What to do in Taipei when it rains?

Rain has been part of the Taiwanese lifestyle. It can rain in basically any season in Taiwan. During summer, it is worse because the rain comes in full force with the typhoon. >.<!

If this happens during your visit to Taipei, what should you do?

1. Hide inside the shopping malls

Shopping malls are your best friend when the weather outside is wet. And you can do so many things inside the shopping malls like eating, cafe-hopping, and of course, shopping! 

2. Read books

If you happen to stuck inside Eslite Bookstore, you can simply wait for the rain to subside by reading books since Eslite allows customers to read books. What an awesome bookstore, eh?

3. Watch movies

Watching movies can be a good way to wait for the rain to subside too, especially if you happen to be around Taipei City Hall or Ximending area when the rain pours down. 

Oh, another thing, it may be a good idea to buy umbrella in Taipei because it costs you pretty cheap. You can find a lot of umbrella stalls in Taipei Main Station. Don't let the rain brings you down! =)

Taipei Eats: Revisited Modern Toilet Restaurant, Ximending

When my friend, S, visited me in Taipei, she was so eager to try this quirky themed restaurant called Modern Toilet Restaurant. This was my 2nd visit to the restaurant during my stay in Taipei.

If you miss the big toilet bowl, you can see the signage of the restaurant. Uhm no, please note that this is not a sign for public toilet. Hahaha. #misleadingmuch

There is a minimum order of 80NTD per person (if I'm not wrong). But this is easily achieved by ordering a set meal at Modern Toilet Restaurant. 

My friend was daring enough to order beef curry set meal. Haha the color of the food is so into the theme. XD

We also ordered side dish to share amongst us. Fried chicken karage.

The set meal comes with an ice cream. You can choose either chocolate or vanilla ice cream. 

When we went to the cashier to pay, we noted that the restaurant sells some souvenirs too. Poop pencil, anyone?

For the location of the restaurant, please refer to my first post about Modern Toilet here.

Singapore Cafe: Antoinette at Palais Renaissance

For one of our close friends' bridal shower, we chose to celebrate at Antoinette located at Palais Renaissance. As we need to chat a lot, we ordered a jug of iced fruit tea which taste so refreshing.

At the dessert bar, you can see a lot of macarons.

Not many cakes were on display when we were there. Each cake costs around 8 to 9 SGD.

This particular strawberry cakes caught our eyes because it looks kinda pretty.

To make our celebration even more fun, we shared the caramel pancake amongst the three of us. The pancake is yum! 

There are three branches of Antoinette in Singapore. The one locates at Mandarin Gallery is forever crowded. So, if you prefer the quieter branch, you can go to the branch at Palais Renaissance instead. 

Singapore Eats: Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe, Anchor Point

Whenever I have a craving for Hong Kong cafe food, I drag my friend to Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe. Xin Wang has a lot of branches in Singapore and today, we are visiting its branch located at Anchor Point, Queenstown. 

Xin Wang offers a variety of dishes from Western food just like this chicken chop. 

To Chinese cuisine like seafood fried noodle. 

But the best part about Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe is their drinks, especially their milk teas. I love how the cafe serves the drinks. In a tin cup. And the drinks taste great too. 

If you happen to see Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe during one of your visits in Singapore, do give them a try. Some branches opens until as late as 2AM in the morning. 

Turkey Travel: The Beautiful Inside of Hagia Sophia Museum, Istanbul

Hagia Sophia was used as a church for 916 years before it was converted into the mosque following the conquest of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmed. Then on, it was used as a mosque for 482 years. Hagia Sophia was then converted into a museum in 1935.

As the building was used as both a church and a mosque, you can see the religious symbol from both Christianity and Islam in the building. For instance, the wall inscription of Islam calligraphy and the wall paint of cherubim. 

The upper portion of the museum, on which there are two cherubs painted on the wall. 

The dome of Hagia Sophia is guarded by 4 cherubs on each corner. There are small windows alongside the dome for lights and air to come in the museum. 

On a closer look, there is a painting of Mother Mary and Baby Jesus on the wall next to the Islam calligraphy. 

If you would like to buy souvenir from Hagia Sophia (e.g. keychains or postcards), you can visit the official souvenir store just opposite the exit of Hagia Sophia Museum. 

Hagia Museum opens for visit everyday from 9.00 to 17.00 on winter days and 9.00 to 19.00 on summer days (final entry on 18.00). To see the outsides of Hagia Sophia Museum, please read my other post here.

Turkey Travel: Entering Hagia Sophia Museum, Istanbul

Hagia Sophia Museum is one of most beautiful museum in the world. And since there is no way to capture its beauty with only my camera, so I have to borrow this picture from Google image.

The entrance to the museum is located on the left side of the building. 

The ticket to Hagia Sophia costs 30TL. 

The left side was undergoing a bit of a renovation back then. I suppose a lot of maintenance work is required to ensure that the museum is well kept. 

There is a small yard near the entrance. 

For the insides of Hagia Sophia Museum, please see my other post here.

Turkey Travel: What to buy as souvenir from Turkey?

Turkey is one of those countries where you can buy a pretty unique souvenir. If you like artsy stuff, you can go broke in Turkey, no kidding. The souvenir shop is already looking very pretty from outside.

On the ceiling, there are birds singing...in my imagination. The blue bird kinda reminds me of Twitter. #toomuchsosmed

Turkey is famous for its shisha (also known as hookah). It is basically a tool used for smoking flavored tobacco. Yes, I am not kidding. My friend tried and the smoke taste like strawberry. Strawberry flavored tobacco. This does not sound right. Hahaha.

If you'd like something to hang at your verandah....

Or eggs, anyone? For easter maybe. But they are not made of chocolate, of course.

Turkey's folk musician statues. 

The souvenir store that I visited is located at the town of Bursa, just beside the Grand Mosque. Do pay a visit when you are visiting the Grand Mosque.  

Travel inspiration of the day

I just know it. I have to book my next travel plan. #wanderlust

Singapore Eats: Gogi Grill, Telok Ayer

Replacing what used to be Chinta Manis (which I'll never able to appreciate), Gogi Grill has made itself another lunch venue choice for nearby office workers.

It is basically a Korean version of Tori Q. But if you are not into skewers, you can opt for other options too. 

I chose the S$6 set meal which consists of 3 types of skewers (I think all chickens but I may be wrong). They put seaweed on it and kimchi on the side to make it feels Korean. 

Taste-wise, it's not bad. Quite on par with Tori Q. I don't know how long Gogi Grill will last though because I heard the rental at China Square Food Centre can be quite expensive. 

Singapore Eats: Office Lunch Time at Dal In Korean Restaurant, Telok Ayer

It is really a great thing that more and more Korean food joint opens one after another near where I am working, around Telok Ayer area. When my colleagues and I are having a craving for Korean food, we can just choose one to have lunch. Today we are choosing Dal In Korean Restaurant at Boon Tat Street.

The mandatory side dishes. Yum yum. Do note that the the restaurant staff will not refill your side dishes if you have finished your main dish. 

My colleague ordered a sundubu jjigae which is also known as spicy tofu stew served with kimchi. Yes, it is kinda spicy. 

I prefer meat to tofu, so I ordered Bulgogi Jjigae (beef stew) instead. The sweetness of the beef fill the broth. Yum. 

The price for the main dish is around S$10-ish for lunch. Not bad for what we are getting for S$10 at CBD area. You can give Dal In a try if you are walking around Telok Ayer area in the afternoon. 

Taiwan Eats: 3 Taiwan's Unique Themed Restaurants

If you want to experience dining in a "different" type of setting, you can go to Taipei. The city is apparently filled with bizarre yet interesting restaurants.

1. Hello Kitty Restaurant

If you are a fan of this cat, you will go ecstatic at the restaurant. Hello Kitty is basically the owner of the place and you can see her everywhere including the toilet. 

2. Modern Toilet Restaurant 

If you ever feel like trying to dine inside toilet, this is where you should go. Modern Toilet Restaurant brings toilet to a new level. They even use toilet bowl as a plate/ bowl to serve the dish. Poop-shaped ice cream anyone?

3. Jay Chou's Secret Themed Restaurant

Have you watched the movie called Secret (Bu Neng Shuo Mi Mi)? If yes, you sure can relate to the atmosphere of one of Jay Chou's restaurants in Taipei. The restaurant even keep the piano they use in the filming of the movie. 

4. Carton King

Carton King lets customers experiencing eating in a set up whereby everything is made out from carton. Let's just pray that the carton seats are strong enough to support our butt after we have finished eating. Hahaha.