Try as we might, it was SO hard waking up at 9am, our self-imposed daily alarm. Having arrived at an ungodly hour & finally sleeping at 4am, we all felt so jetlagged kahit na walang time difference, lolz.
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The location Ate got for our BnB is really nice. It’s that 6-level gray building behind the girls. Less than 5 minutes away from the Metro & near the convenience stores & hole in the wall restos! Hindi kami mamamatay sa gutom, lels. TBH, the view is nothing to look at in Taiwan, but the food? OH SIMPLY GLORIOUS! <3
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Upon our arrival, Kap slept the earliest. Knock out agad sya kasi walang siesta. So I had a very cold shower the very early morning that we arrived. I’m so spoiled by him that way, I don’t know how or where to find the heater or even how to operate the washing machine kasi siya ang kadalasang nagaasikaso ng lahat. Ayaw ko din naman istorbohin at ang lakas na ng hilik. 😉 Resulta, I felt feverish. Took meds immediately to shave off the shivers & chills.
After a fitful sleep, our first order of business as we started our day, WIFI! Ewan ko ba, hindi na ako natuto. A few of you have already advised me on what kind to get from Manila pa lang para hindi na kami naghihirap makahanap ng wifi paglapag, but I keep forgetting, fml. Ano na nga uli yon please?? So once again, t’was a wild goose chase the whole day looking for a place to buy prepaid card good for 4 days. Kalalabasan, may Wellcome lang pala sa tabi ng BnB namin, hay naku.
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The station nearest our BnB. The steep stairway challenged me every single time we’d take the Metro. Hingal, pagoda, bwiset! ;P
As is Kap’s rule, public transpo the whole way through. I am not allowed to complain. Can I just say? “Your smell sounds familiar!” sa MTR hehe. Hindi ba talaga uso ang maligo sa umaga bago humarap sa mundo? Mga amoy kama, waaah! We never leave the house without showering. Never.
On one hand, the kids seem to enjoy the challenge. Marunong na sila makiagaw ng upuan for the Queen hehe. “Mom, here, hurry.. SIT!”
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Day 1
- Breakfast at 7-11
- Chiang Kai-shek Memorial (Zhongzheng)
- Lin Dong Fang beef noodle soup for lunch (Zhongshan)
- Nap time to recover
- Shi Lin night market (Shi Lin)
We initially went to the pancake place for breakfast but it turns out they’re closed on Mondays. So lagpak namin, 7/11 trololol! 2 hour plane ride and our first brekky is at a convenience store. 😉
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Okay lang coz I really enjoyed the bola-bola mix. 12 ntd per piece. Akala namin ni Kap for the whole bowl na.. ANG MURA??? Sige, tambak. Per piece pala HAHAHAHAHA! 😛 Kap also made me eat his egg. ;)) Ouch!
I forgot to bring my diabetes med, zOMG. Good thing the drugstore allowed even without reseta! Kap also bought me 2 packs of giant Salonpas. Bago ako lumayas each day & before I slept every night, tadtad ako ng Salonpas, –tuhod, balakang, talampakan, paa, atbp. Lololol!
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Para makabawi naman sa pagka-turista, we went to the National Chang Kai Shek Memorial Hall right after brekky. Not a very wise move hehe. It was a very hot & sunny day and having anticipated a below 20 degree “bedroom” weather, we all brought winter clothes aka sweaters & thick tops/pants. We literally MELTED. Good thing my pantulog was of thin material & I brought extra, kaya nagamit ko for Day 1 the shirt meant for sleeping. Nasayang ang inihandang OOTD! ;))
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The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a national monument, landmark and tourist attraction erected in memory of Chiang Kai-shek, former President of the Republic of China, who died on 5 April 1975.
It is located in Zhongzheng District, Taipei, Taiwan. The monument, surrounded by a park, stands at the east end of Liberty Square.
The structure is framed on the north and south by the National Theater and National Concert Hall. The Memorial Hall is white with four sides. The roof is blue and octagonal, a shape that picks up the symbolism of the number 8, a number traditionally associated in Asia with abundance and good fortune.
Two sets of white stairs, each with 89 steps to represent Chiang’s age at the time of his death, lead to the main entrance. The upper level contains the main hall, in which a large statue of Chiang Kai-shek is located, and where a guard mounting ceremony takes place in regular intervals.
The ground level of the memorial houses a library and museum documenting Chiang Kai-shek’s life and career and exhibits related to Republic of China-era Chinese history, and Taiwan’s history and development.
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The kids said we didn’t walk long that day, but I felt it in my feet, bones, and everywhere else. Buong araw na lakad “we didn’t walk long”? Are you EFFIN kidding me? I was weary & feverish, dead-tired, and it was only half day! I’m so glad we went back to the BnB after sight-seeing. Blessing in disguise that the queue to the noodle place, Lin Dong Fang was long. I was able to shower off the stickiness & take a nap.
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What sorcery is this??? Ano binebenta jan, fountain of youth? Ang haba ng pila -kababalaghan!
This small, hole-in-the-wall eatery may not be much to look at with only 4 tables to accommodate their hungry guests, but their beef noodles are rightly famous in Taipei. Try the “ban rou / ban jin” (half meat, half tendon) version that has become their signature dish. Be sure to add some of their spicy chili oil as well – it’s got a bit of a kick to it, and a lovely flavour. Lin Dong Fang is open Mondays to Fridays from 11:00 am – 5:00 am, but closed on Sundays
Every street in Taipei is riddled with food stalls omg! Syempre lahat dapat tikman, 4 days is NOT enough to try everything huhu.
My favorite is this chewy garlic/onion bread (pictured on the far left). I wanted to buy more the following days but we couldn’t find it anymore huhu.
I also enjoyed fruits in abundance na sobrang mura & whoaaaaa uber sweet cherry tomatoes! <3
Back at the apartment, the kids prepared our food. How sweet it is to be loved by you, guys! Sarap talaga pag malalaki na ang mga anak, bawi na kami HAHAHAHAHA!
Mga takaw-tingin. But would you believe? Ubos lahat yan ha. Ginutom kami kakalakad.
Having recovered by 50%, I was ready for Shilin Night Market (most famous). Huwaaaaw! Ang saya-saya palang mag-night market sa Taiwan! Food stalls EVERYWHERE -and best of all, at rock bottom prices. 100 php goes a loooong way in Taiwan. Yummy na, mura pa. All of Kap’s concerns about our trip faded away. Lahat ng food stalls, sige tikim! ;))
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Thankfully, the weather changed by nightfall. Lumamig na. The girls zeroed in on the milk balls. Piniritong gatas, FTW? Shilin Night Market is a night market in the Shilin District of Taipei, Taiwan, and is considered to be the largest and most famous night market in the city. The night market encompasses two distinct sections sharing a symbiotic relationship: a section formerly housed in the old Shilin Market building, containing mostly food vendors and small restaurants; and the surrounding businesses and shops selling other nonfood items.
While I headed straight for the taiwanese sausages. Yum! <3
My pescetarian girls decided they will go back to seafoods after our trip so they can also try a variety of things while on vacay. Very good. Bakasyon din sa disiplina nila sa pagkain. \m/ Ayan, karne galore! ;P For 3 straight nights.
After trying a host of other things, oh yes, appetizer palang yung mga nauna! 😛 We went downstairs for our actual dinner. The food court holds 539 stalls, and the second floor serves as a parking lot for 400 cars. In addition to the food court, side streets and alleys are lined with storefronts and roadside stands. Cinemas, video arcades, and karaoke bars are also prevalent in the area.
Going local & having dinner in the heart of shilin night market featuring the stinky tofu (r), XLB of course, and Oyster omelette (l). Oh, with fly lice as requested hehe. Total bill, 1150 php. Guess who’s VERY happy!
Like most night markets in Taiwan, the local businesses and vendors begin opening around 16:00. As students begin returning home from school, crowds reach their peak between 20:00 and 23:00. Businesses continue operating well past midnight and close around 01:00 or 02:00. Ang saya saya sobra! I can live in Taiwan for 1 month & not be homesick, basta kasama namin si dear Lelly, okay alright!
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Got back home super tired but with very happy bellies. Popped 2 ponstan 500 mg. pills & slept like a baby. Day 2 up next! Rest na muna me. 😉
12 Comments
Naku nagutom na naman ako sa post na to! Kaya gusto ko mag taiwan natakam ako sa post mo! Nakakatuwa makita kids mo na nag public transpo plus their like bangketa foods!
January 19, 2017 at 9:06 amGora na eika sama kami hahaha! ;))
January 19, 2017 at 11:36 amHAHAHAHA OMG totoo ung amoy kama Ms Jane!!!!! I stayed in the uni dorm when I was still a student here in Taipei, nagulat ako, ako lang ang mag isang naliligo sa umaga. Sabi ng mom ko, sana raw naghihilamos man lang sila hahaha. And yes, 4 days not enough to try everything!!! Huhu sana next time ma meet ko kaya kahit maka picture lang 🙂
January 19, 2017 at 9:26 amBakit nga ba? Malakas naman ang tubig sa Taiwan trololol! 😛
January 19, 2017 at 11:35 amlove your pic by the bench! 🙂
January 19, 2017 at 11:00 amjuma-jadine lolz! 😛
January 19, 2017 at 11:34 amWow! You tried po the stinky tofu?? I can’t tolerate the smell. 🙁
My favorites would be the seared beef cubes w/ pink salt, pepper buns from Raohe Night Market, lumpia w/ ice cream from Jiufen, grilled mochi at a stall in Ximending and XLB.
Excited to read more of your Taiwan adventures, Ms. Jane! 🙂
January 19, 2017 at 7:32 pmI was appalled at first because of the overwhelming smell, but then sayang ang opportunity hehe wala nyan back home. Sa totoo lang idk what’s the hype kasi hindi naman ako nasarapan lolz.
January 20, 2017 at 7:46 amI did not dare to try the Stinky Tofu, Mommy Jane! I am not brave enough. hehehe Baka sa April magkalakas na ng loob.
Very at peace ang aura ni Kap at maganda ang ngiti. #alamna Hehehe At sino yun artista na nasa bench?
Excited for more Taiwan posts.
January 20, 2017 at 8:39 amwahahahaha kaya kita peborite eh you always make me blush Candy! 😉 O yes habang tumatagal mas naiinlove sya sa Taiwan kasi bagay sa kabaratan nya. He already inquired for an extensive mandarin lesson for the kids. Mag-1 month daw kami sa summer dun hehe. Wagi! Sa taipei 101 ako err’day! 😛
January 20, 2017 at 8:42 amGo Mommy Jane! Sa April na agad-agad baka sakali dun pa kita masilayan. Hehehe
January 20, 2017 at 1:47 pmHuhu no can do we booked na for Seoul sa June lolz. Pili lang daw ako ng isa. Syempre K-pop sagot ko para ma-iba hahaha.
January 20, 2017 at 2:25 pm