Day 44 || Taipei New Year

After Tai Chung trip, we went to Taipei the next day. It was really hard finding a hotel, in the end; we ended up staying at Grand Hotel (located at Yuan Shan MRT Station) for our 31st December 2009 and 1st January 2010 night. Frankly speaking, without the architecture, Grand Hotel would have been a simple hotel with EXTRA-ordinary customer service. One thing though, all of the hoteliers could speak English hehe.

Sigh…thankfully the TN family introduces us to their sister (Jenni) who studied in Danshui, Taipei..if not we would not have known of Shuang Lian – the 24hr non-stop food paradise.

So far we had eaten:
O A Mi Sua (Noodle Soup with oysters)
Hei Bai Qie (Noodle Soup)
Mo Cha Ping Gan (Green Tea Pancake)

Our first stop in Taipei was Danshui. Danshui is famous for their Lao Jie (Old Street)…it is different with Feng Jia or Shilin and any other night market as it resembled an old town. We were introduced to Jenni’s university which is located at Danshui. No wonder she choose there...the atmosphere is heavenly. Not to mention local night market and the infamous A-Ke restaurant nearby the university that awaits students ‘arrival. I would not have regretted if I choose to study there too.

-Hong Cheng Bao-

-Wishing Boards- - A Stranger's wish : "Wish I could become a handsome guy"- LOL -Oxford College Main Hall Back--Oxford College Main Hall Front-

Local Foods:
A-Ke

3Red Café (view from top of mountain is marvelous, could see the whole city at night)

31st Taipei 101 Countdown day was …mm…how could I say in 3 different words

FUN
for
- Watching the dance performance
- Watching the fireworks
- Watching Taiwanese singers and stars

TIRING
for
- Standing for the whole seven hours
- Holding out no to go to Toilet in case missing the good spot

UNFORGETTABLE
for

- The men-squeeze afterparty

Once in a lifetime experience (haha) … the place was overly crowded that I did not need to move my body to walk, everybody just push you around here and there. Felt like as if I was in a roller coaster ride for free. I could not have imagine if one fell down…I wonder their fate

-Taipei 101 at Evening-

-Taipei 101 at Night--Singer Performance--SHE-
-Rainie Yang--Fahrenheit--Lin Zhi Lin--Snow fall during Show-

Other memorable places was definitely the Modern Toilet Restaurant at Ximending. I had heard of such place back before I came here. Never had I realized that such themed restaurant is located just nearby. My sister and I went to Ximending (located at Xi Men MRT Station). Ximending is famous for their street walk. One could see it as Shibuya in Japan...not only they sell unique foods such as Dog Bowl Restaurant, Fish Tank Restaurant, Omelette Restaurant but also teenagers’ clothes shop. The place was really huge. My advice : never go there during night time..it was just too crowded

Anyway, back to toilet restaurant, one can easily find it at:

Modern Restaurant
2F No 7 Lane 50
Sining St Road
WanHua District
XimenDing

The foods are all placed in toilet-related items such as toilet bowl, urinating bowl, etc etc. At first I thought that the food would have either been very expensive or taste poorly. Surprisingly though, it tasted and priced reasonably well. All foods are between 180-300 yuan and all come with a free drink and free ice cream. Nice eh? Can see more info here

Taipei travel has been crazy. Not expecting that there would be lots of people travelling on Saturday, I did not booked any hotel for another stay. Bleh…thankfully, we found a hotel near the Shuang Lian MRT station (Green Peak Hotel). Teehee

After the New Year party, my sister and I went to the infamous Xin Tian Gong and their infamous fortune reading street. We found that fortune tellers were located underground tunnel (which is weird), I thought they will be located inside the temple…

When we first stepped into the underground tunnel, no one were there. I think my sister and I were the only two visitors there. To my surprise, these tellers could actually speak Japanese language too! (O.O) and some could even provide Japanese, Korean and English translation. Do you know what am I thinking while I was strolling through these shops?

–Wow, are they for real or are they working as translators too? –

Knowing how some could speak many languages and friendly faces, makes me suspicious of these fortune readings. Nevertheless, my sister and I went to have our hand and face read for a mere 500 Yuan. Reading Ba Zi (the most complete fortune reading) could easily reached up to 3600 yuan. My sister and I were confused whether to continue with Ba Zi or stop with just the hand and face..but we went not to continue as once said never to give people your birth time and date to any people. Oh Well …

During the last few sessions before we head back to Hsin Chu, we went to Taipei and Zhong Shan Underground Mall. This underground mall is probably the longest underground walk I have encountered. You could actually walk to Xi Men MRT Station to Shuang Lian MRT Station from just the Taipei Main Station. Along the walkways were food and clothes shop. To my surprise, some of them cost even lower than Hsin Chu!! There is even a maid café in there too! We wanted to go inside but looking that there are only male customers…we changed our mind from going in XD

Talking about MRT station in Taipei, the MRT ticket..or should I say MRT coin is what I found to be very interesting. In Singapore, we would be given a piece of card where we could tap it before and after the train trip. However, in Taipei..it is a bit special :D .. which I find it to be very cute. The ticket is shaped like a coin, coloured in blue. Before entering the train, we would have to tap the coin to let the entrance machine, but when we went out, it is no longer the usual tapping, instead we would have to put the coin inside the hole of the machine (just like you are saving your coins in a piggybank).

On the last night of our Taipei Trip, we went to Miramar where we ride on a ferris wheel. We were given a choice to either go with the transparent car or non-transparent one. Of course, being us, we choose the first option, however we would have to wait for 20-30 minutes before we get our turn since there are only two of those from the big circle. Bleh

I love the experience nevertheless. One lacking bit : fireworks attraction while on riding on the car XD

If only I could spend another night in Taipei ... would really love to visit the Doctor and Nurse Restaurant ><