Taipei 4D3N, July 2014, Day 1

Day 1,

28th July 2014.

My first overseas solo trip with my bf of 7 years. I would say this trip was to celebrate my first step into adulthood and both our graduation. Even though it was just a short trip, we enjoyed it very much and I felt accomplished because we managed to cross out almost everything on our planned itinerary. :)

We took Scoot from Changi Airport T2 and our deparature time was 00:45am, reaching Taoyuan Airport T1 at 05:30am.

Our accommodation was at Hotel Puri in Ximending, and it was a pleasant stay. Even though the room wasn't very big, but it has all that one needs, is clean and new. Located very near Ximending MRT station, it was just a 5 mins walk! I would recommend this hotel for couples and friends - cheap and comfortable!
We booked the Superior Room for the 3 nights for NT$7500 (S$312).
Address: 108台北市成都路27巷6號. (No. 6, Lane 27, Cheng-du Road, Wanhua District, Taipei 108, Taiwan.)
Tel: 886-2-2371-8616
Fax: 886-2-2361-9197

Upon reaching Taoyuan Airport, we took Taiwan Bus Corp. (KuoKuang Transport 1819) to Taipei Main Station.

Direction signs were very obvious, and we went down the travelator to purchase the bus tickets at the Express Buses Station. They have scheduled timings and we were lucky we were on time to catch the next bus without having to wait. 

Bus tickets are NT$125 (S$5.30) each, with travelling duration approximately 55 mins.

Not very new bus seats, but it was still clean enough.

Reached Taipei Main Station, and we went to purchase our HSR tickets in advance for our last day back to Taoyuan Intl Airport.

We got this 3 day pass Easycard and it was very worthwhile! Unlimited rides on Taipei Metro and Taipei City/New Taipei City Buses for 3 days, at NT$440 (S$18.35). They have 1 day pass @ NT$180, 2 days pass @ NT$310 and 5 days pass @ NT$700 too! So tourist friendly. :)

Upon Exit 6 of Ximen metro station. Hotel Puri is just behind Watsons! Walk straight towards Watsons from here and turn at the first right corner (Hi-life shop).

Right at the doorstep.

The toilet bowl is just behind this sliding glass door, and that's where the only minus point is. Only short people like me are able to close the door when using toilet. Opps! *benefits of petite humans*

Because we reached at about 9am, we had the reception hold our luggages first before we left for Addiction Aquatic Development Taiwan (上引水產) . Check-in timing: 3pm. Hence the room photos above were not taken immediately upon check-in!

Addiction Aquatic Development Taiwan (上引水產)
Nearest Metro Station:
Zhongshan Junior High School Station, walk for about 20 mins. 

Address: No. 18, Alley 2, Lane 410, Minzu East Road, Taipei City (台北市民族東路410巷2弄18號) 

Opening Hours: 6am - 12 midnight.

Being VERY determined not to take any taxi for the whole trip, I actually went to Google maps and 'walked' through the way from Zhongshan Junior High Station to the Addiction aquatic Development. However things were totally different when we were there. It was actually quite far and very warm!! But with LOTS of determination, we made it after what seems like forever. So I would suggest that if you are going during their summer time, please take a damn taxi to there from Zhongshan Junior High station. But if you choose to be a warrior like me, you may feel free to follow the (SUPER DETAILED AND LONG) directions I wrote down as below:

1. Exit and turn left. Walk straight and see Dante Coffee and Mister Donut at your left and continue to walk straight. 

2. Turn left at North Fuxing Road(curved in road), you see Starbucks on your left.
3. Turn left again at Section 3, Minquan East Road. Walk straight. Jap Drug Store, Citibank and FamilyMart on your left, continue to walk straight all the way. 

4. Until you see Starbucks again at the left across a junction, turn immediate right. 

5. Walk straight. Barista Coffee and Tian La Mala Hotpot on your right. Followed by Taipei Longjiang Road Post Office and Huang Jia Dong Fang SPA at right, Rongxing Park on the left. 

6. Continue walking straight. Yang Ji Cheng eatery at your right side. 

7. 7-11 at your left. Followed by Cosmed (Kang Shi Mei) at your left.  

8. See Hongkong House Hong Shao Er, Hao Le Lah Taipei Longjiang Er Dian and COCO Dou Ke on your left side. Turn at the first left after seeing these. 

9. Walk straight and 85degrees café, Longjiang Liang Mian, Ba Fang Yun Ji Dumpling, Yong Lv Vegetarian, Zhen Bu Yi Yang and ChuanQi Tea Cha Yan She all on your right. 

10. Continue walking straight with Sunny Bank and Health Life Pharmacy on your right. 

11. Xing Guang Bank Wu Chang Fen Hang on your left, the turn on the first right(Jian Rong Da Sha at the left end of the stretch) after seeing that.  

12. FINALLY, walk straight down and end of the market before an industrial looking building, turn on your first fucking left and it’s on your left!!!! REACHED!!!

We went there pretty early and their main restaurant wasn't open yet, so we had simple salmon and oysters to share. The oysters were amazing, but we thought the salmon tasted weird. Not that it wasn't fresh, but it just didn't taste like Singapore's. I would suggest you to drop by only after around 11am, which was when crowd started to appear.

Yep, being true warriors, we walked back to the metro station under the heat. Hahahaha.

Back at Taipei main station for some famous taiwan maggi mee (suggested by the bf) and souvenirs to bring back.

We got one packet for each of the flavours there, and after trying a few of them back in Singapore, I would say don't bother buying them. All the flavours tasted like chicken essence. And we found them at Ximending Carrefour too! ..........

How Sweet Bakery (幾分甜)
Location: Taipei Main Station Hall South Second Gate, 1st Floor, (B1-U06).
Opening Hours: 10am to 10pm

Custard pudding in eggs! Too bad they have to be kept refrigerated so no bringing back for us, but it looks cute and tasted not bad.

Lee Yi Bing Dian 李儀餅店
We had a hard time finding this pastry shop too, asking for directions and all. Because the address given was saying "Zone Z, near Z3//Z6 exit" only. We eventually found it, but I suggest you to get their famous and wonderfully delicious milky Tai Yang Bing 太陽鉼 at Jiufen instead! Their Jiufen outlet is just outside the Jiufen old street entrance.

After leaving our buys and checking in at Hotel Puri, we went out to the Hello Kitty Sweets Cafe.

Hello Kitty Sweets Café
Nearest Metro Station:
Zhongxiao Fuxing Station, Exit 3 (SOGO 太平洋at opposite of the road).

1. After exit walk towards straight and G2000 on your right side.
2. Continue walking straight and turn at the first big right corner(where there’s a cross junction traffic light, also at 大安路一段)
3. Walk straight, with Audio Technica on your right side and HK café is at the right side.

Address: No. 90, Section 1 Daan Road, Xinyi District.
Tel: + 886 2 2711 1132
Opening Hours: 11.30am to 10pm.
*100 mins dining duration, minimum NT$300(S$12.50) spending per person

Walking around the streets of Zhongxiao Fuxing.

Shilin Night Market
Nearest Metro Station:
Jintan Station, Exit 1 and walk 3 mins.

Opening Hours: 5pm to 1am. 

Not much introduction is needed to this place, it is the most famous night market with all sorts of famous street foods. 

I personally find their basement food court not very interesting...

Frog laying egg (青蛙下蛋)
Basically a barely sweet aiyu jelly drink with tapioca pearls.

Aboriginal Pork Sausages!
I liked these and they come with sauces(garlic, wasabi, sweet and spicy, etc) at the side for you to choose and add what additional flavour you prefer on your already delicious sausages. 

Awesome and cheap papaya milk juice!
*thumbs up*

We tried the Oyster omelette at the basement food court of Shilin Night Market, and nope I didn't liked it. The sauce was weird for a typical Singaporean.  

Back at Ximending!

Ah Zong Mee Sua (阿宗面线)

Nearest Metro Station:
Ximen Station, Exit 6, 5 mins walk.

Address: No. 8之1號, Éméi Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108 (one alley away from Mcdonald’s)
Opening Hours: 11am to 10.30pm.

*Big bowl NT$55(S$2.30), Small bowl NT$40(S$1.70)

Thumbs up up for this bowl of noodles! Though it may be true that many say they might have added quite a bit of MSG in that bowl, their pork intestines mian xian was really good! I was so glad that we each had one large bowl for takeaway to savour it back in our hotel room. :)

I have never tried their outlet in SG before, and I had my first HOT-STAR chicken cutlet in Ximending. I would say their portion is definitely for two. For the taste wise, nothing much to rave about though.

And that was it for our first day in Taipei, :)