TRADITIONAL CLOTHING DOESN'T HAVE TO BE
OLD-FASHIONED

---By Dawn Reid Translated by Annie Liu

Che Guevara Cafe
22, LinNan Street, LingYa District, Kaohsiung City
(07) 229-0115
Hours: Everyday 12 am-10 pm

While fashionable chi pao (traditional Chinese skirts for women) decorate the interior and exterior, they are not the only things you'll find at Che Guevara Cafe. Located a mere block west of the culture centre, on LinNan Street, this cafe is filled with a collage of colour, style and memorabilia from different eras. The English-speaking manager, George, is friendly and eager to explain the origins and significance of the artefacts on display. If you're looking for contemporary Chinese-style clothing, you can find it here for between NT$100 to NT$4000. Accessories such as silk handbags and other trinkets are also available at affordable prices.

As you enter, the two large gleaming gold and silver appliances that seem to belong in an Orson Wells tale are actually antique coffee makers from Italy and Russia. On the second floor-along with the Chinese paintings, Che Guevara stuff and Harley Davidson leather jackets-is space to sit and enjoy a coffee (from NT$79; NT$39 for take-away), which you purchase downstairs. The beans used to make their coffees come from places as far away as Columbia and Brazil and are for sale starting from NT$300 for 500g. This quaint cafe is the perfect example of the successful fusion of old and new, and well worth a peek.

For more traditional clothing try these places:

Gu She Gu Xiang
80-2, ReHe 1st Street, Kaohsiung City; (07) 313-5957
This shop offers both short and long chi paos, pants, wall hangings and handbags at competitive prices. Although owner Tzi Ying's English is limited, she is friendly and willing to help you find what you're after.

Gu Yi Fang
199, WuFu 4th Road; (07) 532-2382
At this store you will find similar outfits, with the addition of accessories such as shoes and trinkets. Prices are a bit steeper, but they do have a wider selection.