10 things about fun Taiwan!

By Annalyn S. Jusay

November 13, 2010, 5:40pm

A busy intersection in Taipei

 I can’t believe our plane trip to Taipei was almost the same as going to Davao City! We had barely finished our fabulous airline meal when the Eva Air pilot announced that we were approaching Taipei Tao Yuan International Airport. It was only one hour thirty minutes on the clock!

I was quite excited. Taiwan has been on my bucket list for some time and with a little will power, I was finally going there on a food trip slash sightseeing vacation. Considering its proximity to our beautiful Batanes islands in the north, Taiwan is considered our friendly neighbor. But I can very well understand if it’s not as popular a tourist destination as nearby Hong Kong. Taiwan requires a visa and completing the visa requirements can put off anybody who wants the easy way in. But I’d advise you to have patience. With its sights, shopping, and culinary surprises, a memorable journey to Taiwan awaits.

Filipino-owned airlines fly to Taipei, but we were quite happy trying out the services of the Taiwanese carrier Eva Air this time. I was most impressed with their spacious Boeing 747 planes and their unique deluxe economy section which had almost the same perks as a business class, minus the expensive price. A round-trip ticket to Taipei can be had for as low as $160 via seasoned operators like Jeron Travel. Rather than doing it on your own, it pays to have a travel agency you can trust, especially with visa questions and suggesting to your itinerary.

Having said so, here are 10 things about my recent trip to Fun Taiwan. Consider putting these on your calendar when you visit:

1. Taipei 101 - this iconic landmark is the symbol of Taipei’s architectural greatness. Until 2004, it was the tallest building in the world. Now, I profess to a fear of heights but with Taipei 101, my fear seems to have dissolved. That’s because their elevators were really high-speed. We climbed 89 floors in 89 seconds, or one second per floor! Amazing, isn’t it? Even though the building had 101 floors, we were only able to climb up to 89 floors and climbed two more floors to reach the outdoor observatory on the 91st. From my vantage point, it felt great to have a sweeping view of Taipei at night including the ground below. At once, I felt like I was in my own powerful place in the world, even though I was just one among hundreds of visitors that night. There are actually many things to do while you’re in that top spot on Taipei 101... sit down to have coffee, star gaze, use the telescope, buy souvenirs or view an historical exhibit.

2. Din Tai Fung — It’s sad that there’s no DTF yet in Manila, but you would be glad to know this famous global chain of dumplings was born in Taiwan! During our trip, this foodie was all too happy to eat at Din Tai Fung’s first-ever branch in Xinyi Road. Get used to long lines when you eat here, but it’s definitely worth it.  We had fried rice, veggie appetizers and six kinds of dumplings — all proved to be divine. A must-order is their xiao long bao or soup dumpling. I’ve long learned that you don’t eat this kind of dumpling while still hot, at the risk of burning your tongue with the soup. But everything about it is delish indeed – from its juice to its meat, texture of the steamed wrapper, and the black vinegar with grated ginger dip, all of which contribute to an exhilarating dumpling experience.

3. Hot springs! — The Philippines may have Pansol in Laguna, but the Taiwanese are equally proud of their world-class hot springs. Known to cure various ills, relax the body or simply reinvigorate the spirit, Taiwan’s hot springs have topnotch facilities, the reason why they draw the Japanese tourists. We checked in at Spring City Resort in Beitou County which is just outside central Taipei and is accessible through the train station. We were in the hotel for just one night, but I wouldn’t sleep without trying our in-room bath with hot spring. Don’t leave Taiwan without a dip, it’s all you need to soothe your tired muscles and full tummy, after a full day of walking and eating.

4. Sun Moon Lake — the adage “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints” may as well apply to this place called Sun Moon Lake which is my favorite out of all the places I have been to in Taiwan. The name alone provokes the romantic in me and all I can think about was “honeymoon!” as I gazed from the terrace of our hotel with its beautiful view of the lake and boats in the horizon. There’s no way you can go there  and enjoy the sights without sharing it with your family or special someone. It’s simply that picturesque and inspiring. We went there by taking the high speed train from Taipei to the adjacent city of Taichung and taking a bus to our resort.

5. Street food — I am not lying when I say that you need NOT spend on expensive chow in Taiwan because even their street food is SO GOOD! In fact, I would recommend travel to the territory, if only for this. What I had here: Savory Taiwanese sausage, the equally tasty Taiwan chicken chops, some crab dipped in batter that proved to be so delicious and cheap. Once, we were walking back from sightseeing and my companion covered her nose because of the rotting smell of garbage. It turned out there was a stall selling chou dofu (more popularly known as stinky tofu) nearby. This is tofu that is brined and commonly fried, then served with chili sauce. Its novelty is its smell, but otherwise it tastes mild.

6. Fine dining and quirky restos. In Taipei, you find the strangest of restaurants, including one that has a doctor-and-nurse theme. I was able to visit Modern Toilet Restaurant, where customers ate in miniature toilet bowls. It was novel enough to show to friends back home. More special is our food trip through some of Taiwan’s best restaurants where we sampled a bounty of the freshest seafood, fruits, hotpot, and meat dishes interpreted in various ways. At this resto  near Sun Moon Lake, the main courses consisted of beef or chicken mixed with fruits like pineapple and mangoes. The taste bordered on sweet, but it was good enough to be paired with rice. My most memorable meal happened at the Taiyi Ecological Farm in Puli, Nantou County. It was my first time to eat flowers and I was surprised to find out they taste like kamias! The dishes at our lunch in the farm were so prettily laid out and delicious that I still dream of the day when I could go back.

7. Visit the Wedding Street — As someone who’s in love with weddings, I can’t help but marvel that Taipei has its own  street that’s devoted to everything about weddings. It’s one whole stretch on Zhongshan Road consisting of one-stop shops that a betrothed couple will need on their special day, from bridal gowns to cars to photography and even undergarments. If you or some people you know are, planning for the big day, check it out.

8. Ride the high-speed train and cable car. After being impressed with Eva Air, I was only too happy to ride all forms of transport on this trip — by land through our tour bus and by boat as we admired the scenic beauty of Sun Moon Lake, even in the afternoon rain and fog. But riding the high-speed rail surely convinced me of the advancement of the nation we were in. We took the train to Taichung city and were left gaping at the cleanliness of their trains and the station. Our cable car ride from Sun Moon Lake to the Formosa Aboriginal Village was also thrilling and afforded me a good view of the unspoiled forest beneath.

9. Don’t forget the other tourist landmarks. The Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall — built  in honor of the heroic former president of Taiwan — was just awesome in size. It has several interesting points, like the huge bronze statue of Chiang Kai Shek inside. One can choose to simply stroll in the vast grounds and have a souvenir picture taken. Longshan Temple is another must-visit, but if you choose not to go with your tour group, cross the street for interesting stores and markets nearby.

10. Shopping and night markets. What would a visit to another country be without shopping? For lack of time, I was only able to scour finds in Ximending (Taipei’s version of Tokyo’s Harajuku district) and the Shilin Night Market. I absolutely enjoyed using my haggling skills in these two areas. The retail items give one an idea of how fashion-forward the city is. I also heard from my companions that electronic items in Taiwan are cheaper than in Manila, owing to its reputation as a manufacturing giant. If ever I get the chance to come back, I am definitely hitting the night markets again. There’s something about them that’s just charming and awakens the bargain hunter in me.

Post-trip assessment: Taiwan is a gem waiting to be discovered. It has the advantage of being very near us and with the rise of budget travel, there’s no reason why we can't pay a visit. Their combination of urban chic and countryside charm is intriguing. Security is no problem because the crime rate appears low. I would love the prospect of going back to hike and bike in its serene trails. A good excuse for ingesting all the irresistible food in the territory. Till my next visit to Fun Taiwan! :)

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