Taiwan (Taipei) 29 June 07

Friday 29 June 07 (Day 1)

At Singapore Changi Airport (Time: Approximately 1300hrs).

Took Jetstar A230. 3 seats at both sides of the cabin, seats abit squeezy with not much leg room to offer and you can only incline the seats backwards minimum. No inflight entertainment (TV), food & beverage had to be purchased. Flight time about 4hrs from singapore to taiwan and it can be really stressful like sardines packed nicely to the small cabin.

Dear had a window seat thanks to our early check-in. Haha.. poor china chap seated next to us had to stand up and gave way to me each time I need to pee.....

Aerial view of Taiwan air port.

Arrival at Chiang Kai Shiek Airport (Tao Yuan) at 1730hrs. Transit to Flower Hotel takes about 1hrs due to the rush hour jam. Flower Hotel... very economical hotel providing bare mimimal services except for one thing...... you can't flush toilet papers into the toilet bowl. Don't know why the flushing system in Taiwan is still so primitive... you have to throw the "dirty" papers to the bins provided inside the toilet. Maybe its time they follow some flushing systems guidelines from British Standards...

We were tricked by the tour agency because he did mentioned that the Flower Hotel is near to Ximending. %$#%^$#... it was at least 4 streets away.. A better choice would be Rainbow hotel as its at the heart of Ximending. Nevertheless, after we checked in, we hit the streets of XIMENDING..... hunting and searching for some traditional taiwan food.....

This is "Lao Tian Lu" Duck's Tongue from Ximending. (our 1st dinner at Taipei). Although it doesn't look anything like duck's tongue but some kinda weird alien stuffs you see in movie M.I.B. But actually its really tasty and nice. Cost about NT$150/100gm and the shop also sell other ducks parts as well.

One of the must try food in Ximending... "AH CHONG MIAN SIAN (MEE SUA)"..... See all our satisfied look... Hahahaha...Cost is NT$40 for a small bowl. You won't be able to find table or chairs within this shop, everyone just stood outside the store, holding the bowl in their hand and slurping it away. Nice, Hot and must put their chilli sauce.

Our 1st night at Ximending, we also tried "Hua Zhi Shu" (NT$50) and "Pai Gu Shu" (NT$50).

Didn't have any photos on these food cause the photographer is busy eating away.... haha.

But never try "Zhu Xue Kao-Pig's Blood" (NT$10/piece)... yucks!!! Can't really describe the taste as I didn't even have the chance to taste it before i spit it out. Its JUST SMELLY and my body natural way of reacting to it. PUI!!!!!!

Thats me and Party World Karaoke Building behind. Its open daily 24hrs, situated next to Ximending (near metro station) and the entire buiding is nothing but karaoke rooms... wah.......

Cost for one room in the weekend is NT$1730 + NT$99/pax + NT$150 (Food) + 10% service charge. Need to call and make reservation. If not, you probably can join the forever long Q at the lobby/counter.

Haha.. saw this funny phenomenom outside Party World. This sad-looking golden retreiver was waiting infront of a Sausage push-cart. Gave us this "get lost/can't-be-bothered" look when we tried to get its attention. All 4 of us concluded that the idea of "Mr Sausage" was probably a scam from the push-cart to attract people to buy sasuages for the poor dog, or "Mr Sausage" was just plain waiting for left-overs from the push cart.

Theres certainly alot of cinemas at Ximending. But the cost is rather expensive about NT$260 for a movie ticket. Prices are different at certain timing of the day.

I don't know what got into me to take this picture with Bruce.



Oh yes.. some word of caution. When you go for money exchange (singapore peoples parks complex/centre), make sure all notes are those new notes "blue" colour type for 1k bill. No one accept old notes in taiwan. If you have one, you have to go to Taiwan Bank to change for a newer notes. Thats what happened to me.....did my change on the next available working day (Monday) and had to Q at the Taiwan Bank along with many pei peis...... Bloody mama money exchange...!!! who looked completely trust-worthy... cheated me with 4 old 1k bill.... Luckily for me, i changed 2 of those old 1k bill with them before i go taiwan.