Taiwan (Taipei) 30 June 07

Saturday 30 June 07 (Day 2)

Wakie wakie at 0730hrs and start off our 1st breakfast at Taipei.. courtesy from Flower Hotel. The sort of "standardised" taiwanese healthy breakfast and practically everywhere is selling such breakfast. You won't get to see Singapore-liked fried bee hoon, fish ball mee...blah blah... Still a very decent meal to start with for the day...

To start off our itinerary for the day, our first stop, CKS memorial hall. Located next to CKS memorial metro station. Its 2 stations away from where we embarked and took about 5mins to reach the destinations. Cost = NT$20 per pax.

Some travel info: Metro Train Tourist Day Trip cost NT$200/day with a refundable deposit of NT$50. So you gotta check your total travel cost for metro before you decide whether day-trip or single trip is worth it.

This is the underground mall at Taipei Main Station. Its suppose to be packed with shoppers unfortunately, the shops were still not open at 093ohrs.

CKS Memorial Hall... maginficient architectural. One of the must see monument in Taipei.

Too bad the building behind us was under renovation or we could witnessed the opening of the hall door. Its a spectacular event with the Taiwanese soldiers wearing their No. 1., doing their marching to mark the opening of the memorial hall. Although i must say their way of marching is abit weird......

Our next stop "Wu Fen Pu" located at "Hou shanpi" Metro station. Cost of travel NT$30 from CKS Memorial Hall. However, the place opens at 12 noon so we head for an early lunch across the street. And there at WFP, we happened to past by this eatery call "Formosa Chang" which sells my favourite taiwan food “鲁肉饭”. Simple plain rice coupled with the gravy of 鲁肉. One word.. Awesome.... and the cost is very affordable at only NT$26 and there are also other side dishes you can choose from. (visit http://www.fmsc.com.tv/ Formosa Chang for more details)

Small bowl of plain rice with nice 鲁肉 gravy toppings on it.

Soon after our lunch was settled, we headed down to WFP and manage to take this quick photo of taiwan's main means of transportations... 小棉羊. In the streets of taiwan, you get to see alot of such bikes and there are various cute designs of "non-approved" helmets selling on the streets.. I was very tempted to buy oneof those helmets.... but what the heck... i don't even have a bike license.

Shopping spree in WFP caught in action.... Mostly were girls stuff that there are selling. Probably cheap because its a whole-sale area. See what i mean when you see those bags on the floor.

Spotted this dog inside one of the shops in WFP. Fella was looking straight at us when we entered the shop and for a moment we thought it was a toy because it wasn't moving at all.

Don't really know what breed this was but... i guess its a combination of batman and superdog. Hahaha...

Our next stop of the day, "Raohe Night Market", located across (Overhead Brigde) Song Shan Railway Station. This night market opens daily from 4pm onwards and is certainly one of the must place to go in Taiwan.

At Raohe night market, you must DIE DIE try this store "程班长牛肉面". Its definately one of the best beef noodles that I've tasted so far and I'm dying to go back there again just for that. The soup is damn nice and look at the layer of chilli oil on the surface. So far, me and my wife are still searching for this same taste in singapore..... but too bad, most of them lack that special chilli taste....

Cost :-

红烧牛肉面 = NT$90
三和一牛肉面 = NT$100
牛肉汤 = NT$70

See their satisfying look.... Thumbs up for 程班长牛肉面

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.