Travelling period: Jan 1st - Jan 8th 2012
Key Places visited: Taipei and Sun Moon Lake
Night Markets
#Tourist Tip: My advice is to start with the less touristy night markets and visit Shilin night market on the last day. You'll realise that prices are slightly cheaper and the markets less congested than Shilin.
Night Market #1 - Ning Xia night market.
I generally preferred this market as it was quieter and less touristy. Also managed to find all the food I wanted including the infamous smelly tofu.
Opening hours: 1800 - 2400
Getting there: 10 minutes walk from Zhongshan MRT station or Shuanglian MRT station
I love the big fat juicy taiwanese sausages !
Peanuts for sale !
Night Market #2 - Shida night market.
As this market is next to two big universities, prices were slightly cheaper and the market was filled with young people. Surprisingly, apart from stores selling food, this was the only market that had clothing stores open for business!
Getting there: 10 minutes walk from Taipower MRT station
Night Market #3 - Shilin night market.
Throngs of tourist visit this market daily. Dont be surprise if you bump into a fellow Singaporean there!
Getting there: 5 minutes walk from Jiantan MRT station
Jiufen
This is a quaint town littered with tea houses and offering stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Jiufen is currently a tourist attraction for those wanting to catch a glimpse of life here in the past. This is also the place where A City of Sadness, winner of the Golden Lion award at the 1989 Venice Film Festival and Spirited Away was shot.
Getting here: Take bus 1062 from ZhongXiao Fuxing MRT station. The journey takes approximately 1 hour.
#Tourist Tip: There are many touts along ZhongXiao Fuxing MRT station who will offer to take you to JiuFen in about 30minutes.
Very funny lady selling sausages
View from a teahouse
Xi Men Ding
Known as the Shibuya of Taipei, this is the place where many teenagers and young adult hang out.
The famous Ah Zhong mian xian is also located here.
Got my bowl of mian xian for less than $2!
Way cheaper and tastier than Singapore
Sun Moon Lake
Getting there: I took the high speed rail from Taipei to Taichung Station. After this, transfer to the nantou bus which will take you directly to Sun Moon Lake.
#Tourist Tip: We went there during the 1st week of January when most businesses were closed which included the cable car ride :( Many of the village dancers were also having their rest week then.