The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps
Are you thinking of where to stay in Taipei? I would recommend you to stay near Taipei Main Station. It’s a convenient location with easy access to Taipei’s transportation network of trains, subways (including airport subway) and buses. There’s a popular recommendation, CityInn Hotel – Taipei Station …
If you’re thinking of a day trip to Taroko National Park, here are a few modes of transportation from Taipei to Taroko National Park to consider. :) Step 1) From Taipei City to Xincheng Train Station Option One: Train To reach Taroko National Park, you …
Itinerary Overview ☼ Summer 2014 in Taiwan ☼
☼ ☼ ☼
continued from Taipei City, Taiwan (Part 1 of 2)
One of the famous or must-eat dish in Taiwan. Mian Xian is rice vermicelli/flour-rice Noodle.
The famous outlet is at Xi Men Ding (Emei Street, East XMD). But it has no seats nor air-con. People just hang around the shopfront to eat. I remembered when I first tried it years ago, I was not enjoying it very much. Why? Because after a long queue in the sweltering heat, I had to stand under the onslaught of the sun to eat the piping hot noodles, with sweat beads dripping down. =X
So it was a pleasant surprise for us to stumble a branch at Zhong Xiao Fu Xing 忠孝复兴, beside Sogo… that has seats, air-con and even a TV for you to watch! It’s so much more enjoyable to eat in this comfort.
Note that the dish is not with Oyster that we are used to in Singapore, but Pig’s intestines.
During my post-trip research, I found a place to explore on my next trip to Taiwan! Read the excerpt:
“While neighboring Zhongxiao Fuxing (忠孝復興) may be of grand shopping malls, Zhongxiao Dunhua Shopping Area (忠孝敦化商圈) stands apart for its quieter boutique fashion culture. Skip the main thoroughfare of Zhongxiao East Rd. and slip into the side streets around both the north and south of the area.
Dunhua shopping is all about local, independent shops. Strolling through these alleys is the perfect introduction to the diverse styles and influences of Taiwan’s unquenchable thirst for clothing. Whether your interests revolve around chic clothing design, rustic cafe escapes, or stylish side streets, there’s something for everyone to discover.
Also, at the southern end of the neighborhood at the Renai Dunhua Roundabout, you can find the world’s first 24 hour bookstore, Eslite (誠品書店). Down below, a shopping corridor follows the path of the subway between Zhongxiao Fuxing and Dunhua stations.”
I like the vibes of this place.
With interesting small shops lined up, the area has a #SupportLocal and creative feel.
Only later did I find out that they have nice deserts here. This is a chain patisserie shop headed by an ex-Michelin Starred French pastry chef. Their Canelés are made up to French standards too, a surprise find in Asia.
If you are a desert lover, take a bite at
Oui Cafe, No. 3, Lane 23, Nanjing West Rd, Zhongshan District (MRT Exit 2)
台北市中山區南京西路23巷3號 (捷運二號出口)
Walking around, we found another gem!
2 minutes walk from Oui Cafe, actually it’s just opposite of Oui.
“You can explore the various cultures unique to Taiwan at The Lovely Taiwan shop. Founded 4 years ago by Lovely Taiwan Foundation, it displays and sells a variety of hand-made products, including food, thus providing a long-term stable sales platform for the tribal workers. Every dollar spent in the shop goes straight back to benefit/ help the community.” – 台灣好基金會 Lovely Taiwan Foundation
Shop and grab some exquisite local goodies!
They really have nice and cool stuff.
What’s really interesting was…
we were invited the third floor.
Only open for foreigners.
You can browse through the guides. And…
they provide you with postcards to write.
Post it in their postbox and they will mail it anywhere in the world for free! :)
Visit the shop at
No.18-2, Lane 25, Nanjing West Road, Datong District 大同區南京西路25巷18-2號1樓
12:00pm to 9:00pm, Monday Rest 周一公休
www.lovelytaiwan.org.tw / facebook.com/LovelyTaiwan
If you have the time, walk around and explore!
A hipster place? You judge.
One of the largest and most popular night markets in Taiwan.
How to get there? Be sure to alight at Jiantan (劍潭) and not Shilin (士林) MRT station. It’s a nearer walk from Jiantan. Walk straight out of Exit 1, and cut across the street diagonally. You can then turn left to the entrance below or right to explore parts. When in doubt, follow the crowd. ;)
YUMMY CHEESY.
GIVE IT A PASS.
“deep in the heart of Taipei and cordoned off from all visitors, stood an abandoned factory. In 2007 the Taiwan Cultural-Creative Development Co. Ltd assumed responsibility for the renovation and operation of the Park and renamed it Huashan 1914. An organically creative environment has been growing ever since. Huashan 1914 now serves as Taipei’s primary creative arts center and a hosting ground for Taiwan’s most significant cultural activities.” — huashan1914.com
Location: Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Near Shandao temple station (善導寺站)
If you are an art enthusiast, be sure to pop by this place to check out if they have any ongoing art film events or exhibitions.
STAND TALL, LIVE COLOURFULLY
in the vicinity of the 1914 creative park. 
Compared to Shilin or Raohe night markets, this is
Smaller. More Localised. Less commercialised.
One can still find much yummy stuff to munch, eat and gorge.
Be sure to try the stall shown left (below). 
I was telling B, we are bound to bump into some Taiwanese artistes in Taiwan.
But alas, we didn’t manage to see any … until the very last night of our vacation!
I saw Huang Deng Hui, 黃鐙輝!
B didn’t know who he was, but I do. ;P
I realised later on that this duo was filming a popular Taiwanese food show for TVBS, 食尚玩家. The other guy is called 子余.
Some American food for the Chinese stomach
THE YOUNG APPEAL OF XMD.
reflections:
Of people… The Taiwanese are not as friendly as they used to be years ago. Spotted a gay couple holding hands publicly in Hualien. Didn’t know they are so open about this issue.
Of places… There’s more to Taiwan than eating and shopping. Discovered more gems to explore and roam the next time round. I love the artistic vibes I’ve discovered.
Other useful link:
Yong Kang Street Guide: ladyironchef.com/2013/08/taipei-yong-kang-street-guide
Travels During July 2014
Itinerary Overview ☼ Summer 2014 in Taiwan ☼ Continue on to: Taipei City, Taiwan (Part 2 of 2) ☼ ☼ ☼ It’s been years since I am back to Taipei, Taiwan! My friends and I loved to shop around Ximending when we travelled to Taiwan. That was then. Now that …
▲ Photo Journal | ▲ Useful Tourist Information Itinerary Overview ☼ Summer 2014 in Taiwan ☼ If you are sick of city life, and want to take a day trip out from Taipei, do consider Jiufen (九份) and Shifen (十份). We visited the 2 places in …
▲ Photo Journal | ▲ Useful Tourist Information
Itinerary Overview ☼ Summer 2014 in Taiwan ☼
If you are sick of city life, and want to take a day trip out from Taipei, do consider Jiufen (九份) and Shifen (十份). We visited the 2 places in a day. :) And if you start early enough, you could probably do this itinerary:
Jinguashi ▸▸ Jiufen ▸▸ Shifen ▸▸ Keelung Miaokou Night Market
“In Qing Dynasty, the village at Jiufen housed nine families, thus the village would request “nine portions” every time shipments arrived from town. Later Jiufen (“nine portions” in Chinese) would become the name of the village. An isolated village until 1893, when gold was discovered, resulting in a gold rush that peaked during the Japanese rule. Many present features of Jiufen reflect the era under Japanese colonization. Gold mining activities declined after World War II, and the mine was shut off in 1971.”
Jiufen also became popular in 2001, when its downtown was used as a model in the anime movie Spirited Away. If you are an anime fan or watched the movie before, you may find it interesting to find comparisons of the place Jiufen to scenes from the movie at this and this blog.
Jiufen is located uphill in the Ruifang District near Keelung, Taiwan. So if you get a fast bus driver, brave yourself for some sharp swerves up the slope.
By Bus (via MRT): From Zhongxiao Fuxing (忠孝復興) MRT (Brown and Blue lines) leave from Exit 1 and take bus route 1062 (Keelung Bus) to Jiufen. The ride is about 1 hour. Be sure to sit on the left side of the bus to enjoy scenic views of Northern Taiwan.
By Train:
Find out how to return to Ruifang Station at the end of the post.
Image: snewthewanderlust.blogspot.sg
MOBILE MEAT SELLER
POSING TOURISTS
TUNNELS TO GOLD MINE
(‘cept there’s no more gold left)
FOOOOD
There’s almost always a must try food in different parts of Taiwan.
So the must try in Jiufen: Yam Balls, Wild Boar/Black Pig’s sausage
But I spotted them selling assorted flavours now, sweet potato, green tea, etc.
This is the famous 赖阿婆芋圆 (yam balls)
Another yam ball shop, hidden up hill, near a shoe shop. Long queue spotted! 
OLD STREET , OLD SCHOOL
CUTIE DRINKING FROM A CUTIE
WE’RE GETTING MARRIED!
The owner saw us taking photos and quickly came out to ask us in. The shop apparently displays hundreds of mask done by the owner. But they are too scary for my dreams. =x So we quickly fled, but he continued to enthusiastically ask the crowd to come in to look at his works. Btw, it’s free to take photo with his boards!
FOR TEA LOVERS
Updated 17 September 2015
Travels During July 2014
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▲ Accommodation Review Itinerary Overview ☼ Summer 2014 in Taiwan ☼ Price? S$73 /~ NT$1760 per night Accommodation Type? Double Bed Private Ensuite When? 4 nights in July 2014 Website: www.starhostel.com.tw, www.facebook.com/StarhostelTaiwan Address: No. 50, Huayin St, Datong District Taipei City, 103 Our experience? Taipei Main Station Star Hostel is simply… amazing. This …
Itinerary Overview ☼ Summer 2014 in Taiwan ☼ Price? S$61 /~ NT$1435 per night Accommodation Type: Hotel Room When? 2 nights in July 2014 Our experience? We had arranged for the hotel transport to pick us up from Hualian train station at about 7:50pm. However, due to a longer-than-expected train …