-Day 2 in Taipei-

We have went to shop around at Taipei Main Metro Station. It was known as Taipei Underground Mall where it has rows of shops, a very big underground mall selling all kind of stuffs; clothes, food and some necessities. As expected, it was crowded. That was the main station for people to change their trains and routes. Just like our KL Sentral but the Taipei Main Metro Station was way too confusing with so many floors and exits. We have spent almost an hour to study the maps and looked for an exit to our next destination. So it was very complicated and even more complicated for people like me who didn't study Chinese. Although we spoke the same language, mandarin but the Taiwanese' mandarin is a bit different from us. The using of the words and pronunciation are different. So my dear has to translate for me most of the time. Even the shop assistants feel annoyed for repeating her words...~


We came across this Taiwan Storyland on our way to other place so we paid a visit to their storyland museum. It was decorated with all those 1940's till 1970's stuffs with a story-telling board to let us understand the life or living style back in 40's to 70's. Quite interesting to look at those things especially for us as a Generation Y.


Miramar Shopping Mall. What's so special about this mall?? First, because of its Ferris Wheel. Second, it has appeared in one of the Taiwanese Idol Drama, "Huan Huan Ai" （换换爱)-cast by Rainie Yang and Mike He. That's why I am so insisted of visiting there and I really want to have a ride on that Ferris Wheel. Okay, I was so scared when the coach we are sitting was getting higher and higher. My legs went numb and I didn't dare to move at all. Only then I realized that I might have a minor acrophobia - fear of heights. But due to my stubbornness, I still want to testify it whether I am really fear of heights.

-Day 1 in Taipei-

(Attention: You can't simply crossed the roads in Taiwan as you'll get fined with that. Have to wait for the green light for pedestrians to cross or else ..... either get fined or being run down by the car...their traffic instructions are quite confusing so be safe, just cross the road when the traffic light turns green~!!!!)

By the time the airasia X flight landed in Taoyuan International Airport, it was past 3pm, include the luggage waiting time. It took approximately 40 minutes drive from airport to our guesthouse in Ximending.

I managed to catch a glimpse at the Taipei's view or building on the roadway to guesthouse, BabyHome. Almost the same like in Kuala Lumpur except that their apartments or condominiums or flats building structure are more "square", in more appropriate words to describe is they don't have triangle roofs. Very lame description~!!!

Anyway, on the day 1 in Taipei - we spent some time walking around in Ximending to familiarize the environment. It's like a warm up exercise or appetizer. I have mentioned in my previous blog but I am going to mention it here again. Ximending really crowded with handsome and pretty youngster whether be local people or tourists. They are all very trendy and like many people said, the gals are all with make up - a very heavy make up with all those layers of fake make up, blush, eye liner and etc but their skin is really good. You won't see any pimples or freckles on their face. They have a nice and fair skin too. So me without make up really did looked weird among them.




After that we were on our way to Shilin Night Market. Arh, I realized that Taiwanese like to have dogs as pet and they will brought along their pet when they are out. No matter where I go, for sure I will see the Taiwanese hugging or taking their dogs to shopping or to eatery place. But their dog breed belongs to the good quality and expensive one such as 'hush puppies', terrier, and whatsoever. (Not good in recognizing the dog breed~)

The Shilin Night Market is like our pasar malam as well. There are food and clothes. As usual, it was crowded. I can't hardly breathe due to the crowd and hot weather. I didn't managed to try all the local delicacies as most of their delicacies are fried and I can't consumed much fried food. But did managed to take one or two bites from him.





{A very big hotdog...but not really that nice because I think it contained more flour than hotdog ~)


(Still think that KL one is the best!!!)



(They have variety of fruits during summer and the fruits really taste nice but very very very expensive ~ For that two "cups" of fruits cost me NT300, means RM30++ !!!)

- BabyHome, Taipei-

'BabyHome' Guesthouse is the place where we are staying during our Taipei trip. My friend called it as 'Mingshu' (民宿）which the term was widely used in Taipei to describe a homestay. But I won't say BabyHome is a Mingshu as we didn't stayed in the same house with the owner.

It is more likely an apartment bought by the owner and then renovated for tourists. The design is simple yet modern style. It was highly recommended as the room really comfortable and clean. It have 32" LCD TV, sofa, washing machine, air-conditioner, wifi, fan, water heater, refrigerator, bed lining, a clean bed sheet, towels, hair dryer and etc. So it is more like a home. Much better than staying in hotel. [The owner didn't pay me for advertised his rooms - it was mainly because the room really worth to stay and recommended. I am just doing my part to introduce to people who are planning to travel to Taipei....as a choice to consider]




{The room is a bit messy because of us. hehehe ^.^}

They have offered different design themes of rooms at different location. For the one we are staying is located at Ximending - also known as a small tokyo where it was crowded with youngsters and selling the most trendy stuff there. During the weekends, you'll see some youngsters performing on the street - street artist. They are really good whether it be dancing, playing drum, singing or whatever. So it is a strategic location. The most important is it is near to the Ximen Mrt Station, a very convenience for you to travel around by MRT.

For more details or other rooms information, please visit to the owner's blog, http://www.wretch.cc/blog/b31billy2008. The one we are staying cost us NT2200 per night for four person. Additional person will be added another NT300. So our room is quite big if compared to others. There are two queen size beds for the room we rented. They have two person rooms too with a price around NT1350-1800, depends on the location.

@ Brief perspective oN my Trip tO TaipEi@

I am back home from my short trip to Taipei, Taiwan on 4 July 2010 until 7 July 2010. Honestly, I was damn exhausted with all those long hours of flights and heavy luggage. It really make me scared of taking long hours flight anymore....Phew~!! My whole body still felt sore now especially my legs ~ !!! I think I need a week to recover.....

My first impression on my first day landing in Taipei, the weather was scorching hot. I understand that it was summer there and being told that their summer is very very hot, even worse than Malaysia. But I didn't believe it. I thought I can stand Malaysia's hot weather already so what's the big deal about their summer. Should be the same what~ .... It proved me wrong. Once I stepped out of the Taoyuan International airport, blown by the strong wind, I already started sweating there. You might be thinking that since there was a strong wind supposed to be cool, right?? WRONG!! The wind also hot and humid and dusty too. Once I reached the guesthouse-'BabyHome' apartment in Ximending (http://www.wretch.cc/blog/b31billy2008)- a very clean and nice room, I immediately rushed to take the shower. I can't stand the sticky and sweating body. But it was pointless because once stepped out of the air-conditioner apartment, I am sweating profusely again and it was freaking hot~!!! Guess the temperature on my first day in Taipei?? It was 38 degree~!!! Yes, you didn't read wrong...it's really 38 degree, damn hot~ So I highly stressed that to go on their spring, autumn or winter season as long as it's not summer....

By the time I reached my guesthouse, it was evening already so we did a quick survey and walk around in Ximending area. It was big and crowded with youngsters and tourists. Handsome guy and pretty gal, all dressed up well and gals with all those make up and fake lashes. But still looks pretty.

We went to shop around at Shilin Night Market. I thought it might be something different but well, it was like our night market as well except that they had variety of foods and good quality of clothes selling.

There were few things I like about Taiwan. First, the service staff were extremely polite. Each time you walked into the store, the staff would greet you non-stop such as Welcome and Thank you. Second, their 7-11 stores were really fantastic with variety of instant foods and bread to choose from. Third, the Taiwanese youngsters really have a good sense of fashion. They are trendy with their own style and fashion sense. So you won't look awkward or weird if you dressed up to your own style and walked on the street. Because it was a fashion what...~ Fourth, their food really really taste good, I mean some food depends on where or what you eat suited your taste buds.

What I didn't like about Taiwan >>>>> First, it was difficult to buy drinks, I mean, they didn't have much mineral water on selling and it was expensive for a bottle of mineral water. Second, it was very difficult to find a trash bin on the roads or pathway. Third, you can't throw the toilet paper into the toilet bowl or should I say flushed the toilet paper. Fourth, their driving and roads instruction were very confusing.

On the second day, we went to shop at Taipei Metro Mall. It was located under the Taipei Main Railways Station. Trust me, it was huge as well and confusing. There were too many routes lines and floors. Fortunately, I got him to bring me around or else I might get lost in there. Then we went to visit the Taiwan Storyland. It was like a museum. Nothing much actually, just some old items and old decorations to show the old times back in 50's, 60's or 70's.

We had went to Danshui, which took about 30 minutes ride on the railways. It was very far away but due to its as one of the main attraction in Taipei, we decided to pay a visit there. Nothing much there too except seeing those scenic beach view and fisherman's wharf. The wind was extremely strong there as it was located just right to the beach. I was nearly blown away....no kidding, really so strong that I can't stand still. All the hairs were messed up and we all looked like in a shit mess~!! Then we also went to visit Taipei 101, one of the main attraction too. It was such a long walk from the station. Really want to kill him for asking me to walk this far away and there was actually a shuttle bus~!!! It was a waste for us to stop at Taipei 101 as we couldn't went up to 91 floors and to the observatory floor due to the strong wind. So they closed for the moment.

Lastly but not least, we went to Wu Feng Pu to do some quick shopping. The clothes were cheap if you bought more. You can asked for discount too if you bought more. They were actually doing wholesale business instead of individual purchase. So they would requested you to buy more. It was a long walk too and so many clothes to see. That's really confused me as well. I can't focus on what I want to buy and see. So I ended up didn't bought a lot, only two to three pieces of clothes there. After that, we dropped by Raohe Night Market which just located next to Wu Feng Pu. Since it was hot and humid and I was already sweating profusely, I didn't have much mood to walk in Raohe anymore. Just a quick scan through and stay in at the air-conditioner stores. The scorching hot weather really spoiled my mood for shopping.

By the end of the days, I was extremely tired and didn't left much energy to walk anymore. I just want to go back to the air-conditioner room and take a shower, watching my tv there. I was getting tanned and gain weight when back home. Sigh, I need to start on diet again ~!!!