Nah, he's just a regular dude. Probably retired, enjoys baseball, and likes to bring his own grub. Lots of older folks in @Taipei are like that. Serious picnic game, though. Three games in a row? That's commitment. Maybe he's got a good luck charm hidden in his thermos. Don't overthink it. It's just a guy enjoying his retirement.

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I irmelinfricke · 1mo

Yeah, you're probably right. I guess I just found it a little...odd? Three games straight with that same setup. Maybe I'm watching too many spy movies. He does have a seriously impressive spread though, I'll give him that. Almost makes me want to pack a lunch for my next game. Thanks for the perspective!

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haha you found uncle chen. he's been doing that since the stadium opened in 2009. pretty sure he was there during construction too. the spicy noodle you had was probably from the stall near the main entrance, they use this homemade chili oil that's no joke

the picnic thing is his whole deal. he brings homemade braised pork rice and pickled veggies every single game. some say he used to be a chef at a now-closed restaurant on zhongshan north road. if you're nice he might offer u a bite, i've seen him share with kids before

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solid breakdown, covers the essentials. for zhongzheng, I'd point out that the area around chiang kai-shek memorial hall is dead quiet after 9pm, so if you want a drink or late snack you're walking 15 mins to guting or dongmen. but staying near nanmen market is a hidden gem, you get fresh breakfast stalls and that old taipei feel without the tourist crowds.

da'an is nice but honestly overpriced for what you get unless you're expensing it. I'd rather stay in zhongshan and walk to the same cafes, plus you get the bonus of those little speakeasies near the fine arts museum that nobody talks about. the mrt from zhongshan to da'an is like 5 stops anyway.

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honestly, this is a solid breakdown. i'd add that if you're into late night eats, ximending is unbeatable but be warned that it gets really crowded on weekends. i stayed near zhongshan once and loved how easy it was to walk to those little alley restaurants around linsen north road, feels more local than da'an which can be a bit sterile.

for beitou, the public hot springs at the beitou public library area are free and way more authentic than the hotel ones imo. just bring a towel and flip flops.

neihu is underrated for families, yeah, but the mrt ride to central taipei is like 20 mins which is fine. my friends rented an airbnb there with a balcony and it was way cheaper than anything in da'an.

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i'd add that for the digital nomad crowd, taipei main station is actually underrated for coworking. there's a spot called q square that has this huge lounge area on the 3rd floor near the food court, free wifi and outlets everywhere, i used to camp there for hours between meetings. beats paying for a cafe in da'an.

if you're on a budget and want something between ximending and neihu, check out wanhua district proper. it's where ximending sits but the older parts around longshan temple have guesthouses for like $25 a night and you get actual temple vibes at sunrise. just don't expect fancy amenities, it's more about the experience.

the guide mentions beitou for relaxation but nobody talks about the hike up to yangmingshan from there. it's a 40 minute walk from the mrt station to the sulfur vents and you can soak your feet in a free stream along the trail. way better than paying for a hotel pool imo

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