The most bizarre night market I’ve discovered in Asia is in Taipei, a two-block-long lane in the Wanhua district called Snake Alley, named so because of the type of business that is run by some of the vendors on that street. As you pass by their shops, the ‘products’ they display will stun you. Snakes are the item of trade here.

These serpents are sold for their blood and bile that is said to contain potent spirits and herbs. Customers do not only get to drink the snake potion, but the snake vendor will also entertain them as he displays the method of unzipping the snake to retrieve the potion. Those who are daring enough may ask to add a bit of poison venom to the mixture. This snake concoction is said to help strengthen men’s eyes, lower spine, get rid of fatigue, and encourages the male sexual vitality. When the snakes are drained of their venom, their meat is cooked in soups - a scrumptious and nutritious dish.

Snake Alley also offers other more interesting and peculiar selection of stalls. Among them are fortune-tellers, vendors of herbal potions, tattoo parlors, fresh fruit stalls and hawkers of adornments and gems.

Snake Alley is also known for prostitution. Brothels once lined the surrounding streets, and though no longer legal, there might be a few still around . . . makes you wonder if the alley was named for the reptiles or for some other reason!

I’d been in Taipei for a wholesale trade show and around 9:30 p.m. when I was riding the MRT home and decided that it was too early for a guy as young as me to be going home on a Friday night. I opted for visiting Snake Alley. I have been in Taiwan for a week already and hadn’t been to Snake Alley at night. It was about time.

I saw the usual sites. Well, that would be the usual sites for Taipei’s Snake Alley. Writhing snakes being eviscerated and drained of blood into little shot glasses to be slammed for good health. The little heart sat there pumping on the table for old-times sake. That was interesting. Almost as interesting as the little deer penises in caplet form to help with whatever may ail a person who needs to consume deer penises. I wish I understood Chinese!

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