STALKED at Ximending | Taipei Solo Travel 2017

February 16, 2017

Since it was two hours to my check in time and my hotel, Orange Hotel (Kaifong), was a short 10 minute walk away from Ximending. Ximending is still as full of character as I remembered it to be — vibrant, lively, filled with tourists and locals of all ages.

Ah Zong Mee Sua

Ah Zong Mee Sua (Mian Xian) / Ay-Chung Flour Rice Noodle

Address
No. 8-1, Emei St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

Nearest MRT
Ximen Station, Exit 6

Opening Hours
9am to 11pm daily

Price
NT 50 to 65 (SGD $2.50 to $3)

Ah Zong Mee Sua

True to my dramatic life, I encountered another unfortunate event in Ximending — I was stalked by a creepy man in his fifties -__- Because I've been to Ximending so many times, and I knew there's nothing I want to buy there so I roamed around Ximending, trying to get some good shots on my camera when I decided to cross the road to a nearby 7-11 to quench my thirst.

I noticed someone, who was crossing the road in an opposite direction, did a huge double-take when I crossed the road — no biggie, I got stopped a lot for short conversations along the streets because of my purple / blue hair. Except that he actually made a U-turn to come after me, and I noticed him in the reflections of the shops I walked by.

It got scary because the dude wasn't even pretending or following from a distance — he was hot on my heels! As safe as Taiwan is, it's still a foreign land and I was still alone. I was (still am) just a petite girl, there's nothing I can do to fight back should someone kidnap me.

I kept my cool and walked towards my then-company's tourist information center located near Ximending while texting the clique of colleagues that I'm close to, hoping someone's in. I stood outside the building waiting for a reply, and the creepy man approached me, introducing himself.

I should have pretended I couldn't speak Chinese, but I was freaking out way too much to speak clearly. He asked if I was Taiwanese, to which I replied no, but I'm here for work and I'm meeting my colleagues shortly after. Then he requested to bring me around Taiwan, and I repeated that I'm meeting my colleagues in Taiwan, and they'll bring me around.

But the creepy man was persistent, and insisted on getting my number. Despite me lying that I'm using a Singapore number (I have a Taiwan number), he wanted my Singapore number to call me on the spot (probably to check if I'm giving him a fake number).

I then lied a colleague lent me his card and I'm using his card now — to which he replied, that's awesome now you can give me your Taiwan number. My response was I don't know the number since it's my colleagues, so he asked me to give him a call. I mumbled something about not having value in my phone, and the creepy dude actually suggested we go to 7-11 immediately for him to top up the card for me!

I was genuinely terrified by then because I knew I'm a bad liar, and I was also running out of lies! The guy then asked if I have a boyfriend, and I replied that I'm engaged. Obviously, nobody would believe that given that I look barely 20; thankfully, I always wear a ring on my finger when I travel solo so...

My best guy repellent

That guy had the audacity to say engagement doesn't mean shit and he still stands a chance!!! Horrifying. He finally backed off after I mentioned several times over that my colleagues are coming, and agreed to save his number and call him after I top up my card -__-

What I was wearing, if it makes any difference

I was insulted that the first question my friends ask were, "Were you wearing something revealing?" What could I be wearing that's revealing in winter? No, I wasn't wearing anything that was asking to for it, if that's what you meant. Above everything, I am beyond angry and disappointed that my first reaction was to look at what I was wearing.

It's almost akin to saying if a woman is wearing a short skirt or something revealing, she's asking to be raped. My outfit also proves that you don't have to be wearing something revealing to feel unsafe. We're in the 21st century. It should be a woman's right to wear what she wants, and feel safe on the streets.

I am not honoured you chose to catcall me because you found me attractive. I don't care if you think I'm beautiful or hideous — your opinion doesn't matter because I'm not a property for you to comment on. I am not your object of gratification. I am more than my looks, my body, my hair colour — I am human, just like you.

Not about to let one incident ruin my holiday, I soldiered on and continued exploring the rest of Taipei armed with my camera in hand. This incident alone won't shape my perception of Taiwan because I know Taiwan is still a beautiful country filled with wonderful people.

The famed Red House Theater located near Ximen was closed for renovations

Ximen Red House Theater

Nearest MRT
Ximen Station, Exit 1

Opening Hours
11am to 9:30pm from Sunday to Thursday
11am to 10pm on Friday and Saturday