Taiwan Guide : Taipei (V.1) - 5 Days 4 Nights 【台湾游】 台北之五天四夜

Guide to Taipei - My version of 5 days 4 nights in Taipei.

The compilation for 5 days 4 nights in Taipei with WHERE to GO and WHAT to EAT during Summer, August 2011.

All the following places and foods can be found in Taipei itself and every destinations we visited. For your information, ten of us stayed at Taipei Room, 中山 (ZhongShan) which located just few minutes away from the main entrance of ZhongShan MRT Station), a convenient district for high street shopping and fashion seekers during the night! Part of experiencing Taipei nightlife with shopping!

Upon arrival at Taipei Room on our first day trip in Taipei, we proceeded to 九份 (Jiu Fen) an hour after we left our luggage at our rest house at 10.00am.

RuiFang District ( 瑞芳區)

* Place to visit :

   - Ji Shan Street (基山街) - 九份旧道 (Jiu Fen Old Street)

 * Foods to eat :
   - Ji Shan Street (基山街) - 九份旧道 (Jiu Fen Old Street)

Say goodbye to the magnificent historical 九份 (Jiu Fen) in the evening and we visited 士林  (Shilin) during the night!

 Shilin District (士林區)

* Place to visit and Food to eat :

   - 士林夜市 (Shilin Night Market)

The second day, we went to the largest Pedestrian area at 西门町 (Xi Men Ding)! It is also known as Shibuya (Japan) of Taiwan, an interesting place during the day and during the night as well. I love that place and I might revisit the place again and staying at that area if possible. 

 Wanhua District ( 萬華區)

* Place to visit : 

   - 西门町 (Xi Men Ding)

 

* Food to eat :

   - 西门町 (Xi Men Ding) - 马辣鸳鸯火锅专卖 (All You Can Eat Mala Hotpot Store)

   - 西门町 (Xi Men Ding) - 便所餐厅 (Modern Toilet) 

* Souvenirs to buy 

  - 西门町 (Xi Men Ding) - Sophisca - Condoms Treats (Choc)

During the night, a Taiwanese friend of ours brought us for a walk (by foot) at 中山 (ZhongShan) and other reachable area by foot and experiencing the local lifestyle and small eateries that the local love to eat.

Da Tong District (大同區)

* Place to visit :
  ** Ning Xia Road (宁夏路)
       - 宁夏观光夜市 (Ning Xia Night Market)
       - 大稻埕码头 (Da Dao Cheng Wharf)

* Food to eat : 
  ** Ning Xia Road (宁夏路)
       - 宁夏观光夜市 (Ning Xia Night Market)
  ** Ming Shen Xi Road (民生西路口)
       - 豆花莊 (Since1965) (Dou Hua Zhuang) 

They often tell us that it is a must visit to the landmark skyscraper of Taiwan - Taipei 101 (台北101) and we were there the day before we left Taiwan. :)

Sin Yi District (信義區)
* Place to visit :
  - Taipei 101 (台北101)

Overall, it was quite an experience visiting Taiwan. The massive crowds that we could see from every corner. In fact, there are some recommended destination such as 淡水 (DanShui), themed cafes such as Hello Kitty (most of them said the food quality were bad, but I still wanna be there) and we are yet to visit in the future. :)

By the way, 7 Eleven of Taiwan is a must visit place! And everyday I visited 7 Eleven to buy something. If one day you visit Taiwan, remember to have a look at that awesome convenient store.

My Daily Dose of Taiwan (My Favorite Place)
- 7 Eleven Convenient Store

We left Taiwan and back to Malaysia on the fifth day afternoon. We reached Tao Yuan Airport earlier and did some last minute shopping before we say goodbye to this lovely place. :)

Okay! That's the complete compilation of my trip in Taipei.

Have a nice trip for those who are going Taipei for holiday! :)
 

- Taipei 101 -

- Grilled Mushrooms at JiuFen Old Street -

- The Largest Pedestrian area of Taipei - Xi Men Ding -

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Taiwan : TaiChung - Homemade 18°C Ice Cream and Dawn Cakes!【台湾食】台中 - 自家做之18°C 雪糕 与 日出蛋糕好吃哦！

 Part 4 (The End) of Road Trip to Nan Tou (南投), Taiwan.

Finally, it's the last entry about trips and what I did/ visited at Taichung area - Feng Jia and Nantou. :)

Before we headed to the Chocolate Factory of tempting ice cream and the outlet of yummy Cheese Cakes and Pineapple Tarts, Brother Zhang (the Driver) brought us to 酒乡埔里 (Wineyard PuLi ) to have a look, unfortunately it was approximately 30 minutes before their closing time, therefore we had a quick look only.

We always heard about all kind of Taiwan must know, talking about nice desserts, 18度巧克力工房 (18 Degree Chocolate Factory) and 日出土凤梨酥 (DawnCake) are the one I love and most recommended one, non the less, 一福堂老店 (Yi Fu Tang Lao Dian) for Taiwanese Snacks too.

-  18度巧克力工房 (18 Degree Chocolate Factory) -

I don't know why it was named Chocolate Factory, but it definitely selling chocolate too. :) I had it and the dark chocolate truffles just heart melting. There's a story behind this shop that involving Father and Son relationship. Sweet, doesn't it? 

Every bites running through the throat were just too good to be true, the ice cream, sorbet, gelato, truffle and etc. :) Creamy and fruity with full ingredients in their preparation.

- ICE CREAMS!! -

The fruits shown makes our saliva automatically felt the taste. LOL :D

Seriously, long queue of people does make the ice cream taste even good. 

- Showing off what we had -

- Coffee Machine -

Even the coffee taste good there and it's for free! :) How I wish I will have one in my future home, coffee whole day long, serving friends and family easily. :) Nice Nice Nice!

- Once again, I'm feeling Eighteen -

Yea~ People thought I was 18 during my Taiwan. To happy or not to be happy?

**Official Website : Feeling18度c 巧克力工房 (18 Degree Chocolate Factory)

**Location :
545 南投縣埔里鎮慈恩街20號
(No. 20號, Cí'ēn Street, Puli Township, Nantou County, Taiwan 545)

Proceeding the the next place and we were almost back to the suite...

- The Sunset just beautiful with Round Salted Egg Yellow Sun -

Before night, Brother Zhang drove us to see Bitter Nut girls and they were mad hot with transparent clothing (sexy night wear). My Gosh! And Brother Zhang even treat us nice to let us take a look of them (bought bitter nuts) with a very very close distance, which... I have those photos, but I can't share. He even told us that when the night getting darker, those girls will get naked with a thin layer of fabric or a blazer to cover up. 

I see guys went "eye eating ice cream" thou. haha :D

So here we went after explored a little bit of Taiwanese lifestyle -

 - 日出土凤梨酥 (DawnCake) -

Getting closer back to our suite and we did bought nice cheese cakes from there too. IT IS VERYVERY MAD CHEESY AND CREAM, melted in the mouth kind of cheese cake. :)

They have one of the most beautiful packaging that I have seen so far, attractive and meaningful packaging with Chinese culture. Brother Zhang even told us that, tourists from near and far just love to go to Dawn Cake over and over again.

- Cakes for Souvenirs -

- Vintage Typewriter -

 

- Uplifted Vintage Lamp/ Fire Extinguisher -

- The Price List -

- All those are cheese cakes -

It has to be refrigerated, so that we could eat it while it is chill and in its best condition.

- Pineapple Tarts -

In facts, pineapple tarts divided into two (2) types which are SOUR and SWEET. We must take note of it to prevent from purchasing wrongly.

- Buy Buy Buy -

Meatball-Online bought some, Doggie bought some, IceHippo bought some, Singaporean friends bought some too. :) And in addition, Cheese Cakes for supper too!! :)

Official Website : 日出土凤梨酥 （DawnCake) Location : 台中市西区五权西三号街

No. 43, Wǔquán West 3rd Street, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan 403.

 That's all for TaiChung. Good bye TaiChung.

And next - Days at TAIPEI!!! I LOVE TAIPEI! 我爱台北！！

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Taiwan : Feng Jia, TaiChung - Full Stop Breakfast!【台湾游】 台中之逢甲 - 满点速食早餐！

Part 4 (Last) of Feng Jia-Chia, Taichung. :)

The day which we were going to start our day trip far from Feng Jia to Sun Moon Lake, the well known cake house/ souvenir shops while we were on our way and at the same time, some sight seeing too.

But before we started our day, BREAKFAST will be the first thing we had in mind and we must leave Feng Jia at 10.30am to start our fun trips with the transportation service we had hired! And you know what? There was only one place we could have our breakfast and especially it is located near to the guest room we lived. FYI, restaurants there normally opens later in the afternoon (11.00am as a norms) or in the evening, in fact it's depends on the location too.

- Feng Jia Shoplots -

We met our guest room's owner, Mr. Chiou at the breakfast place and he told us that the breakfast served was okay and okay it may seen. Found some seats and ordered our local breakfast just like others.

- 满点速食早餐 (Direct translation : Full Dots Express Breakfast) -

Where we were having our breakfast at the walk way of operating shops in the evening.

- The Menu of 满点速食早餐 -

The various Sandwiches, Fried Noodles, Beverages, theomelet, Bacon and others for your to fill our hunger before we started our day.

In fact, Taiwanese breakfast consist of high calories, and of course we need to depends on which restaurants/ cafes we visited.

And now, all of these were the breakfast we had!

-Vegetables Theomelet （蔬菜蛋饼）-

I never come across the word "theomelet" before, until I went google-ing in its Chinese words (lol). *geleng kepala*

Their theomelet was okay as I have tried a few pieces and sharing the whole plate with friends too.

- 鲜奶茶 (Fresh Milky Tea) -

Taiwanese Bubble Teas are awesome and as well as theirs! Is a must try when we visit Taiwan. :)

- 炒面蛋 (Fried Noodle with Eggs) -

I finished the whole plate of noodle and it was just nice for an individual portion and most of all - REASONABLE!! Conversion approximately NTD 10 = RM1.00, it's only RM3.80! :)

- Breakfast on the second day -

Since we had breakfast there before, might as well we had another breakfast again at the same place and it was the nearest and easiest spot we could have our breakfast before we leave Feng Jia to Taipei.

And now.... Teaser for the next post. :)

 - Mountains that we saw -

We were on our way to Nantou (南 投), our nice diver - Mr. Zhang told us a short introduction about that mountain whereby the mountain named 100 mountains or 99 mountains which formed after the earthquake years ago, I can't recall it and even I googled ups and downs, I just can't find the name of that mountains and there's a whole long lists of mountains at Taiwan. (OMG).

That's breakfast for us before we start our journey, stay tuned for the next Taiwan entries of mine! :)

Location : Feng Jia, Taichung （逢甲， 台中）

p/s : If you like my Blog, do vote for withinmeitzeu as "the best travel blog" in World Bloggers and Social Media Awards 2012 HERE by 28 January, 2012 as a support and encouragement! :) Thank you.

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Taiwan : TaiChung - Feng-Chia Night Market - iBUY & iEAT!! 【台湾游】 台中 - 逢甲观光夜市

Part 3 of Feng-Chia, Taichung!

After a short rest at the hotel from our afternoon sight seeing, it's time for another walk at the well known and the largest night market in Feng-Chia. 

Feng-Chia Night Market (逢甲观光夜市)

Over and over again, I have been emphasizing that Taiwan is famous for their small eateries which found most from night markets and non the less, the fashion with reasonably cheap, no wonder clothes sellers love to go Taiwan to purchase their goods (low cost = high income - somehow, they could even earn more than 200% when they bring back to Malaysia) . :)  Moreover, I show online shops that have the actual outlets too!

- The Night Market -

It is a norm to see pets running around, most Taiwanese are pet lovers and I MEANT IT! Both of the dogs were running towards the motorist (which I presume both of it know the man). And mentioned about motorists, OHMYGOSH! I was freak out with their driving method, no left nor right direction, they were all over the places! 0_0

- Random shot at the night market -

The hotel we were staying was above the night market, therefore, it is so near to have a walk around there. Comparison between the day and the night were totally different, more crowds of young and old came to the night market since evening. The crowd behind me were the crowd during 6.00pm, you might not want to know how many people were in the crowds when it is getting late.

- Welcome to Feng-Chia Night Market (逢甲观光夜市) -

The first night we were there walking and shopping in a group, however, we were lost during second night. Blame those shopping and so many interesting stuffs to see that attracts Icehippo's owner! (lol) I think both night we walked until 12.00am and my back was freaking pain and all those sticky sweat during summer night that I have experienced was just bad.

Here are the night market shots taken by me and my sister's friend, Carlos L., do enjoy them and imagine those FOODs I have came across with. :P (I always make people hungry what?) 90% are recommended eateries in Taiwan.

- The crowds -

- Those Korean Fried Cakes were SPICY!!! -

- The famous : Big Sausage cover small sausage (Direct translation of 大肠包小肠) -

Frankly speaking, I do not favour much of oily and fried foods (once in a while can la....) That sausage included bamboo shoots (Taiwanese love them and it was bamboo shoots season) in it, which it is a big NO NO for me. HOWEVER, buy one and try if you visit Taiwan. Sausage is a MUST TRY! :D Doggie's owner ate everyday, she just love sausages!

- The famous : 台湾卤味 (Taiwan Marinade Food) -

It is one of the famous food in Taiwan where we could find it in any night markets. I don't like how it look, but I have tried some of the normal one (which looks normal to me), they taste okay for me.

- I found Malaysia Satay （马来西亚沙爹）-

I wonder did the seller visit Malaysia before. I didn't try the satays though. :) And I saw it says pork? Hmm. :/

- The famous : Salted Chicken （盐水鸡) (Left) -

- The famous : 无骨炸鸡排 (Boneless Chicken Chop) -

I kind of like this one, it is similar size with the chicken pop corn by KFC. Small bites that I didn't felt disgust with.

- The famous : Steam Meat Buns (水蒸包) -

I like this! A normal one that I love. :)

In conclusion, our taste buds and culture are so much different with Taiwanese. That's they lifestyle and not ours, but wait, I didn't say all of us don't like. I'm one of them in minority. :P

- It's shopping time! - 

Fashionable dresses and accessories. :) Imported goods. Wow! It is a shopping heaven in Taiwan. Something you must know, they say shopping from Taichung is cheaper compared to Taipei. I wonder how true is that and IceHippo said she love shopping at Taichung while I'm the opposite, but... I still bought quite a bit at Taichung. ALAMAK! :S

Here's a video about the night market I have been walking along the main road and not at the middle of those crowded streets of foods and more.

- Feng-Chia Night Market (逢甲观光市) -

Yet, people walk and walk and walk. :D That's me with my black and white embroidered dress with green flower hair band.

And yes. I want to say the below...

- 逢甲疯街了！-

FENG-CHIA CRAZY STREETTTT!

So many people over there and every where in Taiwan.

- Most of my shopping hauls with PomPom -

True that we doesn't have to bring many clothes (and shoes) to Taiwan, we could simply choose when we were there. :) Anyway, it is also depends on a person perception towards clothes they saw actually. I didn't try most of the dresses/ tops I have chosen (thought I could fit in in the first place) and it doesn't fit me well and I am selling off at Candy Love Closet. :D So, lesson learned - must try them on!

Well, that's all for Feng-Chia Night Market I have visited.

Have a nice day until my next Taiwan entry for readers who are interested in Taiwan! ;)

View Feng Jia Night Market (Point I) with larger view

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Taiwan : TaiChung - Feng Jia in 12 Hours! 【台湾游】 台中之逢甲的十二小时！

Part 2 of Feng Jia, TaiChung!

In previous post, we had a "nice" experience with our brunch at 野澤三 "Ye Ze San" before we explored further about Feng Jia. 

Being the largest and happening destination of TaiChung, we will see and found so much of foods, cheap goodies, cheap fashionable items and whatever you might found interesting to bring home and as in, SO MUCH MONEY to buy ALL the nice tempting goodies!

I would like to describe Taiwan as "Shopping Heaven" in short, suitable for younger generation that favour shopping more.

- Adidas Outlet -

- Adidas Outlet -

FYI, we stayed at Feng Jia area, which we could find designers shoes hereby so much designs that Malaysia could hardy find. Nice to see and I bet the price does not cost cheap too. :S Limited edition some more!

- Arai Cha -

Compared with the beverage and prices with Cha Time of Malaysia (I never tried Gong Cha before), price are much cheaper in Taiwan. RM5.90 for a similar drink in Malaysia, only cost RM3.90 by Arai Cha of Taiwan and same applies to other Taiwan beverage stores/ stalls.

The drink I have shared with Meatball was refreshing with a kind of fruits that is good for digestion and cooling down the body heat.

- Bei Jing Barbeque -

So much food offered while we were happily exploring Taiwan, I found out that Taiwanese just love to eat food like fried, barbeque, noodles and less on rice a.k.a normal meal like us. May I say that they don't really have time for a normal meal, snacks of all kinds made them full (which it was true by referring to a local Taiwanese friend of Doggie's owner.)

- Local University - Feng Jia University -

I saw students walking pass by us at the stall where we were having breakfast on the second day before we leave to explore the tourist destinations! I'm loving Sun Moon Lake of Nan Dao, which I will talk more about it on the later posts.

- Buy all you CAN! -

- Shopping -

Ice Hippo's Owner said she love TaiChung more on their shopping which are much cheaper then Taipei. :P But I LOVE TAIPEI MORE! Oh... I still love the scenery of Taiwan. :)

- Street of Feng Jia -

It might look nothing special during the day, but the night... The whole place is CRAZY and flooded with human sea!!

So there's our after brunch with shopping and a little exploration of day time at Feng Jia before evening (the time we explored the night life), I bought few tops and accessories that I love! Quite happy though but I hate the weather.. It's summer and it was freaking warm when I visited there. :( Not cool at all~

We went back to the room that we have rented and had a short rest before we continue exploring the night life of Feng Jia, one kind of experience which not much of us could see!

- Welcome to Feng-Chia Night Market （逢甲观光夜市） -

Here I comes with a short teaser of my next post of Feng Jia.

- The well known Big Sausage cover Small Sausage （大肠包小肠）-

They love it, but I was not in love with it. -__- And yet, must try ALL FAMOUS LOCAL DELICACIES when we travel and act as if we are the locals too!! I like it feels.

After visiting Feng Jia Night Market.. My conclusion is, freaking awesome with varieties of foods (likes and dislikes), which I found them.... hmm... not much of us would love it. ;) So much of an oily food.

So okay, stop right there and...

Stay tuned for the next! ;)

Location : Feng Jia, TaiChung, Taiwan （台湾）
Photo credit : Most photos took from Carlos (Meatball's friend). :)

p/s : Join my Giveaway HERE, before 23rd December, 2011!

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Taiwan : Feng Jia, TaiChung - First Brunch in Taiwan at "Ye Ze San" 【台湾食】 台中之逢甲的野澤三

Part 1 of Feng Jia, Taichung, Taiwan.

After we had settled our do and don't, we left our luggages at the room provided, we waited for our Singaporean friends who came later than us (Malaysian) before we officially started our Feng Jia （逢甲）walkabout.

Singaporean friends reached, luggages in place, rooms okay and the first thing we do is to search for...

LOCAL FOOD! THE NOODLES/ SLURPY SOUP! =3

*Quite excited before *

- Day time at Feng Jia -

At a place like Feng Jia, it is well known for its night market which normally started during the evening. I was quite surprised when I saw less shops were opened during the day when we were searching for our brunch nearby.

Searching.... for food..... What to eat we were wondering...... Yea~ We found it and most of us were hungry since we have reached Taiwan!

- 野澤三 "Ye Ze San" -

You know what? I was cracking my head to think and searching for the middle Chinese word (the "Ze" and My Chinese a bit sucks in fact) until I've asked for friends to help me with it, luckily they knew the word. :) 

Any way, I could not agree more that Taiwan is 90% and almost 99% are presented all in Chinese words which I have to ask Meatball to help me with "How to read that? How to read this?" and non the less, there's less direct translation or PinYin translation to a more understandable version.

Oh well, there's a noodle shop that caught our eyes and we have went in and have a seat.

- Menu with varieties of selection -

By looking at the menu, I knew how's that felt when a person do not know Chinese language. I do have friends who experienced such and he/ she need a TRANSLATOR to the RESCUE!! :D

Chicken Chop, Pork Chop, Beef Chop served with rice or noodles, Cheese Toasts and other appetizers for selection too.

I was interested in trying Soup and I had a bowl of Beef Noodle Soup which was... Hmm :S "Interesting Enough".

- Century Egg with Tofu -

Interesting appetizer with Century Egg, Cold Tofu and additional of special sauce. Nice Taiwanese appetizer to try with for the first time. Personally, I tried Cold Yellow Tofu with Black Soy Sauce prepared by my uncle, maybe you could prepare it too! Its EASY!

- Pan Fried Beef Noodle -

From the way they have presented, I think they taste nice too! My sister's friend said it taste quite Okay and it is acceptable by us, Malaysian.

- Beef Noodle Soup -

The bowl of noodle I had during my brunch which I couldn't forget. -____- It was extraordinary which I had this kind of cooking for the first time in my life. Beef Noodle with Bamboo Shoot (Its Bamboo Shoots season during that period of time) and it makes the whole soup smells odd and taste odd too! I can't finish my bowl of noodle and Eww~ Unacceptable type of cooking for me.

FYI, for those who were having their period, please do not eat Bamboo Shoot at the period of time. DEFINITELY YOU WILL REGRET!! As for me, I was in that condition during my trip, no wonder my period did not stop even until the 8th day of the trip and even I have returned to K.K. O_O And even pregnant women are not advisable to eat Bamboo Shoot in Chinese philosophy, because its too "Cold" to be consume and it might lead to miscarriage. :(

- Chicken Chop with Noodle Soup -

The usual Chicken Chop which was acceptable by us! As for the noodle.... Could you see the yellowish ingredient next to the large spoon? Its BAMBOO SHOOT again!! Odd smell and flavour as considered.

- 野澤三 "Ye Ze San" -

The main entrance of the restaurant we were having our brunch on the day we have arrived Taiwan. 

Finished our brunch and had a short walk with shopping in outlets nearby. Besides, we had a huge cup of drink with reasonable price (lower than similar outlets like Malaysia's Chatime and whatever) and it taste refreshing. :) No worry, desserts and beverages in Taiwan are amazing, just try whichever interest you much and you would love and never regret about it! =3

- Fashionable goodies with CHEAP PRICE! -

It was a good deal for young generation and stylish people now a days, no wonder I have friends who love to visit Taiwan frequently to purchase their stocks.

No matter how was the shopping I was having (purchased or not), I will look around and I found interesting stuffs that I have came across at Feng Jia...

- "勿丢垃圾， 再丢就翻脸" -

Direct translation of the word directed to the most left with red wordings on the card board - 

"Do not throw rubbish, if throw again, I will be pissed"

Do you dare to throw rubbish to his/ her stall? LOLZ :D

That's complete for my Part 2 of Taiwan trip post. :)

Till then!

Location : Taichung, Taiwan （台中, 台湾）

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