After 4 months of endless waiting for my super duper long holiday, its finally here.. In fact, its over already.. Feeling super sian, (but i guess its normal after a long break) cause need to go back to reality in less than 18 hours..
It's a 8d7n trip, had been planning the itinerary ever since we booked the ticket in december.. Covered almost everything in Taipei.. Went to the 2 hotspring area, had a 1 day tour along the northeast coast, went back to Danshui, bought alot of lashes (considered the tu-chan in taiwan these days), went around looking for good food etc etc...
Wont be able to cover everything in 1 post, will break it up into a few just like the pics I posted on FB..
Day 1: Changi Airport, Ximending, Wufenpu & Raohe NM
Our flight is @ 705am, the earliest flight I had ever taken.. This also means I will need to wake up at 4am in the morning.. Slp for 2 hours & had to rush to the airport.. As usual, we had BK for brekkie before entering the boarding gate.. The flight was quite empty..
After 4.5 hours of sitting in the cabin, we finally arrived in Taoyuan International Airport.. Feeling really excited but abit sian cause the weather isnt as cooling as I thought it would be..
We took Freego (bought the return ticket) to Chengdu hotel, which is where the homestay owner asked us to alight at..
After we alighted outside the hotel, we were abit lost.. Had to walk and asked quite a few shop attendant before we were able to find our homestay.. All along I thought the place is in Taipei Main Station, never had I thought its so near Ximending..
When we found the place, we had to call the owner cause we did not know which floor to go to.. Manage to find the place but the room was not ready yet, left our luggage and we went out to look for food..
Had a hard time trying to find Ximending, my direction sense was really bad.. :P Havent felt so lost in my life before.. haha..
Got to the main area of Ximending and asked around for the famous Ice shop.. It's just next to the exit of the station.. Queue was really long.. Totally had no idea of what I am ordering..
Starfruit Ice
Personally, I prefer the pineapple flavour Vs the Starfruit one.. The starfruit one is too salty.. After that, we walk along the main road of Wu Chang Street towards Taipei Main Station, trying to look for the 清真黄牛肉面.. Din manage to find that but I chanced about the 东东牛肉面 I used to go with Billy and Cheng when we went to Taipei 3 years back.. What a pleasant encounter.. hehe..
卤肉饭
After lunch, we walk around the area before walking back to the hotel.. There are alot of shops with very cool stuffs around there.. Was trying to look for the 7-11 where I sent my order of 牛尔 from payeasy to but I could not find it.. In the end, we got lost in Ximending.. haha.. Had a hard time trying to find our way back to Taipeiyork..
Our room was ready by then and I was really happy cause the room looks exactly like how it looks like in the picture over the internet.. My frenz keeps telling me not to have high expectation of the homestay or hotel in taipei cause they usually dun tally with the pictures you saw on the net..
Our Greece-inspired theme room..
Looks great, isnt it??
We rested and washed up before moving off to Wufenpu and Raohe NM for the day.. Walked to Ximending area to experience the vibrancy of Taipei.. (Well, at that point of time, its the only way I know how to get to the station from our hotel.. haha )
Took us about 20 min before reaching Hou Shan Pi station where Wufenpu is..
On the train..
Weather was getting cooler.. Had a short shopping spree at Wufenpu.. The clothes there are getting more and more expensive.. Totally unlike the experience I had when I was here 3 years back with Lishan.. The effect of higher cost of living.. Damn sadded.. Rested at the food street of Wufenpu to enjoy the cool weather before moving off to Raohe NM..
We totally din know where Raohe is.. Just know that we had to cross over to the other side of the train station nearby.. But the train station has moved.. Luckily, a auntie showed us the way.. It's about 5-10 min walk away from Wufenpu..
Look at the crowd behind us!!
We joined in the fun to queue for the famous Hu Jiao Bing.. Need to queue at least 10 min if you go at the peak hour..
Finally we are the first in queue.. Was looking forward to how it taste cause it is recommended in almost all the travel guide & blog.. But i think its a personal taste thingy, I dun deny that the meat is really succulent and the fillings is huge, but I dun like the skin.. Dun really think its worth the queue.. (personal opinion)
We had difficulty walking through the night market cause its super crowded.. We were looking for the next must eat at Raohe, herbal Bak Kut soup...
Herbal Lamb
Herbal Bak Kut
The stall where we had it.. Benny likes it alot but I find it abit bland as compared to the Bak Kut we usually eat..
Continued walking along the night market, looking for interesting things and food.. Dear got abit tired..He wasnt feeling too well too, probably due to the lack of slp..
We were walking when we chanced upon this..
Yes, 1 plate for NT 100..
This is so so good..
We were glad that we sat down and had this.. It's the best oyster I had ever had and make us coming back for it the 2nd time during our week in Taipei.. hehe.. The oysters were really fresh and it wasnt overcooked.. I must mentioned the wasabi sauce provided by the stall.. OMG, its heavenly.. Yes, its a wasabi sauce, not those solid ones we usually had..
We thought we were done for the night but.......... Dear manage to find this 100 yr shop selling Orh Ah Mee Sua... It's called Dongfa.. Another must eat at Raohe, I was trying to look for it earlier on but gave up.. It's right beside a small temple, if you din look close enough you will miss it..
It's not those gluey type of Mee Sua like Ah Zhong, but its comparable.. The soup is really refreshing and tasty.. And the chilli sauce, pls do not be deceived by it.. OMG, its super spicy but shiok.. hehe..
Lastly, time for some desserts..
Can taste the soya bean and the syrup is not too sweet, in fact with the shaved ice, it felt really refreshing.. Best to top with both peanuts and Fen Yuan..
Was close to 11pm when we finished covering the whole Raohe NM.. The weather is superb, 23C.. We decided walked all the way from Raohe back to Houshanpi station to take the mrt back to Taipeiyork..
