Simple Discoveries: May 2013

A long waited trip!..Taiwan!.. :D

It's my 1st solo trip!.. :)

It's a very good experience thou ^^

I've learned alot and gets to see things that Singapore don't have.. :)

Planning a trip is not an easy task..

Most importantly, look for lowest flight fare date, within the week I wanna travel..it saves me quite alot.. :)

Looking for accomodation is sure a headache..

coz I've never been there, I have no idea where is where, what's nearby..

N I'm on myself, I don't want to spend most of my time wandering around and looking for my hotel..

To be safe, I book my accomodations nearby subway station or rail station!.. :)

Since I'll be there for 7 nights, I wanted to try staying at different kind of accomodation..

Hostel(can save $), Themed, Hotspring, Homestay..

In the end, I'm like moving almost everyday..hahaha.. -.-'

Taiwan has quite alot of interesting hotels..not so expensive like Singapore :( Opss.. :x

their hostel are clean N designish..nice staff..economy price and value for money! :)

I've introduced those I've stayed in my previous post.. :)

Alot of research and prioritizing to do..
At initial stage, I've came up with a lot of to go, to eat, to do..
But what really happened when I'm there is actually different..
Traveling from place to place takes time..Amount of time spend at a place and my energy level also does matter..
Thus alot of places that I've planned to go, unable to go.. :(

Good thing is that most Taiwanese are very nice people and it's quite convenient to move around..

Taipei has easy to understand subway system, similar to Singapore's current MRT system..

It's important to have this map on hand..good for planning and decision making..

screenshot of Taipei subway map

My Actual Itinerary..

Day1 Taipei Nihao hostel > ximending
Day 2 Taipei Sato Castle > wu fen pu street shopping

Day3 Taichung Hotel Mi Casa > feng jia night market

Day4,5 Yilan hosted by my ex co-worker

Day6 Taipei Nihao hostel > shi da night market
Day7 Taipei Aqua Bella Hotspring hotel > Tam sui old street

don't forget to change TWD Ooo..

Setting out..going to the gate..

Arriving Taiwan!.. :)

After clearing the immigration..

It's only 6am in the morning.. zZ..

Temperature when I arrive..coldd.. :)

was too early..the telcom stall only opens at 8am..

went washroom to wash up + put on make up..

N found somewhere in the airport to have my breakfast while waiting for telcom stall to open..

Finally, I've got my temporary Taiwan sim card.. :)

It's good and important to have a local connection..especially coz I'm traveling alone..

Alot of times, I'll need the internet to look for information, contact family in Singapore to let them know I'm safe, watsapp and facebook.. :P

Connection would be faster and cheaper.. :)

Took a bus to Taipei Main Station..

After reaching Taipei Main station, 1st thing was to look for the hostel I'm staying to deposit my baggage.. :)

Next, was to get my subway card..

Was suppose to meet my Taiwan co-worker friend..
but she was busy with her Taiwan work matters..so I was on my own loh.. :(
There's so much time before the hostel check in time..
Looking at the subway map, the nearest was Xi men ding..
so that was my 1st shopping stop!..

After some short walk, I actually felt tiredzZ..no appetite too.. :(
I felt so lousy.. :'( walk a little bit only, so fast got tired ler.. -.-'
maybe coz my flight was a night flight and I didn't get to sleep/rest well onboard..
plus, my shoe was hurting my toes.. T.T found a place to seat down and didn't wanted to move anymore..the whole day I was like in a daze -.-'
Went back to the hostel and waited at the comfy sofa for my check in time..
After checking in, immediately washed up and went to bed..
Woke up suddenly during mid night and felt scared and started worrying about the remaining days..
wuu~

Anyway, some pictures I've taken at xi men ding..

I liked the road side trolley stall..
Looks traditional, like an old street..but not the dirty and unhygienic kind..
Ooh!..I think Taiwan is cleaner and people are more orderly than sg loh..
They Queue to enter the subway train..cute :P
Their public toilet are cleaner than sg ones..Opss.. :x

Bought mua chee from one of the trolley stall..
It's awesome!..the peanut tasted crunchy and fresh..

Found ah zong mee sua!..

but didn't have appetite that day.. :(
came back on day 6 to try it.. :)

find this mineral water interesting!..

it's called 'duo he shui' (drink more water)

bought this at Taipei Main station a few days before going home..
Nougat!..
this is nice!..I'll sure buy this again on my next visit..

...shall update on next post for yilan visit...

packing was not easy towards the end of the trip..
was soo worried that it will overweight..grrr..
and this was only the 3rd night..

should have bought more baggage weight.. -.-'

doned..

3 luggage on day 6 before going to beitou hotspring..

waa...long queue..

Before queuing, I actually asked the airport staff for location of weighing scale..
It was a release to see 19.2kg for my big Luggage..
In the end, the staff allows me to add in one more.. :)

to be continued... :P

Genki sushi Orchard Central Branch
This is a good place to dine!..
It's not crowded and it's interesting!..
They are using high technology ordering system!.. 0.0

Ipad Menu!..
Maybe I'm kind of 'sua gu' (mountain tortoise)..never dine here before.. :/
The staff quite nice, explained 'how it works' to me..

After placing my order with the ipad, food prepared would be sent by the high speed train on the track and stop by at your table side..
After you retrieved your food, need to press a button and the train will return..
How interesting..hahaha.. :P