried mango that was really good. I visited the nearby Lukang Mazu Temple, which had the familiar features of many temples I’ve seen in Taiwan although the incense were really getting to me this time.
In the evening, I visited Fengjia Night Market, one of the largest and most famous in Taiwan. I spent about two hours walking through its maze of food stalls and shops. I sampled a few snacks, but the most memorable (and least enjoyable) was the infamous stinky tofu. I gave it an honest try, but the smell hit me hard, and the taste didn’t win me over either. Still, trying it felt like a rite of passage. My favorite part was definitely the opera house, it was so contemporary and exactly what I want my future house to look like on the inside so it was cool to see in person.