By Jean Lin
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Doesn’t the zoo bring back wonderful childhood memories? The smell of elephant manure, the sound of screeching monkeys, and of course, memories of yourself secretly feeding potato chips to the animals in the petting zoo. The only zoo in Taipei is the one in Mucha. It wasn’t always popular, but in the past few years, new attractions such as the koalas and the penguins were added, and also, with the convenience of the MRT, tourists have been pouring in non-stop. The biggest setback of visiting the zoo is that you get dead-tired squeezing in and out of the crowds. The benches seem to be perpetually implanted with people. There is no way for you take a breath. But now that problem has been solved, too. Introducing the Zoo Mall, your haven after a long day at the zoo. The Zoo Mall looks like it came out of nowhere amidst the empty streets of Mucha. It’s big and green with tacky fluorescent lights so you can’t miss it. Indoor food courts can be found, and they are basically your typical department-store-basement food courts. The food is okay, but being a tourist spot, the prices can be really unreasonable–70NT for a plate of stinky tofu? If you want better food, try the outdoor restaurants. You can find Ranch 1 with its fairly healthy grilled chicken sandwiches and salad, but the people who work there are somewhat untrained and dim so it’s good food if you’re willing to wait a long time. Napoli’s Pizza is yummy and cheap if you’re not on a diet (reminder: one slice of pizza is approximately 700 calories), and the waiting time is reasonable for fresh-baked pizza. If you want dessert, TCBY Yogurt is a good choice. The have sherbet in rainbow colors and hand-made waffle cones. Larger indoor restaurants include Ponderosa (an American-style steak house) and a dim-sum place, which is fancier. So after packing yourself with food, head to the other part of the mall for some exercise. On the second floor, there is an arcade. Generic games like “hit the groundhog” and air hockey never go out of date, but if you prefer newer games, try the virtual tambourine machine from Japan. Games are cheap, unlike most tourist spots; 10NT for most of them. You can also go to an indoor amusement park, Chien-hu shan (劍湖山) with plenty of kiddie rides like the carousel. While kids play away, we mustn’t forget the bored parents. They can go downstairs and shop in the gift shops or the Discovery Channel Shop. The Zoo Mall is for everybody. Living in Mucha, going to the Zoo Mall Arcade is my Sunday night activity. But for those who live far away, the mall is a good place to go after visiting the zoo. It is a place for parents to relax and eat something else besides hot dogs and tea eggs from the zoo. For the kids, the Zoo Mall is a bonus activity; more fun after the zoo trip. Whether you live near or far, whether you’re a kid or a grown-up, give the new Zoo Mall a try. After standing in line for the penguins for an hour, you’ll need it. a
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May 2024
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