Taipei trip preparation and day 1 - Ximending, Longshan Temple
(I figure out I better post this entry asap before I got lazy busy again)
My boyfriend and I were planning a trip, after much discussion we decided on Taiwan for it's great review.
Here are some related link, if you like to go to Taiwan
http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/
Welcome to Taiwan eng website
A easy reading site for beginners
http://wikitravel.org/en/Taipei
Wiki Travel Taipei
http://english.trtc.com.tw/ct.asp?xItem=1056373&CtNode=27496&mp=122032
Taipei Rapid Transit route map
An excellent site to check your Taipei mrt route, time to travel and cost
Day 1: 26 October 2010
Weather: Cooling with gloomy skies
On 25th Oct, I heard on news Selina from S.H.E girl band is injured while fliming a drama, omg, so shocking >_< I stay at my sis-in-law house at Tampines the day before to save on cab fab. At 515am I took a taxi and fetch my boyfriend. Our flight is at 7:05am and we arrive at 530plus? The service at Jetstar counters are prompt and friendly. After checking in and getting our boarding pass, we head to some cafe to have breakfast of toast, half boiled eggs and coffee. At 630am we went into the departure area.
- The aunt in red keep shouting so loudly in a complaining tone, I don't understand her dialect but just feel so the (=A=). Aunt har, you're about to travel (or going home, I dunno) why have to go in such a bad mood.
We wanna to explore the inner part of the airport and it's mall. To my surprise and horror , at 6.40am the TV screen was showing our gate is closing!! We have to run for our gate *pant pant pant* remember folk, you need to be at the gate 30 mins before the boarding time oTL
The flight is estimate to be 5hours, no food or movies cause we are on a budget air Jetstar.
- Our airplane!
- Take off! Bye Singapore~~!
- I love clouds scenery XD
The seat is small and cramp but what can you expect from budget airline (T3T)
- mountains peeking out of clouds
- presenting the land of Taiwan!
We reach earlier at 1140am (estimate 12pm to reach), and done the usual procedure to customs and baggage claim. We change our money at the airport because my bf heard the rates are better there.
- At arrival lobby, taoyuan airport Terminal 1, turn left for buses to Taipei.
There are lots of bus counters. On Yuanie's recommenedation we bought Feiguo bus ticket to Taipei, Ximendeng at NT$140 (S$5.90)
We head for the exit and it was chaotic out there. Lucky there's a Feiguo attendant who notice the blur-looking couple, ask us for the bus ticket to check it and show us a pink bus with a .... dalmatian(?) picture, I think so, we were in such a rush. After waiting for a while, we depart at 12:50pm for Taipei! It was around 45-50min bus journey and we admire the scenery of the city and mountain forest merge together =D
According to my bf, we transfer to another bus at Zhongshan area. We alight at some sidewalk and within mins, another bus appear to take us to Ximendeng. The bus driver keep shouting out the names of hotel when we arrive at each drop off point.
This bus drop us at East Dragon Hotel which is a walking distance to Wonstar Hotel
http://www.wonstar.com.tw/Zhonghua/en/index.php.htm
Wonstar Hotel, Chung-Hua branch
This hotel is recommend by my secondary school friend, we stay at NT$2280 per night (S$96).
The check in time is 3pm but we arrive at 2pm. The service staff at hotel are very friendly! After checking in and leaving our luggage at lobby, we start for our search for lunch!
Someone have recommend this eatery online, just turn right and after a few step, you will see this signboard
- Pork rib noodles NT$65 (S$2.70)
Yummy! The pork rib skin have turn soggy in the hot soup and taste very good!
We start to explore the area while digesting our lunch
Some people actually filming in the park, a guy was showing a pretty girl how to lie down on the floor.
Went into a 7-11 when they are selling this? It look like Japanese Oden , selling at 4 pcs for NT$39 (S$1.65)
OMG! My first time seeing such a HUGE beer can
- was pleasantly surprise to see another group fliming, some yummy eatery? I didn't take a photo but there's a banner that say, "This is damn delicious!" (zheng his mother, read in chinese)
At 3pm, we head back to hotel to check in and rest a bit, before heading to Longshan Temple
~
- Animate in Taiwan!
- just a quick look, level one sell comic books, art books, doujin and magazines while basement one sell figurines, merchandise etc
street of Ximendeng, they have a whole building for karaoke!
Everyone I know and everyone on internet highly rave about Ay-chung noodles. We bought a small portion at NT$45 (S$1.90) ... I dunno, my bf and I don't really know how to appreciate this mee sua. Sure the mee sua have more bite than the usual mee sua but the taste is ... okay? Wah Lau, everyone say till it's so great, am I going to be the minority with lousy taste bud?
We took the train to Longshan Temple
- Taiwanese people like to stay to the right of escalator~~! On the same note, Taiwan traffic is the opposite of Singapore =D
Longshan Temple is a short walk from the mrt station. Notice how dark is the skies? It's only 5pm!
I was so shock at the massive crowd inside despite it's a weekday. This is supposed to be normal day!?
Huaxi street night market, inside is fairly empty though, maybe everyone is still at the Temple.
Roasted Mochi NT$35 (S$1.50) Yummy! So pipping hot and goes so well with peanuts!
I was asking my boyfriend,
Gin: "So where is Snake Alley?"
Dear: Huaxi Night market IS snake alley!
Gin: B-but where are the snakes!?
turn my head to see
snakes on the plane!!!!
A bored young man keep " advertising" his shop in a bored tone though, saying special promo for 5 items at NT$150, the fastest way to nourish your body and mind and even your skin. Almost want to run away but decide to stay on for the experience!
- Snake soup, snake bile, snake venom (!) , Snake oil pills, I forgot what is red colour shot... the soup taste kindly plain, and my bf say snake venom taste like barley (wtf!?)
They also serve stir friend mice, ekk! *runs*
We then head to Taipei main station to shop at the underground malls!
I like the way how they label each zone in colors and each exit by numbers, which really helps a lot in identify which zone are we in. most of the shops are actually close but one of the sectors (Y25-29?) sell anime goodies!
Beef Lagansa set with drink and soup NT$130 (S$5.50), not spectacular but it's a place to sit and rest our tired feet.
get ready for caps locks people, CAUSE IT'S A MAID CAFE! (no photos allow so thus explain these sneak photos)
I never never never expect to find a maid cafe although I seen this cafe online. Out of curiosity we decide to try and OMG!!!
The maid have such a cute high pitch voice! When we first enter, she actually remind us, something like
Remy the Maid: Our shop closed at 9pm (we enter at 8pm) and I was wondering will it be too rush for master-sama* and lady-sama* (*in jap)?
My heart just went doki doki, SO CONSIDERATE!!!!! And unlike my Japan experience, THEY DID CALL ME OJOU-SAMA!!! (devil Gin: or maybe Japan maid cafe you don't understand at all)
VERY MOE LAR! Everything she serve us (bring us glass of water, taking our order etc) she will always call us Master/Lady sama and took such a deep 85 degree bow! OH MY GOSH! The food are very bleh but WHO CARES THE MAID ARE SOOOOO CUTE! dAFEAGHAGHSJST#Q^&%^(IE^YW (Boyfriend sweatdrop) They have have a rule that each person must spend NT$150 per person so we order a milk latte NT$100 (S$4.20) (bleh), sundae (NT$110/ S$4.60))(they call it the angel and devil something, cause got vanilla and chocolate icecream, lol) and a instant Polaroid at NT$100 (S$4.20)
SO THE CUTE! Remy is so MOE!
Dunno if you can see in the mirror reflection but there are 3 otakus who seem to be regular customers of the maid cafe. They chat about games and how is the maid's day and they even get free hand made cookies. *Gin jealous*
Head upstairs for see surroundings, I find it so interesting how Taiwan people do business, just open out a case and viola, instant shop for earrings, clothing and scarf etc. Dunno if they need to apply license .
See a Daiso selling at NT$39 ($1.65) XD
heading back to hotel at Ximendeng, notice how they line up according to markers on the floor =D Each station have the map to show your location , very useful
one more picture of street of Ximendeng while returning to Hotel
end of day one!
[Day one: 26 Oct 2010: Ximending, Longshan Temple]
[ Day two: 27 Oct 2010: Yangmingshan, Xinbeitou, Shilin Night Market]
[ Day three: 28 Oct 2010: part one: Taipei Zoo, Maokong Gondola, DinTaiFung]
[ Day three: 28 Oct 2010: part two: Taipei 101, Wufenpu Garment night market]
[ Day four: 29 Oct 2010: Taipei City Hall]
My boyfriend and I were planning a trip, after much discussion we decided on Taiwan for it's great review.
Here are some related link, if you like to go to Taiwan
http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/
Welcome to Taiwan eng website
A easy reading site for beginners
http://wikitravel.org/en/Taipei
Wiki Travel Taipei
http://english.trtc.com.tw/ct.asp?xItem=1056373&CtNode=27496&mp=122032
Taipei Rapid Transit route map
An excellent site to check your Taipei mrt route, time to travel and cost
Day 1: 26 October 2010
Weather: Cooling with gloomy skies
On 25th Oct, I heard on news Selina from S.H.E girl band is injured while fliming a drama, omg, so shocking >_< I stay at my sis-in-law house at Tampines the day before to save on cab fab. At 515am I took a taxi and fetch my boyfriend. Our flight is at 7:05am and we arrive at 530plus? The service at Jetstar counters are prompt and friendly. After checking in and getting our boarding pass, we head to some cafe to have breakfast of toast, half boiled eggs and coffee. At 630am we went into the departure area.
- The aunt in red keep shouting so loudly in a complaining tone, I don't understand her dialect but just feel so the (=A=). Aunt har, you're about to travel (or going home, I dunno) why have to go in such a bad mood.
We wanna to explore the inner part of the airport and it's mall. To my surprise and horror , at 6.40am the TV screen was showing our gate is closing!! We have to run for our gate *pant pant pant* remember folk, you need to be at the gate 30 mins before the boarding time oTL
The flight is estimate to be 5hours, no food or movies cause we are on a budget air Jetstar.
- Our airplane!
- Take off! Bye Singapore~~!
- I love clouds scenery XD
The seat is small and cramp but what can you expect from budget airline (T3T)
- mountains peeking out of clouds
- presenting the land of Taiwan!
We reach earlier at 1140am (estimate 12pm to reach), and done the usual procedure to customs and baggage claim. We change our money at the airport because my bf heard the rates are better there.
- At arrival lobby, taoyuan airport Terminal 1, turn left for buses to Taipei.
There are lots of bus counters. On Yuanie's recommenedation we bought Feiguo bus ticket to Taipei, Ximendeng at NT$140 (S$5.90)
We head for the exit and it was chaotic out there. Lucky there's a Feiguo attendant who notice the blur-looking couple, ask us for the bus ticket to check it and show us a pink bus with a .... dalmatian(?) picture, I think so, we were in such a rush. After waiting for a while, we depart at 12:50pm for Taipei! It was around 45-50min bus journey and we admire the scenery of the city and mountain forest merge together =D
According to my bf, we transfer to another bus at Zhongshan area. We alight at some sidewalk and within mins, another bus appear to take us to Ximendeng. The bus driver keep shouting out the names of hotel when we arrive at each drop off point.
This bus drop us at East Dragon Hotel which is a walking distance to Wonstar Hotel
http://www.wonstar.com.tw/Zhonghua/en/index.php.htm
Wonstar Hotel, Chung-Hua branch
This hotel is recommend by my secondary school friend, we stay at NT$2280 per night (S$96).
The check in time is 3pm but we arrive at 2pm. The service staff at hotel are very friendly! After checking in and leaving our luggage at lobby, we start for our search for lunch!
Someone have recommend this eatery online, just turn right and after a few step, you will see this signboard
- Pork rib noodles NT$65 (S$2.70)
Yummy! The pork rib skin have turn soggy in the hot soup and taste very good!
We start to explore the area while digesting our lunch
Some people actually filming in the park, a guy was showing a pretty girl how to lie down on the floor.
Went into a 7-11 when they are selling this? It look like Japanese Oden , selling at 4 pcs for NT$39 (S$1.65)
OMG! My first time seeing such a HUGE beer can
- was pleasantly surprise to see another group fliming, some yummy eatery? I didn't take a photo but there's a banner that say, "This is damn delicious!" (zheng his mother, read in chinese)
At 3pm, we head back to hotel to check in and rest a bit, before heading to Longshan Temple
~
- Animate in Taiwan!
- just a quick look, level one sell comic books, art books, doujin and magazines while basement one sell figurines, merchandise etc
street of Ximendeng, they have a whole building for karaoke!
Everyone I know and everyone on internet highly rave about Ay-chung noodles. We bought a small portion at NT$45 (S$1.90) ... I dunno, my bf and I don't really know how to appreciate this mee sua. Sure the mee sua have more bite than the usual mee sua but the taste is ... okay? Wah Lau, everyone say till it's so great, am I going to be the minority with lousy taste bud?
We took the train to Longshan Temple
- Taiwanese people like to stay to the right of escalator~~! On the same note, Taiwan traffic is the opposite of Singapore =D
Longshan Temple is a short walk from the mrt station. Notice how dark is the skies? It's only 5pm!
I was so shock at the massive crowd inside despite it's a weekday. This is supposed to be normal day!?
Huaxi street night market, inside is fairly empty though, maybe everyone is still at the Temple.
Roasted Mochi NT$35 (S$1.50) Yummy! So pipping hot and goes so well with peanuts!
I was asking my boyfriend,
Gin: "So where is Snake Alley?"
Dear: Huaxi Night market IS snake alley!
Gin: B-but where are the snakes!?
turn my head to see
snakes on the plane!!!!
A bored young man keep " advertising" his shop in a bored tone though, saying special promo for 5 items at NT$150, the fastest way to nourish your body and mind and even your skin. Almost want to run away but decide to stay on for the experience!
- Snake soup, snake bile, snake venom (!) , Snake oil pills, I forgot what is red colour shot... the soup taste kindly plain, and my bf say snake venom taste like barley (wtf!?)
They also serve stir friend mice, ekk! *runs*
We then head to Taipei main station to shop at the underground malls!
I like the way how they label each zone in colors and each exit by numbers, which really helps a lot in identify which zone are we in. most of the shops are actually close but one of the sectors (Y25-29?) sell anime goodies!
Beef Lagansa set with drink and soup NT$130 (S$5.50), not spectacular but it's a place to sit and rest our tired feet.
get ready for caps locks people, CAUSE IT'S A MAID CAFE! (no photos allow so thus explain these sneak photos)
I never never never expect to find a maid cafe although I seen this cafe online. Out of curiosity we decide to try and OMG!!!
The maid have such a cute high pitch voice! When we first enter, she actually remind us, something like
Remy the Maid: Our shop closed at 9pm (we enter at 8pm) and I was wondering will it be too rush for master-sama* and lady-sama* (*in jap)?
My heart just went doki doki, SO CONSIDERATE!!!!! And unlike my Japan experience, THEY DID CALL ME OJOU-SAMA!!! (devil Gin: or maybe Japan maid cafe you don't understand at all)
VERY MOE LAR! Everything she serve us (bring us glass of water, taking our order etc) she will always call us Master/Lady sama and took such a deep 85 degree bow! OH MY GOSH! The food are very bleh but WHO CARES THE MAID ARE SOOOOO CUTE! dAFEAGHAGHSJST#Q^&%^(IE^YW (Boyfriend sweatdrop) They have have a rule that each person must spend NT$150 per person so we order a milk latte NT$100 (S$4.20) (bleh), sundae (NT$110/ S$4.60))(they call it the angel and devil something, cause got vanilla and chocolate icecream, lol) and a instant Polaroid at NT$100 (S$4.20)
SO THE CUTE! Remy is so MOE!
Dunno if you can see in the mirror reflection but there are 3 otakus who seem to be regular customers of the maid cafe. They chat about games and how is the maid's day and they even get free hand made cookies. *Gin jealous*
Head upstairs for see surroundings, I find it so interesting how Taiwan people do business, just open out a case and viola, instant shop for earrings, clothing and scarf etc. Dunno if they need to apply license .
See a Daiso selling at NT$39 ($1.65) XD
heading back to hotel at Ximendeng, notice how they line up according to markers on the floor =D Each station have the map to show your location , very useful
one more picture of street of Ximendeng while returning to Hotel
end of day one!
[Day one: 26 Oct 2010: Ximending, Longshan Temple]
[ Day two: 27 Oct 2010: Yangmingshan, Xinbeitou, Shilin Night Market]
[ Day three: 28 Oct 2010: part one: Taipei Zoo, Maokong Gondola, DinTaiFung]
[ Day three: 28 Oct 2010: part two: Taipei 101, Wufenpu Garment night market]
[ Day four: 29 Oct 2010: Taipei City Hall]