Taiwan (台灣) Days (Episode 1)
Think it’s just about due time that I wrote about my one-week trip to Taiwan, which took place between 10 – 18 May 2008. It was a well-deserved trip, and just as I expected, it turned out to be truly rewarding for both the heart and the mind. This would probably be the first episode of a series of posts dedicated to the times I had in the loving island of Taiwan, and only pictures, not words, can probably do justice to our visual senses.
I shall dispense these pictures. Enjoy.
The 4 of us set off (from right: Me, Meiting, Yatting, Benson) from Changi’s newest terminal 3 (T3) on the morning of the 10th, all excited and drooling at the prospect of a long-awaited vacation.
Me and my gf in the shuffle between the transit area and the departure halls.
Touched down at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport about 4 hours later, only to be greeted by strong winds howling down the airport aisles and embracing us in their chilly arms. I guessed the temperature’s between 15 – 20 degrees Celsius, and it was the transition period between the seasons. Cool.
Dear and Yatt at the Ximen station, after we took an Express Bus down to Taipei from Taoyuan. Checked in our hotel, Ta Shun Hotel (大順大飯店) in the Ximen area and went straight to our next stop for the evening via the Taipei Metro.
The first night market that we went to, undoubtedly the most well-known and popular one to all visitors and locals as well – Shilin Night Market (士林夜市) in Taipei.
Basically, these are Corn dogs of different flavors – Original, Chilli, Smoked, Black Pepper, Cheese etc.
You will see these stalls selling BBQ everywhere; apparently they can BBQ almost anything as well, from squids to intestine to meat to coagulated pig’s blood.
Normal and Curry fishballs – Ain’t too hard to tell them apart huh?
Me and my Super Squid Ink Sausage.
The stall with Shaved Ice and Fruits at Shilin – Desserts at their best.
Shaved ice + fresh mango cubes + condensed milk = Oh-my-god-its-damn-nice-ok?
Meiting and Benson are adventurous enough to try something new but common in the night markets – the oddly-shaped duck’s tongue.
Apparently besides pork, they have “live” piglets for sale as well at the night markets.
After the night market, we went to retire for the night. As it was still in the transition from Spring to Summer, the night temperatures were cooling and humidity was basically kept at zero. By the time we left Taipei 8 days later, the temperatures climbed beyond 30 degree Celsius for the day.
Episode 2 coming up in a while. Standby.
Leave a Reply