Welcome to Taiwan!

Welcome to Taiwan!!!
Naruwan... Yee Yah Naruwan.....Ok, you'll only get my joke if you visit here. Got it?? Haha

OK this is my promised post on my Taiwan trip. But I don't know where to begin and what to write at all!! I won't say this is an exhilarating trip, but it was indeed pleasurable and I had fun. I really miss Taiwan now, the night markets, the shopping... After I unpacked my luggage, I realised I've bought too lil stuff. There are so many things I haven tried, theme parks I haven went, food I haven tasted, places I haven visted and things I haven bought! I wanna return again, hopefully end of the year if I have the money. This time round, will be less of travelling and more OTOT of walking around, a more relaxed trip. Yes we did so much travelling, I'm still feeling tired haha. But I've been out almost everyday after I return, that explains why I am tired...

When we arrived on the first evening, on the way from CKS International Airport at Tao Yuan to Taipei, it was drizzling all the way and it was gettin dark so I made us worried that for the next 7 days, we'll be caught in such lousy weather and it'll be a wet blanket, literally! And onthe way we had ample time to ogle at the Bin Lang Xi Shi due to the jam... Haha Well fortunately from the next morning onwards, it was all sunny! So sunny that the sun's damn scorching I'm getting burnt. And it did not rain for the rest of our trip. The sun in Taiwan rises very early, starts at around 430am. The very first night, me and Es couldn't get to sleep, not because we were too excited but outta some unknown reasons lol. When we finally managed to fall asleep, we somehow woke up and I wanted to wash up thinking it was already 8plus, because it was already so bright outside and I saw that it was 7 or 8 plus on my watch (my mistake of cos), only to realise later that it was only 5plus....

It's so accessible in Taiwan, we took all kinda transport, from bus to cab to subway to railway train. And it's cheap too, buy the Easy Card (alike Easylink) for the subway and you'll get discount for every ride haha. The public buses cost like less than 1 buck regardless of how long or far you travelled. Then there are those long journey buses than cost around 4 or 5 bucks that are called 客运. Important thing is to plan your route and ask around! The people there are helpful enough to give you directions. Once, wee and I were conversing in English while waiting for the train and someone actually came up to offer help, thinking that we couldn't find our way. Then there was this other lady who pushed me her namecard after bringing us to our desinated bus stop and offered her services anytime we need help.

Let's see, we lived in a hotel located in the middle of Xi Men Ding (the youngsters hotspot), so it was very convenient. We visited many places, Snake Alley, Hua Xi Street Night market, Yehliu, Danshui, Miramar, Shilin Night Market, Jiufen, Keelung, Tong Hua Street and its night market, Wu Lai, Wu Fen Pu, Taipei 101, Warner Village, Sogo, New York New York, Zhong Xiao Dong Lu, Cheng Pin, Yang Ming Shan, Beitou and of cos not forgetting KTV at Qian Gui! Wow like listing the whole itinerary. Ok to get cheap clothes go to the night markets, especially Shilin cos it's bigger and at Wu Fen Pu, it's a wholesale centre so the clothes are really cheap!! Cheap foodstuff will be at Danshui but basically the night marktets sell almost everything especially the big ones. On the whole, stuff at Xi Men Ding cost more than that at the night markets, but there are certain shops and alley that sell real cheap stuff, comparable to the night markets. We never lunched or dined at any restaurant except for the time we were at yehliu, the rest of the time, we spent our time eating as we roam the streets and night markets, settling for any stores we felt like it. Seriously I prefer to get food from these road side stalls and hawkers at the night markets or those lil shops that sell delicacies instead of eating food in restaurants that I can get here in Singapore. There're still many food I have yet to try though I tried many too! lol Forget about getting stuff at the departmental stores, like Sogo and Warner, cos they are actually at the higher end. Food at such places cost more too. KTV at Qian Gui isn't exactly cheap, about 20 odd S$ per pax but well it includes buffet, eventhough it wasn't particularly good. Zhong Xiao Dong Lu is a long stretch I think there are 6 sectors in all. We only managed to cover a small area and the shops at this area are again of the higher end. But then there are cheaper stuff at other sectors of the road I haven been to. I returned one night and walked aimlesly (ok not exactly aimlessly, in fact with a particular aim) from sector one to two. It was a good night walk, though regretful.

I really wanna thank the guys for taking care of me during the whole trip. Because it was impossible to tag along with the couple, (I don't want to too), I would be left alone when we went our separate ways to do our own shopping. But the guys would feel unsafe and volunteered to walk with me. It was a very sweet and kind gesture. And I appreciate it alot. Thanks YY, Wee & JQ. However, on my part, I didn't feel good to hinder their shopping cos I know they had their own stuff to buy and also, I'll feel abit uncomfortable myself and end up not looking at the stuff I want to. So most of the time except once or twice, I'll assure them that I'll be alright alone. I think I particularly enjoyed one evening when I returned to Danshui alone to buy foodstuff. Managed to try some food, the ice cream and also took nice pictures of the sun set. I love to roam the streets myself, no restrictions at all. And erm yah I also enjoyed the time when I roamed the streets near Xi Men Ding at around 2am while the guys were playing pool. Yes I'm an independent gal, a bold one as well. Alone, 2am on Taiwan streets. Sorry if I made you guys worried.

Here's some pix to share, though you can find them in my new photo album

Our very own homegrown Yanzi!! She looks good in this advert!




It's blurred but artistically taken yah! Taipei 101




Lovely Ferris Wheel at Miramar




This is the beatiful sunset at Dan Shui, near Fisherman's Wharf. I zoomed in.




One of the shots taken while I'm eating. I love Niu Rou Mian(beef noodles)!!!




It's not just a Yoshinoya but full of memories and story behind it. Though in the end, I was the only one who came here, at least I achieved what I wanted to, eventhough it wasn't a fulfilled dream....




And lastly! A very artistic picture!! Haha and of cos u guessed who the "director" was huh! Haha


For more detailed Taiwan intinerary that might help you plan your trip, click here

Lastly, the newly uploaded song is one that I heard everywhere in Taiwan!!

=I'll be back!!=