Last May i went to Taipei ,Taiwan with my girl friend, Shelly. We spent about 8 days there. It was a bit rush as we were going to a lot of places but it was really enjoyable. I reckon i will re-visit Taiwan again. Here is a roughly itenerary of our trip to Taiwan.
Day I,
We took a morning flight for LCCT to Taipei , it took us about 4 hours plus... i didn't realized that it would take us take long. Haha , the flight was fine as Air Asia has refurnish their seats so that you would have more space to put your feet around.
I quite enjoy the flight as it's my first flight with my girl friend.. come to think of it , it's my 1st flight ever with a girl to other country.
Here we took a bus from the airport to Taipei Main Station. We checked in the City Inn Hotel.
When we enter the hotel , the receptionist greeted us with the most cheerful and deary voice. Haha , I must say , that would melt any guy... Plus the receptionist is hot... But of course not as gorgeous as the one with me...
(huh...luckily i manage to turn that around..). It's their cultural to spoke very gentle and polite , it's nice to be treated that way even when you are not paying big bucks $$ for a hotel room.
The room is pretty nice. Clean and tidy....and 100 ++ channels to choose. Guys , there's even some explicit channels just in case you feel like it. Not recommended when you are with any girls thou. *Wink*
Then after we unpack our luggage and freshen up a little we head out straight away the nearest night market. Taiwan is famous for it's night markets . There's quite a few that we went to . The first night market we went to was the Shida Night Market. It is close to a university.
There we tried a few local delicacies, One was a octopus soup and braise meat rice, It's AWESOME !! After a while of browsing around the shops , we head back to the hotel to get some rest. Oh , did i mention , it's absolute a shopping heaven for ladies... you get a decent skirt or top for cheapest around TWD 100 which is around RM10--> AUD 3 ... Come on...
Day II ,
We woke up early in the morning... around 8 am... Hehe , we took the MRT from Taipei station to Shandao Temple Station , and went into the Huashan Market Building next to it. They you have the famous Fu Hang Soy Bean . They have varities of soya drinks and those chinese breakfast stuff , Yau Zha gui... Oil Fried Ghost-Direct translation.
We have a few of the normal soya drink, salty soya soup , Yau zha gui and some bread with egg wrapped into it. It was nice , the salty soya soup actually taste like rice porridge.
Then we head back to the Taipei main station where we discover there are a lot shops down at the basement. We spend 1-2 hours and went for a second breakfast. We had the spicy sour soup. It was alright , kinda tasted like the one we had back in KL's taiwanese restaurant in SS15.
We then head to across the road from the main station , we arrived at the Taiwan Story Land. It's a exhibition muzium when they collect all the old stuff ..1950's or older.. And No , that doesn't include your Nokia 3310.. They actualy have built a street similliar to the 1950's. It was great and it reminds you a lot of stuff when you were a kid... like the TV with a nob to change channels. Hehe. One of the shops in there were used by the S.H.E in their MTV... i think... Hehe
With the end of the tour at the Taiwan Story Land , we then took the MRT to Zong Xiao Dun Hua station. We went to look for a famous 688 Beef Noodles (牛爸爸牛肉麵)shop. There we discover one interesting about each other... Both of us don't really fancy lamb and beef.
Hahaha , my girl friend plan the itenary to the shop as she thought i really like beef. I was thinking the exact thing of her too. Anyways , since we were there, we ordered a bowl of noodles to share since we don't really love eating beef noodles. It was good but quite expensive. Its TWD 300 for a bowl. Wow , RM30 just for a bowl of noodles. It's not really compare to Perth but in Taiwan , it is consider quite expensive.
After our dinner , we head to the Taipei 101 for the night view. We arrived a bit earlier at the 101 , so we walk around and rested a bit so that i could take my shots of the night view. They handed a tour guide voice box similiar to a mobile phone. Press the number according to the windows and you will hear explaination of the scenery.
Finishing the Taipei 101 tour , we head to the hotel to rest for the night. We need to get some rest before we checked out tomorrow and head to Tai Chung.
Day III,
There are two ways of going to Tai Chung from Taipei. You could either take a bus (2 hours ) or the high speed bullet train ( 45 minutes). Of course the train would be a lot expensive, The rates are ,
Bus = TWD 125 per person , Train = TWD 500 per person.
There's a lot of difference so we decided to take the bus down to Tai Chung and then take Bullet train back the next day. We took the bus.. it was spaces and it comes with a TV in every seats. You would feel like a VIP even thou you just paid a small amount. Wonder why malaysia doesn't have those ? Probably because the TV might get stolen or damage by the passengers.
There when we arrived in Tai Chung , we checked into the Olympia Hotel . Again the receptionist was nice but the hotel wasn't. It was old... and too goldish for my taste.
We then head straight out for a place called Sun Moon Lake. We were a bit rush since we only have a night there. The sceneries there were nice, especially the night view. Cooling weather. We have a nice dinner there and took some pictures before we head back to the hotel. There is a Aborignal Cultural Village near by but we couldn't make it since it closes at 5 pm. Oh well , more reasons for a re-visit.
When we reach the hotel , we decided to spent the night walking around another famous night market called Feng Jia. We were looking for it in a road map, then a police walked to us and asked.
Policeman :" Where you're from ? Tourists ? Where do you want to go ?"
Me : " Malaysia , we are looking for the some good place to go walk around "
Policeman : " Oh , how many nights you will be staying ?"
Me : " Just tonight.. tomorrow we will be leaving for Taipei "
Policeman : " What !!? Just tonight... Aiyo , a lot places to go , one night not enough... erm.. You should go here.. go there... oh no no... there should be better... Arggh .. one night really not enough leh..(He became a bit frustrated and nervous for us) Must go Feng Jia night market... quickly go...how to go ar... erm... walk here...and turn left then...arr... walk lor....
Me: -_-||| " Thank you very much , we know our way now thanks."
We went to the next street and took a cab to the Feng Jia night market. The policeman's direction were terribily wrong but nevertheless he was really helpful. Good job , policeman. Wait...we forgot to give you duit kopi !!!... oh i forgot that only applies for malaysian police (Except for one exceptional police i know , KC , We salute you !! And i owe you one for helping Shelly).
Day IV,
The following day , we took the bullet train back to Taipei. I have never ride a bullet train before so i was happy to pay more for the ride. It was Awesome, quiet and super fast. No wonder call it bullet train.
When we reach Taipei main station , we switch to another train to the Jiu Fen Suburb. It was fully packed , we stood all the way to the other end. The train driver was really helpful letting us know when to get off. As soon as we got there , a girl from train station were shouting of selling packaged rice. I was hungry so i went to buy one. Then a TV crew came with a microphone in her hand and started interviewing me. I was surpised as it happens the rice i bought was a famous delicacy there.
TV crew : So , you are tourist , where are you from ? Been here before ?
ME : Malaysia , first time here.
TV crew : Oh , welcome to Taiwan, So you here about the rice before you came here ? Or you came here to try it ?
ME : Oh.... i was really hungry and i heard there's something to eat... then here i am to buy it.. -_-||| (i shouldn't be that honest)
TV crew : Hahahahhaha , thank you very much and have a nice trip here.
Our booked chalet receptionist (Windsor B&B溫莎堡日光涵館) then came to pick us up. Jiu Fen is a really nice country side area. Beautiful sceneries and lots of fresh air. We stayed at a old school chalet , nicely up the hill , but it's a bit creepy at night since everything look so old. But still it was nice to stay and have a honeymoon feeling with your girl friend.
Guys , i would recommend as the scarier the tighter the girl holds you.
Our scheduled itenerary was to Shih Fen , a few stations from Jiu Fen , so we took the bus to all the way we came and the took the same train to Shih Fen. Shih Fen is a town famous for lighting Sky laterns. First you write all your wishes accordingly to the colors that reponses to each fortune element. Eg. Yellow for wealth , Red for happiness , Pink for relationship and Blue for Health. We took a package which has all of them and started writting before letting it sky rocket up to the sky for the Big Guy to review and approve our wishes.
Apart from that activity , we walked around the rope bridge and head back to Jiu Fen. Then we had our dinner at a nice tea restaurant up in the hill. We learn how to make chinese tea that nice.. food was just alright , it was all about the romantic enviroment. After the dinner we walked back to our chalet and call it a night.
Day V,
We woked up and went down the cafe for our free breakfast. There we met the boss there. He told us if we haven;t had any plans we should follow him around. He is bringing another 2 customer around Jiu Fen , he can bring us to places that only local knows. It was a splendid idea , it was a special tour guide for us and of course FREE !!
In the car we meet 2 Singaporean couples both here for a wedding photo shoot. Apparently Taiwan is famous also for wedding photo shoot. We went to a harbour nearby where people do fishing and as well as up the hill for some good scenery view of the Jiu Fen.
We then head back to Taipei by train and head straight on to another hotel .. A fashionable hotel called Hotel 73. The room is splendid , clean and fashionable ... and again.. 100 + channels for you to watch.
After jumping in to bed for a few minutes , we head straight out to one of the famous places in Taipei , Xi Men Ding. Xi Men Ding a street full of trendy shops and popular place for youngsters. Plenty of mid-end clothing and some famous brands. Lots of restaurant as well.
We went there and grab a single person steamboat pot for dinner. Its quite cheap as well , only TWD 100 a pot. We share it as Shelly wasn't feeling too hungry.
After the dinner we went to walk around the shops and head back the hotel around 11 pm.
Day VI,
We woke up around 8 am in the morning and had breakfast at the hotel. Then we took the MRT to DanShui. After arriving at the DanShui station , we walked 5 minutes to the DanShui Old street. There's plenty of foods for your pickings.
After walking a while , we took a ferry to the Fisherman's Wharf. There is the famous Lover's bridge there. We took a few pictures and then head back to the hotel to rest.
Day VII,
After a few days walking around Taipei , we were tired and decide to take the last day as a relaxing one. It's time to go Taiwan's famous Hot Spring. There are two places in Taipei for Hot Spring which is Beitou and Wulai. We chosed Wulai as it was much more nearer and plus there are other attraction as well.
We reach Wulai by bus thru the Taiwan Main Station. There's a row of shops when they sell a lot of local products like rice wine , mochi-(rice dumpling) and lots of other things.
There's a row of shop houses which are Hot Spring SPAs. They will try to attract customers by giving out discounts. We went to one of the shops.
Package was --> Private room 1 hour (unlimited if there's no other customers) + drinks and deserts
Private room comes with a nice room with spa jacuzzi + big TV + nice view of the hill
All for only TWD 200 per person. I must say it's bloody cheap. Nothing like a good hot spring bath.
After the spa , we then head back to Taipei.
We then head to the last night market ,Shilin Night Market. There were like thousands of people there as it was weekends. Should be a good place to shop around.
Day VIII,
The last day in Taipei , we didn;t do much. We paid TWD 1300 for the hotel to take us to the airport and spend a few hours inside a book store in the airport.
Taipei , Taiwan is a good place to go. I reckon i will surely re-visit Taiwan. Good getaway. Good quality time spent with Shelly.
