Day 1 @ Taipei Taiwan

Day 1 (Saturday) Taoyuan > Taipei 

Taoyuan International Airport T1台灣桃園國際机场第一 – 7am Telco opens at T2/ 8am T1 – Ubus to Taipei – Nova Computer Centre – Mitsukoshi – Taipei National Museum –  Check in Tomorrow Hotel (3pm)  –  Lunch @ Taipei 101 Din Tai Fung – National Palace Museum 國立故宮博物院 – Shihlin Night Market 士林夜市 – Xi Men Ding

Things to Do:

1. Get a prepaid card at Terminal 2 Departure Hall (ChungHwa Telecom 5days NTD300/ 10days NTD500 – Unlimited data & NTD 150 airtime)

For more info:

https://123.cht.com.tw/webecss/PrePaidCard/Introenus.aspx

http://english.taiwanmobile.com/english/product/3GPrepaidCard.html

2. Get EasyCard (悠遊卡) from 7-ELEVEN store. Buy breakfast Oden (关东煮) too.

Also available at convenient stalls (FamilyMart, Hi-Life and OK) or at all Taipei Metro Station.

Adult and Student card cost NT$500. They consist of a NT$400 disposable amount and a NT$100 deposit.

3. Apply for Youth Travel Card at the tourism passenger service centers or any of the NYC Youth Hub nationwide to enjoy Youth Travel Special Discount/ currently only available at MRT stations.

4. Check out the free half-day tour for transiting and transferring passengers available at TaoYuan Airport.

My first time to Taiwan ^.^ Yippie

At TaoYuan Internation Airport

Option 1

Taoyuan International Airport-Ubus 1819-Taipei Main Station (1hour 20min)

Buy tickets at UBUS service counters at Arrivals Lobby of Terminals 1 and 2 NTD 125.

Option 2

Taoyuan International Airport-U705 (20min)-HSR Taipei (east exit)-MRT Taipei Station (35min)

Damage: NTD 30 + NTD 175

Option 3

By cab (35-45min)

Damage: NTD 900-1200

More info 1

http://taoyuan-airport.com/english/Publish.jsp?cnid=100150

NOVA Computer Center

NOVA資訊廣場站前店

台北市中正區黎明里 館前路2

N0. of shops : 120

Location: No.2 Guancian Road (next to Misukoshi department store)

Nearest Mrt: Taipei Main Station

Opening hours: Monday~Friday：11:00~22:00

Saturday 10:30~22:30

Sunday 10:30~21:30

Xinyi District Shopping

Mrt      : Taipei City Hall Station > Exit 3

Address: Shin Kong Mitsukoshi A4 A8 A9 A11 Taipei Eslite

Taipei 101

MRT: Take Xinyi Line (Red) to Taipei 101/ WTC > Exit 4 (directly below Taipei 101)

OR Take Nangang Line (Blue) to Taipei City Hall Station 市政府站 Exit 2

Bus: Take free shuttle bus (depart every 15 mins) or 15 mins walk

Location: 7 Xinyi Road, Section 5, Xinyi District

Ticket: NTD500 to Observatory 觀景台

Opening hours: 09:00-22:00 daily;  last admission 21:15)

Lunch @ Din Tai Fung

Their prawn fried rice - fresh and nice

Boy cannot take prawns so egg fried rice for him - no complaints

No idea but it was good

National Palace Museum国立故宮博物院

Mrt     : Take Dansuei Line (Red) to Shilin Station 士林站 > Exit 1 > take bus Red 30

Buses  : Red 30, 304, 255, Little/Minibus 18 or Little/Minibus 19

Address : 221 Zhishan Road Sec. 2

Open : 9am – 5pm daily

Extended hours : 5pm – 8.30pm every Sat (free admission)

Tickets  : NT 160 for adults, NT 80 for Youth Travel Discount

To look out for:

The museum’s most treasured objects         – D’Art- Jadeite Cabbage

                                                                      – Meat Shaped Jasper

Full moon view outside Palace

He said I no skills take picture ):

I love the lighting though...

It was a cloudy night, fortunately it didn't rain

Even while waiting for food, I got the drinks ready (:

Tam Chiak me always search for food

Shi Lin Night Market士林夜市

Mrt : Take Dansuei Line (Red) to Jian Tan Station劍潭站  > Exit 2 > walk 5 min

Address : Around Wenlin Road文林路and Dadong Road大東路

Open : 4pm to midnight daily

Pros: Shopping heaven for both gender

I don't know what is fantastic with the chicken but it doesn't taste good for me'

They say it taste better

But indeed it tasted fantastic

Fried milk - I like it (: Soft like cotton

Beef grilled with garlic - talking bout garlic yumyum

Look at that size o.O

All their drinks at 7 Eleven are very cute

Itinerary for my 9Days 9Nights Taiwan Trip

Day 1 (Saturday) Taoyuan > Taipei 

Taoyuan International Airport T1台灣桃園國際机场第一 – 7am Telco opens at T2/ 8am T1 – Ubus to Taipei – Nova Computer Centre – Mitsukoshi – Taipei National Museum –  Check in Tomorrow Hotel (3pm)  –  Lunch @ Taipei 101 Din Tai Fung – National Palace Museum 國立故宮博物院 – Shihlin Night Market 士林夜市 – Xi Men Ding

Day 2 (Sunday) Taipei 

Breakfast @ Taipei 101 Starbucks – Check out Tomorrow Hotel – Ximen Station – Check in Jogging Bear Ming Su – Taipei Love Sculpture – Taipei 101 (89/90 floor) > lunch – Xin Yi AnHe Station 信義安和站 – Cangai – Dinner > Déjà vu Restaurant – Raohe Night Market 饒河街觀光夜市 – Wu Fen Pu 五分埔商圈  – Rainbow Bridge 

Day 3 (Monday) Taipei + New Taipei City

Breakfast > McD – Ximen Station – Xin Yi AnHe Station 信義安和站 – Cangai – Photoshooting – Dinner > Xi Men Hot Pot

Day 4 (Tuesday) Taipei 

Breakfast @ YongHe Dou Jiang – Miramar Ferris Wheel 美麗華百樂園 – Shopping @ Carrefour – MaoKong Cable Car – Lunch > Tea House @ MaoKong – Dinner > Risotto @ Xi Men Ding – Supper > Ah Zhong Mee Sua

                       

Day 5 (Wednesday) Taipei 

Xi Men Ding Cheese Steak House – XinYi AnHe Station 信義安和站 – Cangai – Early dinner – Back to Jogging Bear –***4pm send babe to Airport – ShiDa Night Market – FE 21 – Xi Men Red House – Daiso

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Day 6 (Thursday) Taipei > Hualien 

Xi Men Ding Breakfast – Check out Jogging Bear –Taipei Main Station – Hualien Station – Check in Pandora Hope Castle BnB – East Coast Park – Tour @ Golden Triangle on foot – Rainbow Night Market

Day 7 (Friday) Hualien

Bus Tour Day – Cingshuei Cliff – Buluowan – Chang Chun Bridge – Eternal Spring Shrine – Tienhsiang – Ci Sing Tan – Golden Triangle – Zhi Chiang Night Market

Day 8 (Saturday) Hualien > Taipei

Check out Pandora Hope Castle BnB – Hualien Train Station – Taipei Main Station –Check in Space Inn – Xinyi District Shopping – Danshuei – Cangai – Taipei 101 for souvenir – Shilin Night Market

Day 9 Taipei (Sunday) > Taoyuan

Check out Space Inn – Taipei Main Station - Taipei West Bus Station Terminal A – Kuo Kuang Bus 

Places I stayed in Taiwan

Taipei - Xi Men Ding (Exit 6/Exit 1)

1) Tomorrow Hotel 明日大飯店 (~SGD 85/night during peak season)

     I booked this room via Agoda.com

Personally like this hotel cause it's easy to spot and very very near to XMD MRT. As you can see in the picture above, it was taken from the mrt exit 6 and immediately you can spot the red banner with the word 明日 Hotel. Yes! That is the one I stayed. 

Very clean bathroom and it is brightly lit. Very thoughtful hotel to provide us with sanitary towel. The room was very clean too (till I forgot to take picture). You may refer to their website to get a clearer picture of their rooms.

Although there are a lot of negative review on this hotel but I feel that this hotel isn't as bad as reviewed. They do provide breakfast, but I used those coupon to buy drinks from 7 Eleven instead within the same day the coupon were issued. We headed to nearby local shop to have our breakfast instead and it was the right choice.

2) Jogging Bear Ming Su 慢跑熊 (~ SGD 76/night)

    I booked this ming su via direct email to the owner Norman - yengun88@gmail.com. He is                   attentive and very careful and he can communicate in English which makes our transaction an           easy one.

It's in Xi Men Ding therefore it is very convenient getting around the city. It's about 3 minutes walk from XMD MRT exit 6. I was quite worry reading some reviews online stating that someone saw some spirit in their room and stated that that room itself has no window. So I frantically requested the owner to give me a room which has windows. In the end I didn't see any paranormal activity although I stayed alone on my last day. Guess those are just rumours. There is nothing to worry about.

 The shower tub

Guesthouse is stuck in between shops, they have a lift to bring you up to your room level (mine was 5th floor), using a Tap Card system tagged with ur room keys. It was quite safe though. I booked Greek Romance room (navy theme- blue and white). They have various theme room to suit your needs. 

The room has a queen-size bed, air conditioned, LCD TV, mini fridge, and en suite bathroom with tub. You may ask for wifi password during check-in. 

Hualien (in the middle of city)

3. Pandora Hope Castle (~ SGD 70/night)

    I booked this ming su via Agoda.com. The owner was very prompt in action. He rode to the ming        su to meet me upon arrival and hand me a handful of maps and useful coupons.

It is situated within a 10-minute walk of Hualien Bus Station. However my taxi driver hardly find its location as it's located at the back of some small alley. It can be quite dark when you come back at night. I was alone so I kinda freaked out a bit. 

 This is the shared kitchen

 Some of the deco

This is the spacious living room

The room I got is on the second floor. It has a flat-screen cable TV, a dressing table and a small romantic tea corner. Free toiletries are provided in the en suite bathrooms. It has castle theme so I felt like a princess staying in a big castle. FYI, I don't see other tenant on my first night there. The entire bungalow is empty o.O

From this ming su, I managed to walk to the Golden Triangle of Hualien and also walked to Zhi Qiang Night Market which is about 30minutes away. Getting around in Hualien can be quite difficult as you can hardly flag down a cab by the road side. You have to call the cab beforehand. So I decided to explore Hualien on foot.

Taipei - Main Station

4. Space Inn Hostel 太空艙 (~ SGD 40/night)

    I booked this via Agoda.com for the ladies dorm of 4 people but they gave me a 8 people dorm ):

The entrance to the hostel

This hostel was very unique and I kinda love the concept of living in the space. Located right next to the Ximen Station and within walking distance of Taipei Station; it is very central, almost every facility is brand new and shining clean. 

My room was in F12

Unfortunately I got the top bed and the top locker which means I had to carry my luggage up to the top. Imagine me and my 20kg luggage.. phew

The staffs were very friendly and helpful and they were in special uniform which amazed me. They're pretty good at speaking English. The place is clean, modern but on the inside it's rather confusing. I couldn't find the washroom. 

The bathrooms without lock ): scary

It is very secured as you have to tap your card to open any doors. I went thru 3 doors before reaching my bed. Beds are equipped with two lights, and privacy curtains that are thick enough to not let too much light through. There are electronic lockers inside the room for every bed, big enough to store a big luggage or even a carry on luggage/backpack. Very spaceship like.

This is my first time staying at hostel (: and it was fun indeed

There are disadvantages staying there - no towel provided, you have to rent towel from the counter; no locker in the shower room and the changing area is rather small. Enough to fit 10 people though; and there is no lock in the shower room (which makes me feel nervous).

Summary of Taiwan Itinearary December 2014

Day 1 (Sat) Taoyuan > Taipei

Taoyuan International Airport T1台灣桃園國際机场第一  – 7am Telco opens at T2/ 8am T1 – Ubus to Taipei – Nova Computer Centre – Taipei National Museum – Check in Tomorrow Hotel (3pm) – Taipei 101 – Dinner > Din Tai Fung @ Taipei 101 – Taipei Love Sculpture > Mirada – National Palace Museum 國立故宮博物院 – Shihlin Night Market 士林夜市 – Xi Men Ding

Day 2 (Sun) Taipei

Breakfast > Starbucks @ Taipei 101 – Check out Tomorrow Hotel – Check in Jogging Bear Ming Su –Taipei 101 > observatory level 89-91 – XinYi AnHe Station信義安和站 – Dinner > Déjà vu Restaurant – Wu Fen Pu 五分埔商圈 + Raohe Street Night Market饒河街觀光夜市 > supper – Rainbow Bridge – Xi Men Ding

Day 3 (Mon) Taipei

Breakfast > Xi Men Ding McD – Ximen Station – XinYi AnHe Station信義安和站 – Photoshooting – Supper > Xi Men Ding Hotpot 

Day 4 (Tues) Taipei

Breakfast > Xi MenDing –  Miramar Ferris Wheel – Carrefour – MaoKong – Xi Men Ding

                       

Day 5 (Wed) Taipei

Breakfast > Xi Men Ding – Movie Time @ Xi Men Ding – Lunch > CheeseSteak @ Xi Men Ding – XinYi AnHe Station信義安和站 – Back to Jogging Bear – 4pm send babe to Airport J – Red House – Taipower Building Station 台电大楼站 – Shida Night Market – FE 21 – Xi Men Ding

Day 6 (Thursday) Taipei > Hualien

Check out Jogging Bear – Taipei Main Station – Hualien Station – Check in Pandora Hope Castle BnB – East Coast Park – Golden Triangle shop and eat – Rainbow Night Market

Day 7 (Friday) Hualien

One Day Tour with Merry Tour – Cingshuei Cliff 清水断崖 – Buluowan – Chang Chun Bridge – Eternal Spring Shrine 長春祠 – Tienhsiang 天祥 – Cising Lake 七星潭 – Golden Triangle – Zhi Chiang Night Market

Day 8 (Sat) Hualien > Taipei

Check out Pandora Hope Castle BnB – Hualien Train Station – Taipei Main Station – Check in Space Inn – Danshui Fisherman’s Wharf 淡水漁人碼頭 – Taipei 101 – Shilin Night Market

Day 9 Taipei (Sunday) > Taoyuan

Breakfast > Taipei Main Station – Xinyi District Shopping/Eslite – Taipei West Bus Station Terminal A – Kuo Kuang Bus – Taoyuan Airport Terminal 1 – Home Sweet Home

Preparation to Taiwan In December

3 days left to fly

Taiwan this time, I choose you!

Plans were changed many many times 

Initially thought that we will be heading South

To Kaohsiung to Kenting

Then thought that I will go Yilan

In the end

I picked Taipei and Hualien

I intended to go North and East first

The next trip I will head West and South

I had a heavy heart whether to cancel the trip or not

I am kinda lazy to travel alone for 5days

Listen! It's 5 freaking long lonely days

As fated

I continued my planning to Hualien instead

As of what to bring there

Here's a list to refer to:

Prepared 1 jacket for 10 degree celcius weather
1 beanie (but I don't like to wear)

1 woolen scarf (hide my ugly face)
Few long sleeves shirts 
4 long johns/ thermal wear/ pants 
1 warm lined cargo pants to protect my feet
1 pair of woolen gloves
2-3 pairs of HEATTECH socks
1 pair of sport shoes (ignore the god damn winter boots-useless anyway)
Sufficient undergarments and toiletries

Thermal bottle + bottle of room temperature water (for mixing)
AND lotions/ face moisturizer / lip balm :D

Don't forget to bring Poncho and umbrella

It's super wet in December...
This trip I will be bringing my Sony A6000
Compared to last year's trip to Korea 
I used Sony Nex 7 (:
Let's see how good is the new model...

I guess that's all to prepare

Anyway the rate for TWD is getting worse from month to month

It ever went up to 23.68 then now it's 22.80

Too bad I didn't change my money early

Learnt my lesson but it's deemed too late

Update you after I come back (:

Stay tuned!

SnowyLui

Away on 6 - 14 December 2014