Monday, October 13, 2008

Places of Interest In Taiwan (Taipei)
Yang Ming Shan (Hot Spring)
Ye Liu (Scenery Tour, see Rocks formation)
Xin Bei Tou (Hot Spring)
Wu Lai (Drink Tea and Water Fall, also got Hot Spring near to Jian Tian)
CKS Memorial Hall (Near to Taipei Railway Station) Change Shift every hour
Taipei 101 (Big shopping centre)
New York New York
Xing Guan Shan Yue (Big shopping centre)
Taroko Gorge at Hua Lien (Need a full day travel)
Guang Hwa Shan Chang (Is near to CKS Memorial Hall, weekend got weekend market next to it, sell bamboo rice, fly fish ball,etc))
Zhong Hsiao Dong Lu (Shopping Area similar to Orchard Road – Stretch from 3 MRT Station Zhong Hsiao Dun Hua to Zhong Hsiao Fuxing. Zhong Hsiao Night Market is along Fuxing and Dun Hua.
Ting Dai Feng – Yi Xing Road (Near Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, Guting MRT then take taxi). The main branch when you exit (facing the road) turn left and go into the alley. About 10m away (Yong Kang Street) is a shop called Ice Monster (Famous for Ice Fruit Dessert)
Jacky Wu Dessert Shop called Tang Chao (MRT to Zhong Hsiao Dunhua Station, Exit 4 will see the shop)
Party World KTV is at Xi Meng Ting / Holiday KTV (about S$18 each for 3 hours)Comic Wholeseller – Tai Yuan Road where Meishuing Hotel is. Out of the hotel walk left and turn left at first junction then turn right
Food In Taiwan (Taipei)
Shilin Food Market – Yan Su Ji (Salted Chicken Cutlet stall name is Hao Da Da), Fruits (Season, Pink Guava), , Xue Hua Bing (Ice Kacang), Guan Chai Ban (Coffin Plate), Mango/Strawberry/Mixed Fruit Ice, Meat Ball (Ba Uan)
Shilin Night Market – Crabmeat Soup, Yu Fan (Rice)
Shi Da Night Market – Smelly Beancurd, Dou Hua (Beancurd), Crepes, Hao Da Da Chicken Cutlet, Tian Bu La (Fried Sotong)
Hua Xi Night Market – Snake Soup, Pig Blood Cake
Xi Meng Ting – Ah Zhong Mian Xien, Lau Tian Lu (Lou Duck Wing), Hand Made Muah Chi, Sun Biscuits/Sweets (1 store around the corner of Rainbow Hotel about NT180 each), Push Cart : BBQ Stick / Cong You Bin (Onion Prata) / Sweet Potato Balls, Ma La Huo Guo (Hot Pot)
Dan Shui – Rou Fan, Fried Butter Ball, BBQ Sotong Ball, Green Mussels, Fish Crackers, Foo Chow Fishball Soup, Super Long Icecream, Ah Ger (Tanghoon Beancurd), Hainan Dien Dien Mien, Ah Po Tie Dan/Salted Egg/Century Egg (Famous one opposite Fisherman Wharf called Pa Li),
Yong He District - You Tiao and Dou Hua (Beancurd Drink)
Jiu Fen – Fried Cod Fish, Green Tea Tarts, “Mei Zi” Pudding, Ma Shu (Gummy type of sweets), Cheese Flavour Sun Biscuits manned by a spectacled lady (many flavours), Yam Dumpling, Muah Chee
Raohe Night Market – Lamp Soup,
Zhong Hsiao – Behind Isetan got one Jap style steamboat cum BBQ
McDonald – Try their Pork Buger and Rice Buger
Breakfast Café – Have to eat their what wrap what with egg and the milk tea
Seven-Eleven – Can try their Bento Set
Bento Café – Can get the bento which is cheaper and nice especially when we need to travel to outskirt.
Must Try and Eat
Breakfast Café – Have to eat their what wrap what with egg and the milk tea
Seven-Eleven – Can try their Bento Set + onigiri
Bento Café – Can get the bento which is cheaper and nice especially when we need to travel to outskirt.
Travel to the places
Yang Ming Shan (Need about ½ day)Not accessible by MRT, have to take bus specially travel to YMS from Taipei Train Station. Journey is about 1 hour but try to avoid the Morning and Evening jam. There is loop bus service at YMS or you can hike. Don’t go on Tuesday as the Tourist Center is closed. Can also take MRT to Jian Tan Station, then change to bus Red5 or Leisure Bus 109 to reach YMS Bus Interchange. There an internal bus (Think is 108) or a shuttle van within YMS for traveling around all areas of interest (Like you pay a fare with unlimited rides to bring you around. You can get down and walk around and take then next shuttle van to the next scenic area). After that can take a bus from YMS Interchange to reach Bei Tou MRT Station.
Then took MRT to Xin Bei Tou MRT Station to go for the Hot Spring.Dan Shui and Night Market (Best to go at afternoon to evening)MRT is Dan Shui Station. Best to stay there for the evening cos the sunset is very nice there. You can also find the cheap bag (about S$2.60 or NT50) at a shop in Dan Shui Old Street. This shop has a big price Sign of NT50 and next to it is a shop that sell assorted preserved plums.
The Fisherman Wharf (Yu Ren Ma Tou) have nice scenery can take a bus (Red 26) there as it is further up from the Dan Shui MRT Staion. Still have to pass by the Red Fortress before reaching. Anyway there is bus from Dah Shui MRT Station / Bus Interchange to reach there.
Ye Liu (Need about ¾ day or ½ day as is not convenient)Not accessible by MRT, but from Dan Shui you can take a bus there. Frequency about 30 mins to 1 hr. The bus terminal is Kee Lung.
From Kee Lung you can actually take a train back to Taipei. Got to ask the driver where to stop, after alighting still have to walk about 20 mins (you should feel like walking into a sea port).
Take MRT to Danshui very early and catch the bus to Ye Liu, after that go back to Danshui in late afternoon. Cos nothing much in Ye Liu expect Rock Formations. Then have to skip Kee Lung which is also famous for eatery.
Jiu Fen and Kee Lung (need about ½ day)Have to take train to Rui Fang (NT80 1 way, 40mins), after getting out from the train station, go across the road and take bus 825 Ji Long Ke Yun (NT19, 15mins) towards Jinguashi direction and drop off at Jiu Fen. Go early part of the day.Suggestion is to go to Kee Lung after lunching at Jiu Fen before going back to Taipei. Kee Lung also have nice food to eat too. Ye Liu / Kee Lung / Jiu Fen is near to each other so is advisable to travel on the same day. From Kee Lung buy the Guo Guang Bus ticket to come back to Taipei
From Jiu Fen take a bus to Kee Lung (40mins). From there take a taxi or bus to Temple Street. There is a night market call Kee Lung Miao Kou Night Market where they sell lots of seafood as Kee Long is a sea port.
Wu Fen Pu (go about 4pm) / Rao He Wholesale Centre and Night MarketHave to take MRT to Hou Pei Shan then have to walk 5 mins to reach the place. Is not a shopping centre. Bascially there a shops that sell on wholesale so have to buy a few to get discount. Rao He Night Market is nearby to Wu Fen Pu. The Rao He Wholesale Centre open in the noon. You can find cheap shoes (about S$10 – S$15) at Raohe Night Market.Wu Fen Pu is on the Blue Line. If you exit Wu Fen Pu at the Song Shan Railway Station Exit, you can walk across the bridge to the Raohe St Market.
Shi Lin Food and Night Market (Prefer weekend)Food Market is opposite to Jian Tan MRT Station (use exit 1). Go straight turn left at the traffic light, you will be able to see the Food Market and Night Market is beside the Food Market. Suggest is to go to the Foor Market first then to the Night Market. Nearby also got shopping mall. Open till quite late about 11+pm. Also have a lot of xiao chi (Taiwan Famous Snacks) at the Food Market and stuff like clothes, bags shoes at the Night Market. The price at Night Market is also one of the expensive one compare with the rest. However, at the Night Market remember to go to the small lane and bargain, the price is cheaper than the main lane
Xi Meng TingMRT is Xi Men Station. There things are more expensive and also got a few comic shops. Also Ma La steamboat can try “Fei Tian Steamboat” near the Xi Meng Tin Station’s entrance. Can do shopping at the daytime. Also can go to the Ming Ge Chang Ting (Mu Chuan). Like shopping at weekend may have chance to catch some Chinese pop stars. Stuff at Xi Meng Ting is consider one of the more expensive one compare with the others, however can try the outer street of Xi Meng Ting to catch some cheaper stuff..
There got one 24hrs Ma La Steamboat. Across the street near Xi Meng Ting got a street of Cinema and resturant.There is 2 Cheng Pin Bookstore at Xi Meng Ting, go to the one that is not near to the MRT Station, around the area of the Bookstore you can find a nice shop selling wafers.
Gong Guan MRT Station / Taipei Main Staion Underground MallYou can also find clothes stuff there. If want to buy books can go to Bookshop Street located outside Taipei Main Station. Also have Gong Guan Night Market.
Taipei 101Is opposite New York New York and near to World Trade Centre or Hyatt Hotel. Is a high end Shopping Centre. The nearest MRT is Taipei City Hall but still need to walk about 15 – 20 mins to reach. Around Taipei 101 there is the NYNY, Warner Village Cinema and Xin Guang San Yue Departmental Store. When go Taipei 101 just go and take a look and take some pictures will do, no need go in and shop as its selling all branded stuff.
Xin Bei Tou (Hot Spring)Take MRT to Xin Bei Tou Station, come out of the MRT Station on the right of the garden there is quite a lot of selection. Can travel to YMS 1st then follow by going to Bei Tou for Hot Spring since both are quite near to each other.When u come out of Xin Bei Tou Station, you will see KFC and on the right you will see McDonald. Walk along the stretch of the road, there is a lot of Hot Spring Resort on the right and Public one on the left. Go Hot Spring follow by Sauna then by Juccuzzi is better for blood circulation.Someone recommend Shui Du for Hot Spring also at Bei Tou MRT Station. Can just buy a 2 hour package for a room and private tub and good lunch. It the stretch where the Hot Spring are, is a pretty big one.
Tian MuPlace that sell clothes like adidas, Polo, Boss and Export Factory Outlet. Take MRT to Shipai Station, go out turn right across the street and take bus R19. Tell the driver you want to go to Tian Mu 7 Duan (Section 7) which is the highest part of Tian Mu. From there walk down the street. YMS is quite near to Tian MuFrom Tian Mu to Dan Shui, take bus 224 to Shipai MRT then onto Danshui MRT Station.
Hualien (Prefer Weekdays)The earliest train to Hualien is around 0600, but have to book early (prefer 1 or 2 days in advance). Can take a 7am train ride and reach Hualien around 0945. There are front and rear exit in Hualien station. Exit by the front and go to the right side where there is a lot of taxis. The driver will offer to drive you to Taroko various places and back to Hualien Station. (about NT550 each try to bargain for lesser). Muah Chee is the speciality in Hualien and the popular shop is “Zeng Ji”. Also remember to buy your return ticket when you reach Hualien Station. Also have a Qi Xing Zhan (beach)
Shi Da Night Market and Kunguan MarketTake MRT to Tai Dian Station, once exit you will see a Supermarket. Remember to buy the Mei Zhi Lu Cha (Tea Bag), Nai Cha (Tea Bag) and Wang Zi Mian (Yellow Package Noddles)
Airport Tranfer : Can get direct from the airport itself, cost about NT135 per person (one way). There is company call Free Go Express Bus (NT135). When you come out of the custom after collecting your luggage, walk to the left of the airport (don’t walk out first). At the left end of the airport, there will be some bus counters selling tickets where you can find the Fe Go Express, etc.Can take Guo Guang Bus to Taipei Main Station and transfer to MRT to Xi Meng Station.Once you come out of the airport, get the tourist pass booklet. You can get 15% off for bus ride. So you only pay NT105 instead of NT120If you want to take MRT, get the Easy Card. Trains will get 20% off using that card. As long as you use it at least 5 times you can claim back what ever balance left. Else you have to pat NT20 extraNeed to pay plastic bags when u are at their supermarkets, conveniences stores, Watson, etc. Night Markets usually close between 12 – 1am only Sunday they are closed at around 10pm. Can get plenty of maps at the Tourist Info Counter at the Taipei Main Station.

My recent trip to taipei from 22nd - 28th April.It's my first planned itinerary trip with another fren, daphne...! haaah!quite proud of myself that we made the trip a very enjoyable ourselves.decide the places that we want to go...explore new places that we have never been to...and there are just so many wonderful people that we met on the roadtrip.I can say the taipei is a very "chinese" and qin qie place...wherever you go, you will hear chinese words, chinese music, chinese food, chinese etc....haaaah!thus feel very at home...people are so friendly and nice...the sightseeing places that we have been are really nice and relazingthough at times we need to walk and walk and walk non-stop.here's our taipei itinerary with a day trip to Hualien!22 Apr 2006 (Sunday) ~ Temp 27C Isolated T-Storms1000 Hrs – Meet at City Hall – platform towards Pasir Ris/Changi (last cabin)Leave from Home to Changi Airport Terminal 11300 to 1740 Hrs – Reach CKS Airport Terminal 1 and take coach (Can check out the bus counter and take Free Go Express bus as there is 15% using the tourist pass. At the left of CKS Airport able to find the bus counter) to Rainbow Hotel. The bus will stop at Taipei Main Station, from there either take a bus or taxi to Rainbow Hotel.From Taipei Station, take mrt to Ximenting, come out from EXIT 6. There’s Mac, KFC, California fitness near the hotel.Rainbow hotel no. +8862231191931940 Hrs – Reach Rainbow hotel and Check In2000 Hrs – Leave for XiMenTing (Buy their Easy Card at XiMen MRT Station, the card cost about NT500 each before taking the MRT to ShiLin Market)(For Shopping and Eating)· Xi Meng Ting – Ah Zhong Mian Xien, Lau Tian Lu (Lou Duck Wing), Hand Made Muah Chi, Sun Biscuits/Sweets (1 store around the corner of Rainbow Hotel about NT180 each), Push Cart : BBQ Stick / Cong You Bin (Onion Prata) / Sweet Potato Balls, Ma La Huo Guo (Hot Pot)The things are more expensive and also got a few comic shops.Can try “Fei Tian Steamboat” near the XiMen Station’s entrance. Can do shopping at the daytime. Also can go to the Ming Ge Chang Ting (Mu Chuan) or CashBox KTV from XiMen Station EXIT 4 or 6. Like shopping at weekend may have chance to catch some Chinese pop stars. Stuff at Xi Meng Ting is consider one of the more expensive one compare with the others, however can try the outer street of Xi Meng Ting to catch some cheaper stuff..There is 2 Cheng Pin Bookstore at Xi Meng Ting, go to the one that is not near to the MRT Station EXIT 6, around the area of the Bookstore you can find a nice shop selling wafers.(OPTIONAL) 2200 Hrs – Leave for ShiLin Market at JianTan MRT Station (Check out when is the last MRT back to XiMen MRT Station)(For Shopping and Eating)- Can go working house diagonally opp Jian Tan Mrt St.· Shilin Food Market – Yan Su Ji (Salted Chicken Cutlet stall name is Hao Da Da), Fruits (Season, Pink Guava), , Xue Hua Bing (Ice Kacang), Guan Chai Ban (Coffin Plate), Mango/Strawberry/Mixed Fruit Ice, Meat Ball (Ba Uan), Da Bin Bao Xiao Bin, ShiLin Sausage· Shilin Night Market – Crabmeat Soup, Yu Fan (Oil Rice)Food Market is opposite to Jian Tan MRT Station (use exit 1). Go straight turn left at the traffic light, you will be able to see the Food Market and Night Market is beside the Food Market. Suggest is to go to the Foor Market first then to the Night Market. Nearby also got shopping mall. Open till quite late about 11+pm. Also have a lot of xiao chi (Taiwan Famous Snacks) at the Food Market and stuff like clothes, bags shoes at the Night Market. The price at Night Market is also one of the expensive one compare with the rest. However, at the Night Market remember to go to the small lane and bargain, the price is cheaper than the main lane23 April 2007 (Monday) ~ Temp 27 Scattered Showers 0800 Hrs – Wake Up & Breakfast0900 Hrs – Leave for Taipei Underground Shopping Mall (Front and Rear) / Book Street (ChongQing S Road) at Taipei Main Station. When reach get the Train Tickets to HuaLien for 07 Nov 2005 at Taipei Main Station. (Get the Train Tickets departing time about 7.00am – 8.00am. Got 2 different kind of train the faster “ZhiQiangHao” one cost about NT445 per ticket). round trip costs NT 890. lfway between the Taipei Main Staton and XiMen MRT Station got a street that sell shoes.(For Shopping and Eating)Comic Wholeseller at Tai Yuan Road where MeiShuing Hotel is. Out of the hotel walk left and turn left at first junction then turn right0930 Hrs – Leave for CKS Memorial Hall at ChiangKai-Shek Memorial Hall MRT Station(For Sight Seeing to see guards change shift every hour)1000 Hrs - Leave for ZhongXiaoDongRoad stretch from ZhongXiaoFuxing to ZhongXiaoDunhua MRT Station.(For Shopping)· ZhongXiaoDunHua – Jacky Wu Dessert Shop called Tang Chao (Exit 4 from the DunHua MRT Station)ZhongXiaoDong Lu (Shopping Area similar to Orchard Road – Stretch from MRT Station ZhongXiaoFuxing to ZhongXiaoDunHua. ZhongXiao Night Market is between ZhongXiaoFuxing and ZhongXiaoDunHua. Shanghai Restaurant at Breeze Centre (WeiFengGuangChang) near ZhongXiaoFuXing MRT Station EXIT 5. The restaurant is at Level 1 of Breeze Centre1230 Hrs – Go Xing Fu Xiao Chu restaurant (when we reached there, the shop was closed till 5 pm for opening)It's located near the northeast corner of Guangfu N. Rd./Minsheng E. Rd. Sec. 5, near Sungshan Domestic Airport. (Closed Tue.)1. To get there from MRT Shuanglien Station: From outside the MRT station (Minsheng W. Rd.), take an eastbound Bus 518 across town to LienHe Er Community 聯合二村 (or tell the bus driver you wish to alight at "Guangfu N. Rd. intersection") > cross Minsheng E. Rd. and walk farther east, turning left into Lane 69.2. To get there from MRT Zhongxiao Dunhua: On Dunhua S. Rd., take a northbound Bus 905 and alight at the same stop, after the bus makes a right onto Minsheng from Dunhua.1400 Hrs – Leave for SunYat-Sen Memorial Hall at SunYat-Sen Memorial Hall MRT Station follow by Taipei 101 / NYNY / Warner Village Cinema / Neo19 / XingGuanSanYue Departmental Store at Taipei City Hall MRT Station. There is a free shuttle bus called “JieBoChe” from the MRT Station to Taipei 101(For Sight Seeing and Window Shopping)Taipei 101 is opposite New York New York and near to World Trade Centre or Hyatt Hotel. Need to walk abount 15 – 20 mins from the MRT to reach. Around Taipei 101 there is NYNY, Warner Village, Cinema and Xin Guan San Yue Department Store. For these places just to take a look and take some pictures, as shopping is mostly branded stuff.1600 Hrs – Leave for WuFenPu and RaoHe Street Market at HouShanPi MRT Station EXIT 4.(For Shopping and Eating)· Raohe Night Market – Lamp SoupWuFenPu is opposite HouShanpi MRT (About 5 mins walking distance). RaoHe Street Market is on the other side of Song Shan Train Station. When you exit can walk across the bridge to the Raohe Street MarketWuFenPu are shops that sell on wholesales so have to buy a few to get discount. RaoHe Street Market is nearby WuFenPu and can get cheap shoes (about NT280 to NT300 each).After 6.30pm onwards, there is great food at WuFenPu. The area there also got a nice Temple.2000 Hrs – Leave for ZhongXiaoDongRoad stretch from ZhongXiaoFuxing to ZhongXiaoDunhua MRT Station to shop again.(For Shopping and Eating)· ZhongXiaoDunHua – Jacky Wu Dessert Shop called Tang Chao (Exit 4 from the DunHua MRT Station)ZhongXiaoDong Lu (Shopping Area similar to Orchard Road – Stretch from MRT Station ZhongXiaoFuxing to ZhongXiaoDunHua. ZhongXiao Night Market is between ZhongXiaoFuxing and ZhongXiaoDunHua. Shanghai Restaurant at Breeze Centre (WeiFengGuangChang) near ZhongXiaoFuXing MRT Station EXIT 5. The restaurant is at Level 1 of Breeze Centre2200 Hrs – Leave for ZhongXiao Night Market which is also between the MRT Station. (Check out when is the last MRT back to XiMen Station)(For Shopping and Eating)· ZhongXiaoDunHua – Jacky Wu Dessert Shop called Tang Chao (Exit 4 from the DunHua MRT Station)ZhongXiaoDong Lu (Shopping Area similar to Orchard Road – Stretch from MRT Station ZhongXiaoFuxing to ZhongXiaoDunHua. ZhongXiao Night Market is between ZhongXiaoFuxing and ZhongXiaoDunHua.24 April 2007 (Tuesday) ~ Temp 27C Scattered T-Storms0700 Hrs – Wake Up & Breakfast0800 Hrs – Leave for YangMingShan at JianTan MRT Station. The Interchange is in front of the MRT Station, change to bus 206, Leisure Bus 109 or Red 5 to reach YangMingShan Bus Interchange.0900 Hrs – Reach YangMingShan (Sightseeing via the Leisure Bus 108 – 1 Day Pass for Unlimited Ride). Each ride up the bus costs only sing dollars 15 cents! We went to Qi Xing Shan, and len wen quan. We actually climbed till 4 km of the Qi Xing Shan...great view and misty mountains...beautiful sulphur eruption of Qi Xing Shan too!...cool!Around 1700 hrs , go back to Jian tan st, and walk Shilin night market. Eat meat rice, coffin plate, da chang bao xiao chang, o a jian and chua bin! Plus the new flavour chicken cutlet with ham and cheese!Around 2000 hrs, we went to Yuan Chang’s western restaurant (see Map) at Bei tou st.Temp job restaurant: Royal Host北投樂雅樂地址:台北市北投路二段9號坐捷運(紅線)到北投站出站就在附近~找一下就可以瞭http://www.royalhost.com.tw/store.htm*Just realised can go n haf breakfast at the Royal Host restaurant if convenient..prices abt NT100+… kek· Shilin Food Market – Yan Su Ji (Salted Chicken Cutlet stall name is Hao Da Da), Fruits (Season, Pink Guava), , Xue Hua Bing (Ice Kacang), Guan Chai Ban (Coffin Plate), Mango/Strawberry/Mixed Fruit Ice, Meat Ball (Ba Uan), Da Bin Bao Xiao Bin· Shilin Night Market – Crabmeat Soup, Yu Fan (Oil Rice)Food Market is opposite to Jian Tan MRT Station (use exit 1). Go straight turn left at the traffic light, you will be able to see the Food Market and Night Market is beside the Food Market. Suggest is to go to the Foor Market first then to the Night Market. Nearby also got shopping mall. Open till quite late about 11+pm. Also have a lot of xiao chi (Taiwan Famous Snacks) at the Food Market and stuff like clothes, bags shoes at the Night Market. The price at Night Market is also one of the expensive one compare with the rest. However, at the Night Market remember to go to the small lane and bargain, the price is cheaper than the main lane25 April 2007 (Wednesday) ~ Temp 22 Showers0800 Hrs – Wake Up & Breakfast1000 Hrs – Leave for Jiufen at Taipei main railway station to Ruifang st. At ruifang st, we took the bus to Jiufen. It's a very old lao jie at Jiufen. We ate fried yam with seko paste. The beef noodles are supper yummy and we also tried the dried mian xian fish ball noodles...yummy too! Bought a brush for SO...haaah hope he likes it!*Jiu Fen – Fried Cod Fish, Green Tea Tarts, “Mei Zi” & Mango Pudding, Ma Shu (Gummy type of sweets), Cheese Flavour Sun Biscuits manned by a spectacled lady (many flavours), Yam Dumpling, Beef Noodles1400Hrs – From jiufen, we took the same bus back to Ruifang st and took the Bi Tou bus to Bi Tou shan! Drop at the last bus stop, there's a map telling you where to start the route of Bi Tou shan, at the end of the route, there is a beautiful while lighthouse with a view of the mountain cliffs and sea!...wow! nice view...you can also try the other route to the mountains side!The whole climb took about an hour to finish to and fro! Really feel like you are climbing near to the sea!1730 Hrs – Leave for Keelung. Took the bus to keelung at the same bus stop that we dropped from. Took railway from Keelung back to Taipei.2000 Hrs - meet Becky for dinner at Tao yuan St for beef noodles...yummy!...and eat corn with peanut ice plate and end with tazo earl grey tea at starburks! ... haaaah really a nice chat ... from talking about tai fashion, culture, music to politics! amazing!26 April 2007 (Thursday) ~ Temp 24C Showers0530 Hrs – Wake Up & Breakfast (Ate MacDonalds' breakfast, hotcakes! yummy!)0700 Hrs – Leave for HuaLien. Train Ride from Taipei Main Station to HuaLien Train Station. (Buy the return Train Tickets once you reach HuaLien Train Station. Think best is after confirm on the tour with the driver before left for the tour then get the return tickets. Remember that it take another 3 hours to return back to Taipei )1000 Hrs – There are front and rear exit in HuaLien Train Station, Exit by the front and go to the right side where the taxis are. Took Guoguang bus which we booked at the hotel the day before...it costs about NT650 per person for a half day trip. Ate Bian Zhi aka shui jiao at a shop, wow delicious! slurp!(For Sight Seeing)· HuaLien – Their specialty is “Muah Chee” can get from a shop called “ZengJi”. Also have Yam and Pineapple BiscuitIn Hualien ,the guided tour should take you to these places: Hualien Train Station → Taroko National Park Visitor Center → Shakadang Trail, Statue of Aksobhya (The Imperturbable Bodhisattva), Ning-an Bridge, Yinho Waterfall, Swallow Grotto → Tunnel of Nine Turns → Eternal Spring Shrine → Local Specialty → Chihsing Lake → Return(This costs NTD550 without Lunch). Since only two of the trails are open, you can also add Cisingtan(A Pebble beach) and Hualien City markets. See what you can add.1800 Hrs – Took railway train from Hualien back to Taipei st. Went Shilin night market to eat again. Took last train back home...phew! haaaah! exciting!27 April 2007 (Friday) ~ Temp 26C Scattered T-Storms0800 Hrs – Wake Up & Breakfast1000 Hrs – Leave for Taipei Arts Museum at YuanShan MRT NT $30Around 1200 hrs - went to xing fu xiao chu for lunch, thankfully the shop is opened...yummy food with fried garlic beef, steamed brown rice, bitter gourd and ham(1) soup and fried glutinous paste!Around 1400 hrs - Go hang out and laze around DanShui Harbour or take bus Red 26 from DanShui Interchange to Fisherman Wharf.(For Sight Seeing)The Fisherman Wharf (YuRenMaTou) have nice scenery can take a bus Red 26 there as it is further up from the DanShui MRT Staion. Still have to pass by the Red Fortress before reaching. Anyway there is bus from DanShui MRT Station / Bus Interchange to reach there.1900 Hrs – Leave for DanShui Night Market at DanShui MRT Station(For Shopping and Eating)· DanShui – Rou Fan, Fried Butter Ball, BBQ Sotong Ball, Green Mussels, Fish Crackers (MUST BUY), FooChow Fishball Soup, Super Long Icecream, Ah Ger (Tanghoon Beancurd), Hainan Dien Dien Mien, Ah Po Tie Dan/Salted Egg/Century Egg (Famous one opposite Fisherman Wharf called Pa Li)1800 Hrs – from Dan shui took bus to railway st and took train to Zhong Xiao Dun Hua st.Service from 8 - 10 pm ~ Go New Life Church (see Map)忠孝敦化捷運站 #10It takes about 5 mins by walkBUS:愛敦化路口0東、275、275(副)、275(區間車)、285、292、292(副)、292(區間車)、33、41、630、902、902(區間車)、905、905(副)、906、909、敦化幹線2230 Hrs – went to Mr Jay restaurant at 国父纪念馆站 exit 3. (see Map) - But it's closed! went again the next morning!Mr.J 義法廚房 台北市光復南路308巷43號網頁建構中 訂位請電 02.2731.2245’Sun – Tue 12:00 – 24:00 , Fri – Sat 12:00 – 02:0028 April 2007 (Saturday) ~ Temp 27 Scattered Showers0800 Hrs – Wake Up and Breakfast0900 Hrs – Went to buy whole lotsa sovenirs and food back from black bridge shop opp our hotel. Green and pineapple tarts, guo dong, and titbits.1000 Hrs - Went to taipei cityhall st to the biggest Cheng pin book store, bought two books and some cds!1200 Hrs - went back to mr jay's restaurant. Ordered two cakes and two teas for just NT 270! I specially ordered "Mr jay's special black red tea!" The restuarant had his portraits and lotsa antiques stuff...plus fang wen shan's poster too! great restaurant! He also opened a japanese restuarant...got to check it out next time!1450 hrs – Back to Rainbow Hotel collect luggage and prepare to leave for CKS Airport Terminal 1. booked Freego bus for NT $1801825 to 2255 Hrs – Reach Changi Airport Terminal 1End of our Taipei Trip!

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whisperingwood out
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