Taiwan

Sunday 23 October 2016

Taipei Day 8: National Palace Museum & Raohe Night Market


On our last day, after checking in our luggage at the luggage center a few minutes walk from Taipei Main Station, we headed back to Shilin for breakfast.



Again, we opted for the Taiwanese style breakfast and our choice this time is Yong He Dou Jiang Da Wang (永和豆漿大王) a.k.a. Soy Milk King @ShihLin MRT.
 
salty bean curd, anyone?

We were initially looking to get to the branch near to National Palace Museum via taxi but was told by the taxi driver there is another right beside the station! He was such a SUPER honest driver! I mean, he could've just earn some cash just getting us to the place we want but instead described to us the direction, which wasn't too far.

Direction: Just head towards Zhongzheng road, or from the station, towards the Watson store direction.






We had youtiao (cruellers) wrapped with egg and biscuit. I didnt know it was called Shao Bing so I simply showed the pic I got online from my friend's Ipad. Then we ordered soy milk, mine sweet and my other friend's, the salty version which they were raving. My friends remarked it was better than the one we had in a small shop near Chiang Kai Shek MRT! I'm quite meh about the salty version, somehow it isn't really my thing... In case you wanna order it, it's called Xian Dou Jiang.



On top of that, we had one rolled rice with floss (I think) and egg which we shared, which was alright. And you bet, we were so-o-o stuffed right after.



Dropped by the nearest convenience store after that to get my favorite Taiwan coffee.

 
After our meal, again, we boarded taxi to National Palace Museum. We spent a good four hours exploring the three levels of the museum. We didn't snap any pics inside, just taking our time checking out the arts and artifacts which was pretty cool.

Later the evening, we explored the museum exterior. The weather was getting gloomy by then. Nevertheless, it was super bright my eyes hurt so bad.



Fast forward to dinner time (after we had a short walk around Taipei 101), again we headed to Raohe Night market because we wanted someplace we were familiar with and close by to the TMS. It was a good idea because despite having been there the day before, we seemed to have missed out on exploring another side of the market.

This time we had beef noodles because my friends insisted on having some before leaving. I have forgotten the name of the place but it is one with photos of famous (I think) people who had dined in the restaurant.


Oh, if you read Chinese, this bill might help.


My friends had braised beef, beef meat noodles and another and I had beef noodles with combination of beef meat, tripe (a lining, I've just learned) and tendon.


Personally, I'm no fan of beef and even eating the parts was new to me but I thought the soup was alright, very clear but flavorful. The tripe though, was the least favorite having some strong inards-sorta taste. Think chicken liver.

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After our meals, we rushed back to Taipei Main Station grabbing our luggage from the luggage center before frantically looking for the bus station only to find the Kuo Kuang Bus Station neon sign looking down at us. Funnily it took one non-Chinese speaker/reader who could only make out the shapes of the characters to point that out LOL. We found ourselves in similar situations quite a number of times back in Taiwan hahaha.

On the ride towards the airport.


The journey was pretty smooth and thankfully we could checked in our luggage immediately and had some time to explore the rest of the airport before flying back.


Of course it's gotta be the window seat!


Anddd that's it! This post marks the last of my adventure in Taiwan~~ If you would like to find out more about my travel, check out the rest of it in my last few posts~! Thanks for reading.

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Friday 23 September 2016

Taipei Day 7: Loco Food, WuFenPu and Raohe Night Market

 Hello people~! I'm finally blogging about my 7th day in Taipei~~ We started our day heading to LOCO Food in the city center for breakfast!





 I don't remember what I ordered but to me it was pretty normal but my friends enjoyed theirs LOL. Somehow I got very high taste for food and shopping WTF


Definitely gotta start my day with coffee LOL. The coffee tasted pretty mild.


After we're done with breakie off we went to WuFenPu. I guess because it was a working day, the train was so empty!



When we got there, I dragged my friends over to the first Watson I see to shop. Since it is close to the end of my trip, I was entering every single Cosmed, Watson and Guardian stores I can see so much that my friends go, "Again". In total, I've probably spent over RM500 just purchasing beauty products for my friends and I. Mostly for my girl friends though. You can check out my earlier post on all the hauls I got from Taiwan.






Gudetama masks so adorable!


One of the interesting point I noticed from most of the Guardian / Watsons stores are that the stores have an extra floor downstairs with more products! Kinda cool IMO


This is a photo from one of the convenience store. Check out all the liquors especially the mini ones LOL




Ended up with some Japanese-style pudding ice cream too LOL


Right after that we head to WuFenPu and found the place empty.


It appears that the shops are only open at 1PM wtf. So we headed back and to the nearby station which houses a shopping mall, Citylink. Me carrying my beauty hauls LOL


Then shopped a bit. Found a stall selling Japanese brand sunglasses and went over. Ended up buying a pair of sunglasses


Then we looked around a bit and decided it's time for lunch. We had lil' bites at MOS Burger, a burger chain originating from Japan. I've heard of it a bit but it was my first time trying.




Our burgers :)


Shopped so much from Watson and Guardian I have a tons of these stickers now LOL



Selfie with my new toy wheee~~ Photoshopped my pic here cause my skin was breaking out from all the traveling stress (>.<)


When we're done, we headed back and finally all the stores are open for business.



While my one girl friend go check out each and every shops, I got tired and bought some bahulu-like snacks.



My hauls~



We spent a good over 4 hours there if not more mostly with my super shopoholic girl friend checking the stores. I was pretty bored after a while though I did find some Korean branded clothings though they were so expensive I gave them a go.

Once we're done, we headed to Raohe Night Market which was just opposite the train station we got off that morning (Not Citylink). It was slightly drizzly so we chose to dine in one of the restaurants first while waiting for the rain to stop.


This shop.




The walls decorated with photos and newspaper articles of the shop's achievements.



Look at the size of the pot!


Our lamb and pork broth~ Tasted like mild bak kut teh but it was good!


Of course I gotta have my lu ruo fan!


Then we checked out the Chinese bakery shop nearby before heading to the market!




Ordered this round okonomiyaki or egg-cabbage pancake. Apparently the vendors were so used to having tourist snapping away they only permit you to do so only if you're customers.




After my luggage shopping and while waiting for my friends checking out shoes and bags, I got myself a Popsicle.


And pink guava too! I'm sooo missing them!


It was only when we were at the market that we noticed meat broth is Raohe Night Market specialty.

Just in case you've missed out my earlier posts on Taipei, the different night markets in Taipei serves 'specialties' or common dishes offered by stalls and restaurants in the vicinity.




At the end of our walk (at the entrance of Raohe), I recognized a stall selling pepper meat buns that was recommended on Trip Advisors and decided to join the queue for it! I ended up the only one queuing while my friends shopped (=______=)


Pretty, pretty buns~


Finally it was my turn!
 

We brought it home to try and it was still warm. Pretty yum I would say!


 And then it's time to go back :(

 

I brought back an extra luggage LOL.
 

Bought it from the night market from this shop with super friendly people. The uncles were so nice to start up a conversation having met many Malaysian and Singaporean tourists who bought luggage and bags from them. Good to know I'm not the only shopaholics LOL but then of course many people come to Taiwan to shop!

One uncle even helped me oil my luggage wheels and handle! Goodness, I'm super thankful for that! I also found a knock off Anello handbag I'm obsessing over and the aunty offered me discounts for having purchased the luggage. I ended up didn't buy and regretted LOL.



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