Taiwan Trip 2012 - Day 2 Taipei - Wulai

Today is the 2nd day in Taiwan. We will be visiting Wulai, Bitan, Lungshan Temple, Hwahsi Night Market and Ximending.

We have our breakfast local style. Eat what local eat, do what local do and see what local see is what i be doing for this trip. We start with Chinese sesame noodle (Liang Mian) from a street stall just less than 3 mins walk. It look very plain, but very taste. The sesame oil create a unique fragrant sesame taste. This noddle serve in cold condition. So remember do not complain is cold when you eat it.

Wulai 烏來老街

Waiting at bus stop for the bus to nearest MRT station.

When you aboard the bus, remember to ask the driver for tap when aboard or tap when alight or both.  

Inside MRT station

We need to take MRT to Xindian Station and change bus 849 towards 烏來總站 just outside of the station. It will be a 1 hour bus ride going up the mountain. Normally, the queue for the bus will be long. We stand 1 hour in the super overloaded bus all the way to Wulai.

At last, we reach Wulai.

First snake, Sweet potato boiled with honey caramel. Really sweet and yummy.

Long queue for wild boar sausage (Taiwan style). We do queue for it. How can i miss something so special right?

Local Millet wine from Taiwan aborigines.

We need to climb this stair to reach the cute little train go up to the mountain.

The cute little train that only can take maximum 10 person exclude the driver.

Actually we can choose to walk 30 mins up, or hire a cab. But still we need to try the cute little train.

Wulai waterfall

Cherry blossom, we meet them in Taiwan....

Ingrid and her bf , Egretta.

Taiwan Aboriginal.

We need to start walk back down.

Wulai old street.

Bitan 碧潭

After Wulai, we take bus back to Xindian Station. Bitan is just beside the station.

Lungshan Temple

Next, we take MRT to the infamous Lungshan Temple.

I din't take any picture inside the temple, as i feel not respect for the people who praying inside.

Hwahsi Night Market

Next, we walk to Hwahsi night market nearby to Lungshan temple. 

A very disappointing night market. Is more like specially build for tourist. Even have high end restaurant inside a night market. What is this??? Really wasted my time here.

Ximending

 After that, we take MRT to Ximending.

Famous shopping area, nothing much to comment.

End of Day 2

Taiwan Trip 2012 - Day 1 Taipei City

This will be our first Taiwan trip. We will cover north and east side of Taiwan from Taipei all they way to Hualien. We take 0800 flight with Tiger airway from Singapore Changi Airport to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. We reach Taoyuan airport at 1310 and take the 1400 Bus (KUO-KUANG MOTOR TRANSPORT) and reaching Neihu Dist around 1500. I will be staying at my friend house. 

The National Sun Yat-San Memorial Hall

After we settle down at my friend (Ingrid) house, we start your journey exploring Taipei city. Our first stop will be The National Sun Yat-San Memorial Hall.

A lot of people waiting for the guard changing ceremony. Every hour, there is a formal guard changing ceremony.

Here is the guard changing ceremony start. 

My ex-classmate in Belfast, Mr Lee. He will join Ingrid to bring us around Taipei for today.

Ingrid, my ex-university-mate, we know each other at Belfast.

Taipei 101

After that, we walk to Taipei 101. Around 15 mins walk. Queuing to go up. We pre-purchase the ticket at 7-11 and getting NTD 50 discount. Original price NTD400 and we just paying NTD 350 per person.

Too bad, the weather is not so good, view is limited as too many mist. We are not allow to go up to the outdoor observatory as well. So next time, check the weather first before go up.

This is the world largest Wind Damper

Damper Baby

There have some display at the ground floor.

Raohe St Night Market

After that, we take a cab to Raohe St night market. It just a short distance cab ride. Very excited as this is my first night market trip. I visit Taiwan because of their food and their best food is in night market.

Fried milk

I'm too busy buying snack to eat until give up taking picture... hahaha. We end up stop in the middle of the night market after all the snack. There are some hidden shop selling some unique food.

The stinky taufo soup style. First time hear about this. At first really feel reluctant to try it. Imagine the stinky taufo boiled in soup? Can you imagine it? I'm still ok with the deep fried version. But end up, is very taste and not as stinky as i think of. There are many ingredient in it, like pig blood cube, salty vegetable, some mushroom and etc. Really recommended to try when you go Raohe St night market. This shop can be found at the middle of the night market.

After the night market walk, we do walk to Wufenpu (五分埔), just 5 mins walking distance from the night market.

Nothing much worth to buy there and we left after 30 mins.

We just take cab back to Ingrid home.

End of Day 1.