Amidst the wake of the devastation, we kept on moving as we headed back to the capital...
Day 7 Another early day as we checked out of the "Surf and Shack", headed to the bus terminal only to learn there wasn't any buses to and from Kaoshiung. We were forced to take a cab. It was with some disappointment that I leave Kenting without revisiting many of the places. Back in Kaoshiung, its another zip down the MTR to Zhuoying before hopping on the train bound for Taipei. The ticket we paid through the automatic dispenser was quite a fair bit and we only found out it was an express train with only 2 stops along the way. We reached Taipei before noon and after a brief confusion, managed to locate our hostel, settled our bags and be on our way again.
We first headed out for lunch at yet another Maid Cafe, the Fatimaid. The place wasn't all that great but it was a decent setting so no complaints though. A quick lunch and its off to check out the underground mall before heading to the Presidential Building and the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, where we witnessed the retiring of the guards for the day. We then made our way to the Shihda Night Market (师大夜市), which failing to impress, saw us moving off to another part of the city for some okonomiyaki. Then a short trip to take in the Taipei 101 building at night.
Day 8 Morning saw us setting off to Jiantan (剑潭) to catch a bus to the Yangmingshan (阳明山) National Park. We had absolutely no idea how huge the place was and no idea where to start, so we ended up taking a coach and stopped at a spot, which name I forgot, and did some hiking trying to make it up a peak of something. Instead, it brought us to some scenic spots but not to any peaks. Still, the air was fresh with the only complaint being the heat and the humidity. By midday, we were on our way back to the hostel for a shower before heading to a restaurant nearby that specialises in Unagi dishes for lunch. By the time we finished, it started raining so we caught a cab to the local equivalent of our Sim Lim Square for some shopping (comics and games galore!) before heading back to the underground mall (still raining so its the cab again) for some exploration. That was where we had tea at the Maiden Diner, a train station-themed Maid cafe. After which we made our way to the Shilin Night market (士林夜市), which was bustling with activity and the stench of Fermented Beancurds... It was here that we both got into a little argument over some misunderstanding.
Day 9 We split up with me heading to the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall early in the morning and then to the Taipei 101. It was too early and only the offices were starting to open so I went off to the Martyr's Shrine across the city and was just in time to catch a change of guard ceremony take place. Then a quick trip to the Chiang Kai Shek Residence (士林宫邸) and the Taipei Astronomical Museum before going back to the Maiden Diner for lunch (I like the ambiance there). Can you believe it that I actually got the same seat as the day before even though the place was quite packed?
Day 7 Another early day as we checked out of the "Surf and Shack", headed to the bus terminal only to learn there wasn't any buses to and from Kaoshiung. We were forced to take a cab. It was with some disappointment that I leave Kenting without revisiting many of the places. Back in Kaoshiung, its another zip down the MTR to Zhuoying before hopping on the train bound for Taipei. The ticket we paid through the automatic dispenser was quite a fair bit and we only found out it was an express train with only 2 stops along the way. We reached Taipei before noon and after a brief confusion, managed to locate our hostel, settled our bags and be on our way again.
We first headed out for lunch at yet another Maid Cafe, the Fatimaid. The place wasn't all that great but it was a decent setting so no complaints though. A quick lunch and its off to check out the underground mall before heading to the Presidential Building and the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, where we witnessed the retiring of the guards for the day. We then made our way to the Shihda Night Market (师大夜市), which failing to impress, saw us moving off to another part of the city for some okonomiyaki. Then a short trip to take in the Taipei 101 building at night.
Day 8 Morning saw us setting off to Jiantan (剑潭) to catch a bus to the Yangmingshan (阳明山) National Park. We had absolutely no idea how huge the place was and no idea where to start, so we ended up taking a coach and stopped at a spot, which name I forgot, and did some hiking trying to make it up a peak of something. Instead, it brought us to some scenic spots but not to any peaks. Still, the air was fresh with the only complaint being the heat and the humidity. By midday, we were on our way back to the hostel for a shower before heading to a restaurant nearby that specialises in Unagi dishes for lunch. By the time we finished, it started raining so we caught a cab to the local equivalent of our Sim Lim Square for some shopping (comics and games galore!) before heading back to the underground mall (still raining so its the cab again) for some exploration. That was where we had tea at the Maiden Diner, a train station-themed Maid cafe. After which we made our way to the Shilin Night market (士林夜市), which was bustling with activity and the stench of Fermented Beancurds... It was here that we both got into a little argument over some misunderstanding.
Day 9 We split up with me heading to the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall early in the morning and then to the Taipei 101. It was too early and only the offices were starting to open so I went off to the Martyr's Shrine across the city and was just in time to catch a change of guard ceremony take place. Then a quick trip to the Chiang Kai Shek Residence (士林宫邸) and the Taipei Astronomical Museum before going back to the Maiden Diner for lunch (I like the ambiance there). Can you believe it that I actually got the same seat as the day before even though the place was quite packed?
Afternoon saw me up the Taipei 101 at last but just what is it with me, tall towers and rain? The scenery was not that great but at least the rain wasn't over me (yet) as I crossed over to the WTC exhibition hall where they happened to be having the Taipei Comics Convention! Lucky me as I got some comics, 2 posters and some nice shots of the cosplayers manning the booths. It's nice that most of them are friendly and obliging whenever anyone asks for a photoshoot.
Day 10 Another day on my own as Ximending (西门町) turned out to open late as well. As soon as it opened, I was checking out the 5 floors of Animate, buying some comics and then its off to the Cosplay Cafe next door (Cafe Cosic) for some lunch. After dropping off my purchases in the room, I tried navigating to the computer mall to make some more purchases (some comics and a H-game too) before ending the day packing up the bags.
Day 11 A quick excursion in the morning trying to find some mangoes (don't ask) at the nearby distributor market and then its off to the airport. I had mixed feelings about leaving the place and coming back home. It's been quite nice being disconnected from the world I was living in before and I sure didn't feel like reconnecting. Perhaps its the travellers' fatigue as I ended up having the couldn't-care-less feeling for quite a while (even now I still feel vestiges of it). My carefree world came crashing down when the workweek started...
The writer is slowly recovering from the crash and the depression. He still feels the urge to uproot and leave this place and disappear for an extended period. Donations are most welcomed.
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