Taipei where to for Malaysia's newbies

Some sensitive soul may be wonder why you so like that the title direct to Malaysian only. This is because some of the comparison made really Malaysia specific, so do the address reference of Taiwan Visitors Association given, in addition to the english used here also tend to be Malaysianized mah :). Other than that if you don't mind then it doesn't matter all are welcome to read.

Let's start the doodling ...

For Malaysian who intend to visit Taiwan, where possible it's sure worth to start your legwork to drop by Taiwan visitor association, to get some informative maps and potential goodies as friendly gesture.

This is their KL office address

Taiwan Visitors Association, Kuala Lumpur Office

Address:	Suite 25-01, Level 25, Wisma Goldhill, 67 Jalan Raja Chulan, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
phone:	60-3-20706789

When I was there, they gave me a complimentary Easy card (similar to our touch n go card) and voucher to use at Taiwan airport to collect souvenir upon return. The Easy card is especially handy for tourist to take public transport, at time it also offer 10% discount. Generally their public transport fare is very affordable and so much convenient. If you want to plan your route in advance, you may examine where their MRT can bring you to with this official site: http://www.trtc.com.tw/


Praise to God, if you did not miss your flight, once safely arrive at Taipei airport, if one plan to travel to Taipei's terminal hub they can take KuoKuang bus #1186 to reach Taipei main station (which akin to our KL Sentral), bus fare at TWD 125 one way per person, with duration of about 1 hour drive.


After settle down with hotel's matter, our journey start, for first time visitor, there are no lack of colorful museums to visit here, I can only name a few below. Maklumlah didn't study much.

The cream of the crop should be 臺北故宮 National Palace Museum, which arguably has largest collection of ancient Chinese artifacts and artworks on this planet, much more if compare to Palace Museum in the Forbidden City in Beijing if you ask me.

國立故宮博物院

國民革命忠烈祠牌坊

Pavilion is here, is Bintang walk just nearby?

changing of the guard

 National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall 中正紀念堂

自由廣場

國父紀念館 Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

Liberty Square

九份 JiuFen is an hour away destination from Taipei which tourist should not miss otherwise book your next flight ticket to come back here again, if schedule permits you should plan for a night stay at this small historical old street to relive scenes from the past. To reach there take the train north to RuiFan 瑞芳, once alight from the train station look left and right and right and left then cross the road to take a bus (now you found the answer of why did the chicken cross the road?), I suggest taking the bus heading to JinGuaShi 金瓜石 first to visit the historic Gold mine museum before proceed to JiuFen old street.

JiuFen entrance

Temple night view at JiuFen

JinGuaShi Gold Ecological Park

Japanese styled residence in gold museum

I know what you think, you wish this gold bar is yours ... to have a dream is good but too much heavy load you can't proceed to next destination too ...  

Night market culture continue flourish in Taiwan with bustling mood of the crowd and offering that best represent of the local culture, and you can find many 小吃 delicacies snacks here too.
Here my little uninvited tips to get you to 饒河街夜市 RaoHer night market by train - take a train to ShongShang stop and a further walk of about 15-20 mins. If your leg is fragile, you can consider taking taxi there too.


To get to ShihLin night market 士林夜市 is a bit more direct, you can take MRT and stop at ChienTang 劍潭站 then it's only another 5 mins walk away ...
Feel like not having enough of night markets? Worry not here I share with you a list of available night markets in Taiwan. My honor to help you build your leg muscle ...

For mandarin book lover you can find your treasure island here at Eslite bookstore or indulge yourself in sea of books at their book street at ChongQing south road.

"The more that you read,
the more things you will know.
The more that you learn,
the more places you'll go." 
~ Dr Seuss 





101 Taipei, world tallest building in 2009, became the pride of this city since, just like KLCC did to Kuala Lumpur





 Travelling further north of Taipei you will scream oh yeah with 野柳 YehLiu Geopark - many come here to witness the famous sea-erosion landscape, the best known of course is the iconic 'Queen's Head' stone.

whereas 陽明山國家公園 YangMingShan national park, is a hill view area and a collection of peaks in Taiwan, located to the northeast of Taipei, some part of it is a volcanic basin. One of the eight national parks in Taiwan.

If you come at the right time or your planets align correctly, sakura may welcome you

Truth be told, I have grown a hobby to visit local university if chance present itself. My way to learn from homo sapiens of that society. Law of attraction? Hmm hmm .... Like it or not your eye balls need to join me touring this most prestigious university in Taiwan ~ National Taiwan University

so after visiting the campus you feel more educated by now? haha ... shiok sendiri


This journal is deemed incomplete and teacher will fail me if I miss mention about their food.

Din Tai Fun - Siaw Long Pau ... many people shout about it but prepare to queue up for a while before you can be served, if time is of precious to you, I suggest you skip this because the shop actually has many branches around the globe so you afraid no chance to sample in your lifetime meh?   

This is HockChiew pepper biscuit福州胡椒饼, taste not bad but need to eat while still warm.

This is herb stew spare rib akin to our BatKutTeh, can be found at RaoHer night market, taste wonderful must try.

This fried oyster seems to be popular at ShihLing night market, but their slimmy style and sweet sauce not really conform to my taste bud's expectation, couple with the owner's arrogant attitude make me determine to avoid this dish at this place for good

 

Big biscuit wrap small biscuit at ShihLin night market, you can choose from different flavor but taste wise no big deal really ...

 

滷肉飯 I consider this as Taiwan national rice dish and can easily find at any eateries in the country, luckily I like it too so no problem even if have to survive eating this every meal during my stay here :D 

There are a few more attractions I would like to visit (i.e. Taipei Zoo, Maokong Gondola etc) however cannot materialize due to time limitation :( . This city is attractive for me with much to explore and another pull factor is their generally amiable local people. Borrow from Terminator: 'I'll be back' ... 

Bonus find:
Recently I chance upon a way to register for free wi-fi in Taiwan, this is especially handy for smartphone users I hope.

台湾
iTaiwan

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