Night market 🏮

Night markets are woven into daily life most deeply in Taiwan. Like Raohe Street in Taipei, nearly every city has a street that turns entirely into food stalls once the sun sets. Portions are small and cheap, so sharing several is the norm. By day it's an ordinary road, and you'd struggle to recognise the same spot in daylight.

Nature is low and adventure is above the middle. Crowds and noise give you energy, and if there's a food you've never seen, you'll buy one to find out.

Aesthetic isn't especially high. The lights are pretty, but the reason for picking this square is usually eating: share a plate, move to the next stall, repeat. It's a weekend of wandering without a plan and choosing whatever catches your eye.

You go well with someone with a healthy appetite. A night market works when you eat a little of many things; with someone who fills up on one dish you'll cover half the street. In a bracket the night market is strong among people with travel memories — one skewer eaten somewhere years ago can swing the vote.

The nearest square is the five-day market, then the theme park — all three are weekends spent in a crowd. The furthest is stargazing. One heads toward the lights; the other gets away from them.