Tag：#Tamsui
Claw Machines and Urban Decay: From Tamsui Old Street to the Machine-Flood Warning Signs of the "Heavenly Kingdom" Shopping Districts
9/27/2026The Tamsui District Office moved to the new town, the old-street bank quietly went dark, and in their place came unmanned claw machine shops flickering with neon. The Wanderer traces the commercial turnover of Tamsui's old town all the way to the claw machine craze flooding Taipei's streets. A deep dive into the "venue owner and machine owner" sublease economics, pointing straight at the serious warnings of rigid rents, shrinking consumption, and the hollowing-out of the physical city hidden behind the unmanned machine sea.
Summer Secret Spots in Tamsui and Sanzhi: Wild Stream BBQ and River Safety Tips
3/30/2026The Datun mountain range behind Tamsui holds abundant water veins, serving as a secret haven for locals to enjoy wild stream barbecues during summer. Mizu Traveler shares essential safety rules and Leave No Trace principles while enjoying the refreshing river waters.
I Blocked a Reckless Scooter on a Tamsui Street with My Belly
3/28/2026Returning to Taiwan after traveling abroad always triggers feelings both familiar and uneasy about local road culture. An unexpected evening encounter in Tamsui sparked deep reflections on what went wrong with Taiwan's unspoken consensus born of chaos.
Tamsui Winter Notes: An Old Dog's Incontinence and the Puzzle-Mat Battle
10/1/2025Tamsui's temperature has always been Taiwan's leading indicator of cold. Facing the old family dog's sleep-incontinence problem since early summer, the Wanderer went through a chestnut-roaster burlap sack, a black plastic bag waterproofing fiasco, and finally a winter purchase of plastic puzzle mats. A humorous essay on caring for an aging furry child and a bit of life philosophy.
Tamsui Bus Chronicles: The Living Immortal Radiating an Unstoppable Aura
4/24/2025A colorful character portrait of an eccentric local regular on the Tamsui commuter bus. Chronicling the 'Living Immortal'—his weathered motorcycle helmet, talisman-covered walking staff, and an overwhelming, weaponized personal odor that parts crowds like Moses parting the Red Sea.
The Creep on Tamsui Bus 756: Thwarting a Commuter Predator
4/3/2025A firsthand account of stopping an attempted assault aboard a commuter bus bound for Tamsui. How a serial groper used a heavy coat in midsummer as cover to target a deeply sleeping high school girl, and how decisive intervention scared him off.
Drama Kings and Gentlemen of the Dog World: Chihuahuas and Golden Retrievers on the Tamsui Riverbank
12/24/2021On the eve of Constitution Day of the Republic of China, a record of animal observation along the Tamsui riverbank. A detailed account of how a barking Chihuahua retreated and froze under my 'Siberian-style indifference,' and the stark contrast brought by four gentle Golden Retrievers. A humorous essay on historical sentiment, everyday passersby, and the 'Freeze!' moment.
Dorm Story: Bangs and Crashes in the Night—"Freeze! Move and I'll Shoot!"
7/19/2014During grad school I rented a run-down suite in Zhongli for just 1,500 a month. One night past ten, having packed up and about to drive back to my old hometown of Tamsui, a violent crash and a roar suddenly came from behind the house: "Freeze! Move and I'll shoot!" The Wanderer instantly killed the lights, held his breath, and hid in the pitch-black room through a night of police-manhunt terror.
Dripping Air Conditioner: The Bad Neighbor on Tamsui Old Street
5/2/2014"All conditioned phenomena are but the convergence of causes and conditions; when conditions arise they arise, when conditions end they return to nothing—nothing more than this." Living on Tamsui's most classic and beautiful Chongjian Street, yet right next door to a bad neighbor who filled up the fire lane and building coverage ratio, with an air conditioner that drips and taps all summer. The author explores the neighborhood plight of the old street, the science of building coverage ratio and floor area ratio, and the EPA's regulations on reporting dripping air conditioners.
Lasagna and Beer on a Silent Night: A One-Man Carrefour 'Creep' Script
9/16/2013A record of a supermarket encounter after a walk along the Tamsui riverbank. A detailed account of the solitary mood felt in a Carrefour store at dawn while carrying a bottle of Australian beer and a microwavable lasagna. From Garfield fantasies and the cashier's 'whale-and-dolphin volunteer' gaze to the self-deconstruction of a Hollywood-style loneliness script, this is a life essay full of the aesthetics of solitude.
Tamsui Dining Landmine: The Heretical Burrito Stuffed with 'Vegetarian Ham'
8/21/2012A humorous dining critique of an unfortunate culinary disaster near Aletheia University in Tamsui. How an elegant bistro devastated taste buds with cloying pumpkin soup, greasy fries, and an atrocious burrito packed with faux vegetarian ham.
A Failed Proposal Caper: What Happened After the Best Man Got Stood Up by the Groom
11/10/2010A true account of a proposal-preparation day plagued by one misfortune after another. From waking up to a computer flashing "NTLDR IS MISSING," to circling the outskirts of Tamsui at 5 a.m. hunting for a parking spot, to a friend "Sheep" standing me up yet again. A darkly comic reflection on urban public parking, fuel costs, and personal credibility.
Winter on the Neiganzhai Old Trail: A Clumsy Trial of Swollen Streams and a Pitch-Black Descent
11/26/2007A record of a winter river-tracing challenge full of variables. A detailed account of facing multiple trials on the Neiganzhai Old Trail as winter set in — the river swelling, slipping off a cliff, and a flashlight breaking. Sharing a traveler's awe before the forces of nature in extreme conditions, and that unique experience of steaming in the cold wind — clumsy yet comfortable.
Neiganzhai Old Trail and Hongye Valley Waterfall: A Record of a Leech Ambush After Heavy Rain
9/21/2007A record of an adventure leading to the hidden Hongye Valley Waterfall in the Datun Mountains of Tamsui. A detailed account of the miserable experience of being attacked by a large swarm of leeches when the water volume was abundant after heavy rain. Sharing observations of the natural ecology around Neigan Great Waterfall, along with transportation and safety advice for visiting this quiet water source.
Dangerous Road Menace: A Jeep Driver Spotted Around Sanzhi and the North Coast
8/6/2006A firsthand account of a driving dispute on Provincial Highway 2. Detailing how a Jeep driver maliciously cut across the line before a red light, deliberately stalled to block the lane after the green, and the psychological game when facing a road menace's provocation. A reflection on the leisurely mood of cruising the North Coast, and the calm choice between "carrying family" and "defending the right of way."
