My side of Taipei

Over the past many years, it have never crossed my mind in visiting Taiwan. I mean, i go to Hong Kong too much.. and since Taiwan is just next door, why not there?! I have got no idea.. and if it wasnt for the bf, i think that place would still remain a mystery for me.

Taiwanese are generally friendly, very gracious and warm. I realised all that when i first stepped into Ximending. They are always in a upbeat mood - people at restaurants or shopping places are always greeting and smiling at you. At the MRT, they quene up to go INTO the train, give seats IMMEDIATELY to people who needs it. The staff at the MRT station were equally helpful with the old and needy. When i was at KFC figuring out all those chinese words on the menu, a lady actually gave me a coupon so that i could get a cheaper fucking popcorn chicken.. isnt that awesome? Well, it could also because Sebastian is as white as a tourist thus the attention, but.. its still a nice gesture.

But people aside, Taipei city itself is ONE BIG BORE. I mean, XMD, Shilin night market and Taipei 101 area was ok, but do i look like i give a shit about some Chiang Kai-Shek or Sun Yat San Memorial or Presidential Tower shit?

Ok, we also tried to look for some hot-springs, and was told of the Xin Beitou area - was full of hot springs! So we went, happily in search. But when we finally found it, it turns out to be so shitty, that me, a singaporean-amatuer-hot-springer even DARES to scoff in disgust! Diameter of the badly man-made-cave-like pond : 5 x 4 metres is filled wth murky waters and overflowing with screaming kids with their floats and old people. Wah lau! Hot spring is like that one meh??

I wished i could have a picture to show, but i was too appalled that i scurried away pulling Seb with me. Definitely a no-go recommendation to anyone. Unless you're desperate.

Here's a look at Ximending, one of the more interesting shopping places around:

Also a must-go in Taipei city is the Shilin Night Market:

I cant say much about the food though as you can see im with a angmoh, as local as it goes i only had a chicken fillet (chee-bar) which tasted so good! ^_^ And the shopping stuff here is cheap too, very Bangkok-style.

The amazing mrt QUEUE and the station was packed ok. We should all learn from it! Sibe gracious lor!

Also, Taipei 101:

On our way there, we pass by this diagonal traffic junction...

Suddenly, i hear chanting....

"LUO ZHI XIANG! LUO ZHI XIANG! LUO ZHI XIANG!!!"

I made a mad dash and i found this!

Seb face abit black black.. so i decided not to be distracted and move on... =P

@ entrance of Vomit 101...

@ mall of 101... just like our Orchard Paragon

Sooo excited to be going up the Taipei 101 until....... we saw the freaking queue for it!

It was snaking around for like 400metres or so, but luckily the queue moved pretty fast and we were up there in 20mins. Tip: If you dont like to queue at all, avoid the morning and afternoons as there's alot of tour groups, go during the evenings.

The view from 101: very cloudy.. i especially like these meanders.

After loitering around the viewing area for almost an hour, we decided to head down to one of the restaurants at the shopping mall of 101. We decided to go to his italian restuarant call "dot". A meal with salad, soup, main course & desert only cost SGD$35 - cheap and good!

After dinner, we decided to head back to our lousy hotel : Flower Hotel

This hotel just fucking sucks. The walking distance to XMD is less then 10mins so that was ok. But the hotel room... how come got lizard one?!?! And it was circling the ceiling for the entire night! Seb was so worried that it is gona shit on his face. Haha.

The bed was the most horrible ever. As a traveller u would at least want a ok-bed, but this.. it gives you a full bodyache the next morning, how to shop like that??

I think Taipei is good for a 4D3N but any longer, you better be heading out to the rurals! My next entry would be about the countryside of Taiwan. Eyeball here!

Till then!