Location: Taipei, Ya Xiang Stone Hot Pot
Travel note: Yesterday noon, I got my bonus and went with colleagues for Japanese food. Sometimes the amount isn't the most important thing—it's the comforting feeling of being recognized. After returning home in the evening, I quickly updated a statistical report from June 16. Then, I received a call from Zi Qiang and headed out again, to Lao Da's empty house in Ximending. It reminded me of when I first came back from mainland China late last year and stayed here for a month and a half. Time flies—it's almost been a year already, which is kind of scary. I thought we were meeting up to play cards, but it turned out we were just here to eat. So, in the evening, I had stone hot pot with Lao Da, Zi Qiang, and A Kui at this nearby place that's been open for over 30 years—it's older than me! Their stone hot pot starts by stir-frying scallions, garlic, and meat slices for aroma before adding the broth, which really enhances the flavor. The four of us ordered quite a bit but spent less than NT$1,000, so it's pretty affordable. Afterward, we went to 85°C for a second round, where Bo Ge (after martial arts practice) and Rag (just off work from Guangh…
