From MaoKung, I took the “small 10 bus” from MaoKong park into MuZha to catch a #666 or #660 bus to ShenKeng. Two people on the bus helped me to figure out where to get off to catch my bus. At one point I offered my seat to let a woman sit down since the bus was packed. The bus driver suggested I sit shotgun. After I sat on that seat, I figured out why no one sat at that seat. It really felt like I was going to fall through the window sheild onto the road down the windy tight mountin road. The driver asked if I liked the experience of this bus better than the gandola. I told him the bus ride was more adventurous like the roller coaster. He inquired if I was feeling car sick. I told him I wasn't that I have endurance. Then he commented on how he noticed I seemed to know how to lean in the right direction and shift my weight at the right time to not get car sick. I think it is because I drive. People were really nice to me on the bus. I looked at teh photo pf the bus driver and the picture looked 2-3 times heavier than the one behind the wheel. I asked if the picture was of him and right away joked how he lost a lot of weight. It wasn't him, he is filling in for the regular bus driver whose picture is on the bus. The bus driver was a happy spirit. The entire bus experience itself really made my day.
I got off the bus and walked the Tofu Street once to check out what I want to puchase and eat. Then I walked the street again and stopped here and there.
I hung out at the tea shop for a few hours. People were nice, the owners roast their own tea leaves. We chatted about testing tea quality and they let me in on how to test tea, smell, and see the quality difference in tea before, during, and after steeping. I like Taiwan for this reason too, you just hang out for hours and not get bored. It helps to speak the language. Here is the photo of shop owner who went through many teas with me, proud to show case this tea and that tea. I think we went through 5 different kinds of tea. I didn't buy any tea because I already have a stash to take home all tucked away in my luggage already, fresh crop too of top quality.
Salty sweet sticky rice steamed in banana leaves Zhong Zi are 35 yuan each. There is a difference in flavor of northern or southern Taiwan tradition, I like them both.
Sweet rice puffs like these are crispy on the outside and without a filling. They are usually rice and sesame combination, totally fun to eat.
These brick blocks are sweet drinks in concentrated form. All you have to do is melt it in water when you get home. My favorite is winter melon with sugar cane.
Pineapple tarts are great, totally buttery and flaky on the outside and with a fragrant sweet chewy filling on the inside.
Green guava from Taiwan is so sweet, and creamy when ripe.
Totally miss this, it is freshly squeezed sugar cane juice. Sugar cane comes in green and purple color. I like both of them from Taiwan.
Mochi with sesame filling dusted with roasted rice powder. Not too sweet, not too chewy, just perfect, at least gives you the illusion of guiltless quantities.
Shaved ice stand with gazillion toppings to choose from. 
These little guys are in different colors and flavors. I like them all. The yellow one is made with sweet potato. The lavender ones are made with taro. The purple ones are with red azuki beans. I like them because you can taste the actual ingredients, it's all natural no artificial flavor or coloring.
Manju is like mochi but with a bready shell.
More mochi in bricks.
I used to eat this when I was little. I think it is how I have many fillings in my teeth today. It's caramel malt sandwiched with biscuits on a stick.
Classical popsicles. I like the taro, peanut, and red or green bean flavor.
This is also one of my favorite Taiwanese soup. I don't know how to translate the name. A bowl was 35 yuan.
These things are sooo gooood. It's more of that smelly tofu in spicy hot oil soup.
These are Taiwanese Mochi in sweet and in salty. My favorite is the green one made with mogwort and salty filling of daikon in special Taiwanese spices.
This stuff is good. I don't care what people say about the smell. I don't smell it. Grilled stinky tofu with kimchi is awesome. It's a dollar each. The lady at this stand made it vegetarian for me and I got to work it out with her to let me put a mix combo of kimchi, a little of everything without extra charge. 
Today I also bought a bamboo personal size tea tray about 8X10 for 280 yuan. A tea strainer stand for 6 yuan. Two claimed to be YiXing tea pots for 1,000 yuan.
I also bought crystal and mineral rocks for 200 yuan each. I ended up chatting with the owner for a long time about the current state of mineral and crystal sale in this economy.
Afterward all that, I took the bus to get to Muzha metro station to get back into Taipei. There I got off at Taipei station to get information on the the High Speed train and Long distance bus schedule and destination to check out where else I want to go. People were all very nice and helpful. I found out there was free internet station at the train station. I then went into the underground mall at the Taipei Metro Station and cooled off in the A/C. I saw some really nice fancy tea pots for 2,000-3,000 yuan. Ah... so nice, but no cash flow of that sort this time. In fact they are so nice, I don't know if I'd actually use them if I get them.
