Wandering Fel

Showing posts with label Taiwan Travel. Show all posts

"Been standing in the corner, studying the lights.

The dreaming of escape will keep you up at night."

The dreaming of escape, huh? I can totally feel it running in my veins. The dream has been so strong recently up to the point that I just feel like do it. You know? JUST DO IT. That kind of Nike's feeling. But then again, there is no point in rushing up certain things and some decisions are not to be taken so lightly without talking to God. So let me ponder upon this "escape-plan" again over the weekend.

Should I escape to Taiwan again? At least if I decide to escape to Taipei, I will be able to eat the super yummy teppanyaki at Chamonix in Zhongshan.

10D9N Taiwan Trip: Chamonix Teppanyaki, Taipei

Teppanyaki is quite popular in Taiwan and you can literally find teppanyaki at every corner of the city. When I visited my aunt the last time before I finished my study in Taipei, she brought me to a neighbourhood teppanyaki restaurant which is just a hole-in-the-wall kind of restaurant but it was so good. This time around actually my travel buddy and I did not put any plan to eat at teppanyaki restaurant because we did not have enough time to do research on where to eat nice teppanyaki. But my colleague happened to tell me about this supposedly-nice-teppanyaki named Chamonix. First time hearing about it and hence, have some doubts about the review. However, my colleague has sworn on it and reservation has proven to be difficult so here we are at Chamonix's entrance trying our luck to dine in without reservation.

Entrance to Chamonix Teppanyaki Taipei Taiwan

Thankfully there is seating area which is specifically reserved for those diners without reservation. We gleefully took our seats at the corner and eagerly anticipated what the chef is about to cook.

Teppanyaki Courses at Chamonix Teppanyaki in Taiwan

The first food that the chef cooked was the prawns. Did you see how juicy and big the prawns are? We literally drooled when we see the chef cooking the prawns.

Cooking prawns at Chamonix Teppanyaki Taiwan

The prawn is served as part of the warm appetiser, together with the mini chawanmushi.

Warm appetiser from Chamonix Teppanyaki Taiwan

Complimentary bread and sauces are also given to each customer so hungry customer will not give the chef deadly stares while he's busy cooking the next course. Kidding, but that does make sense, right?

Complimentary bread and sauce from Chamonix Teppanyaki Taiwan

The next course raised a bit of question in my mind but thankfully my travelling buddy told me that the finishing touch was not yet added to this course.

Inside seafood bisque from Chamonix Teppanyaki

The diners are supposed to see the inside of the seafood bisque before the chef pour the soup over it. Ahh, suddenly I feel kinda embarrassed for not knowing this table manner. Oops.

Seafood bisque from Chamonix Teppanyaki Taiwan

The next course was one of my favourite, the truffle and mushroom salad. It was definitely more interesting than the usual garden salad although there are no greens involved in this dish.

Truffle and mushroom salad from Chamonix Teppanyaki

For the main course, I chose the grilled short ribs because it has been a while since the last time I ate steak. You would have thought that each person only have this amount of steak to eat but you guess wrongly. Apparently the chef will put additional serving to our plate after we made a mess of the first serving while munching. Oh wow. I'm really a happy girl full of steak.

Short ribs from Chamonix Teppanyaki Taiwan

The carb for the day is ebi fried rice which taste so good but at this point of the meal, my tummy was already bulging. This was the last course before dessert thankfully. After we had polished the plate, we were ushered to another seating area to enjoy our dessert and coffee.

Garlic fried rice from teppanyaki set at Chamonix Taipei

For dessert, each of us opted for different kind of dessert so that we could try at least two kind of desserts served in Chamonix Teppanyaki. My choice was the apple cake served with vanilla ice cream.

Vanilla ice cream with apple cake from Chamonix Taipei

While my travel buddy's choice is chocolate ball served with vanilla sauce. The chocolate taste a bit weird not in the negative sense though. It's just...I don't know how to explain the taste of the chocolate really. It tastes different from the normal chocolate. Hmm.

This was my first time trying tiramisu iced coffee and I feel that I really need to burn my calorie off after completing my meal with this sweet and bitter explosion in my mouth. Coffee goes well with tiramisu powder I suppose. The whole teppanyaki course costs us around SGD 50 per person but it was so worth it. At least, when you compare to teppanyaki sold in SG. Hehe.

Chamonix Teppanyaki is located at:

B1F, No. 44, Sec. 2 Zhongshan North Road

Zhongshan District

Taipei, Taiwan

Menu in English is available on Chamonix's website:

http://www.chamonix.com.tw/en/menu.aspx

"Goodbye I'm not gonna cry as I'm hopping that train knowing I won't see you again."

When the tiredness hit, I feel pretty gloomy about all those things that are currently not working so well in life such as work and well, relationship. Sometimes you don't feel like moaning to anyone because noone will really able to encourage you than Jesus so I guess it's probably easier to just moan and share to Him instead. Although this kinda disappointing sometimes in a sense that you wish there's someone on earth who can get what you are feeling right now without you telling that particular person so much about your trouble. Oh well.

We are coming toward the end of Taiwan trip. Oh gosh, even the mood of the blog post is kinda sombre now. Hahaha.

10D9N Taiwan Trip: Aletheia University at Tamsui

During our visit to Tamsui, I offered my friend to visit some of the popular tourist attractions in Tamsui such as Fisherman Wharf, Red Fort and Aletheia University. However, Fisherman Wharf is kinda far to cover on foot and she was not all that interested to check out historical site such as Red Fort. So my travelling buddy chose to visit Aletheia University instead. Actually, the fact that a university can be a popular tourist attraction is kinda amusing to me. But, Aletheia University is the first university established in Tamsui area by Reverend Mackay. The campus ground is pretty nice and serene with a beautiful pond in the middle of the complex. The building which looks like a church is actually the campus' auditorium. Quite grand I have to say.

There are another section of the university which looks pretty European to me. And the building is named Oxford College, oh wow, are we in England now? Not sure what's the building is used for because they are closed on Sunday.

Wondering if this building is considered the student's classroom. Hmm. Anybody wanna to enrol here?

Classroom building at Aletheia University in Tamsui

If you walk further deeper inside from Aletheia University (you can just follow the crowd actually), you will reach the school gate of Dan Jiang Secondary School. If you are wondering how come a secondary school can become so popular in Taiwan, it's because this secondary school is where the famous homegrown celebrity, Jay Chou, studied during his younger days. This is also the filming location of one of the movies that he starred, "Secret". Unfortunately, we could not get in the school complex on that day because the school is closed for private event. Boohooo.

When we are walking back toward the MRT, the crowd has started to swarm around the old street because people are interested to check out the food. We did not really buy anything from the old street but I heard this is where you should go if you are interested to buy the iron eggs (which looks all black!).

Note: The train back to Taipei Main Station from Tamsui was totally PACKED at 5PM on a Sunday. So if you want to avoid the crowd, maybe you should avoid to go back to the city centre at this timing.

"We were just kids when we fell in love, not knowing what it was."

Good morning Sunday! Yesterday was probably the last time I'm having salad for dinner because I ended up sleeping hungry. The struggle was so real up to the point I woke up at 4AM and still feeling hungry. Diet journey must go on though at least until the day my cousin's wedding is held. No way I'm gonna be the fattest relative. #vainmax

Gone are the days of eating cakes for now. Huhuhu.

10D9N Taiwan Trip: Rilakkuma Cafe, Taipei Part 2

But if you are on vacation, please do not deprive yourselves of cakes and cute desserts because who will do that when one is in themed restaurant as cute as Rilakkuma Cafe.

Cake display from Rilakkuma Cafe in Taipei Taiwan

If we did not have further dinner plan, we would have ordered mains too but we tried to keep our tummy in check and decided to just share this Rilakkuma choco tart by the two of us. Isn't it a cutey?

Chocolate tart from Rilakkuma Cafe in Taipei Taiwan

We also ordered drinks because there is a minimum order of one drink + one cake (or one drink per guest) imposed by the cafe. This regulation is pretty normal for all kind of themed restaurants because the diners at these kind of restaurants tend to chill for SO LONG. Like hours. We did not make reservation but they allowed us to sit for one hour. Good enough for us. The fruit teas are nice and refreshing but where's Rilakkuma in our drinks?

Fruit teas from Rilakkuma Cafe in Taipei Taiwan

Oh there you are. Hello there, yellow iced Rilakkuma. Actually if we have the ice cube mold, we can make this ourselves. LOL.

Rilakkuma ice cube from Rilakkuma Cafe in Taipei Taiwan

Don't forget to visit the washroom whenever you are in a themed restaurant. The washroom is always decorated nicely.

Washroom in Rilakkuma Cafe Taipei Taiwan

Right outside the bathroom, Rilakkuma and his friends are enjoying reading time with a cuppa of coffee and hot chocolate on a cozy corner. I feel like joining them really. Hahahah.

Cute Rilakkuma decoration at Rilakkuma Cafe in Taipei Taiwan

Rilakkuma Cafe is located at:

No. 3, Lane 248, Section 4 Zhongxiao East Road

Daan District

Taipei, Taiwan

Opening hours:

Monday to Friday - 11.30AM to 9PM

Saturday and Sunday - 11.30AM to 9.30PM

"You ain't ever gonna burn my heart out."

Came back to work and immediately swamped with a mountain of work and dishearterned spirit, I seriously need a good dose of songs from Oasis, really. Sometimes when I wonder why do I work so much I have to be reminded of what I enjoy doing the most in life, travelling. And travelling does not come free since the most basic requirement from travelling is well...air ticket? #bitterlaugh

So it is time to remember the good time that I had back then when I was travelling to Taiwan. Let's count this as self-motivating post. I could not believe I need to split Jiufen post into 3 parts but combining them all in one post seems lengthy and Jiufen does have a lot of things to offer from street food, crafts and even awesome view. You will not be able to see the view unless you walk all the way to the end of this lanterns-lit passage.

10D9N Taiwan Trip: Jiufen Old Street Part 3

There is one hand-crafted ocarina store in Jiufen Old Street. The store has been around since my first visit to Jiufen few years ago so I suppose the store really has a good business selling ocarina. You are not allowed to take picture of their ocarina though but looking from the display case from outside, the ocarinas sold here have so many cute shapes, mostly animals. If you buy the ocarina, the store owner will give you free tutorial booklet on how to play the ocarina.

Ocarina shop at Jiufen Old Street in Taiwan

Few steps from the ocarina store, we are back to food hunt and the sight of colorful filled Chinese pastry lured me deeper into temptation. Obviously I failed and bought the milk filled pastry for NTD 40. Yummy!

Pastry shop at Jiufen Old Street in Taiwan

Right after I just finished my pastry, I got lured again, this time by this fragrant Chinese sausage. Oh my gawd, there is no way I will miss this unhealthy and yet so fragrant and juicy (because it's laden with oil obviously) Chinese sausage.

Grilled Chinese sausage store at Jiufen Old Street in Taiwan

My travelling buddy could resist the temptation of sausage but only to fall on the next store's temptation which sells some glutinous gooey stuff which I cannot explain. This gooey gooey stuff taste pretty weird to me but travel buddy seems to enjoy it just fine. This prove that Jiufen has everything for everybody.

Glutinous rice ball from Jiufen Old Street in Taiwan

When you reach the end of the passage, you will see many tea houses and cafes with view. It seems that there are more and more cafes nowadays and they have fancy decoration for these cafes.

You don't have to dine in one of the cafes or tea houses if you just want to catch the view though. It's just you have to endure the crowd in patience if you want to have a shot of the clear mountainous view without anyone photobombing your scenery picture.

View from tea house at Jiufen Old Street in Taiwan

If you zoom in at the road, you will see that the road is by no means, easy to navigate at all. It has so many turns and yet the bus drivers seem to be able to drive the bus without any difficulty. I do pray for a safe trip everytime I go to Jiufen though. LOL.

The nine dragon turns road at Jiufen Taiwan

Since we have spent 90 minutes or so to reach Jiufen, we decided to chill at one of the tea house. We just had simple meal and coffee but the atmosphere of the tea house was so nice we ended up spending at least an hour inside. Hahaha.

Relaxing at tea house at Jiufen Old Street Taiwan

The garlic butter toast that we tried that day. Simple and yet tasty.

Garlic toast from tea house at Jiufen Old Street in Taiwan

How to reach Jiufen by direct bus:

1. Make your way to Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT station

2. Exit via Exit 1 and walk all the way until you see Kao Chi at your left side

3. Walk further down the road for at least 3 minutes until you see a bus stop (which usually has crowd) for bus no. 1062

4. The bus may show Jinguansi at its destination but 1062 will surely bring you to Jiufen

5. Bus no. 1062 will also go via Ruifang so if you want to visit this city, you can board the same bus

"I'm free to be whatever I, whatever I choose and I'll sing the blues if I want."

Totally singing the blues now because holiday is over today. But then, looking at the bulging belly, I probably really need to go back to harsh reality hoping that the harsh situation of my life will make me slimmer. At least before my cousin's wedding three weeks later. Hahaha wishful thinking?

If Singapore has a lot of street food like what Jiufen Old Street have, the above goal may just be really a dream. The food street sold at Jiufen Old Street really gives a lot of temptation to my eyes really.

10D9N Taiwan Trip: Jiufen Old Street Part 2

There are non-food stores as well at Jiufen Old Street but most of them are handcrafts and arts store which is not really my subject of interest. My brother would be able to appreciate these better I suppose.

Souvenir store in Jiufen Old Street Taiwan

I, for sure, will be able to appreciate pretty food such as these colorful mochi. Oh right, Jiufen is famous for its yummy mochi too and this store who has this bright and yummy display sells pretty good ones. I tried the fruit mochis before and the mango mochi tastes good. Strawberry ain't bad either.

Fruit mochi store at Jiufen Old Street in Taiwan

This time, I would like to try out the bean/nut-related mochi and chose green tea instead. Taste not bad too but if you want to buy a box of these mochi, please take note of the expiry date. If I recall correctly, they don't last that long even if you put them in the fridge. Probably a week+ tops.

Nuts mochi from Jiufen Old Street in Taiwan

My friend gave me a mission to buy these nougat crackers at Jiufen Old Street. Not like your regular crackers, these crackers are not super crunchy because of the sticky and gooey filling (and hence, the name "nougat"). I did not buy these for myself but my travelling buddy who got a box for herself commented that while these snacks taste yummy when we tasted them in Jiufen, they got soggy pretty fast when you brought them back home after few days. So words of advice, consume them fast!

Nougat biscuit store at Jiufen Old Street in Taiwan

Once you have reached this restaurant, which gives inspiration to Hayao Miyazaki for the bathhouse in his movie, Spirited Away, you have reached the middle section of Jiufen Old Street. Halfway to go to the beautiful mountainous view from the top.

Restaurant at Jiufen Old Street in Taiwan

How to reach Jiufen by direct bus:

1. Make your way to Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT station

2. Exit via Exit 1 and walk all the way until you see Kao Chi at your left side

3. Walk further down the road for at least 3 minutes until you see a bus stop (which usually has crowd) for bus no. 1062

4. The bus may show Jinguansi at its destination but 1062 will surely bring you to Jiufen

5. Bus no. 1062 will also go via Ruifang so if you want to visit this city, you can board the same bus

Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )

Wandering Fel

10D9N Taiwan Trip: Chamonix Teppanyaki, Taipei

10D9N Taiwan Trip: Aletheia University at Tamsui

10D9N Taiwan Trip: Afternoon walk at Tamsui, Taipei

10D9N Taiwan Trip: Rilakkuma Cafe, Taipei Part 2

10D9N Taiwan Trip: Jiufen Old Street Part 3

10D9N Taiwan Trip: Jiufen Old Street Part 2