The version of shaved ice you see today in Taiwan is different from those you see in the west. Unlike the Hawaiian version, Taiwanese shaved ice is not served in a cone but on a plate or a bowl. What's more the Taiwanese version of shaved ice has  more diverse toppings. Not only does each store provide you with syrup they also provide you with assorted fruits and other sweet goods.

There are many toppings for shaved ice
Source:https://www.flickr.com/photos/1-up/344813076

Shaved ice can be found in many places in Taiwan. First of all, most traditional desert stalls in Taiwan have shaved ice. In those stalls, you can also enjoy other sweet goods such as grass jelly and aiyu jelly. Next, it can also be found in every night market all over the country. Lastly, due to its rising popularity all over the world, stores like Ice Monster are becoming more and more common. These stores that sells only shaved ice are the places where you can find the most exotic shaved ice. 

A modern ice shaving machine

As mentioned above, there are a lot of toppings and types of syrups that you can choose from. Just the sheet amount of toppings and syrups can be overwhelming, those who are not familiar with Taiwanese shaved ice may be stumped when ordering. But don't worry, in most stores, the owners have already given you combinations to choose from. For example, red bean shaved ice is one of the most common combinations in Taiwan. It consists of red bean, black sugar syrup, pearls, and depending on the store the combination may include ice cream on top. 

No 5. Fried Dough Stick ( You Tiao)

You Tiao is a popular breakfast in Chinese culture
Source: Flickr- Lian Cheng/ Independent.

It is uncommon for anyone to eat fried food as breakfast but the fried dough stick (aka You Tiao) is one of the all time favorite breakfast foods in Chinese culture. People will dip it in porridge or soy bean milk before having a satisfying bite. If you want to try a fried dough stick you can go to any Chinese breakfast shop and buy one. Or if you want to make it yourself, here's a link to a recipe. http://thewoksoflife.com/2015/08/youtiao-recipe/

No 4. Arepa

Arepa is a sweet corn cake
Source: Expat Chronicles/Independent

Arepa is a breakfast food that is eaten daily in Colombia. The main ingredient of this creation is corn. There are many variations to the arepa but essentially an arepa is a thicker version of your day to day pancake. It is usually eaten with butter or jam or topped with eggs and hams. Want to make your own arepa? Here's a link to the recipe http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/04/latin-american-cuisine-colombian-arepas.html 

No 3.  Pap

Pap is a common breakfast food in South Africa
Source: Just A Little Further/ Independent

Pap or Mieliepap is a breakfast staple for South Africans that is made out of grounded maize. It is essentially a type of porridge and it's usually eaten with green vegetables and meat or seasoned with chili. There are many variations to this breakfast food. For example, Afrikaners in the northern parts of South Africa, pairs pap with milk, butter and sugar. Go to http://ificould.co.za/how-to-make-traditional-south-african-pap/ if you want to make your own South African breakfast. 

No.2 Vegemite

Vegemite is a popular spread for Australians
Source: Wikipedia

Vegemite is a popular spread in Australia. It is made with leftover yeast extract from the brewery and combined with different vegetables. It has a powerful aroma and an exotic smell to whom many people outside of Australia can't get used to, you either love it or hate it. Nevertheless, the Australians view this as one of their staple foods and its popularity has not been challenged since. 

No. 1  Waakye

Waakye is a breakfast food that originates from Ghana
Source: Pinterest/ ExpatFocus

Waakye is a type of breakfast food that originates from a northern tribe in Ghana. It is made up of beans and rice, cooked separately and later combined. There are many ways in which people prepare waakye. The simplest way is to season the beans and rice with spices. Others serve this dish with meat stew or fried fish. It is a favorite in the northern regions of Ghana. For information on how to prepare a waakye go to http://ghanaculturepolitics.com/videogallery/how-to-prepare-waakye-ghana-ricebeans280839384/.

No. 5 Roll Your Clothes When Packing

Rolling your clothes saves time and space
Source: Buzzfeed

Isn't it annoying when you run out of space when packing? I'll admit that packing your suitcase before a journey is a nuisance itself, but running out of space is even worse. This trick can prevent you from being troubled by packing before traveling. It's really simple, roll your clothes instead of folding them. It saves time and it saves space. 

No. 4 Finger Test For Steak

Use your fingers to check your steak
Source: Griller's spot

Have you ever wondered how well done is your steak? By using this trick you won't need anything else but your fingers to check how well done your steak is. First of all, make an okay sign with your hand and touch the base of your thumb. The feeling of tenderness in the base of your thumb is equivalent to when you have a rare steak. Next, touch your middle finger with your thumb, that feeling is the same to a medium rare steak. If you prefer not to see blood in your steak, a medium steak is just right for you. Touch your ring finger with your thumb then touch the base of your thumb, that is when your steak is medium. Lastly, if you  wanted to eat a well done steak just simply touch your little finger with your thumb to check if it is at that level. 

No. 3 Use Walnut To Repair Damaged Wooden Furniture

Walnuts can come in handy when a wooden furniture is damaged
Source: Flea Market Insider

Walnuts are not just for eating they can also help you to repair your damaged wooden furniture. If your wooden furniture has some scratch marks on it, don't worry! You don't have to send it back to the manufacturers, simply buy some walnuts and rub them on the scratch marks. Watch in amazement as the marks fade away. 

 No. 2 Use Bread Clips To Organize Power Cords

Use bread clips to refrain power cords from turning into a huge mess
Source:Viralnova

All of us have experienced tangled power cords;it's annoying and takes a long time to untangle them. Rid yourself of this nuisance by labeling your power cords with bread clips. The bread clips will hold them in place and you will no longer have to spend time untangling power cords.  

No. 1 Folding Hack 

To fold a shirt perfectly without any creases is absolutely a challenge to anyone who is unfamiliar with this hack. First, picture a line that starts from the shoulder and ends at the bottom. Next, pinch the start of the imaginary line and pinch the middle of that line as shown above. Then, without letting go both hands reach for the bottom of the shirt and pinch it with the same hand where you pinched the start of the imaginary line. Lastly, with that same hand reach around the other and fold. 

No. 5 Grilled Sausages (10~30NTD)

Grilled Sausages can be found everywhere in Taiwan

 Taiwanese sausages are one of the most common street foods in Taiwan. You can find them in every night market and in most high street eateries. Unlike most sausages, the Taiwanese version is mildly sweet and is the perfect for hungry foodies who cannot decide whether they want something sweet or savory. Aside from its taste and commonality, it's price is a dime a dozen. 

No.4 Pig Blood's Cake(20~40NTD)

It may sound frightening but actually it is quite tasty

 Pork blood mixed with sticky rice and soy broth may not sound appetizing. But after steaming it and coating it with a thick layer of grounded peanut (adding cilantro is optional), you'll get a delicious creation. Frightened by the name, most foreigner wouldn't dare to eat such combination. However, if you are able to get past the name and have a try, you'll be amazed by its taste. 

No. 3 Taiwanese Fried Chicken(50~150NTD)

You just can't get enough of it

 Probably one of the most famous street food in Taiwan, the size of the fried chicken varies from the size of your hand to the size of your face. The most famous stall where they sell this mouth-watering street food is in Shihlin Night market. There, the fried chicken are as big as your face and you get to choose between numerous seasoning. 

No. 2  Braised good (Price Varies)

These goods ranges from seaweed to instant noodles

 Essentially, braised goods are assorted ingredients braised in soy sauce and different spices. Vendors will have a wide range of ingredients for you to choose from. These ingredients can range from iconic Taiwanese street food such as Pig's blood cake to instant noodles. These goods are soaked in delicious soup and will surely make you want more. 

No. 1 Stinky Tofu (30~50NTD)

Stinky Tofu is the most famous street food in Taiwan

 Without a doubt, Stinky Tofu is the most famous Taiwanese street food. What sets it apart from all the other street foods is its peculiar aroma and its wonderful taste. You can see it literally everywhere.  Some have compared its taste and smell to good cheese like the blue cheese and others have compared to durians. Its smell has put off many foreigners therefore making it a fun challenge to do when visiting night markets in Taiwan.