Travel Period: 12 to 15 November 2017
Stay: Neijiang Hotel at Xi Men Ding
It is a no-brainer that Taipei is my first solo travel destination. It is generally safe, Mandarin Chinese speaking, convenient public transports, availability to shop, food that I quite like and not too expensive.
Upon arrival at Taoyuan Airport Terminal 1 before the immigration, there will be a couple of phone shops selling SIM cards. I cannot remember the name of the telco because I just grab the cheapest and most importantly, no queue.
Once out of the immigration, simply follow the sign for Airport MRT and you can purchase EasyCard from the machines right in front of the gantry. It costs NT$160 per trip and takes about 40 mins to reach Taipei Main Station.
You can top up the EasyCard at any train station (minimum amount tried is NT$50) and there is admin fee to refund the monies in the card. As a guide, NT$800 including the rides to/fro airport and Maokong Mountain is just about right for my trip.
Once you reached Taipei Main Station, again, follow the sign to the metro line (which I will just call MRT in the rest of the post). Save a copy of the MRT map for easy travel.
Maokong Mountain
Take the MRT to Taipei Zoo Station and after you exit, take a 5 mins walk towards the gondola in the open.
With EasyCard, the gondola costs NT$100 per trip. I took the longer queue to get the glass bottom cabins. There is about one glass cabins out of six cabins and most people wants to take the glass bottom ones. There is no queue for the normal ones. The long wait means you get views like this (picture below). Its the top of the trees by the way.
From the exit, I took off on the left road, walking past some shops that look like coffee shop. Along the road, there are many restaurants and teahouses.
I stopped for a meal at the restaurant right before a temple and had a one person lunch for NT$450. My, it was yummy! It is a set with (from bottom right, clockwise) tea fried rice, bamboo shoots (supposed to be some other veggies but I changed for this), three pieces of rose chicken (one gone by the time all the food arrive), three pieces of tofu (very silky smooth), three pieces of prawns. They serves tea for free too.
Maokong should be a good place to walk around and enjoy the "away from city". I find the stuff quite expensive too.
With EasyCard, the gondola costs NT$100 per trip. I took the longer queue to get the glass bottom cabins. There is about one glass cabins out of six cabins and most people wants to take the glass bottom ones. There is no queue for the normal ones. The long wait means you get views like this (picture below). Its the top of the trees by the way.
I stopped for a meal at the restaurant right before a temple and had a one person lunch for NT$450. My, it was yummy! It is a set with (from bottom right, clockwise) tea fried rice, bamboo shoots (supposed to be some other veggies but I changed for this), three pieces of rose chicken (one gone by the time all the food arrive), three pieces of tofu (very silky smooth), three pieces of prawns. They serves tea for free too.
Maokong should be a good place to walk around and enjoy the "away from city". I find the stuff quite expensive too.
Elephant Mountain from Taipei City Hall
I rode the YouBike from Taipei City Hall to Elephant Mountain. At the park near the entrance of Xiangshan Hiking Trail, there is a YouBike station that looks like picture below. The ride is ~15 mins.
I registered my EasyCard at the machine at the bikes with the Taiwan number of the SIMCard I bought. Download the YouBike app beforehand so that you can check the stations and availability.
Alternatively, the most direct way to get to the Elephant Mountain is via Xiangshan Station, Exit 2. From the exit, continue walking along the edge of the park. At the end of the road, take a left turn and follow the uphill road to the entrance of Xiangshan Hiking Trail. It takes around 20 mins to reach the entrance.
From Taipei City Hall Stn, you will have to ride to 3 stops to Zhongxiao Fuxing Stn then, ride 1 stop to Daan Stn then, ride 3 stops to Xiangshan Stn. Or walk ~15 mins to Taipei 101 Stn and take one stop to Xiangshan Stn.
The entrance of the hiking trail.
Elephant Mountain is a hike with (seemingly endless) steps. It took me almost 20 mins of hike to the first viewpoint.
The view was OK and didn't wow me as looking at buildings was not my kind of thing. The internet said there is another viewpoint with better views but I gave it a miss. Recommend to be mosquito repelled ready.
Do try to hike up slightly before sunset so that you can see Taipei 101 light up. I missed the light up, so I viewed it from the park.
I registered my EasyCard at the machine at the bikes with the Taiwan number of the SIMCard I bought. Download the YouBike app beforehand so that you can check the stations and availability.
Alternatively, the most direct way to get to the Elephant Mountain is via Xiangshan Station, Exit 2. From the exit, continue walking along the edge of the park. At the end of the road, take a left turn and follow the uphill road to the entrance of Xiangshan Hiking Trail. It takes around 20 mins to reach the entrance.
From Taipei City Hall Stn, you will have to ride to 3 stops to Zhongxiao Fuxing Stn then, ride 1 stop to Daan Stn then, ride 3 stops to Xiangshan Stn. Or walk ~15 mins to Taipei 101 Stn and take one stop to Xiangshan Stn.
The entrance of the hiking trail.
Elephant Mountain is a hike with (seemingly endless) steps. It took me almost 20 mins of hike to the first viewpoint.
The view was OK and didn't wow me as looking at buildings was not my kind of thing. The internet said there is another viewpoint with better views but I gave it a miss. Recommend to be mosquito repelled ready.
Do try to hike up slightly before sunset so that you can see Taipei 101 light up. I missed the light up, so I viewed it from the park.
Addiction Aquatic Development
Addiction Aquatic Development ("AAD") is ~15 mins walk from Xing Tian Temple Station. You can also take the chance to walk into Xing Tian Temple. It is a totally different vibe from Long Shan Temple where there are more local elderly here, sitting around and chanting.
The walk to AAD involves walking past many funeral parlours. The entrance as below.
AAD is a seafood haven that sells seafood like supermarket and different types of "restaurants" that serves different type / cooking style like BBQ (as pictured below).
Instead of sitting down at the restaurants to eat, you can buy the food from the "supermarket" and head out to eat.
Being solo restricted the food I can eat so I went for the Japanese standing sushi bar. The food are quite expensive and weren't even great. The seafood platter costs NT$210 and uni sushi is NT$70.
Address: No. 18, Alley 2, Ln 410, Minzu E Rd, Zhongshan District
Getting there: XingTian Temple Stn, Yellow, Exit 4.
Hours: 10am to 12am
Website: Addiction Aquatic Development
The walk to AAD involves walking past many funeral parlours. The entrance as below.
AAD is a seafood haven that sells seafood like supermarket and different types of "restaurants" that serves different type / cooking style like BBQ (as pictured below).
Instead of sitting down at the restaurants to eat, you can buy the food from the "supermarket" and head out to eat.
Being solo restricted the food I can eat so I went for the Japanese standing sushi bar. The food are quite expensive and weren't even great. The seafood platter costs NT$210 and uni sushi is NT$70.
Address: No. 18, Alley 2, Ln 410, Minzu E Rd, Zhongshan District
Getting there: XingTian Temple Stn, Yellow, Exit 4.
Hours: 10am to 12am
Website: Addiction Aquatic Development
Wistaria Tea House
Wistaria Tea House is located ~10 mins quiet walk away from Taipower Building Station and <10 mins walk away from Shi Da Night Market.
The place is easy to miss and hard to spot. Following Google Maps managed to bring me to it.
I did not make any reservation and had to wait awhile to get seats even though it was quite empty. The tea selection was extensive and expensive at more than S$10 per set (pictured as below).
I requested for the person to teach me how to do the tea and it got awkward as I can't tell much difference between the smell. One pot of tea (which is smaller than palm size) is able to bring you 5 to 6 pots.
If tea is your thing, do give this place a try!
The place is easy to miss and hard to spot. Following Google Maps managed to bring me to it.
I did not make any reservation and had to wait awhile to get seats even though it was quite empty. The tea selection was extensive and expensive at more than S$10 per set (pictured as below).
I requested for the person to teach me how to do the tea and it got awkward as I can't tell much difference between the smell. One pot of tea (which is smaller than palm size) is able to bring you 5 to 6 pots.
If tea is your thing, do give this place a try!
Address: No. 1, Lane 16, Xinsheng South Road Section 3, Da’an District
Getting there: Taipower Building Stn, Green, Exit 2, 10 mins walk
Hours: 10am to 10pm
Website: Wistaria Tea House
7 days itinerary for Tasmania
Travel period: 1 to 8 October 2017
Stay: Multiple
It was our first time to Tassie and we were so excited! Most of the people we met were really friendly and appear genuinely concern if we had a good day. I am thankful for the generally clean public toilets too.
We found the driving time per Google maps was pretty accurate by keeping to the speed limit. Our driving time is less than 3 hours per drive.
Stay: Multiple
It was our first time to Tassie and we were so excited! Most of the people we met were really friendly and appear genuinely concern if we had a good day. I am thankful for the generally clean public toilets too.
We found the driving time per Google maps was pretty accurate by keeping to the speed limit. Our driving time is less than 3 hours per drive.
Day 1
Ashgrove Cheese > Wynyard. Stay: Airbnb at Wynyard.
We arrived at Launceston airport on 1 October afternoon and picked up our car from Apex (very straightforward and small call rental company with just one guy). We had Mcdonald's (or Maccas) for lunch. For some reason, it just tasted better there. Next, we drove to Ashgrove Cheese to try and pick up some cheeses. We get to try all the cheeses. For those not on display, you can just request with the staff and they will gladly open a new slab and give you a sample! We spent the night at Wynyard and cooked our own dinner.
Ashgrove Cheese > Wynyard. Stay: Airbnb at Wynyard.
We arrived at Launceston airport on 1 October afternoon and picked up our car from Apex (very straightforward and small call rental company with just one guy). We had Mcdonald's (or Maccas) for lunch. For some reason, it just tasted better there. Next, we drove to Ashgrove Cheese to try and pick up some cheeses. We get to try all the cheeses. For those not on display, you can just request with the staff and they will gladly open a new slab and give you a sample! We spent the night at Wynyard and cooked our own dinner.
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| Ice-cream from Ashgrove Cheese |
5 Days Itinerary for Bangkok
Travel period: 6 to 11 December 2016
Stay: Ascott Sathorn Bangkok
As my flight out of Bangkok was at 8am on the last day, this is a 5 days itinerary instead of 6. We commute mainly on their trains and Uber. Places we went were quite common places that Singaporeans usually go to including some temples and tailor of clothes at Amari Watergate. My travel period was during the one-year long Thai King's mourning period.
Day 1
We arrived Bangkok at 10 and took a taxi out of the airport. The taxi uncle asked if we were going on flat rate even after we said we were going on meter before boarding. So we insisted on meter again and he went "Ok! Ok! I love meter!" Throughout our ride, he was talking on the phone in Thai and we kept catching him repeating "I love meter" to whoever he was talking to. He purposely tried to miss a turn at where he thought we should but thankfully, he didn't and we were using Google Maps to make sure we were going on the right track.
So, you might want to try Uber out of the airport instead. Remember to change the number to a Thai number so that the drivers can call you. We didn't know and still managed to get most of the rides. Until one uncle who speak English said he tried to call us after we got onto his car. Usually we will walk to a place nearby that is distinctive for pick-up, usually a hotel.
We reached Ascott Sathorn Bangkok, our stay for the trip. We got a one-bedroom executive and totally in love with the space. We took flatlays of our purchases on the floor and prepared our food in the kitchen. If you like, you can also wash your clothes.
Stay: Ascott Sathorn Bangkok
As my flight out of Bangkok was at 8am on the last day, this is a 5 days itinerary instead of 6. We commute mainly on their trains and Uber. Places we went were quite common places that Singaporeans usually go to including some temples and tailor of clothes at Amari Watergate. My travel period was during the one-year long Thai King's mourning period.
Day 1
We arrived Bangkok at 10 and took a taxi out of the airport. The taxi uncle asked if we were going on flat rate even after we said we were going on meter before boarding. So we insisted on meter again and he went "Ok! Ok! I love meter!" Throughout our ride, he was talking on the phone in Thai and we kept catching him repeating "I love meter" to whoever he was talking to. He purposely tried to miss a turn at where he thought we should but thankfully, he didn't and we were using Google Maps to make sure we were going on the right track.
So, you might want to try Uber out of the airport instead. Remember to change the number to a Thai number so that the drivers can call you. We didn't know and still managed to get most of the rides. Until one uncle who speak English said he tried to call us after we got onto his car. Usually we will walk to a place nearby that is distinctive for pick-up, usually a hotel.
We reached Ascott Sathorn Bangkok, our stay for the trip. We got a one-bedroom executive and totally in love with the space. We took flatlays of our purchases on the floor and prepared our food in the kitchen. If you like, you can also wash your clothes.
Seasonal Tastes at The Westin Singapore
Visited Seasonal Tastes at The Westin Singapore with the DBS/POSB one for one promotion which makes the bill comes about $98++ for two adults weekend dinner. Seasonal Tastes is an international buffet and at this price, it comes with more seafood as compared to lunch or weekday dinner. Weekend is considered as Fridays and Saturdays.
My, it was disappointing. The photos below are not the complete picture of what was available in the buffet. At this buffet, what I really enjoyed is the fact that it was not crowded at all. Cheers to not having to queue to get the food.
For our first round, we had the fresh seafood. The shellfishes were all tasteless aka no taste of sweetness at all. The oysters were rather skinny even though they were freshly shucked. Perhaps it was not the season? The salmon sashimi were decent! It was as good as those from Fassler in Woodlands (read: can get at a much cheaper price).
My, it was disappointing. The photos below are not the complete picture of what was available in the buffet. At this buffet, what I really enjoyed is the fact that it was not crowded at all. Cheers to not having to queue to get the food.
For our first round, we had the fresh seafood. The shellfishes were all tasteless aka no taste of sweetness at all. The oysters were rather skinny even though they were freshly shucked. Perhaps it was not the season? The salmon sashimi were decent! It was as good as those from Fassler in Woodlands (read: can get at a much cheaper price).
5 Days Itinerary for Hong Kong
Travel period: 20 to 24 October 2016
Stay: Citadines Ashley (near Tsim Sha Tsui)I don't really like Hong Kong to begin with. given that my first trip was pretty meh. But I had been seeing a lot of posts on the things to eat in HK and decided to go along with my gf who haven't been there before. Well, we decided that we are not going back for the next five years at least. The food choices are great but there was absolutely nothing to shop and walk to our interest at all.
It appears that it was a low travel season because there was little to no queue for most of the food we went for. However, we faced a passing typhoon on our second day which is really unlucky because it was totally out of season and according to the news, it was the first since 10+ years for a typhoon in October.
Day 1
Tsim Sha Tsui > Dim Sum Icon > Ladies Street > Dim Dim Sum
As per Citadines Ashley,
Day 1
Tsim Sha Tsui > Dim Sum Icon > Ladies Street > Dim Dim Sum
As per Citadines Ashley,
Take the Airport Express Line to Kowloon Station. Switch to K2 complimentary Airport Express Shuttle Bus toward Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui. Get off at the 4th stop, and it is a 5 minutes' walk.
We followed the instructions to a T and with the help of Google Maps, we managed to find the apartment. The apartment was small but decently equipped. I love the location for we were able to walk to many places in our itinerary.
Dim Sum Icon has a different theme every quarterly and we were glad that for October 2016, it was Crayon Shinchan! It was awesome because the previous theme was this..
Check out from their Facebook before heading over to avoid disappointment! We went to the outlet near our apartment at The ONE (Address: 100 Nathan Road) and there was no queue at all. We had to wait for all our food to arrive to take this photo. Presentation wise, it was awesome! Taste was mediocre and it was quite expensive! Well, all for the novelty!
Dim Sum Icon has a different theme every quarterly and we were glad that for October 2016, it was Crayon Shinchan! It was awesome because the previous theme was this..
Photo from Dim Sum Icon's Facebook Page
Check out from their Facebook before heading over to avoid disappointment! We went to the outlet near our apartment at The ONE (Address: 100 Nathan Road) and there was no queue at all. We had to wait for all our food to arrive to take this photo. Presentation wise, it was awesome! Taste was mediocre and it was quite expensive! Well, all for the novelty!
7 Days Itinerary for Seoul, Jeju and Busan
Travel Period:
Seoul - 15 to 16, 18, 20 to 21 February 2016
Jeju - 17 February 2016
Busan - 19 February 2016
From the dates above, it is obvious that this was a rush trip. Putting two girls who haven't (or considered haven't) been to Korea, we were beyond excited to go as many places as we can. Google maps does not work well there, so please do your homework if there is anywhere you really want to go. This is a long post.
Seoul - 15 to 16, 18, 20 to 21 February 2016
Jeju - 17 February 2016
Busan - 19 February 2016
From the dates above, it is obvious that this was a rush trip. Putting two girls who haven't (or considered haven't) been to Korea, we were beyond excited to go as many places as we can. Google maps does not work well there, so please do your homework if there is anywhere you really want to go. This is a long post.
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | |
| Morning | Gwangjang Market | -
Arrival at Jeju - O’sulloc Museum and Innisfree Jeju House |
- Arrival at Busan | ||||
| Lunch | Myeongdong Street Food | Random shop near Cheonjeyeon Falls (Seaweed soup) | Bonjuk at Ewha | - Jalgalchi Market | Ginseng Chicken Tosokchon Samgyetang | ||
| Afternoon | Myeongdong | -
Cheonjeyeon Falls - Mysterious Road |
Ewha Shopping Street | Spa Land | Myeongdong | -
Ewha - Flight out |
|
| Dinner | Random shops near the accoms (Jjigae and fried chicken) | Random shops near our accoms (Seafood stew) | Hwaro Hyang (Black Pork BBQ) | Loco Quan 401 (BBQ) | Twin Pork Soup | Army stew at Myeongdong | |
| Evening / Night | -
Arrival at Seoul - Siloam Fire Pot Sauna |
Namsan Tower | Flight back to Seoul | -
Hongdae - Thanks Nature Café |
Back to Seoul | ||
| Stay | Airbnb at Namyeong | Shinchon Ever8 Serviced Residence | |||||
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