It would be my first time to visit TAIWAN. I`m so excited! I`m going there with my mom and we planning our own itinerary. First thing we gotta do is apply for Taiwan visa. My mom applied it in Indonesia while I only have to apply it online because I have an Australian Visa that is still valid. All I have to do is apply online, once approved, print the document and don`t forget to bring it along with the valid Australian visa.
We want to travel with our own, not with the travel agent. I prefer to arrange my own itinerary. So I bought the return ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Taipei (KUL - TPE) 23 - 29 January 2015 by Air Asia. It costs us RM 1.730,00 (2 person return). And we stay in New Stay Inn 2 Taipei which located near Zhongshan MRT exit 5. The hotel was nice, clean and comfortable. It`s near with the Ningxia Night Market, lots of Seven Eleven 7-11 around the hotel and also there`s a Starbucks between the hotel and MRT.
We want to travel with our own, not with the travel agent. I prefer to arrange my own itinerary. So I bought the return ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Taipei (KUL - TPE) 23 - 29 January 2015 by Air Asia. It costs us RM 1.730,00 (2 person return). And we stay in New Stay Inn 2 Taipei which located near Zhongshan MRT exit 5. The hotel was nice, clean and comfortable. It`s near with the Ningxia Night Market, lots of Seven Eleven 7-11 around the hotel and also there`s a Starbucks between the hotel and MRT.
DAY 1 : 23rd January 2015
ARRIVED IN TAIPEI - NINGXIA NIGHT MARKET
We departed from KLIA 2 in the morning and touched down in Taipei in the afternoon. Once arrived in Taoyuan Airport Taiwan, we went through the immigration check. I was kinda nervous because i`m not sure about my visa. Before departed from KLIA 2, the staff in check in counter Air Asia seemed like she had no idea about my online visa and needed to authorized it with her manager first. So when the Taiwan`s immigration officer check my documents, took her quite a long time until she finally stamped my passport! yeay... i was relief and ready for some new kick-ass adventure.
The next step is how to get out from the airport and go to Taipei City. There`s some options which are take a bus, taxi or High Speed Rail (HSR). I plan to go by bus first and take an HSR when I was about to leave. So I follow the direction in the Airport which is stated clearly and buy bus tickets. There are some bus companies I guess. So I just go to a counter and tell the staff that I want to take a bus to Taipei Main Station. The bus ticket cost 90 NTD per person and it took about 1.5 hour to reach TMS. Once I reach TMS, my mom n I were sooo hungry and we decide to buy some food. After that we go to our hotel.
So from the Airport there are some options to get to Taipei city centre. You can take a bus, taxi, or even HSR (High Speed Rail). I would like to try the HSR but I plan to do it from Taipei City to airport. Now i got plenty of time so it is better if I take a bus first. There`s a clear direction in the airport where to get buses. So I go to the counter ticket and pay for 90NTD per person. From Taoyuan Airport to Taipei City would take about 1 hour or more, depends on the traffic while the HSR would be much faster. I could enjoy the view from the bus, with a great feeling for sure. Then we drop at Taipei Main Station (TMS). Arrived in TMS, we were so hungry then we decide to eat something. |
I still have no idea about the transportation system there and I was a little bit confuse which MRT i should take and which way to the MRT because in TMS there`s a link for TRA (train), HSR and everybody seems so rush (because that time was a peak hour). So I ask people randomly how to get to MRT Zhongshan from TMS. And surprisingly the Taiwanese are very nice and friendly. Although some of them cannot really speak english well (NB: I cannot speak Mandarin), but they really are helpful. One of a young guy I randomly asked didn`t speak basic english well but he offered me to lead me to buy the token for MRT and tell me which line I should take. And when i buy the token, i ask the girl beside me how to buy it (I was tension because there`s a long queue behind me, so it`s better for me to ask someone rather than figure it out myself which will took some time). And she teach me how to buy it with a smile. And then when I wait for the MRT, I asked the girl standing in front of me whether i took the right train or not and she answered friendly.We were in the same train and when it`s arrived in Zhongshan station, she made a gesture that tell me this is my destination and waved her hand. So my first impression about Taiwanese people are very positive!!!
After get off the train, I had no idea which exit should i take. So i was a little bit get lost with 2 big luggages I carried. I was so tension but finally I arrived at the hotel. I took exit 2 while I should take exit 5. After check in, we went to Ningxia Night Market which located not so far from our hotel. We bought some Taiwanese snacks and everything was yummy.
After get off the train, I had no idea which exit should i take. So i was a little bit get lost with 2 big luggages I carried. I was so tension but finally I arrived at the hotel. I took exit 2 while I should take exit 5. After check in, we went to Ningxia Night Market which located not so far from our hotel. We bought some Taiwanese snacks and everything was yummy.
DAY 2 : 24th January 2015
TAIPEI MAOKONG GONDOLA - HELLO KITTY CAFE - XIMENDING
It`s saturday! And we plan to go to Taipei Zoo. Me n mom go out around 10-11 and we go directly to Zhongshan MRT Station. And the we took the green line and continue to the brown line to get to Taipei Zoo MRT Station. Or you can take the red line and then change to brown line as well. Once we arrived in Taipei Zoo Station, I decided to go to Maokong Gondola first. Actually my first purpose is to take a crystal cabin gondola, not the Zoo. So I follow the direction to Maokong Gondola. I had no idea where to buy crystal cabin tickets, so I just queue with people and planning to ask the staff incharge. Because there were 2 queue, i was confused. So the staff told me to take the number in a machine first before buy the ticket and pay for the ticket. So I had to queue up in the machine and get a number to take ride in crystal cabin. There will be a staff helping you with the machine. So she told me that the next cabin available i should wait for 45 minutes, would that be ok? So I took it and queue up again in the cashier to pay for the ticket. It cost me 50 NTD per person for 1 ride to the very last station. When i return, i should pay 50 NTD again. While me n mom wait, we bought some breakfast in Seven Eleven nearby. After waiting for some time, finally we stepped in in the crystal cabin. Well, for me it was worth it. I was so amazed and happy with the view!
After reach the last station, we enjoy the view there, took some photos and had our lunch. Lots of food stall along the way. After that we went back to the first station. At first I planned to go to the Zoo but I got to meet my college friend, Ivan, who study in Taiwan. And also my mother doesn`t really want to go to the Zoo. So we just managed to go to the Dancing Fountain near the Maokong Gondola Station and then go back to the hotel.
Around 7 p.m. I met Ivan in Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT station then we were heading to Hello Kitty cafe. If u want to dine in, there`s a minimum price 300NTD per person (If I`m not mistaken). The interior was really cute and also the food art is nice, love it. But the taste is ordinary for me. I ordered dessert (NTD340) and latte (NTD 230).
Then Ivan took me to Ximending ( Harajuku of Taipei). And then he had to go back because he lives quite far from Taipei City.
DAY 3 : 25th January 2015
HUALIEN - TAROKO GORGE NATIONAL PARK DAY TRIP
Hualien is far from the Taipei City and it`s better to overnight there rather than having a day trip. But it doesn`t mean it`s impossible to have a day trip to Hualien. I reserve the train ticket from Taipei Main Station to Hualien in TMS on Friday because i`m afraid if I buy in the same day, I might not get the ticket bcoz the train is full. Actually I just plan to go to the Taroko Gorge National park but when I ask the information in TMS, they suggest me to go to Hualien first. Actually I`ve done some research that saying it`s nearer if I stop at Xincheng Train Station. But it was quite difficult for me to communicate with the staff at the ticket counter so they just give me a return ticket from TMS to Hualien Train Station. Really, it is very difficult to communicate with them so I was afraid if I insist to go to Xincheng Train Station, i would be lost. But actually it is nearer indeed! So if u want to go to Taroko Gorge National Park only, actually you can stop at Xincheng and wait for the bus to Taroko! Actually I stop at Xincheng Train Station before arrived at Hualien Station.
Return ticket from TMS to Hualien is 880 NTD per person. The journey was about 3 hours. The first time I reserve the ticket, I bought the return ticket from hualien to TMS at 3 p.m. then I realized i should buy a later ticket. I had no idea whether i can change the schedule or not. I ask the counter about it and he said i could change the schedule so I change it to 6.30 p.m. because my mom doesn`t want to arrive in Taipei so late at night. And i got a 200NTD refund because we change the train as well. Great! Me n mom woke up early in the morning to catch the morning train and we slept on the train. But I should tell you that the view along the way was amazing! I saw river, waterfall, the sea, and the mountains! Too bad my mom was asleep. |
Once arrived in Hualien Train Station, I visit the information counter on the right of the station (should walk a bit) and ask how to get to the Taroko. Apparently the bus station is on the left of the station. So we bought a day pass ticket for 250NTD per person. It took us about 2 hours from Hualien to Taroko Gorge. And guess what?!! I bypass the Xincheng Station and that time I knew that Xincheng Station is very near with the Taroko!!! I was regret not buying the ticket to Xincheng and could save the 2 hours journey by bus from Hualien! Errghh...
Finally we arrived at Taroko Visitor Centre and choose to stop there since we haven`t eat anything from the morning. We ordered some rice sets with chicken wine and vegetables. Cost about 180NTD per set. We enjoyed our lunch with a breathtaking view!
After lunch we walked around and wait for the bus to take us to Tianxiang (the top). The bus was really late at that time so we waited for quite a long time! Made me nervous because i got to catch the train to Taipei. But finally the bus arrived. So we went straight to Tianxiang and I enjoyed the beautiful scenery along the way up. I plan to go hiking in Swallow Grotto but too bad we couldn`t make it because our time was limited. And also my mom was exhausted. She is 57 years old already lol, can`t keep up with me. But i did manage to have a view stop to Tunnel of Nine Turns Trail and walk a bit in Swallow Grotto, took some pictures and then go back to Hualien.
After reached Hualien, we still got about 30-45 minutes left before our train depart so we had some dinner in a small stall. It was only a simple meal but costs us about 220. My mom had a rice with a meat and i had a noodle. For such prices, I find it`s not worth it. The taste was FAILED!!! If the taste was so good, I wouldn`t mind to pay for such price. Anyway, we went back to Taipei and arrived about 9.25 p.m. After that we went to Ningxia Night Market again and buy some foods.
DAY 4 : 26th January 2015
BRUNCH - TAMSUI - TOILET RESTAURANT - RAOHE NIGHT MARKET
I plan to meet my high school friends who are study in Taiwan, Sindy and Tania. We went into the same school for like 14 years? From Kindergarten until high school! Sindy`s father is Taiwanese while her mom is Indonesian, while Tania is Indonesian. Tania could only joined us at dinner time, after she works or study? I`m not sure. So I met with Sindy first for brunch together. She took me to Konayuki Hokkaido Style Cafe near Zhongshan station. It was a bit rainy. But before the rain got heavier, we were luckily arrived at the Cafe :) . Sindy helps me order the menu because she speaks Mandarin very well. I ordered cheese cakes with fruits & ice cream and fruity tea (550NTD --->> expensive >.< ) while Sindy ordered Pancakes and Green tea milk. While waiting we took some selfies, wefies, etc. Busy with the camera =p .
Then Sindy took me to Tamsui. We chat alot in the train, bcoz we haven`t met for like 5 years? After arrived in Tamsui, she showed me the food market along the Tamsui. But we still full so we went straight to Old Fort San Domingo. It`s an old European style building, built by the Spanish, I guess? You can see the Tamsui river from above. The grounds are very well maintained as well. Inside the fort buildings are some display of the antique furniture and equipment used before on the site. No entrance fee.
After that me n Sindy walk along the Tamsui river while taking pictures and chat. Bought some foods before heading to Ximending area to meet Tania and had dinner at Modern Toilet Restaurant. Sindy show me a good place to eat a traditional Taiwanese tofu. It`s a tofu filled with the vermicelli in a gravy. There`s a menu there but i didn`t really pay attention because i had Sindy order for me. Then she told me to try the iron egg. I tried some but don`t really like it. And also we tried pineapple cake. Was good for me, delicious but didn`t buy it.
Actually I`ve visited a Toilet themed restaurant in KL in Sungai Wang Plaza once, but the one in Taipei is more happening. I ordered a curry rice and hot tea. Cost me about 260 NTD for a set of main course with drink and ice cream. It`s cheaper than the Hello Kitty cafe. Taste was good. Oh, at first Sindy wasn`t sure she could join us dinner at toilet restaurant or not because tomorrow she got flight to go back to Indonesia. But then she decided to join us :) .