I had doubt when I am doing my Shifen and Jiufen in my plan itinerary because I am torn by commuting it via train or booking this trip via Klook shuttle.
Then ask Kath and Ate Allen and finalize to go there via train.
From Taipei To Shifen: Take a rail train from Taipei Main Stn. (台北車站) to Ruifang Stn. (瑞芳站) > Transfer to the Pingxi Small Railway (平溪支線) to Shifen Stn. (十分站)
Shifen Old Street
Located in the Pingxi area (平溪), Shifen Old Streets is a collection of lanes and alleys in and around the Shifen railway station area. Originally built for transporting coal during the Japanese era, the station and track runs straight through the village.
With the marketplace surrounding the train station and the openness in which people can freely cross the track running straight through the centre of town,
I had to try this snack too. I don't know what it called but I call it Ice cream burrito ;))
Releasing of sky lantern cost NTD 150 - 200 each.
While there is no train, you can walk along the rail, took pictures and have a sky lantern activity.
Jiufen
I really want to visit Jiufen because of the anime spirited away. Right after I watched the anime, and I saw one of my colleagues went to taiwan I got interested in it and excited that I had chance to visit the inspired location.
Entrance of Juifen old street is just beside the 7/11 store :)
From Shifen to Jiufen: Take the Pingxi Small Railway to Ruifang Stn. (瑞芳站), and transfer to bus #788, #827, or #1062 to Jiufen Old Street (九份老街)
*There’s no public transportation between Jiufen and Shifen, you’ll have to get back to Ruifang Stn. (瑞芳站) to transfer.
Welcoming by No Face
F3 in Juifen
Looks we are in Tagaytay lake view
trying out this xiao long bao and this rice with pork minced sauce
Juifen Alley. Love the lantern decorations, very chinese
Spirited Away Feels
In reality, this tunnel is leads to a tea house. In the anime, it is the start of the magical journey of spirited away.
Remember the mask in the anime? here's the inspiration.
Hello there no face! :)
Haku look-a-like
I just passed by in this store when I realised that he looks like Haku - the character of spirited away.
Sorry for the blurry shot.
The alley going down to the Grand Tea House. SO MANY TOURIST!
My happy face :)
RAOHE NIGHT MARKET
Before me back to xi mending, we visited the raohe night market, it is one of the oldest night market in Songshan District packed with great food, locals and visitors at every night.
the famous Taiwanese pork bun
yummers kain tayo!
another porky bbq
cutie steam buns
and another sausage on stick! sarap talaga nito! :)
While roaming around the night market, we saw this thing. hahaha
I don't know why the brand is fighting for homosapiens ^____^
*insert Qing Fei De Yi song (Meteor garden OST)* Hello everybody! :) It's been a week ago when I got back from Taiwan. And now I'm here rushing to complete my blog while its still fresh and vivid in my memory. This is supposed to be my first solo travel but I think its better when I am not alone in this trip. My friend Kath (aka Diary of a moody Bitch in Youtube) and her cousin Ate Allen booked their flight last week of January same schedule of my trip but in a different airline. It's Kath first (blood) travel outside Philippines and we (F3) are all excited what will happened in taiwan. Wait before I start do you know that we have lots of bloopers in this trip (I will just keep it by my self) I do also have lesson learned maybe I will tackle that along the way. :)
Weather
We went to Taiwan last week of February, its end of winter and cherry blossoms is starting to bloom. Anyway, Taiwan has four seasons. Summer from June to August are hot and humid, winter from December to February are icy cold and dry, autumn September – November and Spring, March - May.
Currency
Recommended: You can exchange your peso in advance and BPI forex has better exchange rate according to my friend Rinna. :)
Lesson learned, don't ever change your peso in the airport, I thought they have better rate but unfortunately, NTD1.00 = PHP 2.04 (too high!!!).
If I only listened to my sister, she suggest to just withdraw my pocket money in taiwan however I still insist to change my peso in tauyuan airport. Kath said that in NAIA airport the rate is NTD1.00 = Php1.70. (much better that 2.04php) :(
I'm also planning to have a VISA debit card so that I can use it even in other countries and it is globally accepted.
Accomodation
Months before the flight, I booked my accommodation in Next Taipei Hostel located in Xi mending Area via Agoda. What I really like in this hostel aside of being affordable, the hostel is near the train station. Even though I choose a dorm type room (bunk bed) it is quite big and looks like a capsule.
Address: 108, Taiwan, Taipei City, Wanhua District, 漢中街35號
Sorry for the messy bed! my bad.This is the actual bed of Next Taipei Hostel. And I requested a lower bunk bed upon booking.
You have your own portable table, reading light and socket. If you have many gadgets you can bring your own extension,
Locker Area
The amenities - they have common area in 2nd floor with 2 computers, they also have WiFi available in every floor. In the pantry area - bread, coffee and tea is also available daily.
Recreation area
Pantry area
computer area
Laundry Area
And last but not the least, FREE breakfast (buffet style) is also in included but it was located in the other building.
Next Taipei Hostel breakfast
Internet Connection
I recommend to rent out a portable wifi via Klook it is relatively fast, reliable and of course cheap! I pick up this in terminal 1 upon my arrival.
Day 0
*side story*
I booked it during my birth day month (month of August) while cebupac is having a seatsale that time. Yeah if you can see I kinda pretty plan out my vacation especially when it is out of the country.
My flight to Taipei is 11:40 PM from Manila via Cebu Pacific. I left the house at 6:00 PM going to terminal 1.
Welcome to Taoyuan Airport :)
Sharing with you Kath's vlog when we arrive in Taoyuan airport. Please also subscribe in her YouTube channel :)
Day 1
We decided to sleep in the airport, and that is one of my lesson learned I got. Note for my self next time in my next travel please have a good sleep and booked for an extra night even though you arrive at midnight.
To take the bus from Taoyuan airport to Taipei Main Station, head to B1 Arrivals in Terminal 1 or the northeast arcade of the 1st floor Arrivals lobby in Terminal 2. We took Kuo-kuang bus number 1819 to Taipei Main Station. NTD 125.00 By the way, there is a convenience store in terminal 2 named Hi-Life, you can buy easycard for NTD 100.00 and reload the card in the eazycard machine.
Touch down Taipei! It is really cold in Taipei.
We head first to Next Taipei hostel to drop our luggages. Then we went to PS Bubu restaurant to take our Lunch.
P.S. BuBu restaurant is one of the film location of Meteorgarden. If you can still remember this the first date location of Dau ming Zhi and Sanchai.
Address: 111, Taiwan, Taipei City, Shilin District, 中山北路七段140巷1號
Our next itinerary should be Tamsui but unfortunately it's raining cats and dogs that time when we reached Tamsui Station and decided to head back to Ximen. We check in at 4pm-ish and had a short nap.
Ximending
Xi mending is the shopping district in taipei and a popular destination of every tourist and locals.
Tourist will not be hungry because there's a lot of dinning options in the area.
Popular HOT STAR fried chicken is always in line.
Features a wide selection of fashionable clothing, souvenir, bags and accessories.
Shilin night Market
We go out in hostel and head to shilin night market at 7PM to have dinner and roam around in the night market.
Candied strawberry and tomatoes.
Cube beef
ahhhmmmm.... :))
I like this sausage! The texture is like chorizzo minus the sweet and cured taste.
