The last time I visited Taiwan was exactly a decade ago. Many things should have changed, my mindset and interest in traveling changed too. In the past I would have dread all the temples and nature parks, but now I actually enjoy learning about the history of the places and being immersed in the wonders of nature.
My flight got delayed! Suppose to depart at 0855 but was delayed for a whole 6 HOURS at 1500 because of typhoon. Looking at the bright side, at least I bought my travel insurance less than an hour before the supposedly departure time and we had a good whole quarter of a day to explore Changi's departure hall!
Visited the Sunflower Garden after PS games and catching a movie. Free complementary lunch to feed us hungry passengers before the delayed flight. By the time we reached Taipei, it was already almost 9pm!
The airport is quite a distant away from the city area and there were no direct train to take. We took the Guoguang bus out to Taipei Main Station (about 50 mins ride), which is just 1 stop away from Ximen station where our hotel is. By then we were starving already, bought some tea leaf eggs and fan tuan to fill our hungry tummies first. After we check in to our hotel and unload our stuff, we immediately head out to Ximending in search for food. D managed to find comfort in smelly tofu from a roadside stall, whereas for myself, I found a nearby steamboat restaurant - which was a totally wrong move. Served by a "stench-y" service crew (smelled like she haven't bathed for days) with stained clothing, sat on their torn and tattered seats and the food was horrible. Hotplate with just a few pieces of meat within a pile of onions, ordered a plate of add-on prawns but they were tiny and don't look fresh at all, I don't even feel it's worth the effort peeling off the shell. Everything was just wrong, I didn't even want to touch my drink. Never visit this shop located above crocs in xmd ever again. Urgh.
Another fan tuan for supper after a totally turned-off dinner. In fact we ate this almost every day!
Ximen Citizen Hotel located along Er Mei Street (short 10 mins walk from Ximen station)
Rather comfy hotel located near xmd, yet away from the hustle and bustle of the popular street. With Family Mart and 7Eleven just a stone throw away, there's nothing much to complain about for the price we paid. Only downsides are that the room is quite small even though we upgraded for a better room. And breakfast is horrible, I rather sleep in.
My skincare set for the trip!
Day TWO (Taipei - Jiu Fen)
Freshed-face and ready to explore!
XMD on a Monday morning.
Taiwan metro train coins. To get to Jiufen we had to take a metro, or what they call 台铁, to Taipei Main Station. From there we bought train ticket to our destination. It can be a little confusing in the beginning cos there seem to be so many different trains and platforms, you won't know what to take! Basically there are 3 types of train systems:
1. Taipei Metro (台铁), which is like our MRT lines to travel around Taipei only.
2. Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR), which is like bullet trains that allows you to travel from north to south of the West Coast of Taiwan very quickly.
3. Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA), which brings you around Taiwan, literally. Under the TRA there are different types of trains with different names and they travel to different parts and stop at different stations. Recommended train to take is the Tzeqiang Hao (自强号), which brings you to your destination quickly and more directly.
At the Metro platform
I love the whole look of the Taipei Main station. It is very huge as it houses all 3 types of train systems - Metro, TRA and HSR. There are many F&B outlets selling bread, pastries and 便当 (mealbox) as well.
Spotted this Japanese (i think) pastries and sweet treats shop called Mon Gateau which sells really pretty looking treats! Both D and I tried and love their dacquoises - the big macaron-like pastries!
We asked for tickets to get to Ruifang station at the ticket booth, which is the station to get to Jiufen, and they sold us 區間車 tickets. Later we found out that this train does not get to Ruifang directly and we had to change train at 八堵(Badu) station. Whole journey took a little more than an hour.
Scenic view during the train journey.
At Ruifang station! Most tourists come here just to get to Jiufen. Walk to the main road and you can flag a cab up to Jiufen for 180TWD. There is bus service up as well which is much cheaper. Make sure you have exact to pay because from what I know, no change will be given.
...and here we are!
D's favourite! He said it was so good, he had to have two.
Taiwan is a dog-friendly country and you see cute little dogs everywhere!
Look what D's carrying! Bouquet of condoms!
Weather up here is unpredictable. It rained and stopped many times. Lucky I brought a brolly around!
Met Sharon in Jiufen. What a coincidence to bump into you here!
Resting in a cafe with aircon in the midst of exploration.
Bought their speciality ice-cream, which comes with warm glutinous rice, red bean and shaved peanuts. Yummy!
Saw the potential in this fish ball shop and decided to try. You won't miss this shop, the lady boss' face is plastered on the walls entirely.
滷肉飯 （braised pork rice) - one of the must try in Taiwan.
cute dogs begging for food all around the shop! Look at that face, how not to give??!
We spent about half the day at Jiu Fen. It kinda drizzled and stopped many times, it will be good to have a brolly up there during this season! Took a cab down for the same price and a Tzeqiang Hao train back to Taipei main city area. It's more direct without any change in train, whole journey only 50 mins!
Managed to catch the changing parade! Takes place every hour.
and then it was time for dinner at ximending!
had to have our 鸡排 and 泡泡茶! Didn't really liked it though, there were so much more flour than meat.
Then of course, the famous Ah Zong Mian Xian! Had one to myself cos D doesn't eat pork.
Found and shopped at Miranda for cosmetics, food and random items! It's a multi-storey building with one whole level of beauty and wellness stuff, another floor of household items, another with stationeries and food.... Bought eyeliners for just 8 buck each! They have a wide range of food which were rather special yet cheap as well. Got lots of snacks from there. And of course we got hungry after that and found this duck noodle shop called 鴨肉扁 along the same street.
My loot for the day! Made the right move to shop more on the first full day before travelling to other cities. Left my shopping loot in the hotel and travelled with a lighter luggage to Hua Lien the next day!
P.s. Fruit beer in Taiwan is really good too!
Taiwan Day 3 in the next post!
Till next post,
M
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