LOVE-LY SIGHTS

Love was all around us during last month's Taipei trip.

A pre-nup pictorial?
Location: Street between New York, New York department store and the Viewshow Cinema Complex.


One of the stores along the Wedding Street, located across the National Theater.


Charming Plants


The street is one long stretch of bridal stores -- gowns, video, photography, flowers, etc. How convenient!






Bridal Car


With Barbie & Ken!


Love at the Taipei 101.

ANOTHER TAIPEI FAQ

Q: Do they speak English?

A: Hardly. We were able to survive thanks to hubby's basic Mandarin lessons. No actual conversations but we were able to communicate, enough to get what we wanted or needed.

The train, airport, street signs are translated in English. And of course, there are maps in English.



Photo from Livelearnteach.com

TAIPEI FAQs

FAQs about our recent trip to Taipei:



1) Do you need a visa to visit Taiwan?

Filipino visitors with visas to the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, or the European Union can now visit Taiwan without a visa (but I think you have to apply online for an exemption?).

If you don't have those, here are the requirements, check out the Taiwan Embassy website

For those who intend to travel to Taiwan, Republic of China
for a short visit, submit the following:

A duly filled up visa application form which can be downloaded from http://www.boca.gov.tw
Indicate N/A if not applicable

Two (2) passport size photos 1.5x2 with white background (taken w/in the last three months)

Passport valid for at least six months and old passport showing previous travels

Birth Certificate issued by NSO

Marriage Contract (if applicable) issued by NSO

Supporting documents such as:
a) Air ticket or Booking Certificate
b) Letter of permission to leave from the employer
c) Financial statements of the applicant such as:

c.1)Income Tax Return
c.2)Bank Book or Bank Statements
c.3)Certificate of Employment and Company ID
Or Certificate of Business Name Registration


2) How much are the Taiwan visas?

Single Entry: Php2,400
Processing Time: 3 working days

Expedite Fee: plus Php1,200
Processing Time: 1 day


3) Where's the Taiwan Embassy in Manila?

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines
41F, Tower 1, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City 1200
Metro Manila, Philippines

Phone:
+63-2-8876688

Fax:
+63-2-8877679

Email:
phl@mofa.gov.tw

Visa Filing Time: Monday to Friday, 8:45-11;45am
Visa Releasing Time: Monday to Friday, 1;45-4:45pm

Personal note: We had a better experience at the Taiwan Embassy compared to the very crowded Chinese Embassy (see my "Travel Visas to China" blog entry). We arrived first, was given number one (yey!), we accomplished the filing and paying in less than 30 minutes (8:45am-9:10am). It could have been faster if the cashier opened on time. =)


4) Was it stinky in Taipei?

There were stinky alleys in the night markets but nothing you cannot take, especially if you've survived (and actually enjoy - we do!) Quiapo and Divisoria.


5) How was the shopping?

It was OK. Based on our limited travel experience, Hong Kong is still the shopping mecca of Asia.

Actually, I was not in a shopping mood while we were in Taipei (I was on tipid-ity mode for the September trip).

If you're into brands, almost all the malls we visited house luxury boutiques. If you're into bargain finds, you'll be excited by the night markets.

I got me a navy summer dress from one of the stalls at the Ximen Pedestrian Area for only NTD380 (around Php500). It looked something like the F21 (Megamall) dress I wanted but didn't buy because it was over Php2,000.

Check out the local store Net, branches may be found everywhere. Got basic shirts, a military jacket and an Alexa-inspired bag from there. Their shopping bags look like Zara's (navy blue paper bags, and Net carried a similar font). Their website: Net


6) How was the train?

Efficient. Clean. On time. Affordable. There are helpful maps all over the stations. It wasn't as crowded as Hong Kong, Singapore or Shanghai (Grabe tao dun! Ramdam ko talaga ang pagiging World's Biggest Population!)

Ximen Station
5-min walk from our hotel


Train Tokens
Single journey: between NTD20 (Php26) and NTD65 (Php85)
Taipei Pass: 1-day Pass for NTD180; 5-day Pass for NTD700




Green efforts at one of the Taipei City Hall train exits


Operation Hours
6am to 12midnight
The train arrives every 4-7 minutes

TAIPEI TOP PICKS - 4

#4 Authentic Chinese Reflexology
THE BEST WE'VE HAD!



If you've been following my blog, you'd know we're massage addicts. In Taipei, we tried three different reflexology clinics and all are highly recommended! Just how good? Gusto namin sila iuwi!

We were seriously discussing the possibility of starting an authentic reflexology clinic in Manila, with our Taipei reflexologists as trainers / teachers.

The massage clinics I've been raving about before Taipei are all kulang compared to what we've experienced. Yes, even the KL foot massage that has been number one on our list for quite some time now, has been dislodged from its position.

MASSAGE HAVEN

Saturday: Foot Massage
24-hour shop in the Shilin Night Market area
Name: It was in Chinese but their green shirts said Chung Lung
NTD400 each (roughly Php560)

Sunday: Foot & Shoulder Massage
Spa in the Ximen Night Market area
Name: I think they were called Royal Bali
NTD1000 each (roughly Php1400)

Monday: Back Massage
Spa in the Ximen Pedestrian area
Name: Again, it was in Chinese. Just look for the sign.
We're assuming every one is good.
NTD400 each

**Spas can be found everywhere, within the night markets / shopping districts.
Just look for the reflexology feet sign. =)

Why are we raving?

1) Our daily Kuala Lumpur foot massages were very, very good. Authentic. But the Taipei reflexologists were better because their style was not formulaic. They personalize the service. J and I always asked for the same service but we'd get different styles (we are always seated beside each other so we can see). The details of the massage would depend on what your body actually needs.

2) The Taipei reflexologists tried to tell us, in their limited English, what were the problem areas. That has always been my dream - for the masseuse to tell me what was wrong, what that painful pressure point says. Taipei reflexologist to me: "You problem sleep." (No thanks to the hotel pillow!)

3) They were very thorough. You'd know if a therapist is lazy or has no idea as to what s/he is doing (I've experienced both types). In Taipei, they were so into the massage! Yung mga akala kong masipag dati, malayong-malayo sa kanila!

4) Whatever was sore before the massage, felt lighter, rejuvinated, healthier after each session! You don't feel sleepy. You feel a surge of new energy!

5) The male reflexologists wear surgical cloves when working on females. I appreciate that para di skin on skin action. =)

6) They so know what they're doing.


Our massage experience in Shanghai was so-so. Same in Hong Kong. We were not able to try the services in Singapore and Macau. The Thai massage in Bangkok was good. But I'm not really a fan of dry massage. We have favorites in Manila, and Kuala Lumpur has always been number one, but I'm now declaring our Taipei experience THE BEST EVER!


Photos? None.
Who would want to take pictures of their tired feet?
Or node-filled shoulders and backs? Hehe.

TAIPEI TOP PICKS - 3

#3 Art
From installations to graffiti, there were eye candies everywhere

Taipei 101 Damper Babies
Damper technology was used as earthquake protection for Taipei 101


Taipei 101 Damper Baby


At the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall garden


Entrance to one of the Malls


Caged Tree along Dunhua South Road
(area of the Eslite 24-hour bookstore)


Can you see the yellow birds?


Even the construction panels are decorated.


Black & white mural at the Sun Yat Sen Memorial.


Chess pieces at the Taiwan World Trade Center
J loves chess. These photos are for him. =)








Red and green mailboxes


Exhibition Hall
I love how they maximize outdoor branding!


Love at the Taipei 101


Graffiti, Ximen shopping area





Photos: Mine and J's

TAIPEI TOP PICKS - 2

#2 Food Trip
From night markets, street stalls, food courts and tea rooms

Ximen Night Market
Less than 5mins away from our budget hotel (love our location!)


Squid Balls, NTD20 per stick (around Php28)
The squid flavor is more intense than Manila's.


Strawberry Snow Ice, NTD 120 (around Php168)
Perfect for the heat. The temp ranged from 35-38C while we were there.
We loved how generous they were with the fresh strawberries!


Bitter Melon Juice, NTD 45 (around Php63)
The bitter melon juice stands were a hit based on the long lines! And they were everywhere. It tasted like medicine. I'm sure it's very healthy but I prefer my ampalaya (bitter melon) as a vegetable side dish.


Oyster Omelette, NYD 45 (around Php63)
Love this anywhere - in SG, Manila or Taipei


My favorite discovery: Curry Dumplings, NTD 5 each (around Php 7)
They were too good -- a burst of curry in every bite!


Shilin Night Market
To get there: take the red MRT line. Go down at the Jiantan station. Take the underpass or cross the street. Signages are everywhere, you won't get lost.






Chicken Rice with Taiwan Petchay, good for two, NTD260 (around Php364)




711 Mineral Water, around NTD30 I think.
Love the design!


Porkchop Meal
Eslite Bookstore food court (the 24-hour branch, found at No 245, Section 1, Dunhua South Road)


Roast Pork Meal
Eslite Bookstore food court


Beef Noodles, NTD 140 (around Php196)
Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Dept. Store


Tofu, side dish of the Beef Noodles


Eslite Tea Room


J's earl gray tea


My chamomile cup with a yummy biscuit


Our daily hotel breakfast: congee, toast, scrambled eggs, Taiwan petchay


Strawberry Sherbet


Mos-try: MOS Burgers!
This is the Chicken Sandwich Meal with fries and soda, NTD 130 (around Php182). The chicken's so tender and juicy! The vegetable so fresh, the sauce so flavorful! We hope someone can bring MOS to Manila.


Sizzling chicken and tofu meal
Taipei 101 food court


Tan Tzai noodles with steamed Taiwan petchay, NTD 100
Taipei 101 food court



We loved that good food was everywhere in Taipei (we had a hard time finding cheap food stalls during our last trip, the Shanghai trip last April). And everything was very affordable (my top find, the curry dumplings, were only NTD5!). But based on our limited travel experience, Singapore is still the ultimate Asian food trip destination!

Photos: Mine and J's