Thursday, July 17, 2008
So here's the obligatory photo post on the Taiwan trip.
Day 1
At Terminal 1 an hour before take-off. Special thanks to Vanessa (third from the right) for coming specially to see us off!
After a gruelling four-and-a-half hours Jetstar flight journey and an hour's Freego bus ride from what used to be called the Chiang Kai-shek International Airport (now Taoyuan International Airport), we arrived at the Paradise Hotel strategically located at the heart of Ximen, and took this picture.
Hungry from a food-deprived budget flight journey, we first dined at the famous "Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle"
and then drank the bona fide Taiwanese 波霸 Milk Tea before going around hunting for other 小吃s in Ximending.
Gastronomically satisfied, we hit the KTV lounge and sang from 11pm to 2am at just about S$20. If you've been there yourself, you'll know how ridiculously crappy our own KBOx is in comparison.
Day 2
The day started with breakfast at 永和豆浆 which serves excellent 蛋饼.
We visited Taipei 101, where we asked a passerby to help us with the phototaking. Not surprisingly, he didn't fail to disappoint.
Forget it, let the pro do the job.
We continued to cam-whore inside the building,
and I spent some time at my favourite PageOne bookstore.
After an afternoon at the IT fair, Wufenpu and Taipei Main Station, we arrived at Shihlin Night Market where it was hard to miss...
the chicken chop famed for it size,
the oh-so-lovely ice-kachang
and the oyster omelette which only I seem to like. And then it was shopping for the rest of the night.
Day 3
The journey to Jiufen on the sardine-packed train was a killer. But the spectacular views from the mountain top made it all worthwhile.
And so did the fishballs.
Yes, I can't believe we gave up Keelung and rushed back for Show Luo's autograph session. It was such a slutty affair (read on).
Purchase 5 copies of the DVD and you get a picture taken with him.
Make it 8 and he is all yours to hug.
And the veritable slut grabbed so many endorsement deals he is ubiquitous.
We set off for Danshui thereafter and toured the Fisherman's Wharf where Jam Hsiao held his 庆功演唱会 just a week ago.
The "tall tall" ice cream. Pretty to see, disastrous to eat because it melts so fast one is basically just running against time to get it all in the mouth before it turns into a messy pool of liquid.
Unglam tourists carrying 大包小包 after all the grabbing at Danshui Old Street.
Day 4
This must be the most unexpected takeaway from this trip. I saw ALin in person! She was rehearsing for some street concert that morning and I didn't realise who I was hearing until she began to sing 假娃娃 and 四季. She sounded so CD-perfect even during rehearsal!
The afternoon was spent at Leo Foo Village, a rather disappointing amusement park without even a proper roller coaster. More grabbing at Ximending and Shihlin later that day.
Day 5
Our last meal in Taipei at a peer-recommended beef noodle restaurant off Ximending.
I paid 五大唱片行 a visit and was delighted to learn that they are so aggressively promoting 卢广仲！
And I left the CD shop with this 7 year old album from Peggy Hsu. Oh, how could I have missed such a gem back then? I'll blog about it in greater detail but that's for a different post.
Day 1
At Terminal 1 an hour before take-off. Special thanks to Vanessa (third from the right) for coming specially to see us off!
After a gruelling four-and-a-half hours Jetstar flight journey and an hour's Freego bus ride from what used to be called the Chiang Kai-shek International Airport (now Taoyuan International Airport), we arrived at the Paradise Hotel strategically located at the heart of Ximen, and took this picture.
Hungry from a food-deprived budget flight journey, we first dined at the famous "Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle" 
and then drank the bona fide Taiwanese 波霸 Milk Tea before going around hunting for other 小吃s in Ximending. 
Gastronomically satisfied, we hit the KTV lounge and sang from 11pm to 2am at just about S$20. If you've been there yourself, you'll know how ridiculously crappy our own KBOx is in comparison.Day 2
The day started with breakfast at 永和豆浆 which serves excellent 蛋饼.
We visited Taipei 101, where we asked a passerby to help us with the phototaking. Not surprisingly, he didn't fail to disappoint.
Forget it, let the pro do the job.
We continued to cam-whore inside the building,
and I spent some time at my favourite PageOne bookstore.
After an afternoon at the IT fair, Wufenpu and Taipei Main Station, we arrived at Shihlin Night Market where it was hard to miss...
the chicken chop famed for it size,
the oh-so-lovely ice-kachang
and the oyster omelette which only I seem to like. And then it was shopping for the rest of the night.Day 3
The journey to Jiufen on the sardine-packed train was a killer. But the spectacular views from the mountain top made it all worthwhile.
And so did the fishballs.
Yes, I can't believe we gave up Keelung and rushed back for Show Luo's autograph session. It was such a slutty affair (read on).
Purchase 5 copies of the DVD and you get a picture taken with him.
Make it 8 and he is all yours to hug.
And the veritable slut grabbed so many endorsement deals he is ubiquitous.
We set off for Danshui thereafter and toured the Fisherman's Wharf where Jam Hsiao held his 庆功演唱会 just a week ago.
The "tall tall" ice cream. Pretty to see, disastrous to eat because it melts so fast one is basically just running against time to get it all in the mouth before it turns into a messy pool of liquid.
Unglam tourists carrying 大包小包 after all the grabbing at Danshui Old Street.Day 4
This must be the most unexpected takeaway from this trip. I saw ALin in person! She was rehearsing for some street concert that morning and I didn't realise who I was hearing until she began to sing 假娃娃 and 四季. She sounded so CD-perfect even during rehearsal!
The afternoon was spent at Leo Foo Village, a rather disappointing amusement park without even a proper roller coaster. More grabbing at Ximending and Shihlin later that day.Day 5
Our last meal in Taipei at a peer-recommended beef noodle restaurant off Ximending. 
I paid 五大唱片行 a visit and was delighted to learn that they are so aggressively promoting 卢广仲！ 
And I left the CD shop with this 7 year old album from Peggy Hsu. Oh, how could I have missed such a gem back then? I'll blog about it in greater detail but that's for a different post.
posted @ 11:51 PM