Taipei-Kaohsiung Nov 2007

Transportation
Air: Fly JetStar 捷星 http://www.jetstarasia.com
Airport transfers: Take the FreeGo! 飞狗 bus or KuoKuang 国光 which is about NT140 (unfortunately, not free!)
(City bus which we booked thru hotel to airport costs NT160)
High speed rail: Book HSR 高铁 online: http://www.thsrc.com.tw
MRT: Buy the EasyCard 悠游卡 for traveling within Taipei city on MRT 捷运

Accommodation
Taipei: Stay in East Dragon 东龙 which is near Ximen 西门 station where 西门町 is located (so convenient! and the staff are so friendly and helpful and thoughtful! 很有人情味！)
Kaohsiung: Stayed in Toong Mao 统茂 which is passable on Chi-Hsian 七贤 road. Location is ok. Near Love River 爱河 and Fortune/Longevity Mountain 财/寿山 and Western Bay 西子湾. Breakfast wasn't something to rave about. Recommend a different hotel if you aren't on a shoestring budget like us! Eg. Splendor 金典 or Linden 寒轩

Things we did:
Wednesday 07 Nov '07
~ 华西街-Snake Alley/Huasi Tourist Night Market-Can skip..apart from 修眉毛/挽面, nothing particularly interesting
~ 西门町-Ximending=shopping
Thursday 08 Nov '07
~ 示范大学-ShiDa university campus tour
~ 五分铺-Bargain-hunting!-Be prepared for lots of walking
~ 鼎泰丰-DinTaiFung
~ 永康街-YongKang Street-冰馆! Ice Monster 吃冰..
~ 脚底按摩-Foot massage @ 皇家岜厘 Royal Bali massage & therapy services-much needed after walking the whole day!
Friday 09 Nov '07
~ 高雄-Take HSR to Kaohsiung
~ 梦时代-Dreamz shopping mall/摩天轮-Ferris wheel/投篮游戏机-Basketball arcade game
~ 西子湾-Western bay/British consulate/prison-Near a university that boasts a beach on campus grounds!
~ 爱河渡轮-Love River cruise
~ 六合夜市-Liouhe night market
Saturday 10 Nov '07
~ 台北-Take HSR to Taipei
~ 渔人码头-Fisherman's Wharf-Take bus 26 from terminal MRT station-Caught a 原著民 concert! and a 民歌手..
~ 淡水老街-Danshui Old Street where we bought the single big fat soft juicy sweet persimmon (should have gotten 3 for NT100!) and had 盲人按摩-Blind man massage-shoulders, neck and back-very cheap!
~ 士林夜市-Shihlin night market-we only covered the outdoor one-so crowded!! Better to plan for a weekday nite..
Sunday 11 Nov '07
~ 新生教会-New Life Church
~ 诚品书店-Eslite bookstore-spent the whole afternoon there and there was a 签唱会 - CD launch/autograph session of this female singer:魏如萱
~ SOGO-much too crowded! because of 周年庆-anniversary sale
~ 西门町-Ximending=shopping
Monday 12 Nov '07
~ 忠烈祠-Martyrs' Shrine
~ 九份（宫崎骏's千与千寻's灵感之启发）-Jioufen Old Town (inspired Spirited Away-the movie)-Must go!
~ 野柳-女皇像-Yehliu-Coolest natural wave/wind-formed sculptures
~ 西门町-Ximending=shopping
~ 木吉他民歌餐厅-located near Ximen station-we were so inspired by this guy called Norman that nite.. really wow-ed!
Tuesday 13 Nov '07
~ 新光三越-ShinKong department store
~ 台北车站-Taipei train station metro mall

Other things we thought of doing but didn't:
-Sun moon lake-日月潭
-Alishan
-Hualien
-Ama heavenly lanterns (seasonal)
-Tonghua/Raohe night markets
-Xinbeitou-新北投/Yangmingshan-阳明山 hotspring
-Qijin-旗津, in Kaohsiung, for seafood (need a car or a cab)
-Kending, near Kaohsiung, for beach (need 2 days; can rent a cab)
-City gallery 城市观浪 in Kaohsiung, at the love river bank
-KTV: PartyWorld-钱柜 or Holiday-?
-Chiang Kai Shek memorial
-Taipei 101

Crossroad eats 食字路口
1. fried chicken steak-try the 士林夜市 or the hotstar chain one
2. fried sweet potatoes *thumbs up!*
3. 豆花 *thumbs up!*
4. 鼎泰丰-小笼包 *thumbs up!* - recommend the 炖鸡汤

5. 冰馆-综合果冰 *thumbs up!*

6. 豆浆油条-try 永和大王
7. 客家菜@梦时代@高雄
8. or ah jian
9. 鳝鱼伊面- more 'Q' than unagi

10. glutinous meat balls-q filling stuff
11. 脆皮臭豆腐-crispy stinky beancurd *thumbs up!*

12. very sweet jambu (forgot what the chinese word is but red colour)! and doubly sweet japanese persimmons 日本甜柿! *2 thumbs up!*
13. 蛋蛋鱼-shishamo *thumbs up!*
14. 阿婆鱼丸-fishballs & 馄饨-wantan *2 thumbs up!*

 

20. 阿宗面线-or ah mi suah *2 thumbs up!*