CKS Memorial Hall

One of the famous attractions in Taipei, Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall is a national monument erected for the President Chiang Kai Shek who ruled Taiwan for 25 yrs (1950 – 1975). The monument, a white and blue structure, is surrounded by a beautiful park and is framed on the North and South by the National Theater and National Concert Hall.

As soon as we got into the place, I regretted that I skipped this part in my itinerary in my previous visit. The place is utterly beautiful. Other details of the place which I only found out as I do this post (haha!): the roof is blue and octagonal (eight being a lucky number for the Chinese) and the number of steps up the main hall is 89 to represent his age at the time of death. 

The view from above the stairs is simply breathtaking.

The ground level is where you find the library and museum documenting CKS' life and the main hall is where you'll find a large statue of him. We didn't have much time exploring the place for reason below, haha!

Because I traveled with yogini friends, we realized that CKS Memorial Hall is a perfect backdrop for yoga poses. Hahaha!!! P.S. This is my greatest achievement in Taipei, to be able to do the headstand. Hahahaha!!!

Obviously, we didn't have time exploring the main hall because of the photoshoots but we were lucky enough to catch the changing of the guards during our visit - where I realize that aside from finding cute pet dogs in the park, this is also where you find all the good-looking men in Taipei. Lol!

A video posted by @cassey_cakes on Feb 1, 2015 at 1:09am PST

Taipei Day3: Din Tai Fung and Guang Hua

#traveltuesday

This was the last day for Plok and Wen so the plan was not to go somewhere far but instead enjoy a good lunch at Din Tai Fung. Here's a Ped Xing action with the girls otw to the train station, lol!

We were quite early so we didn't have to wait long thankfully for this eternally-hungry-bunch. Lol! I think the branch we went to was the one in Zhongzhan Road. 

Honestly, it's my first time to try that restaurant because I'm not much a fan of beef noodles. But I enjoyed the meal nonetheless specially my favorite sides hakaw. ;)

After that, we had to say goodbye to the SG girls and off we went to Guanghua electronics district to check out their gadgets. Not sure if he's a permanent fixture there but this Golden retriever is just so adorable staying obediently at this spot and welcoming the shop's visitors. You just couldn't resist taking a photo with him.

Look at him in action, haha!

Bong was able to buy something I believe, a power pack, something that I am in DIRE need of and yet stubbornly insisted to refuse to buy. He has an extra anyway, lol! Anyway, cutting the post short here to focus on the next place we went to on the succeeding travel post - the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall. Soon, hopefully. *cross fingers* =))

Tamsui (Danshui)

#traveltuesday

I could tell that this place is a really good getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city as soon as we stepped out of the train. Let's take in the scenery: there's Danshui river (the third largest in Taiwan per checking) and a view of the mountain (Mt Guanyin).

According to an article, the sunset here is one of the must-sees but unfortunately it was already dark when we arrived. It took us about 40 mins MRT ride from the city after all. Also, taking in everything here would take exactly a day so I guess we didn't see much of everything when we visited. Oh well...

It's not a night market but again what greets you upon arriving are rows of seafood snacks! Yes, food again! This made me question why we don't sell calamares in the streetsas snacks back in PH! That would be so fun! Lol!

One of the notorious snacks I tried here is the so-called Stinky Tofu. I swear the strong odor just simply turns you off. I'm not eating that. It's Randolph's favorite though. Haha!

We spent a considerable amount of time walking and seeing what this place has got to offer. There are free performances, coffee and souvenir shops and you can just tell that it's a really good place for a relaxing weekend stroll. You can notice old buildings too since the Danshui Old Street is a significant place in Taipei history. 

From here, you can a ferry tour to Fisherman's Wharf (where sunset viewing is best), to the Bali Left Bank and Guandu Pier. We opted for Bali Left Bank which is around 10 mins sailing time.

The place is located at the foot of Mt. Guanyin and known for biking. It is actually the most recommended way to explore the waterfront. Again, unfortunately, most establishments are already closing by the time we arrived. The beach would have been fun too.

The food that caught my interest here is this oyster omelette in one of the restaurants. I ordered one for brekky the next day. Haha!

The part we enjoyed the most was tasting the different fruits Taipei has got to offer. They have sweet mangoes and makopa (wax apple) - something I hadn't eaten in a loooooooooong time! 

It was a night of endless walking with barely seeing anything, lol. Plus the travel time all the way to the North coast took its toll on us. We were all really knackered by the time we reach home but still made time for some wacky shots while waiting for each other's turn on the foot massager/ eating the fruits we bought at the living room. Lol!

Tomorrow offers another itinerary-less day for us. Lol! Next!

Taipei Day 2a: Ximending

#traveltuesday

Our Day 2 began with the quest for the best beef noodles. Again, food! Lol! Well, to be fair, our Air BnB apartment didn't offer free brekky so in the morning we had to make do with the leftovers from the last night market's foodtrip - for some it was this famous Hot Star deep fried chicken and for me it was a delicious cheesecake. Their research (again, I'm just being tossed here) says that one restaurant that serves best is somewhere in Ximending - again another popular night market and is labeled as the "Harajuku of Taipei".

The area is bustling with shoppers when we arrived, it was a weekend after all. We're also supposed to meet one of Plok's friend who'd serve as our guide for that day. Unfortunately, he didn't make it in time to help us find this restaurant. Our growling stomachs got the better of us and we settled for this nearest restaurant that serves beef noodles, haha!

Sometime between deciding what to do next and waiting for Plok's friend, Carissa gave the crowd a good show when dragged by this street performer, lol! Girlfriend redeemed herself from an embarrassing scenario the other day when she pressed the emergency button in one of the toilet cubicles of the train station. Hahaha! There were also a lot of other buskers here and I'd have to say I finally found the place I should go to if I decide to quit my corporate life one day. Lol!

Our then current location suggested that we should proceed to our next itinerary to save  time and money. And where is that you may ask? Where everything is toilet-inspired...

We can always argue that we came here for desserts. It is normal. We are not gluttons, lol!  This restaurant is just within the area though we had a hard time locating it. I didn't want the chocolate dessert but it was for sharing and everyone argued that the brown color is the whole point of the IG-pictures! It's superficial I know but that's what mostly everyone comes here for? Right? Lol. I did enjoy their tea though and you can upgrade the container for a urinal one. 0_0

Finally, Plok's friend made it. Someone can now take a photo of us six. Hahaha!!!

And the last group shot in Ximending before we left...

Boys will be boys...XD

Taipei Day1b

#traveltuesday

After devouring that sinful strawberry ice cream waffle at Lugo Cafe in Taipei 101, off we go to our next point of interest - Maokong Gondola station. By this time, it has started to drizzle which will hamper the almost sunset view but it did not dampen everyone's spirit. Naks! Haha! But mainly this is also because the main agenda is what lies at the end of the gondola - the tea shop!

This is the part when I realized that we are really getting old, lol! I mean, yes we are pressed for time since the SG girls (Plok and Wen) have a rather shorter stay than ours but foregoing the view just to get to a tea shop is something uhmm adults with a purpose do. Right? Lol. Anyway, it'd not like we haven't ridden a cable car all our lives. Toinks! Haha!

The distance between the two attractions is quite long since the gondolas are located in the suburbs. The travel time took almost an hour. And because I was bored on the way... (lol!)

It had started to rain when we reached the Maokong station. In here, you can also find the Taipei zoo, something we didn't have time for. The gondolas used the theme Hello Kitty (around Dec 2013) to boost its operations as a result I guess of a closure for 16 months due to a safety concern. Of course this is something I only found out as I write this post today which also explains why we're so happy that the gondola ride which covers a total of 4 stations is very cheap. The news article I read also cited that it is losing money. How sad. But anyway, to some happy pics,

We wanted the transparent cable car but it can only accommodate 5 people, so...

A video posted by @cassey_cakes on Feb 3, 2015 at 3:44am 

Maokong station, the last of the four, is popular for tea culture and for viewing the night scenery of Taipei city. This is also the go-to place for hiking and climbing. Honestly, they were just there to buy the teas. But the saleslady is keen to give us a lecture on tea ceremony so we all sat down and observed. Afterwards, it's time to practice...

A video posted by @cassey_cakes on Jan 30, 2015 at 3:10am PST

And then there were more adult conversations on our way back, talking about our life, our statuses while munching on some green tea nougat...Gaaaah! 

or ourF last stop on Day 1, what better way than to cap it off with a night market visit? I figured some of my friends weren't prepared for the weather (haha!) so it's wise to spend them clothes here. Also, finally I got to try all the xiao chi (small eats) they had to offer since I didn't explore much of it on my first visit.

It turns out you don't need a proper sitting down dinner when you go to night markets in Taipei. These attractions have got a lot to offer. There were so many delicacies to try - from the Hot Star deep fried chicken, the calamaris (gosh I wish you can just buy it from the sidewalks here too), the free taste of ginger teas..to uhm weird looking popsicles (below)...EVERYTHING! They will leave you full right after. In short, my diet was ruined. Lol! It is truly an experience not to be missed!

We were divided into two groups because of different shopping needs and we took time buying stuffs - something that the men weren't happy about. Haha! Anyway, it was a really long day with lots of walking so back in our apartment we were all just grateful for this little machine - we took turns using it. =D

This ends my Day 1 post. More to come =)

Taipei Day 1a

#traveltuesday

All five of us had the same flight to Tao Yuan Int'l airport and arrived around 1 AM. We decided to wait for Wen who came from SG at around 5 AM. Yes, we slept at the airport. Lol! It's very convenient and social media addict-friendly too with its speedy WiFi connection and power stations. :P

We slept some more at the bus that would take us to the city and went to a hawker in the morning for breakfast.

Whenever I travel with friends, I get less cautious and simply depend my life to them seasoned travelers that I already forgot by now in which area was our Airbnb apartment. Haha! To be honest, I didn't bother to know. I should change this habit of mine. Lol! 

We also had to stay outdoors for some more because of the check-in lunchtime condition. Naturally, the social media addicts that are this bunch would often stop while walking when there's an available WiFi connection. Like somewhere in a restaurant here. Hahaha!!!

It was already late when we got ourselves ready for Day 1 itinerary (nothing solid in there, it's more like whatever goes, lol!). So around 1 or 2 PM I think, here's us. With Wen in sleeveless tank notwithstanding the weather. Why? Because she's cool like that. Haha!

On the way to the MRT, we decided that we're ravenously hungry and so we stopped by this restaurant that serves some appetizing dishes. I really like the way their eggs are cooked here.

We were informed that tourists could get a free WiFi access in Taipei so naturally we worked on that (read: top priority in the IT lol!) before we headed to our destination. You just simply have to give your passport info in an information center. I didn't know this when I first came here three years ago.

And so finally we reached our first destination, where else but Taipei 101.

It might be too late to apologize but still sorry as this post is just more like a group photo compilation. It was just too much fun! I've been up this tower before and I simply didn't wanna do it again. The weather wasn't that inviting too. As you know, the view at the top is ruined when it's raining.

Good thing, they decided not to go too. After some wacky shots over this area of the tower, we checked in the mall to what else? But eat some more. Seriously, have you counted the number of times we've eaten by now? Lol!

I really do recommend the strawberry ice cream waffle of Lugo cafe at the basement of Taipei 101. Seriously, look at it! It's so worth the extra calories, lol!

And because I've posted many pictures already, I'll continue with more of our Day 1 trip on the next post. Bye for now. :)

Flat Thigh Highs

#threewaythursday

These boots came just in time for my travel. Actually, it's more of - they were collected in the PHL post office after sitting there for a month because I simply hate dealing with government offices. Since it's a #threewaythursday, I'll be posting only 3 looks but since I stayed for four days in Taipei, you can head over to my other blog site to view the rest of the looks. Here's the link.

Taipei 2015

#traveltuesday

The best food adventure with the best foodie friends, haha! :D More stories soon. :)