Taipei - Taiwan - Day 1 - 9 Days Backpacking

Day 1

Arrived at Taipei - Chiang Kai Shek Terminal 1 at about 6pm today after a 5 hour flight on Jetstar from Singapore. Check out was smooth but I must admit, the terminal looks really old and boring. At the arrival hall, if you're between the ages of 15 and 30, you can turn right at the arrival gates to the Tourist Service Counter to register as a youth traveller to enjoy a loads of discounts throughout Taiwan. You'll receive a rubber tag and a small booklet detailing where discounts can be enjoyed. Remember to get your maps here as well!





If you're doing backpacking, I also recommend getting yourself a prepaid calling card (cheapest value for 10 days should do) or rent a phone if you do not own a GSM phone so that you can call/enquire hotels/hostels/places of interest for much cheaper rates than globalroaming charges.

To get the the bustling city of Taipei, at the other end of the terminal, there are espress bus ticketing counters.



A one way ticket to the city costs a mere NT135 and so much cheaper than a cab which would average about NT1000. Several bus companies to choose from but i took the Freego (飞狗客运) one as it was nearest to the exit at that moment. A very comfortable way to travel with nice leather seats and head cushions. Depending on where you are going to drop off, there might be a shuttle change to one of the smaller buses after you reach the city. Otherwise, the buses will drop guests off near most hotels in Taipei City. The trip will take about 45mins to an hour.



I booked my stay at TS Hotel (大顺大饭店) which was having a half-price promotion making it comparable to some hostels in Taipei but with a different level of comfort. TS Hotel offers their smallest room at about 60SGD compared to a Single Private Room at a hostel (SGD50). Of course if you take a shared hostel room with several others, it would be much cheaper (roughly 25SGD for 7 Bed Dorm). However, the hotel room is a couple room - which works out to be SGD30 if you are a travelling couple.

And so after unpacking some stuffs, I took a 3 min walk from TS Hotel to Ximen Station and headed to Taipei Main Station (MRT, High Speed Rail & the Railway HUB) to get my 2 way tickets to Hualien where I planned my next 2 days. 2 way tickets cost NT618 with the return ticket dates flexible (you need to change the return tickets at the destination station for a ticket with date & time).

Purchase an EZCard at the MRT for travel on the Taipei MRT system and some buses. NT500 is the minimum amount and should last through the trip. Topups are available in NT100 denominations.

Went to Jiantan Station from Taipei Main Station to kickstart my visits to the famed night markets of Taipei, starting from Shihlin Night Market. I tried the Smelly Tofu 臭豆腐(NT30) which didn't quite smell, Cuttlefish Broth 花枝羹(NT40) which tasted rather weird, Egg-Oyster 蚝蛋(NT40) that was too starchy & Big Fried Chicken with Spices 大鸡排(NT45) which is really good.




Then I tried the GuanCaiBan 官财板(NT40) which literally translates to OFFICIAL-WEALTH-PLANK, not sure what it means though I have my own views. EDIT: 官财板(OFFICIAL-WEALTH-PLANK) is just a nicer written version of 棺材板 (COFFIN PLANK). Not bad tasting except i don't really like too much mayonaise. But i think this is unique to Taiwan, as I've never seen it anywhere else before.



After eating so much, can't help feeling full. But I was still itching for a little more and so I settled for a little Shaved Ice with Fruits 水果冰(NT80). Not exactly little actually, but really it was really good that I managed to stuff it down my already full stomach. This you gotta taste for yourself to judge if I exaggerated!

Though I was really full, but I was not beaten. Not yet at least. I've been wanting to try the FEN YUAN DOU HUA (NT25) 粉圆豆花 which is a type of sweetened beancurd topped with starchy balls served either hot or cold. I bought a takeaway for later when I needed to start packing for my little roadtrip to Hualien.