Detailed Postings for the Day
Filling up the tummy with the free buffet breakfast at Grand Sheraton Hotel. It shall be a free and easy day with the free one-day metro card provided by Chan Brothers as part of our Taiwan tour package!
Good thing about staying at Grand Sheraton Hotel was its super close proximity to the MRT station; specifically Shandao Temple MRT station, which was just a mere station away from Taipei Main station.
Awaiting for our connecting train at Taipei Main station. I remember my first visit to Taiwan, where our choice of accommodation was CityInn Hotel Taipei Station Branch I. A great hotel and although near to Taipei Main station, it's still quite a walk via the long underpass!
Don't you just love the arrival music at the train station?!
So much better than the ones used at Singapore.
Weird seating arrangement on the trains.
Sorry, just not very used.
Showcasing our short hike up Elephant Hill, where I took the wrong route and ended at a temple with a dirt path that eventually ended at the correct route! p.s.Elephant Hill is said to give visitors the best view of Taipei 101!
This large rock reminded me of a decapitated snake head! As Elephant Hill is part of the four-beast mountain (including the lion, leopard and tiger, all felines by the way), I am guessing there should be some legends on wars between the animals, with the snake apparently being one of the victims.
Oranges for sale by the truck; literally truck-load! Such activities are common outside of Singapore where it's a direct farm to consumer concept, and prices were said to be cheaper.
Map of Xiangshan Park.
Xiangshan is Chinese for Elephant Hill.
A few more photographs as we walked past the park and got to Xiangshan MRT station, where we shall continue to our next place of attraction. Want to guess where?
Obviously Taipei 101!
Please click Taipei 101 and The 101st floor of Taipei 101 for the separate postings! I had been to Taiwan's tallest skyscraper before but never to the topmost 101 floor, which was quite a great experience!
Mouth was itchy and instead of having a proper meal, I ordered from Mister Donut instead! Turned out we got so fully; we didn't even attempt lunch! Most disappointing was the fact that I didn't even the donuts and didn't understand why there were long queues for the Mister Donut in Singapore then.
Last look at Taipei 101.
Notice by YouBike on the closure of roads, due to the New Year's countdown. Maybe I should download the app so that I can bike instead of walk for my upcoming trip to Taiwan.
Taking the LRT this time.
Train seemed narrower than the ones from MRT. Whatever the case, I just saw the name of the next station on the display panel; Xinhai. Interestingly, I just watched a YouTube video (in Chinese) on the hauntings of a tunnel at Xinhai.
What goes into the naming of a station? Muzha to me was the name of the brother of Nezha, a Taoist deity. To the Taiwanese, it was named due to "the wooden fences built in the region to defend against attacks by Taiwanese Indigenous peoples".
Arriving soon at our destination. Hint: cable cars! Yes, I wanted to bring my dad to Maokong, a place Alex and I enjoyed immensely when we went in 2014.
An interesting sight; a mid-sized dog perched on the shoulder of a man! On one hand, I wondered if the man felt tired and on the other hand, the dog didn't seem comfortable... It did a great job balancing though.
Time: almost 3pm and there was a massive line outside Maokong station! A check with a staff member revealed that it would take about two hours to clear! No way am I going to waste my precious time....
p.s. only two hours to go before its closing!
Finally a proper meal; braised pork rice at 夯・魯肉飯! Totally enjoyed the Southern Taiwanese version; do keep in mind that the basic braised pork rice (without set) would be good enough and I would recommend adding Signature Fried Spareribs Soup!
Wufenpu Wholesale Market was right outside 夯・魯肉飯 but I decided to give it a miss for two reasons; my dad doesn't like shopping and I guess the attire sold would be based on season, and it's winter season which means I wouldn't be able to get much summer clothing for Singapore's climate.
Raohe Night Market! As it was New Year's eve, the market was so, so crowded! It didn't help that I had to purchase some food souvenirs and they weighed so heavy!
Couldn't resist taking photographs of these handmade lanterns.
Part of a temporary exhibition, it seemed.
Small fireworks before 2024!
Last picture before ending the night.
Taipei main station!
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