India, Dec. 28 -- The name "Snail Street" sounds like an old lane selling sea food in coastal Tainan, the oldest city of Taiwan and very much its cultural capital. But the snail alley is very different-it's for those with the ability to slow down to the extent of a snail's pace, just like writers and artists do and find inspiration, poetry and even a few moments of breathing deeper than one does as a matter of fact.

The narrow alleys would have been ordinary and of no interest had there been no concept of attracting snail-paced tourists to it. Luringly, snail's street is a thick neighborhood with narrow streets lined by houses, a few very old ones from Japanese time, home stays and tiny shops and cafes selling coffee, kosha (chinese frui...