My first visit to a Taiwanese night market was a big culture shock. It took place shortly after I arrived in Taiwan about five years ago, and the experience has stuck in my mind ever since. The heat, the noise, the crowds, and the peculiar odors came together to create a sensory experience that seemed to have plunged me into a totally different world. Sally, my Taiwanese friend, dragged me around from stall to stall, urging me to try this dish and that. The whole evening was pretty overwhelming, and, with my fresh-off-the-boat outlook, I had trouble taking it all in.
我第一次造訪台灣夜市是一大文化衝擊。這件事發生在大約五年前當我剛到台灣不久的時候，從那時起，那段經驗就在我腦中揮之不去。炎熱、噪音、群眾、怪異的味道混在一起，創造了一種感官經驗，似乎讓我到了完全不同的世界。我的台灣朋友 Sally 拉著我一攤一攤逛，要我試吃這個那個的。整個晚上相當震撼，再加上我初來乍到的觀點，我很難全盤接受。
As I adapted to life on this island, I came to realize what a central role night markets occupy in the local culture. I've been around the world, and I've seen similar street scenes from Bangkok to Bogota. Yet in Taiwan, night markets are a unique cultural phenomenon that embrace old traditions while providing a picture of modernity with the fast-moving and fashionably dressed young people that visit them in large numbers.
當我適應在這島國的生活，我漸漸了解夜市在傳統文化中扮演的重要角色。我曾到過世界各地，我也看過類似的街景，從曼谷到波哥大。然而在台灣，夜市是個非常獨特的文化現象，它擁抱了舊傳統，同時也提供了現代化的景象，有許多匆忙、穿著流行的年輕人穿梭其中。
Aside from a few very large sites, most night markets cover a relatively small area. Yet they offer an amazing array of food choices. If you decide to eat there, it's advisable to take your time sampling the xiaochi (little eats). Making up your mind which food stall to eat at may not be easy, so just go to one that has plenty of customers, a clear indication of good quality food. Bear in mind that you might have to endure a fair amount of waiting time in order to quieten your rumbling stomach.
除了一些很大的地點，大多數的夜市涵蓋了相對較小的範圍。然而，它們提供了驚人的食物選擇種類。如果你決定在那裡吃，建議你最好慢慢地品嚐小吃。也許要決定在哪一個小吃攤吃東西不太容易，所以只要選擇有很多顧客的攤子，就是一個美食的清楚指標。要牢記為了讓你咕嚕咕嚕叫的肚子安靜下來，你可能必須忍受相當的等待時間。
Whichever night market you visit, there are sure to be many delicious snacks to make your mouth water. Some of the more popular dishes, such as pearl milk tea and oyster omelets, can be sampled almost anywhere. For the more adventurous types, there are attention-grabbing specialties like pig's blood cake. Back on my first night market adventure, Sally had persuaded me to try a portion of "stinky tofu." I was relieved to find that it tasted a whole lot better than it smelled. Now I make a beeline for the stinky tofu seller almost every time I go. My other favorite night market specialty is a bowl of shaved ice with sliced mango and a scoop of mango ice cream. Trust me, there's no better way to cool down on one of Taiwan's sticky summer evenings.
不管你拜訪哪一個夜市，一定有許多美食讓你流口水。有一些比較受歡迎的美食，像是珍珠奶茶或蚵仔煎，幾乎哪裡都品嚐得到。對於那些比較具有冒險精神的人，還有能吸引他們注意力的特別小吃，像是豬血糕。我回想第一次夜市冒險，Sally 勸我嚐一塊「臭豆腐」。我發現它嚐起來比聞起來好太多了，讓我鬆了口氣。現在我幾乎每次到夜市都會直奔臭豆腐攤。我最愛的另一個夜市美食，就是一碗加了芒果丁和一球芒果冰淇淋的芒果剉冰。相信我，在台灣濕熱的夏季夜晚，沒有比這個更棒的消暑方式了。
There is so much more to a night market than eating. Many of them have fun games to play, such as throwing darts at balloons to win prizes. And they are fantastic places for those who are on the hunt for clothing bargains. Speaking of bargains, if you are a fan of haggling over prices, you'll definitely be in your element at a night market. Finally, when all the walking around gets too much for your poor worn-out feet, a wonderful way to end the evening is with an indulgent foot bath followed by a relaxing foot massage in a comfortable armchair. You can even specify precisely how much pressure you'd like the masseur to apply.
除了吃，夜市裡還有許多其他的東西。許多夜市有好玩的遊戲可以玩，像是擲飛鏢射氣球來贏得獎品。夜市對於那些想要找便宜衣服的人是很棒的地方。提到討價還價，如果你非常喜歡討價還價，你在夜市一定能如魚得水。最後，當走來走去讓你可憐又筋疲力竭的腳不堪負荷時，結束夜晚最好的方式，就是來個令人享受的足浴，接著坐在舒服的躺椅上，來個令人放鬆的足部按摩。你甚至可以精確地指示你想要按摩師用多少的力道。
A visit to a night market is a must on any trip to Taiwan. As far as I'm concerned, you haven't been to the real Taiwan until you've made at least one trip to a night market. Best of all, there's no need to worry about the language barrier if you can't speak Chinese. Night markets in Taiwan are becoming very tourist friendly, and there are signs and menus in different languages. Anyway, you can always resort to smiling and pointing to get what you want, and Taiwanese people will be more than happy to help you out. For the visitor from overseas who wants to acquire a deeper understanding of local culture, there's no more suitable place than a night market. Once you have gotten over the culture shock, that is.
逛夜市是到台灣旅遊的必備行程。對我而言，如果你沒有至少去逛一次夜市，等於沒有真正來過台灣。最棒的是，如果你不會講中文，也不必擔心語言隔閡。台灣的夜市逐漸變得對觀光客非常友善，有不同語言的標示和菜單。無論如何，你總是可以採取微笑的方式，和用指的來得到你想要的東西，台灣人會非常高興幫你的忙。對於來自海外、想要對台灣當地文化有更深了解的人，沒有地方比夜市更合適了。確切來說，在你克服文化衝擊之後。
