At a glance, Taipei gives me an impression of a bigger scale of Medan, very Indo-like, with much more Chinese characters. I find myself easier to adapt in China than Taipei, because they have more English in China. I cannot believe that from food menu to lotions ingredients (I look because I have allergies) to telephone/remote control to shopping receipts are all in Chinese, literally everything is in traditional Chinese. Well, I guess this will take some time.
I will start with just one place as of today, by end of 6 months, I should have a list hopefully:
1. Liao Ning Jie Yue Se / Liao Ning Night Market
Small night market in the neighbourhood
2. Gu Gong / National Palace Museum
Used to be inside the Forbidden city in Beijing, but it was moved to Taipei, it contains the art and pottery remains/artifacts from different dynasty. It's a good size and interesting, has a free guided tour, and a very nice and serene garden filled with huge koi fish and a few pairs of black swan. To get there, take MRT stop at Shilin, take bus R-30 or 255. Be sure to stop by Shi Lin Night Market
3. Shi Lin Yue Shi / Shi Lin Night Market
MRT stop at Jian Tan - traditional snacks: pan fried oyster, stinky tofu (if you are a fan, I'm not), fried chicken/porkloin, fried qual eggs on a stick, fried/grilled squid on a stick.
4. Gong Guan
This area is across from NTU, crowded with shops and eateries. A great place for window shopping and snacking. Good to go on Friday Night.
5. Xi Men Ding
A shopping square with lots of food, some outdoor entertainment (dancing, spraypaint, airbrush, seasonal teenage band). Toilet Restaurant is in the area, with chocolate ice cream served in toilet shaped bowl - innovative but seriously not very appetizing.
6. Dan Sui
I like this place, reminds me a little of promenade in LA and a little of navy pier in Chicago. Ate A Gei (Tofu with vermicelli and meatball + fishball soup), love it. Take the boat across to fisherman wharf (Yu Ren Ma Tou), ate fried cuttlefish (You Yu/Hua Ce), Hot Star Ji Pai, Hao Pen You Liang Mien is a must-try.
7. Taipei 101 & Miramar
Start the day with a breakfast at Er Lou, located at S. Dunhua Rd, Sec 2, 61 Gang, 14 Hao. It's a nice, pretty and cozy place, good breakfast. Next is Taipei 101 (MRT City Hall then free shuttle bus), high class shopping mall with entrance to the highest tower in the world (as of today). As it is raining, I decided to go up another day. Miramar is famous for the ferris wheel (MRT Jiannan then free shuttle bus). Well, let the pictures explain...
8.Shopping 1 - Zhong Xiao Dun Hua
This area is packed with shops - higher end - with many more in the alleys. Find the MRT station there, and walk through the underground passage to Zhong Xiao Fu xing, more shops along the way.
9.Shopping 2 - Wu Fen Pu
Cheap Shopping area - MRT (Hou Shan Pi) then walk to shopping district.
10. Taipei Zoo
Brown line MRT all the way to the east - You can take a glimpse of pandas behind the glass cage, sleeping koalas inside bar cage, tigers and monkeys behind bar cages too, I'll have to say I've seen better zoo.
11. Story Land & Ghost House (Gui Wu)
Only if you have nothing much to do, or if you are around the neighbourhood. Take MRT to Taipei Main Station, there are tons of shops in the basement of the station. Then walk out towards Zhong San West Road for a mile to find Story Land. This is a collection of old stuff, and walk down to basement for the ghost house, if you are up for the challenge.
12. Bi Tan
Bi Tan is famous for the suspension bridge - Taiwan Golden Gate, spans over XinDian River. Take MRT - Xindian stop, and the bridge is within walking distance.
13. Jiu Fen & Keelung Night market
JiuFen used to be a gold mine city and now is famous for the old street (lau jie), packed with tourists and souvenir shops and local delicacies - taro balls (yuyuan) & tofu hwa. Take the MRT to Taipei City Hall, take the train to Rui Fang stop, take the bus toward JiuFen. There are other stops that we can't make it that day - She Fen Pu Pu (Ten Points Waterfall), Jin Gua Shan (Golden Mountain) , all reachable by local bus.
Keelung Night Market
Gigantic Squid Tentacles
14. Tissot Glass Art Museum
If you have an afternoon to spare and if you love glass art/art in the process of making, visit the Tissot Glass Art museum. Take MRT stop at Guandu, walk left for 4 minutes. This is my first glass piece, this place is hot.. so dress appropriately if you plan to take the class.
The class itself is interesting, but glass blowing is not as easy as I thought.
15. Shopping 3 - Mitsukoshi & Waffle house
Great area to meet people, Zhong shan MRT stand, exit 1 to go to Mitsukoshi, exit 2 to go to Ijysheng bakery, famous for different flavored mochi, tasty bread and cakes. A famous waffle house is also in the area, Melange cafe, packed with people - Exit 2, walk inside the alley, first right.
When we arrive at 12.30, and took a number, we got 213. Estimated waiting time 1.5-2 hour, and when we finished our waffles, the number is 303. This small cafe is serving 100 guests within less than 2 hours. Amazing !!
The famous Strawberry Waffle
Tuna Waffle with pickle and Mayo
Places yet to go: HuaLian (Taroko Gorge, Tse Zi Temple, Beach), Kenting Beach, Kaoshiung, Taichung. Maybe next time in the next episode of my life. :)
