Day 1 - 7 Feb 09 Saturday

We booked SQ flights to Taipei because they got promotion!

$1198 for 2pax which was cheaper than Jetstar's $1226.

Flight at 1225.















At Terminal 3 waiting for departure

Look at some butterflies while waiting for the flight

We reached Taipei at 5pm plus and wanted to take the Freego bus direct to our hotel but the next bus is at 1830, so we took Guo Guang bus to Taipei Main Station instead, and then a cab to Ximending which costs NT95

The cab did not drop us at our Hotel (Rainbow) but at Ximen MRT instead. Then we had to ask around how to walk to Rainbow, and lug our luggage through the busy streets of Ximending to reach Rainbow.

Rainbow Chang Hong Da Fan Dian

After settling down in the hotel, head straight out again to try to famous Ah Zong Mian Xian! Took a while to find it but found it in the end.

Directions: As you walk towards Rainbow Hotel from Ximen MRT, you will need to turn right at a junction to find it. The signboard is white

Famous Ah Zong Mian Xian

Verdict: Very good stuff. It is different from the Oyster Mee Sua then we have here in SG. There is totally no Oyster at all. It is so good that we had it for a few more times during our stay!!

Then we went to the MRT to buy the EasyCard, which is the equivalent of our EZ-Link card in SG. Cost NT500 with NT100 as deposit and NT400 to use as fare. Dun worry about getting lost in the MRT, there are big signs everywhere.

Next we took MRT to Taipower Station to go to Shida Night Market.

Orr Ar Jian

Gua Bao

Hao Da Da Ji Pai! They had a branch at Shida Night Market! Apparently, they are a franchise

Hei Tang Man Tou. Bought this at one of the mantou shop when going back.

It was already quite late when left Shida. We went back to Ximending and the shops were closing already. Walked around for a while before heading back to hotel.

Thats the end of Day 1!

Day 2 - 8 Feb 2009 Sunday

We started off early in Day 2. Did not eat the hotel breakfast.

Went to walk around the area to find some breakfast to eat but cannot find anything! So in the end settled for some Shui Jian Bao and Dou Jiang at some roadside stalls.



Some shots of empty Ximending in the early morning.

Next we proceed via MRT to visit Chiang Kai Shek Memorial hall - Zhong Zhen Ji Nian Guan. It was a grand place.

The National Theatre

The Gate

The actual CKS Memorial Hall

Inside...so big.


Managed to catch the changing of guards

After that, headed off to Dr. Sun Yat Sun Memorial Hall - Guo Fu Ji Nian Guan. Easily accessible by MRT


Dr Sun Yat Sun

Next, we decide to walk to Taipei 101 since it is very near. We can see it in the distance!

Thats the famous Taipei 101 Tallest Building in the world

Whats a merlion doing here??

Went to eat at the Taipei 101 food court at the basement and its really crowded!! But lucky us managed to find seats after almost giving up.

Seafood Noodle Hai Xian Mian
Set Meal. Lor Bak Png. Pork Cutlet and Gong Wan Tang

We paid to go up to the observatory. There's 3 parts to it. Indoor, Outdoor, and an area to show you the Damper. It was quite nice to see the scenery but the weather was quite poor that day so did not managed to see far out.

Taking the lift.. the fastest lift in the world


Some shots of Taipei City

The Damper Baby. Mascot of 101

Outdoor observatory. looking up at the tower

Next went to visit the shops around the 101 area. Namely ShinKong Mitsukoshi: Xin Guang San Yue, New York New York. Tried to find Waner Village but cannot find, instead found Viewshow. Think warner village is no more.

In my opinion, these malls are exactly the same as malls everywhere. so visit once enough liao, esp Xin Guang San Yue.

New York New York

Saw many people queueing for this, so decided to try. Ireland's potato. Gourmet fires with sauce. Normal.

Next, we took MRT to Houshanpi Station to go to the Wufenpu district. Just follow the road signs when you come out of the MRT to reach there. Wow, it is very big and many shops there. After buying some stuff, we walked to SongShan train station to go to Raohe Night Market

Raohe Night Market

Pepper Biscuit - Hu Jiao Bing


Saw many people eating this so decide to try. Taiwan version of Ba Kut Teh

Mango Ice Mang Guo Bing. The mango is hard and frozen one. In our opinion, Ice Monster at Plaza Singapura serves fresher and better Mang Guo Bing.

Leaving Raohe, look at the many lanterns

We went back to ShongShan train station to take a Ji Qiang Train back to Taipei Station and then change MRT to Ximen

On the train back to Taipei

End of Day 2!

Day 3 - 9 Feb 2009 Monday

Day 3 is a Hotspring day. We took the MRT to Xinbeitou Station to visit one of the Hotspring. We found one SpringCity Resort on the net and decided to visit there. Decided against walking up because it is too far so we waited for the shuttle bus instead.

XinBeitou MRT. Need to change train at Beitou MRT

Wait for the shuttle bus here. When you exit the station, you must turn around and walk back to find it.

The hotspring costs NT600 per pax per hr. So 1 hr for 2pax is a staggering NT1200. This is because we opted for private bath. If you dun mind public baths, there are much cheaper alternatives all along the beitou hotspring area.

Our private hotsrping bath!

After our bath, we wanted to take the shuttle bus back but it is fully registered already, and the next one is still quite long away, so the counter staff called a cab for us. Surprisingly, there's no extra charge to call cab. We asked the cab to bring us to Tianmu shopping district which is near Shipai MRT.

In our opinion, do not waste your time to come here to shop. There is seriously nothing. Even the cab driver said that this area has died down. Come here only for the PS Bu bu. The car-themed restaurant where we had our lunch.

we ordered set meals

PS Bu Bu
The Entrance



Some interior shots of the restuarants

Pumpkin Soup: Nangua Tang

Fresh Vege Salad

Buffalo Wings

Grilled Sirloin Steak (6 Fen Shu)

Chicken Pasta

Warm Banana Cake

Cheese Cake

This is the toilet

Verdict: Not a bad place, nice atmosphere, nice food, but it is quite pricey. 2 set meals costs about NT1100. Still cheaper than similar themed restaurants in SG though.

After our lunch, we spent some time in the tianmu district which has nothing. Then we tried to take a bus back to Shipai MRT but took wrong bus and ended up at Shilin MRT instead. Haha.

Next we took MRT to Danshui. A very nice place!

Look at this scenery, just like a painting

Long Ice cream
Potato chips on a stick!

Shops along danshui

Setting sun...beautiful!

Had fishball soup at one of the many fishball shops in danshui

We decide not to go to Yu Ran Ma Tou because it is still bright and the bridge would not light up. Thus, we took MRT to Jiantan to go to Miramar Entertainment to sit the Ferris Wheel.

Directions: Just take shuttle bus to Miramar from Jiantan Station. The bus stop is just outside the station, you can see the sign at one of the many bus stop poles.

Ferris wheel!

After the ferris wheel, we went to the famous Shilin Night Market just beside Jiantan MRT. But somehow it is a quite disappointing place! This night market is just like a food court with rows of food stalls. I think the original Shilin is not like that right?

Da Chang Bao Xiao Chang. By far the suckiest taiwanese food I ever ate. And the only food I truly dislike! it is just glutinous rice wrap one xiang chang. the glutinous rice got those ba chang type of flavouring and when eaten with the xiang chang, it tastes truly disgusting to me. haha.

Guan Chai Ban. This is much better. Toasted bread with chicken fillings and some white sauce.

We did not eat much because i was not feeling well and had to go back early to rest. Guess the chilly weather and too much unhealthy fried food took its toll on me.

Thats the end of Day 3!