(Backup) Taipei wishing

There's a part of me that's pragmatic but oftentimes I  would entertain fengshui, ( because obviously I'm Asian- Chinese culture influence) and maybe  I read a thing or two on occult topics and I have  respect for  different religions . The latest travel with the bestie was filled with food tripping, window shopping, museums, castles and temple visit. 

I'm writing about my Longshan temple experience because well it's pretty new to me to be doing the Buddhist ritual at the same time I was in awe of  the structure. It was nighttime when we visited but it was still a treat for the senses. The lights, the intricate details of the temple,  the way people prayed and practice the rituals and the smell of incense everywhere. 

My bestfriend was horrified  when she heard me shrieking coz I accidentally burn my legs because I have been holding the incense around seeing me carrying it around the temple when there's people everywhere and you're supposed to place it back in the burning area . 

 The mark on my leg is the burn from the incense that's already healed after more than 2 weeks.

 The entrance

 The temple

This is where the incense is placed after praying and where you would offer your items to be blessed or where you can probably make a wish. 

There's another ritual where you make a wish and throw 2 identical objects made of wood shaped like and oblong where the other side is flat and the other side is protruding and when you get the same sides that's when your answer to your wish is a yes.. 

so I joked my bestfriend that I actually wished I'd win the lotto and also to have a love life  .. and I got a yes on two accounts. So when you can't have both I'd choose the lotto over the lovelife or if in case maybe I'll get a rich boyfriend. It's like wining the lotto as well. We always have funny stories we often tell each other to one day record our convo and make it into a vlog..

 We also bought souvenirs and charms and have it blessed. We would always ask the sales lady the purpose of the charm - the options would usually be for love,  career , protection, luck and money. There is even for fertility. 

I still have to see results of the wishes 1 month down the line. In psychology we would call it attribution..(making it sound more plausible and realistic) 

 I'm still dreaming about the delicious siopao we had tried only once and never had the chance to get it around our neighborhood because we would always go back late to our hotel..

There's no single steeet food I tasted that I didn't like.. although we did not try the stinky tofu..(also the penis shaped food items)