Taiwan, my shopping paradise!

Just came back from Taiwan with a group of friends for holidays. This trip was filled with ups and down. We didn't purchase the check-in baggage for flying over to taiwan. I was extremely worried and vexed about my many bottles of liquid cosmetics as all liquids cannot exceed 100ml and all must be kept in a zip-lock bag for hand carry. It was my fault on my part as I should had requested for one but I was too busy with exams that I just ok with whatever my friends had planned. Just when I had overcome the liquid problem, the airline crew said that some of our luggage were too big for hand carry and had to be checked in. All my worries and money  on empty containers to fill my liquid stuffs were wasted. In addition, wasted another $20 to pay for check-in luggage.Seriously dafuq. I had learnt my lesson. For future oversea trip, no matter what, I'll always get check-in luggage.

Another issue was that Terry was not able to contact his friend who was joining us for the trip. He said his friend didn't pick up the phone, facebook and sms all never reply. His friend booked our hotel, so if he didn't turn up, there will be a possibility that we can't check in the hotel. Friends and relatives were kind enough to wish me bon voyage while I was on my way to airport. But all my mood was gone. Just when we were getting our air ticket, Terry's friend turned up and he didn't bother to give us an explanation or apology at all. Maybe he had his own reasons but I'm just amazed at how irresponsible a 24 year old person can be.

Finally everything was settled, board the plane and we received an announcement that there would be a 1 hour delay due to some problems. 祸不单行 is the perfect cheng yu to describe the day.

watching movies on the plane

The advantage of being short, huge legroom even on budget plane

 breaking dawn

finally reached taoyuan airport.

pigs on truck spotted by sok min

Reached our hotel at Ximending at 10am plus. Look like those typical setting for hong kong horror movies. When we reached level 4, there was no reception desk, only an emergency hotline. They really live up to the name BUDGET hotel. Called that hotline and the staff told us that we could only check in at 4pm. Means we had to loiter around 5+ hours with our luggage. TELL ME HOW TO ENJOY!!

Without a choice, we went to cola restaurant for lunch and party world to sing K to 4pm. I don't even dare to recall how cui I looked that day. Lack of sleep plus makeup on my face for more than 18hours gave me lots of pimples overnight.

our room

 the toilet

Did a quick wash up and off we went to Shilin night market for dinner. 

Crispy prawn roll

 Thats our dreadful day one of the trip.


Day 2 was at 淡水 and 渔人码头.

Wyman, Terry and Joeyee

Tall ice-cream!

 Finally get to taste the cheese potato!

Separated with the guys to do some shopping with Sok Min and Ping Hong. Helped Wei Shan to buy her black sugar, ended up the 3 of us bought some as well. I think we bought around 10 packets of black sugars. The shop owner was so happy that he gave us a big discount and offered to put our things at his stall so that we won't have to carry around as the black sugars were really heavy! Eat and shop at the same time. Managed to buy quite a few things there, mostly bags and 铁蛋 for relatives. 2 hours of walk we only covered 1 lane. There were total 4 lanes for goodness sake. The guys who didn't shop were shocked, impatient and black face due to the hot weather and waiting for us. Somehow the amt of stuffs that we bought made them abit unhappy maybe because they know that at the end of the day they might be the one helping us to carry back to singapore. lols.

 sneaky Sok Min posing behind me

the boat to  渔人码头

Terry and Wyman

Unique rocks

Lover's bridge

 No lover to walk with me.

Police riding a horse.

Went back to 淡水 and the guys helped us to carry our stuffs back to hotel while Sok Min, Ping Hong and I continue to shop the rest of the 3 lanes. There were nothing much, mostly food.

Hoots of the day

Day 3 at  十份.
 The guys woke up late hence Sok Min and I went to buy the famous Ah Zhong mee sua for breakfast.

 

Everyone rushed down the railway track to take photos when the train stops/leave.

 Mango ice-cream

Another lover bridge

The long walk to shi fen waterfall. It took us 15mins to walk over.

Finally reached the waterfall. We were quite shocked that admission fees are required. 80TWD per person which is around $3 sgd.

 Quite magnificent though

see the rainbow formed by the water! It requires some luck to see it.

 A special blue bird.

disgusting caterpillar. Its way too hairy. 

Front view of the waterfall

The rest remained at the bottom as they were too tired to climb up the steep slope and stairs. So only Ping Hong and I walked up, Since we already fly all the way to taiwan and paid the 80Twd, might just go and take a look.

A huge Buddha statue sat firmly on top of the hill. Made a some wishes and donations. Hope my wishes will come true. haha

Walked all the way back to train station and took some pictures while waiting for train.

 

On the train

Traveled to 師大 night market for dinner and shopping. Again, went separate ways with the guys as they wanna have some decent meals whereas Sok Min and I decided to give up our dinner and shop instead! Didn't take picture of the place because I nearly went berserk upon looking at those shops that needs to be covered. There were around 4 lanes and all were filled with shops with clothes and bags. Both Sok Min and I only had 2 and a half hour to cover all. Of course I would be worried that we'll missed out any nice shops. I was rushing like a mad woman, scanning every shop sharply with my eagle eye making sure I would not waste time on unnecessary shops. lols. Sok Min said that was the first time she saw me acting this way. The shopaholic in me is letting loose because of Taiwan. We were lucky to catch the last train back to our hotel.

 The last train

Bought mee sua back for supper!

 Hoot of the day. Obviously didn't buy enough cos need to save money for the rest of the days.

Day 4, was 忠孝复兴.

See whose is the dirtiest of all. lols.

 Went to the shop that Jackie Chan went for lunch.

The stir-fried chicken with dang hoon is really good!

I think its due to the rain, many shops were not opened and we were too lazy to really walked around looking for shops.

Bought some drinks and sat inside family mart to enjoy aircon and wait for shops to open.

Walked a long way from 忠孝复兴 to Taipei 101 building. I don't remember how long we had walked. I don remember walking from evening till the sky turn totally dark. My feet hurt like mad because I was wearing heels. I didn't complain, just endure and walked as I chose to wear heels so I had no right to complain.

At first we planned to go to the top of 101 building as it is the landmark of Taiwan. However, we dismiss the idea after discussion because we don't find it worthwhile to pay $20sgd to just go up take pictures and come down. Everyone was exhausted hence we took cab to Ninja restaurant for dinner.

 They had this "water door" where you have to shout "Ninja!" for the water to stop and cross over.

 We ordered a set package with 7 dishes. Ordered a Vodka drink in lantern dispenser to share.

We had ninja girls serving us and I cannot stand their voices. So Teh~  Men sure melt upon hearing their voices. One ninja girl played games with us. Loser will have to drink some weird taste liquid from the syringe whereas winner will get to drink some tasty juices. In addition, a magician would go to every table to perform close contact magic show.

Even if Ping Hong lost the game, can see that he is still smiling away. lols.

Also, they gave us complimentary alcohol + juice in test tubes.

Our only Group Photo.

Went back our hotel to wash up and start 2nd round in Wyman and Ping Hong's room. The guys bought one bottle of Chivas without mixer. Wyman challenged Ping Hong to finish one full cup of Chivas. Guess what, Ping Hong managed to finish all and Wyman drank half way and half dead. lols! Within 2 hours, the whole bottle was empty.

The guys provoking sok min

Wyman dancing at the side. Siao already. LOLS

Day 5, 乌来. This area is well-known for its hot spring.

温泉蛋

 Due to the preparation for typhoon, the train to the hill top was not in operation. Hence, we had to walk all the way up to see the waterfall!

Trying out the water but it wasn't hot at all.

We are near the waterfall!

Another lover's pathway. 

 Some yuan zhu ming practicing their dance.

Finally reached the waterfall!

Had to walk all the way down again after seeing the waterfall.

 Beautiful flower that Sok Min took.

 

Spend 30mins to walk down hill and all the way to the hot spring venue. Was swearing hard while walking under the rain. Quickly get the private hot spring which cost 400Twd for 1 hour. There was public hot spring which was free of charge but we were too shy to share with other people.

I shared one room with Sok Min. Worse thing was that they only provided 2 towels which means we had to go down naked in order to use the towels to wipe ourselves dry. Sok Min, being too shy said she'll use the towel and not going in naked. The thought of coming out of the hot spring without a towel to dry myself really annoys me hence I made a difficult decision which was to go down naked. That was my first time being naked in front of someone. But I trust Sok Min that she would try her best not to look and she removed her spectacles so even if she happens to see anything, it would be blur I guess. lols. 

scenery outside.

After the hot spring, we went to the cafeteria to get our free drinks and bread. It felt shiok to have a hot drink after the hot spring! In addition, free ride were given to transport us out to the bus stop.

Took bus to  基隆 night market for dinner.

Again, 2nd round in the guys' room. Bought two bottles of Vodka and finished it within 2 hours. LOLS. And the aftermath of drinking too much.....

Day 6, 九份. Didn't took alot of pictures as we were all suffering from hangover and busy buying stuffs for friends and family.

weird looking auntie selling sausages.

Day 7, last day at taiwan. 

Our room turned into a warzone

Reached Taipei station at 10.30am to buy the famous 李仪 奶油太阳饼 but queue was extremely long, like queuing for 1.5 million Toto hence we gave up.

Traveled to 忠孝 area again as the guys wanted to shop around SOGO. There were nothing to shop for Sok Min and I as all were branded shops and we only left 2000twd which was like $100 sgd. Therefore, we found some bench at the basement at waited for the guys for 1 and a half hours. Nearly fell asleep.

 Headed back to Ximending, packed our luggage and went for buffet. I don't remember the name of the restaurant but it serves free flow of haagan daaz ice-cream and cost only around $20 sgd.

Didn't managed to eat the ice-cream as I had stomach cramp and I think ice-cream would make it worse. Only ate a bit and left the restaurant first as I needed to go Watsons to buy one-for-one masks. Spent my last $100 sgd on 20 boxes of masks as I don't want to bring back any Twd currency. 

Did last min packing and the big van came to pick us up to TaoYuan Airport. Fortunately, all our luggage did not exceed the 60kg limit!  

Landed singapore safely!

Bought these from the duty-free store

presents for the relatives and friends

My own stuffs. seriously never buy enough!

Oh yea, actually The things at Taiwan are not very cheap. Just slightly cheaper than Singapore. They do have clothes and shoes selling at less than $10sgd but not very pretty in my opinion. The whole trip wasn't as fun as I had imagined. Maybe due to a few factors. Mainly due to the pimples on my face really made me lose my confidence and wanna hide away from people. Another factor was due to the typhoon and rainy weather. The last factor might be due to the people that I went with. The next time I go Taiwan, I'll definitely find some hardcore shopaholics to go with me! cannot go with guys. haha. Overall, I like the food, people and shopping at Taiwan. Without my pimples, I'll be a much happier tourist.

Also, I would like to thank my relatives and dad for their ang baos to wish me have a safe journey. Though they emphasized that I don't have to buy anything for them. But looking at the ang baos, I where got hao yi si not to buy!  Thanks for the love! =)