Taiwan

After my solo trip to Macau, I’ve been wanting to explore more, to challenge my courage and create more memories. Last year came the perfect opportunity because Taiwan became visa-free for Filipinos.

After months of planning and research, my friend and I finally decided to book our flight to Taiwan. This trip was unforgettable because my friend and I experienced a lot of firsts. It was my first time travelling with a friend abroad. It was my friend’s first time travelling abroad. And more details of our firsts will be revealed as you read through this post.

At the airport, we met Jackson. He is Taiwanese and is currently working in the Philippines. He must’ve noticed that it was our first time in Taiwan because Jilly and I were both wide-eyed and filled with so much excitement. After passing immigration, he approached us and asked if we knew how to go to Taipei and we mentioned that we will be travelling via bus since the express train is no longer operational because it was already past midnight. He offered us help by getting the tickets for the bus ride from the airport to Taipei. Upon arrival at Taipei's main bus station, he asked us where we were going. He offered to carpool together because his house was only a few districts east from where we were staying. We decided that it would be a good idea to save some money so agreed to his suggestion. We arrived in front of our Airbnb** and before we parted ways we tried to give our share for the fare but he refused saying that it was okay. We also asked him if he could suggest a place to exchange our money in the morning. But instead of giving us a place or an address, he was more than kind enough to exchange our money based on the current rate. 

Our experience with Jackson was remarkable because we never thought that someone would be going out of his way  just to help us out the moment we arrived in Taipei. We were total and complete strangers. Never in my imagination did I think of receiving help from a complete stranger in a foreign country. Especially with what I’ve experienced from my previous travels alone or with family abroad. This experience was definitely a first. 

Throughout our trip, we stayed in touch with Jackson and we hoped to have the chance to meet with him and his family. Unfortunately, our schedule was so tight that we did not get a chance to do so. But, we still hope to meet him and his family in the future.

**When you sign up using this link you have the chance to get ₱1,600 off your first home booking in AIRBNB of ₱3,500 or more and ₱600 towards an experience of ₱2,310 or more.**

The first location on our itinerary was Maokong. We grabbed a quick breakfast at one of the convenience stores close to our place and drank coffee at a local café. We rode the brown line train that goes straight to Taipei Zoo station, the closest train station to Maokong Gondola. 

When we arrived, the Maokong Gondola was still closed. We waited for the station to open. And when it opened, we walked up the stairs and queued to ride the crystal cabin that goes through the mountains to the tea plantation. It was a 20 minute cable car ride from Taipei Zoo Station to Taipei Zoo South Station to Zhinan Station and finally Maokong Station where the tea plantation and tea shops are all located. 

Upon arrival, we figured that we were too early since most of the restaurants and shops we passed by were still closed. Only a few people were in the area. We walked along the main road, looking for a place to rest. As we were walking, we found a map that showed several trails in plantation area. So, we decided to go through one of the trails, Camphor Trail. 

After spending our morning at Maokong, we proceeded to the second location on our itinerary, Shifen Waterfalls and Shifen Old Street. We rode the bus to Shifen. And, the trip was long and winding. Upon arrival, we hiked up the hill and we walked through the old tracks. It took us about 20 minutes to reach the falls, we even had to cross two suspension bridges before we reached the main view deck. Along the way there were several shops that were selling various snacks and drinks. We got to try the famous frog egg drink to quench our thirst and mildly satisfy our hunger. To get the best views of the waterfalls we had to go down several flights of stairs. After taking photos, we had to climb up the same stairs. We passed by the same area that sold snacks and drinks and we saw trees tied with red ribbons. We grabbed some of the ribbons that fell on the ground and we tied them back to the tree.  We also took our time to rest in this area. And when I say "rest", I mean take more photos. 

FUN FACT: According to my research about the trees with the red ribbons, this was an old Chinese tradition. When you tie red ribbons in trees and you make a wish, it was believed that your wish will come true. 

We tried to find a place to eat lunch because we were so famished. We were looking for something authentic and budget-friendly so we walked through Shifen Old Street. We were trying to find restaurants that had English translations of their menu but we failed to find one. You can’t really order food you don’t know or else you might end up not eating the food. After walking around, we came across a restaurant that had a menu with photos. Feeling like we had no other choice after going around the area twice, we figured that it was the best option available. This restaurant was cooking the food outside and the seats were inside. We ordered by pointing at the photos on their menu board. We got some noodles with meat and dumplings and the owner ushered us to go inside the restaurant as we wait for our food. 

After eating lunch, we walked along the old train tracks where the lanterns were being flown. We figured that it would be a good memory to fly one, so we did. We wrote our wishes for the year and flew the lantern together. There was a sense of accomplishment and hope as we released the lantern up in the air. As we bid our lantern filled with prayers, declarations and wishes goodbye we walked through the tracks once more before leaving the area. We walked around, hoping to find anything that would spark our interest but the sun was already setting and we knew that we needed to be back in the city before dark because we still had to drop by two night markets.

The first night market we visited was Shida Night Market. This place had so many shops! This is the best place to buy socks in Taipei. There are a lot of options to choose from and the quality of the socks for the price they are being sold for is such a STEAL. Although, we had a difficult time finding a place to have dinner at Shida because the menus were mostly in Chinese. There were no English translations at all. After walking around,  we were finally able to find a newly opened restaurant located in the far corner of an alley. We were happy with the food we got because it was big. They were really generous with the serving. 

The last place we visited for the first day was Ximending Night Market. This place was filled with shops, live performances, LED lights and colorful signs. Young people and tourists flock this area, so do expect a crowd. While walking around, we saw people lining up in front a small stall that was selling drinks. So, we also lined up and we got to try the famous papaya milk. 

For the second day, the first location on our list was Yehliu Geopark. We took the train to the Taipei Bus Station and we got the earliest bus we could catch to Yehliu. We were so tired from what we did the day before that we slept while we were on the way. After an hour or so, we finally arrived at the bus stop. From the bus stop, we had to walk towards the park. It was a short walk that took us 15 minutes. We got to pass by the port and a temple before reaching the park. We bought tickets while the queue was still short and headed to Sharkbites to eat breakfast. ***Thank you Keren and Manilyn for sharing this tip for this trip!*** 

The weather was great when we entered the park. The sun was up. The sky was clear and blue. And, we got sunburnt for not wearing enough sunscreen. There was a trail that we decided to follow based on the map that was on the ticket. At first, we were greatly motivated to reach the end of the park even under the heat of the sun. Because we had this thought in mind, "if we do not do it now when will we ever get the chance to do it all?" However, in the middle of our long journey, we were already on the verge of giving up. After what we thought was a never ending brick road, we finally reached the gazebo located at the end of the park. Thank goodness that we had each other during the entire time. We had to rely on each other to reach our goal. We can say that all of our blood, sweat and more sweat was worth it because we were greeted by an amazing view of the ocean. We stayed for a while, took our time to rest and took our time to take photos until we realized that we needed to catch the bus going to our next destination. Before saying goodbye to the breathtaking views of the ocean, we took a few more photos and we walked down the same trail to catch the bus going to our next destination.

 

 

We stopped briefly at Keelung and took some photos at the pier. We looked for a bank where we could exchange our money because we were already running low on cash. It was a good thing that we alighted at a bus stop that was close to Bank of Taiwan. The process of exchanging money was easy. You just had to get a number, fill out a form, wait to be called, show your passport and go get your money changed. After getting our money changed, we strolled around the area since we didn’t know what time the bus to Jiufen will arrive.  But while we were walking along the canal, I saw the bus we were supposed to board waiting for the light to turn green at the cross-section. When I saw the bus, Jilly and I decided to make a run for the closest bus stop. The bus started to move and we had to run faster. Thankfully, we arrived at the bus stop just on time and we got to board the bus to Jiufen.

The second place on our list for the second day was Jiufen. Jiufen, was listed first in our bucket list of places to go to in Taiwan. Why? Because Jilly and I have so much love for Hayao Miyazaki and his works. According to one of Hayao Miyazaki's interviews, Jiufen was one of his inspirations for his animated film Spirited Away. And to experience something unique, we pre-booked an afternoon tea session via kkday. We thought that we were booked at the tea shop that served as Hayao Miyazaki's inspiration only to find out that we were booked somewhere else. We had a difficult time finding the tea shop because the map and address that was given was not comprehensive enough. So, we got lost. We entered two shops before we found the right one. Even if we were feeling extremely hot from all the physical activity we did prior to arriving at the tea house, the heat did not stop up us from drinking freshly brewed tea. After our afternoon tea session, we strolled along the narrow alleys of Jiufen looking for souvenirs. And, we also got to try some freshly steamed matcha rice cakes with red beans and some deep fried squid. The red lanterns that lined the narrow streets in Jiufen were burned brighter when the sun started to set. The clouds were turning dark and it felt like it was going to rain. So, we waited for the bus that would take us back to the city. 

After Jiufen, we went to went to Raohe Night Market and Shilin Night Market. We dropped by Raohe Night Market first. We were greeted by red and yellow lanterns hanging above our heads. There were a lot of locals and tourists. Once again, expect a crowd at this place. There were regular shops located on each side of the road and mostly food and drinks were sold in the middle part. We tried the cheesy takoyaki with wasabi mayo and I got some watermelon juice. 

The last place we visited for the second day was Shilin Night Market. Not a lot of people were here so we had a pleasant walk around the area unlike Raohe which was really crowded at night. We also got to try the famous Hot Star Chicken (we got the spicy one), lemon aiyu jelly or frog egg drink and some thai milk tea that came in a trash bag.

For the second day, we went home with our energy and batteries drained but our bellies and memories were absolutely full.

 For the last day in Taipei, the first location on our list was Elephant Mountain. While we were doing our research prior to travelling to Taiwan, we came across a lot of blogs and videos saying that Elephant Mountain had the best views of Taipei 101. We prepared early for the hike. We took a cab and got dropped off at the station closest to the entrance. The sun has already risen when we hiked up the steep stairs. Hiking the small and steep stairs was exhausting so we rested at the first view deck and that's when we met Jacky. We had an interesting and fun learning experience with him. He taught us about specific pressure points in the body. He said that if we apply pressure in these areas, the lactic acid that accumulated due to work and stress will be released and we will feel better. He also gave us some tips and advice when hiking. We had so much fun learning from him and we took a photo together before we continued to hike up the mountain. 

Jilly and I hiked higher to the next view deck. Indeed, we saw better views of Taipei 101 and the city. However, the sky was starting to get filled with dark clouds and the sun was no longer in sight so we hurriedly hiked down the mountain and took the train to Beitou.

As soon as we arrived at Beitou station, it started to rain. So, we took a cab to the hot spring resort where we booked our reservation at. According to what I have read, a dip in white sulfur spring is definitely one the best ways to relax and relieve sore muscles. After two days filled with activities plus our hike at Elephant Mountain, we badly needed a break. Before our trip, we were able to get a private hot spring room at a discounted rate. We were able to enjoy an authentic Taiwanese hot spring experience. Moreover, they gave us chilled matcha panna cotta which was so delicious. The sulfur hot spring was such a relaxing experience. It was a first for us and we certainly enjoyed it.

After our short stop at Beitou, we rode the train to the station closest to National Palace Museum. The rain was pouring hard, so, we decided to go and grab lunch before heading to the museum. After lunch, we rode the bus to National Palace Museum. There were a lot of exhibitions and we had a nice time going through the different galleries. We learned about the history and culture of Taiwan and how it progressed into who they are and what they have as of present time. 

After our visit at the National Palace Museum we took the train closest to Chiang Kai Shek National Memorial Hall. There were a few people because it was still drizzling. The wind was so strong that my umbrella almost broke and my shoes were drenched. Thankfully, we arrived on time just to catch a glimpse of the exchange of guards. 

We had a challenging time during our last few hours in Taipei because the rain did not stop. After our quick stop at Chiang Kai Shek, we had to go back to our Airbnb to pack our stuff and change into dry clothes. We took a cab to Taipei 101 and we had to run through the rain with our luggage. Upon arrival, we looked for the locker area. This is one of the things that I appreciate and like most about Taiwan. They have a safe and efficient locker system. We were able to go around Taipei 101 without carrying our luggage. 

We ate dinner at Hawker Chan because wanted to experience eating at a Michelin-star rated restaurant in Taiwan because we were unable to eat at Din Tai Fung. I was expecting a lot but the food was a bit of a let-down. After dinner, we collected our tickets for the observatory and we were advised by the staff that we will not get a good view of the city due to weather. They even asked us if we wanted to push through with our reservation and we said, "Yes." Upon arrival at the 89^th floor, there was nothing in sight. We only saw our reflections in the mirror. But we still believed for the best and waited for the clouds to move and give us a view of the city. Patience and prayers work because after a few minutes, the dazzling lights of Taipei city was before us. We also saw the super big wind damper and an exhibition of various artifacts before going down to the ground floor. 

Before leaving Taipei 101, we grabbed a quick snack. We had an entire bowl of mango bingsu. It took us a while to finish it because it was huge. We also got some snacks at the grocery to bring home for family and friends. It was already close to our departure time so we took the express train to the airport and we waited for our flight back to the PH.

To Jilly,
Thank you so much for being an awesome travel buddy. 
Thank you for always checking on me, making sure that I was comfortable throughout the trip.
I apologize for my shortcomings, I have learned a lot from our trip and I hope to be better.
You are truly one of the best!
I am looking forward to more travels with you and our fellow polaroids!

~~

During this trip, I learned a lot of things about myself. 

It also challenged me in ways I didn't think I will be challenged. 

Moreover, I was surprised by the kindness of strangers. 

I realized that language and race is no barrier to show genuine kindness, love and care for another human being.

❤