Just a day ago, I was munching ramen in a little shop just on the outskirts of Hsimending, Taiwan.
And now, I'm crouched in front of my PC, in my little space...in Tampines, Singapore.
The travel bug has got to me..(and my pockets)...been out of the country for 5 times this year I think..hmm..might be one more coming up at year end...ain't sure yet..
A little over 5 days of "escape"...this time round to Taipei city.
Some things gleaned from my meagre days of experience there.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Taking a cab there is a helluva killer. The meter jumps like as if somebody's rigged it.. (hmm..don't tell me it was rigged?....hmm..)
Anyway, for a 40 minute ride from the airport to our hotel. It cost us about $60 bucks.
My eyes were riveted to the damn meter for the second half of the ride haha...
The MRT system is by comparison, a much much much more pocket friendly mode of transport.
Costs about $1 for a 6-7 train stop journey.
And the train network is kinda cool, far-reaching in all directions N, S, E & W.
PERSONAL TRANSPORT
Lotsa little scooters scooting about. Kinda cute to see a chio bu in tight shorts and boots riding one of them little things.
But they can be a nuisance, zipping about everywhere, even on the pathways meant for pedestrians.
Then again, the roads and footpaths are a blur, can't tell one from another...
So it ends it up that both pedestrians and cars/scooters all share the same road.
FASHION/SHOPPING
Dang, so many shops..but all selling the same stuff. Lotsa little shops selling trinkets and accessories like earrings/bracelets/bangles/hair stuff/scarves/hats/belts.
Clothes there are super Harajuku. Very Japanese. Very um...arty farty??
Mini skirts worn over leggings and Converse sneakers.
Jackets worn over off-shoulder tops which are in turn worn over tank tops and capped off with a beret. Striped leggings, lacy ones, black ones, red ones, white ones, green ones, blah blah blah...
Not suitable for this plain Jane over here haha...
But you can call me a klutz too...cos I ain't a shopper and seeing so many of these things...
I simply didn't know where to start and well, ended up not buying so many things afterall haha.
And oh yah, even the uniforms are made to look so cool...Wouldn't mind being a school girl once again if I can wear their uniforms...plain white blouse worn with a tartan skirt..black stockings (or white)...worn with whatever shoes you choose...
Price-wise, things ain't very cheap. Some are of the same price range as in SG.
Of course, if you walk long enough, you'll find some shops selling sale items...and if you're lucky enough to find a right size, you'll get it for a steal..I got a long pants for a STEAL..$5 bucks!!
And it's funny, some shops carry one item in just one size and one piece.
If it can't fit you, then too bad.
SHOES
It was an orgasmic experience. And I'm not talking about those normal stores selling normal heels & pumps & girly slippers.
I'm talking about those shoe shops selling sports shoes, casual sneakers, basketball shoes, running shoes, walking shoes, trainers, cross-trainers...blah blah blah..
The amount of sneaker shops everywhere was overwhelming. Alot of them come in the form of 3-story shophouses. Each level carrying a different brand of sports shoes/sneakers. eg. 1st floor = Nike, 2nd floor = Adidas, 3rd floor = Puma & Asics.
Mind you, these are not fakes. They are genuine goods..and these shops carry models that are not found in Singapore. Old models, new models, you name it..they have it. Whatever colour combination you want, it's all there...!!! Superb Superb!!!
For a non-sneaker owner, I was salivating all the way...ended up with 2 pairs of sneakers...one Puma, one Adidas. Almost got a 3rd pair, an Asics...but well...decided I have only a pair of feet... haha...
Ahboy was caught in a frenzy over the shoes too...coo-ing over all the basketball & running shoes there..and all the Air Max-es that were there...
They have the new Air Max 360 there too, in a whole spectrum of colours...
FOOD
I ain't kidding when I say that everywhere you turn, you can find a makan place.
From restaurants to cheaper eateries. From themed restaurants to sidewalk cafes.
From roadside stalls to pushcart pedlars. From small snacks & drinks to full-blown meals.
Bubble tea is still rampant there. Unlike in SG where the fad has died.
There were weird stuff around, some innovative, some disgusting..Well..disgusting to me at least...but delicacies to them.
Pig innards, chicken innards, some weird stuff which looked like intestines to me...
Pig blood porridge, pig blood soup...Some were specialty stalls selling wildlife food items...
We were walking along a night street market on night...and we saw a stall with cages of rabbits, snakes, civet cats, some animal which looked like a hedgehog..
We saw turtle carcasses, snake skins & some other stuff which we couldn't even identify..
Grilled, broiled, smoked, baked, stewed, stir-fried...Piangzzz......
There was a guy who was trying to get us to patronise his stall...and telling us the health properties of snake blood. His menu even carried snake blood ice-cream...how "innovative" can you get???
But aside from these off-the-beaten track stalls...There were other interesting food like pushcart stalls selling Taiwanese-style prata..you get to choose the types of fillings you want ranging from bacon, eggs, cheese to spring onion, asparagus, chicken, etc.
Kebab stalls, dumpling stalls, stalls selling fried milk to chicken steaks...The famous oyster mee sua...fried dough sticks, fried quails' eggs, fried
Dessert stalls to the traditional Bing Tang Hu Lu sweets...
It's a wonder, with the amount of food to eat, Taiwanese people ain't really big-sized...
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