Friday to Tuesday
November 21 to 25, 2025

The popular saying goes that “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” There must be a lot of truth to this because bite by bite, Taipei is a city that has succeeded in capturing my heart. Here is the travelog for my trip to Formosa’s capital.

This was not my first trip to Taipei, having spent the New Year holidays here in 2023. I was in a writing slump during that time and failed to record the minute happenings, hence the lack of a blog post. However, I will always cherish watching the fireworks show of Taipei 101 as we entered the new year with my mama and brother beside me.

This time, I went with Shane, and not during peak season. We booked this months in advance during a seat sale (which is almost always the case with our travels) and waited patiently until the day of our flight arrived.

Day 0

Fortunately, Taiwan has extended their visa-free entry to Filipinos for another year. This made the pre-trip preparation very easy. The only new requirement was filling up the Taiwan Arrival card. With this and the local e-travel filled up, we passed through immigration and waited for our boarding announcement. 

Everything went smoothly and we found ourselves headed to Taipei Taoyuan International Airport. It was my 2nd time to ride an airbus with a 3-3-3 seat configuration. Luckily we got the window seats on the fight to Taipei, but not on the return trip to Manila.

Day 1 – Tigers and Elephants

We arrived early in the morning and there was an intensely long line at immigration. We spent about an hour queuing up and once we passed through, we were already famished. Our first priority was getting the sim cards booked from Klook. We connected to the internet and quickly went to 7eleven for a quick snack (Inarizushi, ofc).

We considered taking the bus, but the ticket prices were not that different from the faster express MRT, so we took the train instead. This train’s route, running on top of mountains and valleys, suspended so high up in the sky, will always amaze me. I admired the view as we sped through the non-express stations and into the heart of Taipei.

We arrived at the terminal station, Taipei Main Station and made our way to Ximen station. Our accommodation was in this area and it is also one of the top spots for shopping in Taipei. From there, we walked to Triple Tiger Hostel, our home for the next 5 days. They were kind enough to keep our baggage while it was still too early to check in. Feeling less encumbered, we decided to explore more of the Ximending area.

There were loads of people in Ximending, both locals and tourists alike. We had to weave in and out of the walkways to avoid bumping into each other. Consumerism was alive and thriving here. We first searched for an ATM to withdraw some cash and once that was done, we looked for something to eat.

We passed by the famous Crispy Milk Donut shop but the line for it was exasperatingly long. We decided to return on another day, checking the queue every time we walked by.

Exploring the multiple, intersecting shopping streets, we wandered into Ay-Chung Flour Rice Noodles, which also had a queue, but was fast-moving. There was a big crowd surrounding the place, most of them eating noodles from paper bowls. We fell in line and ordered a couple of servings. The process was efficient as they only had a small menu and most people just wanted their signature noodles anyway. After getting our order, we found a vacant spot and waited for the piping hot noodles to cool off a bit.

We added some complimentary condiments to our bowls: some garlic, a bit of chili, black vinegar, and some coriander. I mixed some in and took a spoonful. It was slimy, and I may have been over-enthusiastic with my vinegar because the sourness was overpowering. But the taste was very addictive. The noodles were very soft and hardly added any texture. My favorite part of the dish was the pork offal.

These cooked intestines were my type of chewy and added some saltiness to the overall flavor. The additional garlic helped round out the savory profile and in just a few gulps, I had finished off the noodles and the soup. I enjoyed the remaining intestine pieces a bit more until they, too, were gone. It was the perfect snack to warm us up as the 19-degree climate dropped even lower as the day went on.

After this, we returned to Triple Tiger to check in. The place was cozy and situated in an alley away from the main streets. This gave us a very quiet stay while still being within walking distance from all the action.

We secured our things and went out for our late city tour. Our first stop was the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. This was a location that made a lasting impression on me when I first visited it. Even just the train station for it has a unique look and architecture that sets it apart from other places in Taipei.

Walking out of the station, we admired the white and blue structure of the Gate of Great Piety. This is my favorite structure of the CKSMH complex and I’m in awe of its presence. Unlike the torii gates of Japan, I feel nothing spiritual about this gate, but I am still moved by the aura it exudes.

Next, we entered Liberty Square and walked between the almost-mirrored buildings of the National Theater and the National Concert Hall. There were fewer tourists now compared to before, but they still made up a crowd. Dotted all around the plaza, they were having their own photo shoots and I spotted some doing their evening jog around the place.

Finally, we reached the bottom of the steps to the main structure of the memorial hall. The white walls of the building gleamed in the sun as we climbed the 89 steps (the age of Chiang Kai-shek at his death) towards the main hall. Once we arrived, we admired the giant statue for a bit before heading down the stairs and into the building’s interior. There, we viewed the exhibits as well as hunted for souvenirs at the shops by the ground floor. Satisfied, we headed to our next destination.

The highlight of our first day was coming up. We headed to Xiangshan station and walked through Xiangshan park. By this time, the sun had already set and the cool evening was a big help for what we were about to do. We walked a few more minutes until we reached the start of the Xiangshan trail. Xiangshan is known in English as the Elephant Mountain. Its summit is said to provide an amazing view of Taipei 101 and the city. We were here to hike it.

In actuality, this was less of a hike and more of a StairMaster™ exercise. The path is 100% stairs with some stops along the way. There are benches for taking breaks and even a rest stop where you can refill your water with a fountain. When we climbed, there were lots of people ascending and descending so it is safe, even at night. Markers all around will stop you from getting lost.

We huffed and puffed our way up until we reached the summit. This was only a short climb, but I overestimated my fitness and I was a bit tired by then. Thankfully, the cool evening air helped keep me from melting into a sweaty blob. We waited our turn for our summit documentation.

The view from up here was really nice. The city lights were enchanting and the sheer height of Taipei 101 made it very prominent. There were already a handful of buildings trying to reach its altitude. I wondered how long it would take before the entire skyline would be full of high-rise towers.

After some pictures and videos, we headed down the same trail. We were more careful this time as some of the steps were steep. We reached the bottom and searched for a nearby convenience store to get some snacks. The hike had left us very hungry and we were happy to see a nearby Family Mart. After eating, we headed back to Ximending for another sweep of the area.

Ximending Night Market is not much different from what it is during the day. There are even more people out and about, but the shops are mostly the same. What we didn’t know is that the food carts that don’t have their own permanent stalls are actually unregistered and illegal.

We only found out when we were planning to buy a chicken sausage when suddenly there was shouting and the vendors wheeled their carts away into an alley very quickly. A nearby stall selling socks and trinkets packed up fast and loaded everything into a single pushcart within 10 seconds. It only clicked for us when we saw a police officer marching into the area. And when the police passed the street and turned the corner, all the vendors wheeled their carts back out and continued cooking like nothing happened. It was entertaining but we did see a vendor get caught and felt sad for them.

Then, there was this one unregistered stall that made the best pepper and egg scallion pancakes. I was out there every night ordering from him so I must say that I am on the side of these extrajudicial chefs.

We tasted a lot of delicious street food that evening and with our bellies full, we returned to our hostel for a night of rest. We were lacking sleep (for the entire trip, actually) and we needed to be up early the next day. Our first day in Taipei was tiring but delicious, a combination that I can happily deal with.

Day 2 – Shifen, Jiufen, Yehliu, and more

We were up before sunrise on the 2nd day as our meet up at Taipei Main Station was scheduled for 7:45am. We planned to arrive early because we didn’t know where the exact meet-up location was. We got a bit lost at the underground part of the station, but when we reached the street level, things fell into place. Good thing we allotted some buffer time. On today’s agenda was a Shifen, Jiufen and Yehliu day tour.

While waiting for our Klook contact, I decided to buy some delicious-looking bread from a Gouter shop inside a Family Mart kiosk. This was a good decision because these breads turned out to be the best I had for this trip. If I come back, I will definitely find another branch and consume more of the pastries they offer.

After spotting our tour guide, Aaron, we were corralled into a bus and from there, our day tour officially began.

Our first stop was Shifen, a coal mining town that’s known for the sky lantern releasing activity. We are not fans of this overpriced trend so we spent the time there exploring the area. Because it was still morning, we were one of the first groups there. The downside was that most shops at Shifen Old Street were still closed. We took some photos at the railroad that bisected the area as well as the Jingan Suspension Bridge, which hung above the Keelung river.

I loved the vibes of this place. It felt like a small town where everyone knew each other. The people by the old street seemed to just wake up, go downstairs, and setup their stalls for the arriving tourists. The provincial vibes were strong but with modern comforts that everyone could need. Plus, the city was just a bus ride away.

After a short walk and a Hokkaido Ice cream cone later, we were called back to the bus. This time, we were headed to the nearby Shifen Waterfall. The ride took around 3 minutes. We descended and followed a short path through some shops and onto the view deck of the falls.

The waterfall was very impressive. The curtain-like flow of the water was a sight to see. I even thought that it was impossible to be naturally-made because of how well-composed the water seemed to cascade down. I took some time to admire the entire view while listening to the roar of the water. I admired the self-restraint of the Taiwanese people because if this was in the Philippines, the basin of the waterfall would be open to the public and be filled with swimmers and tourists (flashback to the crowded Kawasan falls).

We perused the souvenir shops and returned to the bus for an hour’s journey towards Jiufen. This gold-mining mountain town is also another famous tourist destination. By this time, it was already lunch time and when we arrived, it was bustling with people.

Guide Aaron took us to his favorite tea shop where we sampled some delicious tea. Then, we were released into the old streets. We walked the usual route (just follow the lanterns) and enjoyed all the free-tastes of food being sold there. Most of the stores selling the most-delicious looking food had long lines so we were glad we brought our own snacks. It’s a good thing we were strict with our expenses, as there were a lot of things to find and buy there, otherwise. The place is definitely a tourist trap and I mean that in the most unoffensive way.

We purchased a delicious case of Oolong tea and continued walking the tight, ascending and descending alleys. We also took a moment to admire the view of the coast from high above. The abundance of green around the city was a beautiful sight. Satisfied with the tour, we boarded the bus and headed to the tour’s final stop.

Out of all the places outside Taipei that we visited, Yehliu area is my favorite. There’s just something about coastal towns that vibe with my soul. I love seeing harbors, boats, and the ocean, along with tiny residential buildings near them. The bus winded through these tiny roads and reached the vast parking space of Yehliu Geopark. This was our last stop before returning to Taipei.

This geopark is filled with lots of rock structures caused by sea erosion. The most famous one is the “Queen’s Head” shaped like a woman wearing a crown when viewed from a certain angle. If you search the geopark on the internet, this is most likely the first image you’ll see.

When we entered the park, we could already see the looooong line for the Queen’s Head. If you’ve been reading up until now, you know how much we hate lines. So we skipped this and explored the rest of the park. Aaron led us to some natural rock formations called the “Candlestick Rocks.” These didn’t have a queue and looked pretty cool themselves. They looked like thick, vigil candles, with the flame being a round rock positioned on the center.

There are a lot of rock formations scattered throughout the beach that it took us a bit of time to see them all. I found the different layers of the earth’s crust jutting out of the cliff very beautiful. Aaron told us that this area was created when two tectonic plates rubbed against each other and pushed some land upwards, out of the sea.

Finally, on the way out of the park, we saw a replica of the “Leopard Rock” which is accurate to its name. In fact, there are also replicas of the Queen’s head in the park. They made replicas as the actual rock formations were getting worn down every year and will eventually collapse.

Outside of the park, there was a shopping street and Shane’s research told us that this was the place to buy souvenirs at the lowest price. We went around looking for knick-knacks and stuff to bring home. I bought a Taiwanese sausage from a local lady that didn’t understand English. These sausages are so juicy-licious and I recommend everyone try them when they’re visiting Taiwan.

Shopping done, we returned to the bus for the trip back to Taipei Main station. It lasted an hour or so and I took the opportunity to get a nap in. When I woke up, we were already arriving. My first act was to run and find the Gouter store but it was already closed by that time. :(

Because we were tired of traveling through the city using the metro (underground meant no views), we walked back to the Ximen area above ground. This exposed us to the buildings and architecture of the place. It was a lovely city with wide sidewalks and lots of flashy signages to capture the eyes.

There’s something about this city that makes it feel spacious and breathable. There were lots of buildings, but it didn’t feel cramped like Manila or Tokyo. This feeling plus the cool evening air kept our energies high as we made our way back to Ximen.

Along the way, we spotted another line for a famous shop, the Fuzhou Ancestor Pepper Pie. This shop was distinguished by the Michelin Guide and we saw how quickly the buns were being made. Who I assumed to be a husband and wife team were packing scallions and ground meat into dough balls while another team was placing the filled buns into a circular oven. The line moved fast and since we had time, we decided to get some.

We’re glad we lined up because these were scrumptious. They definitely deserve all the awards they have. Sometimes, the hype is true.

After a quick breather at the hostel, we decided to see Taipei 101 up close. We took the MRT to the appropriate station and admired the structure from the ground floor. We walked a few blocks away to be able to capture its full length and girth.

Then, feeling the hunger inside us grow, we headed towards our next destination, Linjiang Night Market.

I chose this night market because it’s not as crowded as the Roahe and Shilin ones. My previous trip to Taipei has taught me that, unless you are looking for a specific stall, you will find that most of the things being sold in one night market can be found in all the others. And even despite that, when we arrived, there were still a lot of people in the area.

It was here that I was finally able to eat one of my favorite snacks from my previous trip: Deep-fried Sweet Potato Balls. Mama and I loved these when we were here. I don’t know how they could be so crispy yet chewy at the same time. I could eat literal bags of these if left to my own devices. I introduced them to Shane and she liked them as well. We were continuously shoving these into our mouths as we walked through the night market.

In addition to this, we bought some Peanut Ice Cream roll, and my favorite Scallion Pancakes. The first one was a new flavor for me. Made from grated peanut brittle, ice cream, and wrapped in a crepe, it was delicious. The secret ingredient was fresh coriander, which gave it a special kick. It was a pleasant combination and I would buy more, if only the evening wasn’t already frigid.

We ended the day after consuming these treats.

Day 3 – Panda, Gondola, Tea

Our third day started early as we boarded the train to Taipei zoo. We got there just in time for the 9am opening and we joined the hordes of people lining up by the gates. As we filtered in, we saw that there was a just-concluded fun run inside the zoo grounds. If only we knew that this was taking place, we would have joined in. Early access to the zoo plus morning exercise? That sounds great!

We enjoyed seeing the animals and their habitats. Thankfully, the zoo was easy to navigate, with lots of signages and paths that made foot traffic flow in a particular direction to avoid crowding. The only time we faced a long line was to see the highlight, the Panda house.

Shane was looking forward to this and finally, we entered the building that contained the Panda enclosure. There was only one panda on display and it was quietly snoozing on a swing-like structure. This didn’t stop people from lining up and taking pictures of it. Zoo ushers were standing guard to make sure that no one loitered in the area for too long. We took some videos and pictures and that was it. The entire time we were there, the panda never moved an inch. I didn’t expect the Panda to entertain us, but it was not like the videos we see on social media at all.

We bought some panda souvenirs and left the building to continue the rest of the tour. Aside from the panda, my favorite animals to see were the White Rhino and the Hippos. The pygmy hippopotamus reminded me of Moo Deng and was just as adorable in person. It kept yawning and jiggling its body fat, to my amusement and glee. It’s amazing how big these animals can get naturally and seeing it in person is a unique experience.

The zoo occupies a very large area and despite being an experienced walker, my feet started to ache. At the African Animals exhibit, the noonday sun started cooking us and it definitely added to the legitimacy of the experience. Still we continued following the path and were rewarded with a view of the chimpanzees fighting with each other and a gorilla relaxing under the sun.

Unfortunately, the zoo was undergoing some renovations during the time and we missed out on a few of the animals. Thankfully we didn’t have a lot of expectations and we were happy with what we saw. After exiting the Bird World exhibit, we hopped on a shuttle bus that brought us to the Taipei Zoo South Station. Here, we purchased tickets to another experience I was looking forward to, riding the Maokong Gondola.

What interested me the most about this gondola is not the views, although they are mighty spectacular, but the technology. It amazed me how they were able to build the towers and the cable system to make this gondola ride possible. Even just the mechanism at the stations that make the gondola slow down so passengers can get on and off seems simple but is amazingly well-thought out. The fact that the entire system relies on just a few rotating lengths of strong cable blows my mind.

We admired the view of the forest and the nearby towns as we steadily climbed towards Maokong Station. When we alighted there, it was full of people. There was already a long line for the gondola ride down! But it was still early so we walked towards the direction of the tea houses.

Maokong village is famous for being a tea-growing area and we passed a few plantations on the way to our destination, Zheng Da Tea House. This was where we had some tea during my last visit and it has an stunning rooftop view. You could even see the distant Taipei 101 from here. We ordered a tea and cake combo meal and enjoyed the cool afternoon air.

After paying for our meal (minimum of NTD 250 per person), we lined up for the gondola ride back down to Taipei Zoo station. It was almost evening and my feet were battered from the day’s walking. Returning to the city center, we decided to go to one of Guide Aaron’s recommended places, Sanhe Night Market.

He recommended this night market because it is where the locals go. It was immediately obvious to us that he was correct because there were no English signage in the stalls. We walked through the night market and in most cases, even the price of the goods being sold where written in Chinese characters. We were familiar with most of the food, but we couldn’t decide on what to get, so after some window shopping, we purchased some scrumptious pork dumplings plus a skewer of grilled chicken thighs. After scouring both directions of the night market, we took the metro back to the Ximen area and walked to Carrefour.

Carrefour is like Taiwan’s version of Don Quijote. It’s a department store and a grocery store in one. There were lots of fellow Filipinos there, looking for things to buy in bulk. We bought some more souvenirs and snacks for cheap before heading back to our hotel and getting some rest.

Day 4 – I love the way Wulai

For this day, we only had one place on our itinerary: Wulai. This mountainous hot-spring village is a popular daytrip from Taipei. The most visited places there are Wulai Falls and Wulai Old Street. But first, we got our breakfast from an old hawker right by the opening of the alley to our hotel. He quickly whipped up some ham & cheese breakfast crepes and these warmed us up just right for our morning adventure.

We were supposed arrive there early, but we made the mistake of riding the wrong bus that instead took us back to the city center. We had to ride the train all the way back to Xindian station and board the correct bus. Thankfully, we were not chasing any deadlines today and we just enjoyed the winding ride. Most online guides recommend taking some motion-sickness medicine if you are sensitive to rocking vehicles. Despite that, the bus was composed of the elderly and tourists.

We alighted at Wulai and were immediately welcomed with the beautiful Nanshi river. Unfortunately, the tourist suspension bridge was under renovation so we were not able to see the views from that vantage point. We followed the crowd towards Wulai Bridge and entered the Wulai Old Street. Here, lots of shops and restaurants were selling local goods and delicacies. I spotted some grilled sweet potato and lots of chicken dishes.

At the end of the street was Lansheng Bridge, which looked more like an art installation than a practical bridge (it is both). The copper green color of the metal bridge looked at home against the raging, turquoise river below and the lush, green hills surrounding it. We crossed it and climbed up the stairs towards the Wulai Log Cart.

This adorable, tiny railway system was once used to haul coal-filled mine carts in and out of the caves. Then, it was converted to a tourist cart that was pushed manually by locals. Now, it is machine powered and the train carts are made of carbon-fiber. We bought our one-way tickets and queued up.

We boarded the open-air train and I was incredibly amused by the short, bumpy ride. The trains may look new with their bright colors and smooth surfaces, but the track they ran on were definitely old. It wasn’t unsafe, but the turbulence was on full display. We didn’t have time to complain as the view and the clean air was invigorating.

After alighting at Wulai Falls station, what immediately caught my eye was a lady cooking Wild Boar Sausage. This is one of Wulai’s specialties and of course, I can’t say no to sausage. It was the most delicious sausage of the trip and I highly recommend it to everyone heading to Wulai. I still remember how juicy it was and the flavor filling my mouth with every bite. A kind local directed me to some free garlic cloves that I should crush and consume together with the sausage.

It was hard to ignore the roaring Wulai Falls right across the river. It was towering and people were scrambling to taking pictures. What was more impressive was the Cable Car that traversed from the village and to the top of the waterfall, where some hot spring resorts are situated. Again, I was amazed at how they managed to build this mode of transport. What an incredible feat of technology.

After admiring the falls for a while, we decided to forgo the Log Cart ride back and instead, walk along the road back to the main city. Doing so, we saved some cash which we would rather spend on food later. It was a scenic road, built on the cliff above the river. Some cars would pass through and we had to give way on the narrow road. There were also a handful of tourists that chose the road instead of riding the Log Cart.

Reaching the town, we found a rocky path that led down towards the river. Here, we saw some people taking a bath in the river itself. We regretted not bringing some swimming attire and a change of clothes. Our online research did not inform us that it was possible to take a bath in the river! Enviously eyeing the fun they were having, we vowed to return more prepared next time.

We retraced our steps across Lansheng Bridge, through Wulai Old Street, and back to the bus station where we waited for our bus. The ride back was even more exciting, as I was standing the whole time and had to practice my balancing skills. I was impressed with how I was holding on to the safety bars for dear life while the elderly people were hardly reacting to the bus’ twists and turns.

Back at the city, it was the perfect time to catch a meal because it was after the lunch rush. We headed to one of the recommended places, Fuhong Beef Noodles. This spot is part of a building block full of restaurants that serve Beef Noodles, so if you happen to come here when it’s full, check out the neighboring shops for alternatives. This time, we were immediately able to get a seat and I ordered via google translate. Thankfully, they had an employee that could speak English so we were able to settle the bill quickly. Our beef noodles were served almost immediately.

I could instantly see that the broth was rich. There were beef particles suspended in it and at the first sip, it was an explosion of flavor. Happily, I slurped some noodles up and nodded with satisfaction. Springy and firm, they reminded me of noodles from Marugame Udon, but with an even more bite. On the table were free bowls of pickled greens and chili butter. This butter is in fact beef lard infused with spices. They added a lot of heat to the broth so I had a large serving of pickles to counteract the spice. We also ordered a plate of dumplings, and these were juicy, but nothing more.

Satisfied with the meal, we headed back to Ximending where I did some shopping at Many Stationery, a cute place filled with lots of Chiikawa merch, notebooks, and planners. Satisfied with my haul, we were en route to our hotel when we saw the Crispy Milk Donut place had a manageable queue. With nothing left on our itinerary, Shane lined up while I ordered some boba tea from the neighboring Tenren.

Since it was our last night, we also decided to go for one more round of food-hunting. I bought my last order of scallion pancakes while Shane bought a “Taiwanese burger”, a bao bun with a thick slice of marinated and roasted pork belly. And finally, I ended the hunt at my favorite stall of Taiwanese sausage in sticky rice.

With our food haul, we returned to our hotel room to try the holy grail of donuts. The donut itself was crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. After trying one, my only complaint was that the milk powder should have been sprinkled on both sides. It was good, but we decided that it was not “spend half an hour in line” good.

It was our last night so after our meal, we spent the evening packing all our things before saying goodnight.

Day 5 – Beitou, Tamsui, Airport

It was our final day in Taipei. I had refrigerated another crispy milk donut from last night and it was more enjoyable cold. For breakfast, I ate all the leftover food inside the fridge. It consisted of some pudding from nearby convenience stores and a can of coffee. After some last minute re-packing, we left our room and checked out of Triple Tiger Hostel.

Our entire stay here was comfortable and the staff were approachable and responsive. They were also kind enough to hold on to our baggage while we spent our last day outside. We’d recommend this place to people that have no problems climbing stairs and don’t need a really big room.

Our first destination was Beitou. This hot-spring village was one of my favorite places from last time and I wanted Shane to see its beauty as well. After a short train ride, we went to the Xinbeitou Historic Station to read about the district’s history. We walked through Beitou Park and passed the beautiful Taipei Public Library Beitou Branch. It was a cool morning so we enjoyed the walk along with the few tourists out so early.

Then, we entered the Beitou Hot Spring Museum. This museum used to be a bathhouse during the Japanese occupation and you could definitely see the Japanese influences not only here, but also around the district. We took off our shoes and wandered through the rooms. Exploring the museum at the same time as us were a gaggle of little kids. I assumed it was their field trip and they looked so cute with their thermal clothes and backpacks bigger than themselves. They were all holding hands with each other in a buddy system and being led around by their teacher. They were adorable and boisterous.

Once we were done with the museum, we walked back to the station and took the train to Tamsui. This was a port and riverside area with an old street that runs parallel to a riverside park. We were supposed to visit a cafe that specializes in Matcha here, but unfortunately, it was closed on a Tuesday. We decided to chill and just enjoy the cool breeze by the water.

At the opening of Tamsui Old Street, we found a spot that sold Pork Pepper Buns. We bought some and walked for a while as they cooled down to an edible level. When I took my first bite, pork juice squirted out and coated my nose and hands. I had to slurp the extra juices before they could cause any more damage. It was savory and the pepper was intense in a very good way. I chowed down immediately and the hot bun contrasted well with the cool weather.

We explored the old street some more before crossing into the riverside park to enjoy the view of Tamsui River flowing out into the ocean. We bought a lot of local delicacies like Fried Milk, Shrimp Rolls, Chicken Butt skewers, and Matcha soft serve. Finally, we returned to the pork bun vendor and bought some more. This time, I had beef buns and these were equally as good.

While eating, we sat on benches and observed the happenings around us. There was an old man training his cute beagles. One of these dogs knew how to ride a skateboard and we watched as it skated back and forth the park. The other one would chase around strangers that got too close and nip at their pants and skirts. There was also a flock of birds that would occasionally fly in circles above the grass.

After a while, we decided to head back to Ximen to pick up our things. We had ran out of places to be and decided to be early at the airport. But, I was hankering for a final place to stay and keep this trip going for a little while longer. That’s how we ended up at Cho Cafe.

This place is in the heart of Ximen, but after entering the cafe, it’s like you are transported to a different time and location. The noise, hustle and bustle of the outside is immediately muted. It is replaced by smooth, instrumental music. You are welcomed with the smell of roast beans and the aesthetic of an old-fashioned coffee shop. The term “rustic” is something I would describe a lot of things in Taipei, but it is most apt for Cho Cafe.

Time seemed to pass differently inside. Everyone was quiet, minding their own business. We got seated at a table and the waiter immediately approached us with the menu. You got the sense of quality service and offerings immediately. Awards that the cafe had won were posted all around the place. I ordered a Kori Kohi and Shane got a Matcha Latte. For a snack, we ordered their award-winning Tiramisu. The mascarpone was delicious, with the kick of liquor quite pronounced. I wanted to stay and be absorbed by the cafe’s ambiance, but it was finally time to go.

We got our baggage from Triple Tiger Hostel and took the express train back to the airport. There, we waited for our check in counter to open. I noticed that the shops at the food court have not changed since my last trip. We ate some fried chicken fillets from the (very wordy) restaurant, The Creative Cuisine of Southeast Asia. This served as our final meal in Taipei.

After checking in our baggage, we spent a long time at the line for the pre-departure area. Eventually we made it to our boarding gate and there, we waited for our flight back to Manila. This marked the end of this particular adventure!

Miscellaneous Thoughts:

• Geographically, Taiwan is an island in between the Philippines and my one true love, Japan. In my heart, it also claims that exact position. It is a more convenient (accessible) country which also contains most of the things I enjoy about Japan (gacha machines, trains, walkable cities, cool buildings, delicious food, cute things, incredibly safe experiences). The no-visa requirement is an important factor and if, in the future, Japan becomes difficult to visit, Taiwan would be my next favorite destination.
• I didn’t notice this during my first trip in Taipei, but the amount of convenience stores per area is incredible. It’s even more packed than the cities I’ve been to in Japan! Taipei Main station alone has four Family Marts at the ground floor! Family Marts and 7elevens stand side by side in every building block and if not, they are just across the road from each other. They truly are convenient and they also offer a lot of delicious food. Shoutout to cold noodles with szechuan peppers and of course, inari sushi!
• I am amazed by how much green area Taipei has preserved while still having a high level of transport systems. I’ve said this multiple times, but the flyovers they build over lush forests are admirable. It’s like they build infrastructure that adapts to nature that is already there. Building roads, railways, cable cars, gondolas while minimizing the environmental impact is something that should be emulated everywhere.
• The most difficult thing about this trip was the language barrier. Chinese is an incredibly intimidating language, even more so than Japanese. I had a hard time communicating the locals just because it was difficult to even catch what they’re saying. Even the names of establishments are difficult to find and search for online as they had no English translation at all. I’m thankful to Google Lens and Google Translate because without them, we wouldn’t be able to do a lot of things on this trip.
• Due to this, I prefer eating from the street markets instead of dining in. Not only is it cheaper, but the ordering and paying process is easy. Most stalls serve only one thing and they have also adapted to the influx of tourists by posting an English menu. When in doubt, just observe what the person in front of the line does!
• For our NTD needs, we withdrew money from the Taipei ATMs using my GoTyme card. No fees and a close exchange rate to the one posted by google. We didn’t compare this with other banks this time as most of our needs were met from just a single withdrawal. Most of our money went to the street foods and we don’t regret this at all.
• Aside from Carrefour, a good place to buy souvenirs is at Mr. Ho’s Shop in Ximending. They offer a wide range of souvenirs at the cheapest prices, including the popular ones like keychains and candies. The owners were even kind enough to give us some freebies for our purchase. Don’t bother with Don Don Donki unless you really want some Japanese goods at jacked up prices.
• The weather in Taipei was unpredictable, ranging from cold, foggy, warm, and a light drizzle. It’s a wise decision to just use layering for to always bring a jacket and/or an umbrella.
• Man, I love convenient train systems. Japan and Taiwan have spoiled me. *looks at own country and sighs*

While writing this blog post, I can still remember the fluffiness of every bite into a Scallion Pancake. I remember the juiciness and the oils coating my mouth as I chew the Taiwanese Sausage. The soft crunch and flavor as a bite down on a Sweet Potato Ball. I miss them badly as I know they’re not available where I am. Instead of leaving a hole in my heart, Taipei has left one in my stomach.

This was a trip to be remembered and I can’t wait for the opportunity to return. Big thanks to Shane for being a great travel partner, organizing the trip logistics, and for the beautiful pictures.

I know Taiwan has more to offer plus I already have my eyes on Kaohsiung and Alishan. Time to hustle and save up for another trip, and also go on a diet so I can fit a lot more food the next time I’m there.

Thanks for reading and always stay hungry!

-jgzn