MissViaggio in Taipei
21 September 2019
To be honest, I had not planned to do a stopover in Taipei. The reason I ended up here anyway was because I had to cancel Hong Kong due to the ongoing protests. But the good news is that the visit totally paid off - not least because I found a place serving great gluten free dishes.
Day 4 - Nightly Stroll Through Taipei
Taipei is only a short hop from mainland China away and the closest destination that would work as a substitute for my missed visit of Hong Kong. For convenience's sake, I picked a hotel just off the main station where one can find lots of restaurants and small shops. Check-in is easy though the man behind the counter is hardly fluent in English. As I haven't done much today except for traveling I decide to do a little night walk. The nearest sight to my hotel is the north gate, a former part of the city wall that was completed in 1884. Of course, the north gate has been designed according to Feng Shui meaning that it is located 13 degrees east of Qixing Mountain. That's how the city shall receive the protection of the mountain.
8:00 pm - Night Market
Thanks to colorful neon advertising hiding the dirty facades, during night times even the ugliest cities metamorphose into trues beauties. Taipei is not an exception, I realize, while I am heading to Ning Xia Rd. Night Market, which is famous for its many food stalls where people cook, knead, and deep-fry. Even though not everything looks delicious or smells good, I hate being a celiac right now. I just feel like I'm missing out on something. On my way back to the hotel, I stop at a 7-Eleven around the corner to buy a bar, two bananas, and a bag of chips. Happy dinnertime. Things can only get better.
Good to Know
Train Transfer from the Airport to Central Station: Express and commuter trains cover distance between the Taoyuan International Airport and Taipei Main Station. Rides takes up to 50 minutes. For more information click here.
Day 5 - Rain, Rain, Rain
Last night, I did a little research and came up with a plan what sights I would like to see today, including the Chiang Kai Sen (CKS) Memorial, Riverside Park, Taipei 101, and Longshan Temple. Thus I start my day early with a walk to the CKS Memorial - a monumental building dedicated to the former President Chiang. Taiwanese revere him, I get it. Chiang was an out and out communist and a great strategist who won the second Sino-Japanese War. A total of 89 steps lead to a huge hall in which an oversized bronze figure of Chiang is enthroned. The number 89 is not chosen randomly (I figured), but corresponds to the age at which he died. The colors of the monument are also well-chosen and match the emblem on the flag: blue sky and white sun.
11:00 am - Shopping Books
It's constantly raining, so what to do? I decide to do a little shopping in one of the bookstores around. My youngest brother studies Chinese and I want to bring him a gift - not that easy for someone like me who can't read Chinese ideographs. I end up buying two books just because I liked their covers. Haha. Cross your fingers that my brother will like them, too.
12:30 pm - Riverside Park
On New Year's Eve, thousands meet in Yanping Riverside Park to watch the fireworks across the river. Thanks to the heavy rain, I have the park all to myself. It's still nice, so I take a quick selfie (I no longer fetch the big camera from my backpack) and then head back to the hotel. Time to dry off.
3:00 pm - Taipei 101
If there is one thing to do in Taipei, it's to visit Taipei 101, Taiwan's tallest skyscraper, which looks like eight boxes of Chinese food stacked on top of each other. Thirteen years ago, Taipei 101 was the tallest building in the world. Today it is the Burj Kalifa in Dubai but who knows for how long. Since the weather still sucks, I don't even think about taking the elevator up to the viewing platform because I probably wouldn't see much of the city if at all. And anyway, sightseeing in the rain is no fun. Instead of getting soaked to the bone again, I decide that it's time to have dinner. Now!
Good to Know
Cash is King: Metro tickets can only be purchased in cash. Ticket machines only accept banknotes with a value of no more than 100 TWD. Luckily, I find an ATM machine down the main station and withdraw Taiwanese dollars (TWD). The minimum amount available is 1000 TWD (the machine does not accept a self-selected amount). Three guesses. Yeah, I get a 1000 dollar bill. Stupid, because the ticket machines only accept 100 TWD notes. Hence, I consult the information desk, get the money changed and also buy a ticket to Taipei 101.
4:30 pm - Plants
Before I left Singapore, I did some research and discovered a gluten free vegan restaurant named Plants. That's exactly what I need now. I am the only customer and take a seat right in front of the window where I can watch umbrella-armed people brushing past. I take the red lentil falafel platter with sauerkraut and humus cream and in addition to that a smoothie with ginger, turmeric, and pineapple (I love it!). For dessert there is chocolate cake with blackberries. It's perfect. The food is rather expensive (792 TWD ~ 23 euros) but totally worth it.
6:00 pm - Longshan Temple
It's not much time left in Taipei, but I really want to see at least one temple. One of the oldest (built almost 300 years ago) and most popular ones is Longshan (spell Lungshan) Temple located in the Wanhua District. It's a beautiful place and always busy with worshippers who do not mind tourist like me taking pictures. I watch people light incense sticks, pray, put tarts, cookies or flowers on the tables in front of the shrines. I am fascinated. I haven't fully understood the prayer rites yet but it seems that they play an important role for young and old.
I take a last walk through evening Taipei (finally it stopped raining), before I fetch my luggage and drive back to the airport. My next stop will be Daegu, South Korea.
Gluten free Taipei
Plants: No. 10號, Lane 253, Section 1, Fuxing South Road, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
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