Revisited, My Taiwan Eating Adventure

There are countries that intimidates me and there are countries where I feel at home and this is where Taiwan is, in my heart, home. This is my second time in Taiwan and it feels like going back to a place with no fear and anxiety. It is like I am from there. 

After dropping off at Taipei Main Station by an airport shuttle, I immediately went to find a place to eat as I was famished. With my halting Chinese, I ordered a set of noodles and waited for my queue number to be called. It was one delicious meal. 

Thus this post is about some of the meals I had during my short stay in Taiwan. Enjoy the pictures! Bon appetit!

Japanese Noodle with Tempura

Mia Cucina

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Salad

Salmon Sandwiches

I partook some breakfast at Mister Donut and since it was named Mister Donut, I ordered for some donuts. Lo and behold, they also serve noodles. I wonder if Mister Donut will be as unique in Thailand so I could get my papaya salad in there.

Mister Donut Logo

Hot Noodles for Breakfast

A trip to the province prompted me to buy packed lunch at the train station and this was the best meal ever. Priced at only 50NT, this was a treat!

Rice with Three Kinds of Toppings

While on the MRT, I happened to meet someone that I helped toured in Bangkok some months ago. Small world indeed so we all went to a restaurant famous for its eccentric decors but earth friendly furniture.

Chicken with Cashew Nuts

Rice with Sweet Potato

Sweet and Sour Beef

At Five Pence Restaurant

After all the Japanese and Chinese food I had been eating throughout summer, I longed for pancakes so I took the liberty to have a delicious breakfast at McDonald's.

McDonald's Pancakes

Lunch time at the park was a breeze with these easy meal combination. Plum juice complimented the salty but tasty 'siopao' or steamed buns. 

Steamed Pork Buns and Plum Tea

The beauty of being outside one's comfort zone is the challenge of being alone, being brave, being adventurous, and being comfortable with what he or she have. My eating adventure gave me satisfaction, comfort, and nourishment. My revisiting Taiwan gave me a chance to be one with the locals, aside from meeting my relatives and friends. It was a fitting end of my summer vacation. 

(This is a very late post, my last for my summer escapades.)

Wishing in Shihfen

My trip to the Cat Village was fun but I have two more places to visit so off we went to Shihfen which was about a fifteen minute train ride from Houtong Station. There were hundreds of people, majority of which were Asians, and some locals. It was like an organized chaos though everyone knows where they were heading.

So while waiting for the people to clear out, I took a photograph of Shihfen Station along with a 'model'. Her complexion was so white she shines. She could be the next Papaya soap model. 

Shihfen Station
(if most tourists were dressed like this, the men will feast)

Decorated Trains
( a signal tell us to stop taking selfies
in front of trains since they move after  a while for if you don't, goodbye!)

Shihfen is well known among tourists as Shifen Old Street where it becomes an interesting path to walk and explore. The old feel of the railroad tracks and its surrounding old style shophouses make it a pleasant family weekend outing thus the crowd that Saturday. The place is filled with shops ranging from souvenirs, cards and food. 

Souvenir Shop
(tiny sky lanterns with wishes: that we may be filled with happiness and wealth)

Sky Lantern
(writing wishes for everyone: peace, luck, prosperity, happiness, great health with 'kodigo')

Sky Lanterns were formerly used as signaling system for those living around the vicinity.  Another story was to inform the neigbouring villages that it was safe for family members to return back to Shifen as the robbers left. Nowadays, sky lanterns are used for wishes. The wishes are written in calligraphy and the lanterns are release in the sky to bring forth the messages to the sky heaven.

My cousin and I ready to send positive vibes to our family members and friends
(we painted the star lantern equally, two sides for me and two sides for her
and this side is mine, ganda ba?)

Up!

Up!

and away!

Jingan Bridge
(there was a reason why I wanted to see the bridge connecting one village with another and here it was!)

Here I go again!
(Bye!)

Houtong Cat Village

Taking an MRT from the main city of Taipei, my cousin and I ended in Houtong as we wanted to visit a place inhabited by cats, of course, with people around. The train ride wasn't as smooth as it was filled to the brim. It wasn't short as well, so it took us almost an hour to reach the place.

Houtong is known as the Cat Village. Formerly a mining area, the economy had a downfall when most of the people in Houtong left and looked for work in the city. A photographer took fancy of the numerous cats in Houtong and had them photgraphed. Words spread out, as well as the photographs, thus the new attraction generated income from locals and foreign tourists alike. 

I finally met Mr. and Ms. Cat.
(parang si cher and fiel, lol!, parehong maka-pusa)

This is the walkway that leads to the village.
(and that is one hungry Jonathan eating his lunch)

Gotta ring the bell for luck.
(ding! ding! akin na ang bato, ay mali! tunog pala ng bell yun)

Let me write my wish.
(umulan po sana ng pera, yung buo, hindi barya,
masakit po sa ulo kapag tumama!)

Art everywhere!
(ang sweet naman, kaya dumarami ang pusa!)

One of the very few I like.
(ang mahal lungs!)

Cat themed galore.
( I know someone who will love these)

One of the many I saw.
(may bigote?)

Bye Huotong, next station, Shihfen

Getting to Know You 6

What would you like to be when you grow up?
I want to be Rapunzel.

Announcing an event...
Teacher: We are going to have a 'Harp Show'? Does anybody knows what it means?
Student: Yes, it's Valentine's Day.

Speaking of heart...
Teacher: Do you know where your heart is located? Is it here, or here?
Student: It' s on our nipples.

Speaking of more hearts (love)...
Teacher: Why do you love your mom and dad?
Student: Because they buy me toys.
Teacher: Fair enough!

Talking about dinosaurs...
Teacher: Can someone give me an example of a dinosaur?
Student: Me! Rhino!

Talking about adaptation...
Teacher: The dinosaurs stayed in one place and ate all the food in there. What should they do next?
Student: They need to poop!

This reminded me when I was talking about past tenses.
Teacher: What is the past tense of eat?
Student: Poop!

And one more...

Teacher: Let say I don't speak Thai when I first came to Thailand, what should I do to be understood?

Student: You should learn English!

Children! I will never win you!

Marco Way

Well-organized clothing store

Before heading to Taipei, it was unfortunate that I broke half of my eyeglasses and I had to borrow a pair from my niece as we were nearly compatible except that she has astigmatism. It will do, I thought, and I was very wrong.

I met my cousin the first night I arrived and I decided to find an optometrist to fix my glasses and we did find one. It took the optician twenty minutes to replace one of the broken glasses and I was impressed.

We were already at Shilin Market so we walked around to scout for things. I saw a striking shirt displayed inside a nice shop and when I went in to take a peek, I found some dress shirts that I could possible wear to school. I bought some and decided to buy more the next night I was there.

One of the designers.

The place is  called Marco Way and they were being manned by three younger men. I learned that two of them designed some of the shirts on display. I wasn't aware that my niece in law was taking photos of the shop and me.

They do have a variety of clothing that might interest men of any age. From shirts to shorts to various colours and designs, the shop speaks of fashion and class.

However, the most wonderful thing about the shop is not the store space but the people who look after the store. The way they treat their customers was one of the best customer service I have had encountered.

Marco's Way

The prices range from 500 NT up but one can get discounts when you buy more than two outfits. I did! It might be pricey for some but the quality of the shirt and the expanse of their service were unparalleled and I never give good reviews to places I shop. 

Meet my 'new' brother Jonas!

I will never be in the cover of a fashion magazine nor be in a commercial for television. I won't even see myself sporting the same outfit the designer was wearing that night. The clothes I chose were presentable enough to wear as work clothes, not hot and scratchy, but comfy and breathable. 

When I was there, I am Me and I am happy to be in the company of nice people, old and new. Whether I spent some buying new clothes, I deserved some since they were the only things I bought during my whole trip last summer. 

Fashion conscious me? No! 
Feeling young? Yes!

Maokong Gondola

Maokong is located in the southeastern corner of Taipei City. The name Maokong, which means "Cat's Hollows," has nothing to do with an actual cat. The boulders and stones in the stream bed here are made of rocks of varying hardness, and over time the stream's waters have carved potholes in them. 

The vicinity and entrance of Maokong Gondola

Eyes of Maokong Gondola-Crystal Cabins

I took the crystal cabin as the floor is made from tri-layered reinforced glass. One can take photographs of the entire mountain ranges, city view, plantations, and fields of green. You can also see the bottom part of the cabin way above 500 meters from sea level.

Architecture and restaurants inside Maokong

If anybody is interested to visit Maokong, you need a day to see the sights and partake in the delicious treats as you enjoy the sceneries inside. You should also be ready to hike as there are numerous trails to explore as you visit tea plantations and tea shops. I was told that it is best to visit in the evening as the lights from the establishments give the entire place a homey feeling, one within the universe, a feeling among the stars and being one. 

I was by myself during this day trip but felt the need to have a company or some. There are times when I feel being alone and this was one where I felt I needed someone to walk side by side. Besides, the many eateries were so inviting I wasn't going to reserve and line up for hours to get a table for one. 

My Maokong Gondola experience was worth every penny and every sweat. But if you have the fear of heights, I suggest to skip the ride and hop on a bus instead.

Extra Ordinaire

I was very fortunate to be a part of a 'walk' where I got to see rooms with different views. Some were stunning while others captures you in awe. All I was thinking throughout the 'walk' was a wish that someday I'll be 'building' one for myself. 

Yung Yung's Playroom

A Study With Wine Cellar

A Sunken Living Room

Going On Tour

A Very Bright Kitchen

Christmas Eve

Master Bedroom at Emerald Seattle

Moonlight Sonata

French Country Style Kitchen

The House By The Green

Ralph Lauren Suite

A Grand Entrance

All these were some of the works of Ray Whitledge, Rosemarie Torre, Brooke Tucker, Terry Noacke, and others. I was fortunate enough to see their displays at Miniatures Museum of Taiwan. They were very small but intricately crafted. I salute these artists of great calibre!