Location: Hualien, Carp Lake Live Jumping Shrimp
Travel note summary: Hualien -- Carp Lake Live Jumping Shrimp (a row of shops opposite Carp Lake). The weather in Tainan is getting hotter day by day, reminding me of one summer when I, a friend, and another friend and his spouse (because they got married later :P) — four of us — drove around the island. Passing by Hualien's Carp Lake, one friend who often visited Hualien told me about a local specialty. In the row of shops opposite Carp Lake, you can uniformly see them all advertising 'Live Jumping Shrimp'. How is it made here? They put rice wine, black vinegar, garlic, and live small shrimp into a bowl with holes on top. After a few minutes, the shrimp get drunk from the fumes and are ready to eat. At first hearing, eating this way really takes some courage because it feels like eating raw shrimp. But since we were there, we might as well try it. Morgan always wants to try unknown or untested things. So, mustering courage, I picked up chopsticks and ate a few from the bowl. Actually, because the seasoning flavors are very strong, there isn't much fishy taste. But just thinking the shrimp in your mouth is still raw feels a bit weird…