October 8, 2009

Taiwan Story Land

Among all the tall buildings in the city of Taipei, across the street from the Taipei Train Station, a fairytale looking entrance would take you back to the old time of Taiwan…

This is an absolutely unique place; named “Taiwan Story Land”. It contains many exhibitions; each exhibit shows you a story of a traditional Taiwanese culture. This place would fulfill your childhood memories or give a close look at how local living was like in the Taiwan history. Ready to ride a time machine, and take you back to the old good time?

In the past, Ka-Ma-Tiam store could be seen on streets almost everywhere. It sold food, household items, toys, snack, and can food. Now it has been replaced by a 24 hours Seven-Eleven and a supermarket.

I loved to go in there when I was a kid, because it looked like a Disney store to me! Although I don’t eat sweet that much since my parents trained me well enough not to eat sweet in my childhood time, I still love the “Milk Candy”. Until now, I can still buy this historical brand in the Asian market here.

The “Cigarette Candy” was a mint candy with a long roll shape, just like a cigarette. I don’t know why they made candy in cigarette shape for the kids, but it indeed was one of the most popular candies. In the old time, cigarettes were in fashion perhaps that was the reason?

Remember the paper round cards and paper dolls? Very interesting, boys played and collected paper round cards and girls paper dolls in the old time. Paper doll set that came with all kinds of colorful clothes were very expensive at that time, so handmade paper dolls kept me busy after school. Ha!

In the past, shoppers brought their own grocery bags to the grocery store. We really should go back to this tradition.

Whenever we went to the park or night market, I always wanted to play “Ring Toss” game although only in one out of 100 times I could take home a small prize.

The classroom desk reminded me lots of silly childhood memories. Almost all the desks in the classroom had a deep pencil scraped line in the middle of the desk to divide the desk in half since each desk was shared by two kids. “Don’t cross the line” was the way to maintain its territory on the desk.

To organize the “Book Pack” the night before the school always gave me headache and pressure, since that meant all my homework had to be completed by that time, and I did not like that logic at all.

Wandering on the street in the Story Land here, you can also see the inside of a family room, a barber shop, a theater, a police station, a hot spring hotel, a drug store, a dentist place….etc. In order to reduce the kids’ anxiety to see doctors in the old time, a coin electric rocking animal was placed outside of the doctor’s place and drug store. Even with the rocking animal, I would not even have gone in just by looking at the dental equipment in the exhibition.

Before wash machines, all clothes were washed on this “washing board” that left so many mothers handprints and memories.

Guess, what is inside of this cart? All the yummy “Lu-Wei” (soy sauce and spicy flavored snacks) were in the cart. It was a mobile street vendor. It came to the neighborhood with a tempting smell; however, I don't quite recall this..

After the last exhibit, we returned to the reality in just a few steps up on the stairs. It was a traffic time; I did not want to return to the current time, but…

It is definitely an awesome place to discover and recall Taiwan’s history. Read More

11 comments:

dennis said...

definitely saw some childhood images there, thank you so much for these pictures. if only i had a time machine, how awesome would it be to go back to those times to visit :)

micki said...

You are very welcome! and wish the time could stop too! :) :)

Carrie said...

Great photo essay guys! I was following an inbound link from Taiwan Photographers and I'm so glad I did. it's always great to meet new Taiwan bloggers.

Anonymous said...

It brought back so much sweet memories...... - Teresa

micki and kristen said...

Thank you, Carrie! It is very nice to meet you too! :)

Thanks, Teresa! Indeed lots of good memories...

Catherine Shu said...

What a great post! I love Taiwan Storyland and since I haven't had a chance to bring my own parents there and hear their memories, it's great to hear yours!

Micki & Kristen said...

I really enjoyed my time in the Taiwan Story Land. I went with my parents last time. She gladly shared her childhood memories with me. We had a great time. Besides bringing a meaningful memory, I think this is also the place to make a great parent-child connection."

Dave said...

Micki & Kristen, do U know if Taiwan Storyland has closed somehow?
There was talk of its closure - though I checked and the tourism sites were still promoting it!

I often suggest this place to visitors touring Taipei with their kids & family.
Will be a shame to see it go..

Kindly update. Thanks. :-)

micki and kristen said...

@ Dave- Unfortunately, Taiwan Story Land was closed since the end of last year...Indeed it is very sad to see it go... :( :(

Unknown said...

Hi, I would like to visit Taiwan Storyland. Is it confirmed closed?

micki and kristen said...

Hi, Yan Ling Thanks for your dropping by! Unfortunately it is confirmed closed...

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