TAIWAN
March 2014. Its been slightly over a year since I left the island of Taiwan. Apart from some interior upgrades in the airport, nothing much have change since. After an early flight with HKG transit via Cathay Pacific Airlines, I arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and ready for my 5 days in Taiwan!For first timers inTaiwan, arriving at the airport, it gives you the choice of taxis or bus services to bring you to your destinations. From the ticket counters at B2, I took Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport Services (Service No. 1819) which brings me directly to the heart of the city of Taipei; Taipei Main Station which takes slightly under an hour of bus journey.
ACCOMODATION
There are plenty of forms of accommodations available in Taipei. From 5 stars hotels, to backpackers motel. For me, I choose iTaipei Service Apartment for my 5 days stay in Taiwan. Though it ain't exactly a grand or luxurious holiday accommodation, but the apartment was definitely comfortable and suffice. The amenities and accessibility from the apartment was also part of the reason for my return stay in iTaipei Apartment.
Alighting from the bus, the apartment check-in is just about 5 mins walk via the Taipei Train Station (go through the underpass linkway towards Qsquare and look for exit Y3. Upon exiting, facing the main road, turn left. Its a small office, but you'll definitely not miss it.
A comfortable room complete with basic amenities for traveller like me. Complete with a refrigerator, stove and washing machine. And unlike any walk up apartment I've been, this came with a 24hrs front desk/security.
XIMENDING
Whats a trip to Taipei without visiting Ximending; the source of fashion and subculture. Here you can find a variety of items like facial products, soft toys, souvenirs and fashion apparels. Apart from that there are also good foods around that you can find. From street push-carts to awesome buffet steamboat restaurants.
One buffet steamboat restaurant I would recommend would be Tianwaitian Hotpot. Located within Ximending, the restaurant is walking distance from Ximen train station. It provides a good 2 hours Mala hotpot with awesome Australian Angus beef. Oh did I mentioned, it also comes with free-flow Taiwan beer & Haagen Dazs Ice Cream?
Tianwaitian Review
Credits to http://reviews.noobcook.com/
HUALIEN
Part of this year's trip to Taiwan was about this beautiful city of Hualien. Hualien is the largest county in Taiwan consisting a large part of mountains in the Eastern Coast. I took an express train (pre-booked online) from Taipei Train Station to Hualien. Arriving at Hualien, you can pick out any one of the taxi drivers by the station's main entrance who would offer a day guides to the National Parks at about NT2000 -2200. Filled with scenic view of majestic gorges and marble cliffs, the Taroko National Park is no doubt a beautiful attraction to many tourists.
