Taiwan Day 16 (28 Dec Taipei-五分埔-公馆夜市)

Weather: Bright & sunny in the morning. Turned cloudy by noon.

Breakfast offered by One Star Hotel was to be taken at Dante Cafe nearby. Not too bad, better than what Miyi offered. Other than sandwiches, we could choose the type of coffee we want including latte or cappucino.

After breakfast & dilly dallying checking out specialty stores around where we stayed, we headed for五分埔, a wholesale centre/ parade square. VERY BIG!!! Within the big square, there were many lanes and several intersections. I was confused as to which I've walked haha!! Anyway, I think I didn’t cover the entire area! One can get a top at NT100 each, or at some shops 2 pieces for NT150. CHEAP!!! Where to find??? Hahaha!! But, most of the clothes on display were meant for winter wear, so I didn’t buy a lot. Just a long sleeve top at NT100 and a pair of pants at NT150. That was it. Sad!! Unsatisfied! Hahahha!!

Lunch at local eatery which sold cold noodle at 五分埔 area. It’s actually noodle topped with sesame oil and groundnut sauce. GOOD!! We saw some locals add wasabi sauce on their noodle but we didn’t try hahaha!! Also ordered soup. NT 135 for 2 plates of noodle and 2 bowls of soup. The picture here didn't show how the noodle was served but basically they wrapped the plate with plastic bag before pouring the noodles on it - saved them from washing but not environmental friendly leh... ;(

Took a break for dessert. The 包心粉圆 was SUPER 'Q'!

Headed back towards Taipei Main Station and continued to shop at the underground shopping mall at the Station. Bought 2 pairs of shoes at ONLY NT300 haha!! That's like S$7 per pair!!! Haha!!

Went back to rest at hotel before we headed for another night market at 公馆Metro Station. From Exit 1 of the Station, you will reach公馆夜市. Turn left and you’ll see shops selling merchandise as well as food (restaurant types). Go straight up against the traffic and you’ll find small lanes with street hawkers & local eateries.

We saw a queue at a small shop so we also joined the queue hahah!! Didn’t know what they were good for, so we asked the 2 young chaps in front of us. Unfortunately, they were also first time customers hahah!! Anyway, we ordered curry chicken rice and thai style pork noodle and a plate of vegetable. NT175 for these 3 dishes. Not too bad!
-> Thai style noodle

-> Curry chicken rice. Think it was their specialty cos we saw quite a no. of people ordering this dish. Taste of curry was similar to japanese curry. Chicken was very tender!

We continued our search for snacks. There were 2 lanes of street hawkers (about 50m each per stretch, rather short). A MUST try would be the fried boneless chicken cutlet on the 2nd lane further away from the Station. It was also right opposite a big signboard that displayed "排骨大王". You would surely see a long queue! Along with the fried chicken were some fresh vegetables (lettuce, cabbage strips) which you can choose to top with either mayonnaise or sweet & sour sauce. Choose the latter cos it was really appetizing & tasty!!! VERY GOOD!!!!! While we were queueing, there was a local TV crew filming that stall ;). Actually it was not cheap – NT65, but it was good!!

-> 大肠包小肠NT35

If you wanna walk some more, there is also the 师大夜市 nearby, but further from the same metro station. It is near the National Taiwan University, so I think there should be more food & merchandise hehe... We didn't venture to that - quite tired already hehe...

Taiwan Day 15 (27 Dec Taipei-淡水-华西街夜市)

Checked out of Miyi Hotel. Checked into One Star Hotel http://www.taipeionestarhotel.com.tw/. 1st night - NT1,740, 2nd night - NT1,980 (weekend rate). Though small, it has the best amenities among all the other 6 different hotels we've stayed during the entire trip...hehe... Design is comparable to CityInn's but CityInn has the best internet connection! One Star has the following that the rest of the hotels don't offer:

- mini compo
- VCD/DVD player
- safe

I love One Star Hotel best, but my hubby prefers a more spacious hotel like the one at Kaohsiung.

Weather: Bright & sunny yet cool! Bestest of best haha!!!

So, we went 淡水, but first lunch. The staff from the Visitor's Centre told us the place was famous for 阿给 and 铁蛋, so tried 阿给 which was basically tau pok stuffed with tang hoon topped with some sauce. Taste ok lah..

-> 淡水老街

Think the place is also famous for 鱼酥 (like some fish cracker/ tidbit) so we also bought a pack meant to eat at Fisherman's Wharf 渔人码头 later hehe..

The 3 historic sites we visited included Fort San Domingo, Custom's Office Residence and Hobe Fort. With the discount coupon from the 5day pass we bought, we only need to pay NT70 for admission covering all 3 places. Nothing impressive about these places. Can give it a miss if you don't have time hahah!!

Fisherman's Wharf 渔人码头：

-> 情人桥

Then went 华西街夜市 thinking of settling our dinner there, but were very disappointed ;(. It was basically like a pasar malam like those in Malaysia, nothing like what we've seen at the other night markets. The only difference were delicacy restaurants which sold snake soup. We didn't try of course! Eeeeewwww!! Anyway, not worth visiting ;p

So, we went back to have dinner at a shop near the hotel. Called 巧虎小馆
-> This is called 巧虎面 - noodle top with spicy groundnut sauce- NT50. Too spicy for me haha!!

-> My hubby ordered 麻辣牛肉面. SUPER SPICY!!

Taiwan Day 14 (26 Dec Taipei-九份-自由广场-西门丁)

Weather: windy, cloudy but at least it was not raining! Haha!

Took metro to 忠孝覆兴Station, then headed towards Exit 1 where there was a bus stand just across the exit. Took 基隆客运 to九份 – NT90/ pax one way (60min).

Munchies along the 九份老街: mixed meatball soup – NT35, 臭豆腐 – NT20, 综合芋圆 – NT35.

Also ordered which could be picked up at their new branch at Taipei Main Station on our way back. The person said they would bake new ones on the day of our pick-up so as to ensure freshness (can only be stored up to 15 days). Hope this is true!

Back to Taipei about 3pm, went to自由广场. In case you are wondering, yes, this is the new name of the former 中正纪念堂. Toured the Memorial Hall (free admission) and now I know a bit more about former President Chiang ;) See, how cultured I’ve become hahah!!

Headed for西门丁for early dinner. Just wanted to go there and take a look at the famous shopping area. Planning for supper later hahah!! Apparently, there was to be a very good fried rice at an alley (recommended by someone from Tripadvisor.com) near where we stayed.

Taiwan Day 13 (25 Dec Taipei-乌来-士林夜市)

Merry Christmas, everyone!! Thank you to those whom have sms-ed me!! Sorry for not being able to reply ;p

The weather was good!! Thank God! So we took the chance to go Wulai, a place famous for hot spring 美人汤! My irritating hubby said I am ugly so most suitable for me hahah!!

To get to Wulai, we took metro to 新店 Metro Station, then transfer public bus which cost NT40 per pax for the 30min ride.

Lunch along the Wulai Old Street. It has pictures of the owner & 阿宏 (Taiwan cook-host) so we gave it a try. It was ok, but expensive!! Just these 3 dishes cost NT330!

-> Pumpkin fried bee hoon

-> Don't remember what vege already..

-> Fried mini spring chicken

Then we went up to Wulai Waterfall via the log cart – NT50 per way per pax.

Attempted to climb the remaining journey up to the highest point but gave up cos it was really tiring hahaha!! So we walked back down to Wulai Street, then went hot spring!

Checked out a few and chose 宛布汤. NT700 for 1hr in this type of private room – oversee the river, has TV. They offer a free drink after the hot spring session. It was really relaxing ;) The only thing is how do we know if the water really came from the natural hot spring? Hahah!!

-> Resting area where customers can have a complimentary drink after their hot spring session.

Went back to town to the famous 士林夜市 for dinner. Ate a variety of food again!! Haha!! The entire place was sooooo very crowded!! My goodness!! As though it was a weekend! Actually, part of the reason was cos there were illegal stall holders who set up their make shift stalls in the middle of the walkway! So happened we witnessed police raid hahah!! All of them ran!!

Paiseh, no pictures of the food we ate, too busy eating lah hahah!! Whenever we see people queue, we also joined in the queue haha! We had 豪大鸡排 (SUPER big fried chicken culet – no joke! They claimed they were the founder of 超大鸡排)，爱玉冰 (something like cocktail jelly)，葱油饼 (fried onion pancake – oishi!!!)，大阪烧 (bacon, pineapple & lettuce pancake)，木瓜牛奶 (papaya milk shake)，花枝庚 (squid & bamboo shoot thick soup). YUMMY!!!

Taiwan Day 12 (24 Dec Taipei-故宫博物院-Taipei 101)

It’s Christmas eve!! But it’s raining… *sigh* No choice, we had to keep our sightseeing to indoor venues.

Breakfast from Miyi Cafe, just beside the boutique hotel:

Before we set out, knowing that we will be traveling quite a fair bit on its metro and buses, we bought their 5-day pass – NT700 (after discount. Usual price is NT1,000). The pass allows commuters unlimited rides on its metro and associated buses (majority of them).

Anyway, our first stop was National Palace Museum 故宫博物院. From 剑潭 Metro Station, we took public bus Red 30 (payable by the pass). Normal admission to the Museum costs NT160/pax but with the 5-day pass, there was a discount coupon and so we only need to pay NT80/pax! Not bad eh??!! Hehe.. BTW, the ticket stubs allow visitors to go in and out as many times as you need to on the same day of the purchase. There are also 1-day, 2-day and 3-day passes.

We spent almost 5hrs at the 3-storey museum, which was basically quick walk through, brief reading on some interesting artefacts etc.. imagine if someone really had an interest in those precious art pieces!!

Some pictures from outside the museum. No photography allowed inside.. of course!

Dinner nearby 剑潭 Metro Station

Then we headed for Taipei 101 thinking there might be some Christmas countdown or nice street decorations. Didn’t go up Taipei 101 – admission NT220! So expensive!! Haha!! We were told Christmas is just like any other normal day in Taiwan. It is not a public holiday for them.