December 2016
A five-day Taiwan trip is really not enough. There’s just so much to discover and it just hit me on the last night that I didn’t want to leave.
WHY TAIWAN
Taiwan is our nearest neighbouring country to the North but it is very different from home (Philippines). It’s a two hour flight away from Manila via Taipei. Seat sales are always the bomb at the start of the year (for Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines) so I had about 12 months to save for this trip. I always wondered what it’s like not to have English speaking skills as an advantage. People in Taiwan speak very little English but they are most accommodating to tourists.
WHERE TO GO
I’m not really sure how to start writing about this. There are just too many places to go to. Here’s my best shot at it.
- Yeliu Geopark
Definitely go to Yeliu Geopark and take a picture of the iconic “Queen’s Head” along with other geological formations. It’s an effort to get there but I’m telling you it is worth the trip. There is nothing like it.
- Golden Waterfalls in Jinguashi
No camera can capture its beauty. Although the driver said the rocks were made of gold, we see the golden color because the rocks are full of iron deposits. (Dont believe the driver!) It wonderfully contrasts with the green grass all around it.
- Jiufen Old Street
Jiufen is a busy old street full of food stalls and tea houses. You will need to use one hand to take awesome pictures and the other to hold your food. Getting a seat is close to impossible so you just need to go through 300 meters of cobble stone steps picking up delightful snacks along the way. Although night markets also offer a lot of food choices, what I appreciate most in Jiufen is witnessing how the food is prepared. No fancy machines for your bubble tea here but you get to see its old and beautiful process.
- Shi Fen Old Street
This is the most charming place in Taiwan. There was a drizzle that day which made it all the more magical. Tourists painted sky lanterns with wishes and released them into the sky. This place is so romantic (and if you know me, this is not the kind of thing I would say, but it really is romantic!) This gem gives a glimpse of the old railroad town. It really did feel like I time travelled to the Taiwan of the past.
- Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and National Concert Hall
A must-visit for any tourist, the memorial hall was built as a tribute to Taiwan’s founder, Chang Kai-shek. There are many things to learn about Taiwan’s culture when visiting Chian Kai-shek Memorial Hall. I went on a very full day but I will definitely go back to witness the changing of the guard and to visit the exhibition hall.
Here’s a picture of me with my photo bombers. Thanks guys!
- Taipei 101
Towering above the city is a beautiful 101 storey skyscraper called Taipei 101. It was definitely a challenge to take a selfie! It was designed to resemble a giant bamboo stalk. It is also one of the best malls in Taiwan.
- Taipei Zoo
Taipei Zoo is the home of my spirit animal-the rhino. That’s one item off my bucket list! It would take the whole day to go around this place. Unlike some zoos I’ve visited, the animals here seem pretty happy and healthy. It’s crazy how they could house so many animals. They have areas for desert animals, Asian, Australian and African animals. They have an area called the Bird World. They have indoor areas for pandas, koalas, penguins and amphibians.
- Zhinan Temple
A cable car ride from the zoo is the Zhinan Temple. It was built to honor the Taoist master Lu Dung Bin. It’s a beautiful mix of religion and culture.
- Ximending street
Ximen is popular for being the “Shibuya of Taipei”. It looks like a public art exhibit as the streets were filled with lovely murals. It’s a feast for the eyes and is often called the street art mecca of Taipei. (I wish I had taken more pictures but large crowds always make me nervous.) Shopping is great here, too as the district became an icon for culture with inspiration from its Japanese roots. In the middle of the street you’ll find people crowding over musicians and street performers. It is also hard to miss not one, not two but the four storey building where make-up junkies like me can call the beauty mecca- Watsons! And what’s so great is that it is open for 24 hours.
- Modern Toilet
There are many themed restaurants in Taiwan but the one that takes the cra..I mean cake is the very unique modern toilet. I’ll be honest, this is the most I’ve spent to eat in Taiwan but the experience makes it all worth it. They’ll have you sit on a toilet and read the food choices out of a news paper looking menu. Their food is served in toilet shaped bowls because why not. You also get to drink in urine collection bottles and eat your dessert from a bath tub plate.
- Fenjia Night Market (or Feng Chia Night Market)
The mother of all night markets! Fenjia is the largest night market in Taiwan. It is located near Fenjia University (where they shot Boys Over Flowers). There are about three long roads of infinite culinary wonders to make any foodie drool. They also have variety of cheap but quality fashion finds.
Teacher Nadine 