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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Fun In Taiwan : Taipei - That's Taipei 101! 【台湾游玩记】 台北 - 台北101!

Taipei Part 10 (The End) - 台北101

The day before we left Taiwan.

No matter how packed our time was, everyone of us should visit Taipei 101, the landmark representing Taiwan.

We left the rest house around 9.00am, had a walk at Taipei Underground Market which is nearer to the subway while having our brunch and waited others to buy their goodies.

Few of us went for a drink at one of the interesting cafe at the Underground Market and what a coincidence that we walked in to this Panda Cafe. And we were still waiting for few of the girls who are shopaholics. (-_-)

- Panda House (熊猫馆) -

Very cute and interesting panda concept cafe for friends to chill with. The whole cafe details and things (for sale/ decorations) are PANDAS!

Time consuming and we were chasing the time to Taipei 101 after all of us gathering together!

- Taipei 101 -

Reached the nearest MRT station to Taipei 101 and we had a short walk before we arrived at the landmark skyscraper.

"Formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center, is a landmark skyscraper located in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan. The building ranked officially as the world's tallest from 2004 until the opening of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai in 2010." - Wikipedia

- Taipei 101 -

- Taipei 101 -

Meatball, Pom Pom, Bunny and IceHippo in action! As a remembrance before leaving Taiwan on the second day. :)

The street looks quiet but with all the decoration of the surrounding area, the place is quite trendy and beautifully groomed environment.

- Taipei 101 -

And WE ARRIVED at the main entrance of Taipei 101! Yippi! :)

It was an eye opener there, the architecture interior design is amazing, a little mix of Roman design as well. Me and meatball bought Tiffany & Co. bracelet as remembrance for our Taiwan trip, thought it was cheaper there but not really. But, it's okay. :) I'm happy with my purchase.

Shopping and walk about while we were there. We went up and looking forward to see Taiwan from the highest level but it was too crowded with people and they were mad long queue for all of us to wait. In the end we just leave that place and went for a walk and some shopping for souvenirs.

- Cartoonised Taipei 101 during the night -

- Macsot of Taipei 101 -

- Taipei 101 during the Day -

- Architecture Interior Design -

Very beautiful and some how this photo reminded me Times Square of Hong Kong. :) And the good news is I almost done with Taiwan trip entries and gonna start with Hong Kong and China post!

It was getting late and we left Taipei 101 in the evening for a rest back to the rest house and went out to experience the booming place of Zhong Shan! 星光三越 (Xin Guang San Yue) is a good place for all kinds of reasonable priced goodies! It was a waste if we didn't manage to walk there.

- Cold Stone -

If you ever come across with Cold Stone Ice Cream, remember to try them, definitely creamy as we seen from the packaging. :) Our Singaporean friends treated us for this huge bucket of ice cream as a "symbol" of thank you and friendship during the trip.

So, the next day comes and we are going back to our country. The happy moments always has it ends. 

- Bye Bye Taiwan -

Till we meet again. Hopefully next year! I wanna explore Taipei again and looking forward with it.

*A BIG SMILE* ;)

Location :
Panda Cafe : Taipei Underground Market
Taipei 101 : Sinyi District

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Food In Taiwan : Taipei - Dou Hua Zhuang (1965) The Long Lost Tau Fu Fa Recipe 【台湾美食记】 台北 - 古早味之豆花莊 （1965）

Taipei Part 9 - 豆花莊 (Dou Hua Zhuang)

Anyone who manage to visit Ning Xia Night Market is recommended to visit the famous bean curd dessert shop that has been around since 1965.

Something special about this dessert shop, the bean curd are soft and smooth to eat, the shaved ice are thin and are not icy. Varieties of choices for us to choose and it wasn't mixed with so many ingredients as Blackball or some other Taiwanese desserts chained outlets.

- Pearls Beancurd and Peanuts Beancurd -

I am not a Tau Fu Fa lover, but this one... yea... I like it very much. :)

- 豆花莊 (Dou Hua Zhuang) -

- Both the owner as the ambassador of their own dessert store -

The love story since 1965.

- Varieties of Choices -

- Peanuts beancurd -

The peanuts for the dessert were soft, unlike the ordinary one we had.

- TV Shows -

Interviews by TV shows in and across the country.

- 食尚玩家 -

The famous Taiwanese TV show that we can watch from our country as well!

 - 豆花莊 (Dou Hua Zhuang) -

Definitely a bowl of Tau Fu Fa with shaved ice is refreshing after the hot night market walk!

Location :
Ning Xia Road No. 49 (Ming Shen Xi Road 民生西路口)

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Taiwan : Taipei - NingXia Road Night Market & Da Dao Cheng Wharf【台湾游】 台北 - 宁夏观光夜市 与 大稻埕码头

Taipei Part 8 - 宁夏观光夜市 (Ning Xia Rd Night Market), 豆花莊 (Beancurd Shop) and 大稻埕码头 (Da Dao Cheng Wharf)

We were back to the hotel from XiMenDing （西门町）, and waited a local friend of Doggy's mom who was the person who brought us for the "night tour" via by foot from Zhong Shan MRT Station to Ning Xia Road Night Market and other places in Taipei.

- Ning Xia Rd Night Market (宁夏观光夜市) -

" Snacks are the main pursuit at the Ningxia Night Market. The area comprising blocks between Minsheng W. Road and Pingyang St. is a favorite of long-time Taipei residents, as it is home to shops offering old-time tastes. Among these are oyster omelets, shrimp omelets, grouper soup, satay beef, pig liver stew, Tainan rice cake, roe dressed in mayonnaise and Canton-style rice congee. The most outstanding feature of the Ningxia Night Market is that separate lanes for vehicles and pedestrians have been laid out, allowing visitors to enjoy top-quality service at the area’s shops and eateries. Ningxia Night Market has been the leader in the move among night markets to introduce large tables for diners. A reservation is your ticket to an unforgettable night tasting Taiwan’s traditional snacks. - Taiwan Food Culture. "

And we started our Ning Xia Night Market...

- Ning Xia Rd Night Market (宁夏观光夜市) -

The night market is known as one of the most favourable night market for the local Taiwanese, it is not as large as Shilin Night Market, Taipei nor Feng Jia Night Market, Taichung. In one glance, we can see varieties of businesses that run by the local hawkers, in fact, we can play games, sitting there and enjoy the night life of Taiwanese.

I believe every night market has it specialty and same as Ning Xia Night Market and I found out that I kind of like the snacks over there. :)

- Food Division at Ning Xia Rd Night Market (宁夏观光夜市) -

- Snacks - Moon Pan Cake -

- 豆花莊 (Beancurd Shop) -

Located at Ning Xia Road No. 49 (Ming Shen Xi Road 民生西路口). The beancurd store is the most recommended dessert shop at Ning Xia/ Taipei. Moreover, the shop were introduced by many TV shows before! Even Japanese Food Show as well!

After we visited Ningxia Night Market for dinner. We went for a short walk which became a lonnggg walk in the end, midnight in fact. The Taiwanese friend brought us the wrong way when we were walking back to our rest house.

The next few images will be the night scene of Taipei :-

- 波丽路 (Bolero) -

The oldest steak house in Taipei. Furthermore, we passed by (a few blocks away) the club for gangster as well! During the nigh, Taipei seems to be quiet while we were walking through the street. Well, experiencing the real life of local Taiwanese is another way for us as a tourist there.

- Dried Seafood Store -

- Walked at the old street and buildings of Taipei -

- 大稻埕码头 (Da Dao Cheng Wharf) -

We went to Da Dao Cheng Wraft for a walk and enjoy the night scene of the sea. From what I had understood, the main entrance of Da Dao Cheng Wharf will be close when the sea water level is too high and streaming towards the city.

- 大稻埕码头 (Da Dao Cheng Wharf) -

That's the view of Taipei from Da Dao Cheng Wharf, the purple neon light bridge is Dan Shui (淡水), another tourist destination that worth for a visit.

After the visit, we walked back to the rest house, despite of walking the wrong way and we took another 1 hour or more to walk, we were exhausted and had supper at our room before ending our day in Taipei!

Location :
Ning Xia Night Market - Ningxia Rd. (between Nanjing W. Rd. and Minsheng W. Rd), Datong District.

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Taiwan Eat : XiMenDing, Taipei - Dining at Modern Toilet【台湾食】 台北之西门町 - 便所主题餐厅

Taipei Part 7 - Xi Men Ding （西门町）- Modern Toilet (便所餐厅)

No wonder XiMenDing is a heaven for the youngsters, because of all kinds of interesting concept and themed restaurants and fashions that suits the lifestyle of current generation and no wonder it is also known as Taiwan's Shibuya. :)

And same goes to tourists like us, Ice Hippo proposed that she wanted to visit Modern Toilet in Xi Men Ding, we walked for a while and can't see any sign of the restaurant. In the end, we asked a sweet promoter for direction and yeap! We reached the restaurant!

- Modern Toilet (便所餐厅) -

Located few blocks away from the centre of XiMenDing, we passed by a tattoo street as well.

Meatball was giving that awkward face that she refused to eat those foods served with little toilet bowls and others. As for me, another time of awkward moment to eat with those utensils. Hmm....

FYI, toilet concept restaurant is not only can be found in Taiwan, but China, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur as well! My colleague told me that the one in China taste much better for it's ice blended.

- The Main Entrance -

- Cute corner for photography -

 And this is where many of us who visited the restaurant will take photos here. =D

 The restaurant is located upstairs.

- Adverts -

Indeed Modern Toilet have a lot of interesting things to take photos with. Anything that we can see in an actual washroom, we can see at the restaurant.

Hmm... Something that one of the Feng Shui Master said that it is bad Feng Shui to eat or drink with toilet bowls. Well... Anyway, I just felt neutral and awkward to be there, treat it as an eye opener for me perhaps.

So now, some pictures that we took at the restaurant!

- Bath tubs as table setting and toilet bowls as our seats -

 

- Some designs to spice up the bored bath tubs -

- Signature Ice Blended （香甜蜜桃）-

There was a "Swirled Shit" there, but the other side. (-_-) The wrong side to take photos. Do you know which swirled shit that I meant? Just like the one that we took photos which at the main entrance.

The ice blended tasted way too sweet with the sweetener and ice was roughly blended. We just finished the fruits and other ingredients.

- 冲绳黑糖红茶 @ NTD 100 and 玫瑰果粒茶 @ NTD 120 -

Toilet bowl and Men Bowl for drinks. Man... Both of the drinks taste SWEET!!! Too sweet for us.

- Cheese Sticks （Cheese 棒棒糖）@ NTD 120 -

I think this one was the most satisfied food we had. Just like the taste that we could imagine. CHEESY!

When we were there, we suppose to order one item (beverage or food) for per person that want to sit there, which some times I think it was a crap, because of the huge portion of ice blended and how are we suppose to finish it alone? =/

- Me and the Modern Toilet Sign -

A little bit of crazy pose to end our afternoon tea at our last station at XiMenDing.

We went for a walk at the shopping area and bump in to the promoter again and she asked us how was our meal at Modern Toilet. We wasn't satisfy with the food there and it doesn't worth to be there, frankly speaking we responded to her.

And guess what she told us? The food they served at Modern Toilet was being microwaved (most of it) before serving. And there goes our troll face to her. (lol) Oh well, at least we have been there.

We were rushing back to our rest house to meet with Doggy's Taiwanese friend to explore the local life in Taipei! In fact, it was another side of Taiwan that we have experienced. :)

Bye XiMenDing. :) Till we meet again some day.

Website : Modern Toilet

Location :
2F, No 7, Lane 50, Xi-Ning South Road, Taipei Taiwan

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Taiwan : XiMenDing, Taipei - 'Condoms' Treats by SOPHiSCA【台湾食】 台北之西门町

Taipei Part 6 - XiMenDing （西门町） - Sophisca 

My friend gave me one condom chocolate as a souvenir from his/ her Taiwan trip before I visited there. 

In fact, I found it does have interesting outlook but frankly speaking, it seems doesn't taste good for me.

During my walk at XiMenDing, Doggy's owner keeps searching for Sophisca and finally we found it, had a walk at the store but I didn't buy any. Some of us bought quite a number, and few of us bought nothing from there.

So now, here's what we can see at Sophisca!

- Delicious Condoms Treats -

- Delicious : Chocolates and Strawberries flavoured Condoms -

- The Condoms -

- Sophie -

- Chocolates comes in various design -

Those belongs to my sister's friends.

- Sophisca, XiMenDing -

While waiting for them, three of us photo shooting outside the outlet.

- Part of their "winning items" -

Various treats that comes with different kind of style and design. (-_-")

This is awkward sometimes, or maybe we should amazed with people who came up wit the ideas for selling goods. (lol)

Once or twice I will eat it, but I will still stick with the old style chocolate bars.

If you ever try their chocolates/ sweets, do share your view. ;)

Location :
Xi Men Ding

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Taiwan Eats : Taipei - Best Hotpot in XiMenDing 【台湾食】 台北之西门町 - 马辣鸳鸯火锅专卖

Taipei Part 5 - XiMenDing （西门町） - 马辣鸳鸯火锅专卖

There's a myth that ALL YOU CAN EAT hotpot is a must try in Taiwan!!

And I tried it while visiting to XiMenDing last year. :) I saw one of the Taiwanese artist there as well, I can't remember the boys group name but I do remember he was one of the twin brother in that group.

In fact, I enjoyed myself having steamboat any where I am.

- 马辣鸳鸯火锅专卖 (西门店) -

We had a short walk and reach the "Ma La Yuan Yang Huo Guo", it was really crowded there and each table will only be allow to finish within 2 or 3 hours, in short THERE'S TIME LIMIT to finish all we can!

And the below were our FOOD! Expensive beef and extraordinary soup essence for us.

 

- Collagen Soup Mix and I can't remember -

Collagen for beauty seeker. :) No worry of weird taste.

- Seafood -

I saw the staffs there pouring packets and packets of ingredients and add in to the open fridge behind.

- Favourite meat that everyone love -

Beef, lamb and pork! All sorts of funny name.

- Desserts -

Varieties of refreshing desserts and fruits for guests like us.

- Part of the various selection for us -

- Ready to eat -

- Imported Ice Creams -

We ate quite a lot there and everyone were happy with it! Worth for the price but I forgot how much it cost. Various selection that we can't finish all of them at the same time. No wonder the Taiwanese hotpot are everyone favourite there and it is one of the recommended to do!

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Location :
No. 62, Xiníng South Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

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