Actually we had a whale watching trip planned,
but due to the bad hurricane weather we decided not to take the risk.
For those interested, whale watching peak season is from May to Oct.
I'd recommend Whale Travel as they include free pick up from your hotel to the harbor and back.
For our breakfast we went for 公正包子 , which was highly recommended by bloggers.
We made this a pitstop otw to the train station, with the intention to tabao and eat on the train.
We were actually v rushed for time - no damn cabs in sight,
then we had to drag our luggage out on the road for quite a distance. Rarrr.
And while we were ordering, the cab driver actually stopped the meter instead of letting it run. *touched*
Gong Zheng Buns
公正包子
199-2, Zhongshan Road, Hualien
花莲市 中山路 199-2 號
Open 24 hrs
Another recommended item would be 红茶豆浆 red tea mixed with soya bean milk,
but we didn't get that because we jumped to the juice stall opposite.
Need something 'healthy' to ease our fried food everyday guilt. HAHAH.
Made it to Hualien Train Station with time to spare.
So much time that Levon went to get a train bento.
Got my ticket from my ticket babysitter cause I kept misplacing it LOLOL.
What la I got too many things to handle you know. :B
Our slightly sad looking breakfast.
Their 小笼包 is unlike the Shanghai style 小笼包, with ultra thin skin. (on hindsight, ultra thin.. HAHAHA)
Nope, Hualien style makes the skin the usual thickness as your char siew bun.
Filling was nice and I love love the just right amount of fats in the pork. If only there was more filling than bun.
But on overall, not such a rave like reviews said.
Perhaps it would have been nicer if hot and steaming.
Thin dumpling skin wrapping the juicy filling, with this addictive sauce.
Idiot Levon snapped me trying to smell what's inside so I can remake it LOLOL.
What sorcery do they perform sia.
Travelling in threes means that we throw Bimb at the back cause she say she don't want to entertain me. LOLOL.So of course we kept turning around to entertain her. hiak hiak.
Checked in at the worst hotel ever - Hotel Midtown Richardson 德立莊酒店
As our rooms were not yet ready, we were told that we could leave our luggage in the lobby first.
It surprised me afterwards when we got back - they didn't help us bring our luggage up to the rooms, and that is something that a four-star hotel would usually do.
Still, we didn't think too much of that because it was still a minor issue.
Our hotel is located in the Ximending 西門町 area, which is my favourite in Taipei because we found so much good food there!
Here's the famous Red House Theater 西門紅樓 - built in 1908 (woah that's like 107 yrs old) during the Japanese Occupation.
We didn't explore inside because we were hungryyyyy.
Ximending
西門町
Nearest MRT Station: Ximen station 西門
To make navigation really easy, Exit 6 is your friend.
The main street is Hanzhong Street 漢中街, leading to a Y-junction fronted by The Face Shop.
* Emei Street has green streetlights, while Hanzhong has yellow streetlights.
Ah Chung Flour Rice Noodles (Ah Zong Mian Xian)
阿宗麵線
No. 8-1, Emei Street, East Ximending Pedestrian Area, Taipei
8-1號 峨眉街 萬華區 臺北市
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 10.30 am – 10.30 pm,
Saturday to Sunday: 10.30 am – 11 pm
I'm holding a prize in my hands.
This is the small bowl for NT45, large bowl for NT65.
I'm wondering why the hell we bought the small bowl.
IT IS SO YUMMY I CRAVE FOR IT EVERY NOW AND THEN.
Yeah that's despite the fact that we ate it every night for supper LOLOL.
A comforting bowl of mian xian (vermicelli), smothered in thick, clear gravy.
The gravy is made from pig's intestines, dried bonito and sliced bamboo shoot.
I swear I don't usually eat innards anything, but this totally had no funky smell and I slurped it all up.
Just throw in a generous dash of vinegar (or tell the cashier if you're ordering takeaway),
and it's the most perfect bowl of anything I've eaten.
Surprisingly I'm not such a fan of the chilli - it was nice, but I preferred without. :x
To get there, simply go back to the Y-junction, and this time turn left into again, Emei St.
Walk down till you see Nature Republic and The Body Shop - this lane is in the middle.
Second stop: BBQ Mochi 冲绳日式碳烤麻糬
This one comes highly recommended by Levon.
Having a previously lousy experience with the bbq mochi we had at Ita Shao Pier, we all picked sweet flavours this time. :B
Cheese, Matcha, Chocolate.
And it's really really awesome! Crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside.The sauces were generously drizzled on and tasted rich, giving flavour to the mochi.
And also messy to eat, cause we were trying to handle them and our umbrellas >.<
Next to the mochi stall was other notable street snacks, like torched beef cubes, the highly raved Prince Cheese Potato (which we will try later on at Shilin, the original store)
There's even Teh Tarik HAHA.
To the right of the Y-junction, down Hanzhong St is Bimb's favourite Uniqlo,
and of course, the popular Hot Star 豪大大鸡排
Yup it's bigger than Bimb's face. Heheh.
Unfortunately not more delicious than Singapore's - heck, it was even not as nice leh.
Super oily and the meat was slightly tough. Meh
With our tummies filled, we proceeded to shop our hearts out!
Went to Shi Da Night Market 師大夜市 atDa’an District 大安區.The nearest MRT station is Taipower Building Station 臺電大樓.
Come out from exit 3 and turn right, walk straight down Shi Da Road 師大路
I'd recommend this night market as it focuses much on shopping!
There's a wide variety of accessories, clothes, and shoes as well.
I basically expanded my shoe collection by 3 pairs LOLOL, and I found this pushcart selling nail polish.
Not just any nail polish actually, but indie brands like KBShimmer and Pretty & Polished - YAY!
Can save on shipping fees from US, shiok :D
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