Wandering Fel

Showing posts with label Ximending. Show all posts

"Good morning and good night, I'll wake up at twilight."

Hello! Long time no see. I have been away for a two weeks break away from work and the drama at the slavery land. While ideally I should have been focusing more on my blog writing, I was so distracted doing so many lazy activities during my break including lazing on my bed doing nothing. Unproductive much?

While lazing around in my own home is nice and enjoyable, finding breakfast affair is not really an easy feat to do because it involves turning on your car and drive out to the nearest bakery or market. Kinda makes me reminisce those yummy breakfast stalls Ximending which only needs me to walk a few steps because I stayed in the vicinity during my last visit to Taipei. The first breakfast stall that I visited seem to be tourist-favourite because I was welcomed with a long queue in front of Yong He Dou Jiang.

10D9N Taiwan Trip: Breakfast at Ximending, Taipei

Undeterred by the crowd (and the assumption that a curler will not take long to fry anyway), my travelling buddy and I quickly snatch one of the menu available and pondering for a while to decide what to eat. It's good for Yong He Dou Jiang to have this kind of picture menu because this will make ordering so much easier especially if you don't speak Mandarin.

Breakfast menu from Yong He Dou Jiang at Ximending Taipei

Moving closer to the counter, we saw the size of the fried curler or locally referred as "You Tiao". They are gigantic and way bigger than Singapore version of you tiao for sure.

You Tiao from Yong He Dou Jiang at Ximending

When it's our turn, we decided to order the same stuff, shao bing you tiao. It's basically a wrapped fried curler. You can have option to add egg inside the wrap but we thought that would be kinda too much because we still had one more stall to visit later on for our breakfast. In addition, we also wanted to drink the soya milk (Dou Jiang) because what's you tiao without its partner, dou jiang?

You Tiao Shao Bing from Yong He Dou Jiang at Ximending Taipei

Happily posing with my brekkie on a random street at Ximending. Hmm, even though I am using filter function of IG, I kinda realise that my hair color has turned more reddish than what I kinda wish in mind. Time for a color fix maybe few months later.

Yong He Dou Jiang has many branches scattered all across Taipei but the stall that we visited is located at:

No. 102 Section 2 Fuxing South Road

Daan District

Taipei

Opening hours:

Daily 24 hours

"Oh I think I landed where there are miracles at work,

when you got me open-handed, when you got me lost for words."

I was really lost for words today but it's not because there are miracles at work. My voice has turned husky thanks to itchy throat and despite this annoying challenge, someone even gave me further burden at work. By giving me a subpar work again. Seriously, dude? When are you gonna be able to give me a proper piece of work for goodness sake? The thing is, if this fella give me a nice attitude, I would probably endure his crappy work and try to invest more time in understanding his struggles. But his attitude is crappy and seriously who's on earth willing to invest in crap? By the time the aircon is dead in the office, my throat has thrown a tantrum and I suppose it's time to go home.

At times like these, I do miss those travelling times. Oh right, talking about travelling, let's continue our adventure in Taiwan, shall we?

We stayed at a hotel in Ximending called Diary of Taipei and since the hotel is small and it does not have kitchen, our breakfast is provided in the form of food vouchers. To be exact, KFC vouchers. This is so funny.

10D9N Taiwan Trip: Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, Taipei

There are many selection to choose from breakfast options but I feel like having fried chicken porridge completed with the milk tea. The porridge is okay but it's not something out-of-the-world. The milk tea is too sweet for my taste.

KFC Taiwan Chicken Porridge and Milk Tea

Since it's still so early considering Taiwanese standard of operating retail business (to be fair, the stores close pretty late at night), we decided to wander around Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall to walk off some fat. It was a rainy day and we kinda felt bummer because we had to bring umbrella with us but nonetheless, there is this special feeling that you only feel when you are walking with your umbrella under the rain. The rain makes photo-taking more challenging though. Hahaha.

There is a nice little garden to walk around inside the complex of Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall. Not sure why there are so many birds (up to the point that it gets pretty intimidating for passer-by) on the bridge though.

Bridge in the park of CKS Memorial Hall in Taipei Taiwan

The garden looks pretty calming especially in the morning. Not many people walking around back then because it was raining. We stumbled into some squirrels along the way. They are so cute. Hahaha. Too bad we had nothing to give them that day.

The garden of CKS Memorial Hall in Taipei Taiwan

The main building of Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall can be spotted from the main road. This was not the first time we visited the memorial so we did not really spend a lot of time to explore the whole building. There is an event happening inside and hence, so many people combined with the tourists. We just took a glance and then made a move from here to our next destination since it's cold. A very unenthusiastic tourist indeed. LOL.

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall in Taipei, Taiwan

How to go to Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall:

You can take the train to Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall Station and follow the direction accordingly.

"摸不到的颜色是否叫彩虹?"

"The color can't be touched, is it called rainbow?"

If you are looking for a place that never sleep in Taipei, it is definitely Ximending. Popularly known as the hang out and meeting place for the young Taiwanese, Ximending is never deserted even way late at night despite the fact that everybody have work/ school to go the next day. I become easily depressed if there's nothing to do after the sun set. I suppose that explain why I am not really a fan of Australia since everything seems to close around 6 or 7PM. Hahaha.

10D9N Taiwan Trip: Mee Sua and Mango Ice at Ximending, Taipei

My night walk around Ximending has yielded a total of 10 pieces of earrings to add to my earrings collection. This was apt because I could not seem to find nice and yet affordable earrings in Singapore. I guess I will come back to Taipei whenever I am in the need to replenish my earrings stock (yea, I often lose them in my daily life). I got pretty excited whenever I pass by Ah Mao Risotto Restaurant, not particularly because of the food though. It's more because of the big dog who always laze around inside the restaurant. The dog has practically become a signature mascot of the restaurant. So cute.

Ah Mao Risotto Restaurant at Ximending Taipei

We did not have enough space in our tummy that night to eat the most popular food in Ximending, Ah Chung Mian Xian. If you are early-riser and you do not have any particular agenda in your itinerary, you should come by to Ah Chung Mian Xian because the store opens pretty early (since 9AM) everyday.

Ah Chung has been selling flour rice noodle (i.e. Mian Xian) since 1975 and it is still popular until today. I realised that there is now small bowl being offered at the cost of 50NTD. The last time I visited Ah Chung Mian Xian, there is only one size available (the NTD 65 one) so it's a good news for small eater or for normal eater who want to keep space in their tummy to try other food in Ximending. I am definitely the latter, for sure. Hahahaha.

Ah Chung Mian Xian Price List at Ximending Taipei

The taste of Ah Chung Mian Xian really brings back memory of studying days in Taiwan. I am still a fan of the noodle until this day. Hope they can maintain the taste and quality forever and ever. LOL.

Taiwanese Intestine Mee Sua at Ximending

The reason for us to buy the small bowl instead of the big bowl is because we wanted to stuff ourselves with other food such as this humongous Mango Ice. It tastes oh-so-good. The snow ice literally so soft and melt in your mouth. I can probably eat the whole thing for lunch and wait, I think I did that before. Hahahaha. #oinkoink

Ah Chung Mian Xian is located at the alley where Family Mart is located. You will see Family Mart if you are coming from the direction of Exit 6 of Ximending Station when you explore the area. Meanwhile, the mango ice store is located way further from the main street of Ximending. Walk straight from Exit 6 until you see Hot Star Fried Chicken. From then on, observe your right side until you see a store with the picture of many fruit ice selection (yes, the store has all kind of topping you can imagine).

"Here I am waiting, I'll have to leave soon. Why am I holding on?"

Ni hao! I know I have to leave Ximending soon to go for our beef noodle dinner at Yongkang Street but I was so so so hungry after checking in at our hotel, Diary of Taipei, and there's a fried chicken kiosk located few steps away from the entrance of the hotel. Despite the rainy weather, people are still queuing for this fried chicken so I am so holding on to this place with fried chicken as my sole determination. Hahaha.

10D9N Taiwan Trip: Ji Guang Xiang Xiang Ji Fried Chicken, Ximending

Initially I thought the name of the fried chicken kiosk is 1973 but turns out it is called Ji Guang Xiang Xiang Ji and it's originated from Taichung since the year 1973 and hence, the sign of the year. You can really smell the luring nice smell of the fried chicken while queuing. Makes me really really hungry.

Queue for Ji Guang Xiang Xiang Ji Fried Chicken Ximending

I got so bored while waiting I started to stare at the cute chicken mascot. I wonder if the Taiwanese love everything's cute due to their close tie to Japan. Or they just naturally like cute stuff since...well, since long time ago.

Mascot for Ji Guang Xiang Xiang Ji Fried Chicken at Ximending

Anyway, random thought aside, we were getting pretty near to the counter. We could at least start checking out the menu now. If you don't eat chicken, you can order crispy fried squid instead. You can also order both if you want to.

Counter of Ji Guang Xiang Xiang Ji Fried Chicken at Ximending

Production line at its utmost productivity. To be honest with you, every time I visit Ximending, the queue forming at this stall is always super long. I wonder how the people in charge of frying can withstand the required demand of their job everyday. Really.

Frying the Ji Guang Xiang Xiang Ji Fried Chicken at Ximending

I can see the yummy fried chickens....getting nearer and nearer. Yum!

Travel buddy and I tried to save some space in the stomach for beef noodle so we ordered the combo of smaller bag of fried chicken and fried squid. Hereby the first official street food that we tried in Taipei for the first trip in 2017, Taiwanese fried chicken and fried squid. Yummy yummy. :)

Boneless Fried Chicken from Ji Guang Xiang Xiang Ji Ximending

Ji Guang Xiang Xiang Ji Fried Chicken can be spotted immediately once you exit through Exit 6 of Ximending MRT. When in doubt, follow the queue line, please. XD

"And you can say what is, or fight for it.

Close your mind or take a risk."

Welcome to Ximending! The moment I've landed in Taipei, this is the first place on my to-visit list. Main reason is of course because our hotel is located in this vibrant and young area of Taipei. It has been three years since the last time I visit Ximending and oh wow, since when there is a very big H&M outlet here. Okay, before I got too excited and forget that I still have my luggage with me, let's make our way to Diary of Taipei Hotel.

10D9N Taiwan Trip: Diary of Taipei Ximending

Like a lot of hotels in Ximending, Diary of Taipei shares lift with other tenants in the same building and hence the first thing that you have to find in order to reach the hotel lobby is the right elevator. My travelling companion was stunned for a moment because this is her first time experience of staying in Ximending's hotels and despite the dodgy entrance, the lobby at 5th floor is pretty decent and our twin bedroom at level 10 is pretty neat. While the bed size is not big but the room, the sheet, the toilet and everything else is clean and that what matters the most to me when I travel.

Twin bedroom at Diary of Taipei Ximending

Small coffee table which we use to put all our stuff and shopping bag. Amenities are pretty basic but at least Diary of Taipei still gives us free toothbrush. Nowadays many hotels don't give toothbrushes anymore. There's kettle jug to boil your water too if you need some hot water to make coffee/ tea.

Hotel amenities at Diary of Taipei Ximending

Hairdryer is available too so we girls can wash our hair everyday during our stay at Diary of Taipei.

Sink and mirror at Diary of Taipei Ximending

Basic shower room. As long as it's clean and there's hot water available, I'm a happy guest.

Shower room at Diary of Taipei Ximending

Map of Ximending is available at the lobby and I suggest you take one because it helps greatly when you want to explore this area. Free Wifi is also available in every level however, it was kinda patchy when we just went into our room. It works normally once we have made our complaint to the front desk though. One of the common complaints received when people staying in a hotel at Ximending is the tendency of the hotel surrounding to be noisy because after all there are many clubs/ karaoke places in Ximending. But as Diary of Taipei does not share premise with those noisy kind of tenants (they share with internet cafe and hair salon), we did not encounter any noise problem during our stay at all. Phew.

And the best thing about Diary of Taipei is their location. The elevator leading to the hotel is located just a few steps away from Exit 6 of Ximending MRT Station. Basically you can just make a dash to the hotel without getting soaked under the rain if the weather is bad and you just need to trace H&M when you want to trace your way back to the hotel.

Diary of Taipei Ximending's room rate:

Double Bedroom SGD 115 - SGD 121
Twin Bedroom SGD 118 - SGD 124

Diary of Taipei Ximending's address:

5F No.90, Section 1, Zhonghua Road, Ximending, Taipei