Taiwan - Taipei (Part 2b)

Must Eat 
Jiufen 
1. Taro ball dessert 芋圆
     - **Famous stall: Lai ah po taro ball, Ah Kan yi Taro ball
     - It is very 'Q' ! Very yam taste & sweet potato taste.
 

2. Ah Lan Kuih 阿蘭草仔粿

    - Got sweet & salty flavour

    - although this does not look attractive, but it is unexpectedly taste Good.

3. Red Meat ball 红槽肉丸

   - very 'Q' semi transparent bun stuff with pork, bamboo shoot& mushroom.

   - I think okok only but Taiwanese love this so much. 

4. Others: - Fu zhou fish ball

                - guava juice

                - roasted mushroom........

Night Market

1. Shilin Night Market 士林夜市

    - Transport: MRT Jiantan station  剑潭站 

    - *Tourist Must Go

    - Indoor ( Shilin market's basement) & outdoor 

    - Lots of variety of food

    - Must Eat: - Chicken chop ( Hao Da Da chicken chop豪大大 / sa niao chicken chop 撒尿鸡排 )

                               = chicken Very Very juicy!

                      - cool noodle , stinky tofu ( hao peng you 好朋友凉面 / jia xiang 家乡凉面)

                      - cheesy potato (Prince cheesy potato)

                         

                                                                                = vr nice! potato+ ham+corn ++ creamy cheesy sauce

                      - oyster cake  蚵仔煎 （zhong cheng hao 忠诚号）

                           = best oyster cake i ever ate in taiwan, however i think the BEST oyster cake is in Penang.

                           = d oyster cake in taiwan is very sticky as they put lots of glutinous flour but oyster cake in m'sia mostly is egg, so vr crispy. Besides that, the will put gravy on top of oyster cake.

                           = besides oyster cake, can try stir fry squid, tempura....

                             oyster cake

                                 stir fry squid                                        tempura

                      - pan- fried bun 生煎包

                      - ‘Frog Lay Egg' 青蛙下蛋
                           = weird name, haha... Is a stall selling pearl milk tea & other drinks

                           

                         - Taiwanese  sausage in sticky rice/ 'small intestine inside large intestine' 大肠包小肠

                         - ‘ small biscuit inside big biscuit' 大饼包小饼

                                                                                  

      - Do Not buy fruits here, super expensive!!!

      - Beside eating, can shop for shirt, shoe..... 

2. Ning xia Night market 宁夏夜市

    - Local like to come here instead of Shilin.

    - Transport: MRT shuang liang station 双连站 -5-10min walking

    - Must Eat: - Fried Yam ball

                      - Tofu hua

                      - Ah Po Rice roll

    -very useful guide: http://anise.pixnet.net/blog/post/29999863-%E5%AF%A7%E5%A4%8F%E5%A4%9C%E5%B8%82%E7%BE%8E%E9%A3%9F%E6%8E%A8%E8%96%A6%EF%BC%81%E6%84%9B%E5%90%83%E9%AC%BC%E8%8A%B8%E8%8A%B8%E7%9A%84%E5%8D%81%E5%AE%B6%E6%84%9B%E5%BA%97%EF%BD%9E

    

  

3. Rao He Night market 饶河夜市

    - Transport: Train to Song San station松山站 walking 10-15min ( easier&faster)

    - walking distance to shopping area 'wu fen pu' 五分铺

    - Must Try: - Pepper Biscuit 福州胡椒饼

                      - Tamago 浆爆玉子烧

                      - fried oreo

   - useful guide: 

http://anise.pixnet.net/blog/post/32003057-%E9%A5%92%E6%B2%B3%E8%A1%97%E5%A4%9C%E5%B8%82%E7%BE%8E%E9%A3%9F%EF%BD%9E%E9%98%BF%E5%89%9B%E9%BB%83%E9%87%91%E7%88%86%E6%BC%BF%E9%9B%9E%E8%85%BF%E6%8D%B2%E3%80%81%E7%88%86%E6%BC%BF

http://www.wretch.cc/blog/l50740/24156329

* there is a lot more night market in taipei, but these 3 night market is more well -known.

Others More Food 

1. 7-11

    - lot of food & beverage sold here.

    - very cheap if compare to m'sia.

    - Must Eat : - steamboat 关东煮 ( must try radish)

                       - Instant noodle - REAL meat inside

                       - Rice ball

                       - Fresh vege fruit juice, Bottle sugar free green tea

                       - Beer vt fruit flavour

**CNN 40 Taiwanese foods we can't live without!!! - i have completely 80-90%

http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/eat/40-taiwanese-food-296093

* try taiwan fruits, vr sweet.

Where To Shop

1. Night Market & nearby shops 

     - In Shilin night narket, got one bag shop selling nice & good bag, every bag only cost NT$290.

2. Taipei main station underground 台北地下街

3. Ximending

    - more for young adult

4. 'wu fen pu'

    - shirt

5. Behind taipei main station area 台北后车站商圈

    - lady accessory, cosmetic

6. Shopping mall - Taipei 101, Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store新光三越, SOGO....

    - branded stuff

7. Watson, 

    - cosmetic, mask....

What To Buy

1. Shirt, Dress

    - Cheapest when changing season, dress as low as NT$100

    - if cheap, normally free size &  cannot try

    - For Plus size lady, can go 'Orange Bear' shop which is 2min walk fr MRT Taipei city hall station. Not expensive , got size & can try.

2. Shoe

     - quite cheap, fr NT$199  

     - quality not bad

3.Mask 

     - My beauty diary, 50% cheaper than in m'sia

4.Cosmetic- Local taiwan product or japanese product 

5. Phone accessory

6. Instant Noodle

7. Pineapple biscuit, 'sun' biscuit.....

Funny Stuff 

1. Some taxi with karaoke service.

2. Penis-shaped pancake/bun ( in Shilin night market & ximending)

**Note: some pic were taken fr web!

Taiwan 10days 9 nights - Taipei (Part 2a)

Taipei - capital of Taiwan. Heaven for Shopper, Paradise for Food lover.
            Good place for girls to shop, best place for guys to see pretty girls!
* at least spend 4-5 days in taipei.

Transport: Of course, by plane. Haha....
               -  fr Taoyuan airport, there is bus to ur homestay or hotel, less than RM15, takes 45 mins 2 reach taipei city.
               -  in Taipei, MRT is the main transport, vr convenient, wide coverage.
                   Must have 'You You card' 悠悠卡 like touch n go
     * if age 30 or below, register for Youth card, can get discount in some place like the palace museum.....  

 'you you' card

 Youth card

Accomodation in Taipei: ** any place near MRT station should b ok, but of course around Taipei main station most convenient
- Homestay 民宿/ hostel  vs  Hotel
- Hotel is quite expensive , at least RM180++
- Homestay price varies, but cheaper, BUT must look for review
* room rate is more expensive during weekends ( fri, sat)
I am staying in a Hostel ' Colormix' in Ximending area. Rooms are vr clean, comfortable, vr convenient, 7-11 and shops just below, 5min walks fr mrt station. Lots of good review on web too. BUT, u hav 2 book the room really early, few mth b4.

Places Must Go
1. National Palace Museum
     - world's best collection of Chinese historical artifacts & antiquites
     - *** must go & see cabbage shaped jade & pork belly

    - Transport: No direct public transport reach here, nearest MRT Shilin station ( red line) & go vt bus
                      or by Taxi ( meter taxi cheaper)
2.  National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (中正紀念堂)
     

        - Transport: go to MRT CKS memorial hall station ( blue line)

        - look for motionless honor guards who are replaced every hour in a rifle twirling ceremony

        - National Theater Hall (國家戲劇院) and National Concert Hall (國家音樂廳)  located here.

3. Taipei 101

     - the second tallest skyscraper in the world

     

       - best time to go: evening/ b4 sunset: can see the morning & night view of taipei

       - transport: free suttle bus fr CKS memorial hall / 10-15min walk fr MRT Taipei City hall station .

4. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (國父紀念館)

5. Beitou 

    - Go visit Hot spring Museum, Beitou library 

    - Go for hotspring - some can go in vt swimming suit but lots is naked.

    - Transport: MRT New Beitou station  

library

6. ***Tamsui 淡水

    - Place of attraction: - HongMau Castle & other historical building ( historical sites like Melaka)

                                        -  Fisherman's Wharf + Love bridge = catching sunset， so romantic!!!

                                        - Tamsui Old Street = for food lover , MUST eat 'Ah po iron egg' 铁蛋 & 'Ah Gei' 

                                                                                                                                                        阿给

love bridgefisherman's wharf

Ah GeiIron eggs

Transportation: MRT Tamsui station , go out  MRT station, sit bus which heading ' Cheng gong University' 成功大学, historical building, fisherman's wharf is just walking distance.

*** Recommended Route: Beitou ( in d morning) ----- Tamsui ( lunch til night)----- go to Shilin night market

7. XiMenDing 西门町

    - FOOD! Shopping! ( 24 hr Watson,...) movie,... hang out place for young adult.

    - Place of attraction: Ximen red building - art gallery 

    - Transport: MRT Ximen station

    8.*** Jiufen 九分 & Jin Gua Shi 金瓜石

       - a mountain area 1.5 hrs fr Taipei city

       - Transport: taiwan railway fr Taipei main station to Ruifang station ----go out fr station via main entrance, go opposite road, a bus station to Jiufen & Jinguashi.

       - Places of interest: - Jiufen old street (Food & View)

                                     - Gold museum, Japanese Crown Prince chalet....( jinguashi)

      -* better not go during weekends , Pack vt ppl

Jiufen

                   gold museum      jinguashi

    9. Other places(that I didn't go): - Yanmingshan National Park ( best to go in spring)

                                                    - Maokong moutain 

                                                    - Taipei Zoo( to see panda bear)

                                                    - Pinshi, shifen

                                                    - Long shan temple

                              

10. Night Market

      - Shilin Night market - MRT Jiantan station ( NOT shilin station)

      - Rao He Night Market

      - Ning xia night market

    

MUST Eat Food

Ximending Area

1. Ah Chung Miam Sian 阿宗面线

     - most of my friends this so much, went for this noodle 3 times in 5 days.

       But for me, okok only. May b I m not a noodle lover.  

   

2. Feng Da Coffee 蜂大咖啡

    - Very nice coffee & biscuits for tea break

   - *Must try: Ice cream coffee ( Iced coffee vt Coffee ice-cream topping)

                                         

3. Cheng Du Iced Starfruit 成都杨桃冰
     - Very special- pickles starfruits & pineapple

4. Shanghai Lao tian Lu上海老天禄

    - Got lots of variety such as tofu, seaweed, wings, duck tongue.....

    - *Must try Tofu- d texture is like fish ball

 

5. Yong He soya bean 永和豆浆

   - lots of branches around Taipei

   - vr authentic Taiwanese breakfast vt lots of variety: rice rolls, chinese pancake, normal soya & salted soya......

   - *Must Eat: rice roll 饭团

                   

 

                  

 

6. Roast Mochi 烤mochi
    - vr nice, got sweet & salty flavour
    - * peanut flavour

7. Fried chicken

    - lots of stall selling fried chicken / chicken chop in taipei but i think this fried chicken not bad.

Yong Kang Area/ street 永康街

1. Ding Tai Feng 鼎泰丰
    - although Ding Tai Feng has lots of branches around Asia, since this restaurant is origin from Taiwan , so Must eat esp in there main branch.
    - *Must Try: xiao long bao ( of couse, their signature dish) & chicken soup ( The BEST chicke soup i ever drink in my life- the soup is super tasty & d chicken is so soft even it is a chicken breast), fried rice
    - It is not cheap so it is not recommend to try other dishes esp dim sum

2. Mango Ice

    - * must try: super nice!!! It is so fresh! Big portion vt affordable price

 Taipei Main Station 台北车站
- Lots of foods can b found here!

1. Uncle Tetsu's Cheese Cake*****

     - The BEST cheese cake I ever eat in my life- It is so soft like a sponge, it REALLY melt once u put it in your mouth!
    - Long queue waiting for fresh bake cheese cake come out fr oven.

 

2. Train Bento

    - Available in any train station. It also sold inside the train during lunch & dinner time.

3. Lan Zhou Ramen 

    - Not bad, standard price.  

    - must try: Beef noodle

To be continue.......