(Post by Alisha)

My new favorite Taiwan treat: shaved ice. Not only is it delicious, it's the most refreshing way to take a break and cool down on a stifling hot summer day here. We had heard about this famous Asian delight before coming, but had yet to try some. After hearing there was a place right in downtown Sansia, we took a stroll to try some for ourselves. We found it easily- I had walked by it a thousand times, but never knew what it was.

Shaved ice is basically exactly what it sounds like- the guy behind the counter takes a huge block of ice and hand grinds it down into a mound of icey goodness- then you pick your toppings. There is a myriad of different tasties to choose from, but we opted for some fresh strawberries and mangos. This is then piled into a large bowl and a little candied syrup is drizzled on top- two spoons and we were set to enjoy.