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Charles & Helen's February 2013 Visit to Taipei, Taiwan

Taiwan is an incredibly exciting place to visit! This was my third visit, but Helen's very first time crossing the Pacific Ocean, making it a huge adventure! There are so many amazing things to experience in Taiwan:

We hope you enjoy sharing our thrilling tour through Northern Taiwan!

Taiwan is a beautiful island located in the South China Sea, just off the coast of China.
Taiwan is a beautiful island located in the South China Sea, just off the coast of China.
We spent our entire, action-packed trip exploring Northern Taiwan in the vibrant Taipei area!
We spent our entire, action-packed trip exploring Northern Taiwan in the vibrant Taipei area!

Good9Stay Hotel – Ximending Area of Taipei

Prior to arriving, we spent a lot of time hunting for the perfect inexpensive hotel in Taipei. The one that caught our eye had just been refurbished, featured a quirky name, and was perfectly located near the Ximen subway station right in the heart of downtown—all for only $50 USD (NT$1,500) a night! We crossed our fingers, hoping we wouldn't be disappointed.

Several friends warned us that a hotel that cheap would probably be sketchy, regardless of what the ads said! But when we arrived, we were absolutely thrilled to find a beautiful, spotless, and artfully decorated hotel! The two brilliant managers, Kevin and Kenny, had been given free reign by the owner to remodel the space, and they did an incredible job. We highly recommend this spot to anyone looking for budget-friendly (albeit tiny!) accommodations. The Good9Stay Hotel occupies the fifth floor of an old building packed with shops on a bustling, narrow street.

Hotel Contacts:

The neighborhood businesses open around 10:00 AM and stay open late into the night! When closed, the storefronts are secured by metal garage doors, but when they open, the dazzling displays spill right out onto the wide sidewalks with smiling merchants standing by.

The hotel was a super easy walk from Ximen Station. You step out of door #6 right into the pulsing heart of the city!
The hotel was a super easy walk from Ximen Station. You step out of door #6 right into the pulsing heart of the city!
What a narrow street! Calling it a 'Lane' is generous. The first time we looked for it, we almost walked right past, but eagle-eyed Charles spotted it! The tricky part was that the hotel's online photos were taken during the day with the shops open. We arrived at 10:30 PM when the steel garage doors were shut tight!
What a narrow street! Calling it a 'Lane' is generous. The first time we looked for it, we almost walked right past, but eagle-eyed Charles spotted it! The tricky part was that the hotel's online photos were taken during the day with the shops open. We arrived at 10:30 PM when the steel garage doors were shut tight!
This is how the bustling lane looks at 9:00 PM!
This is how the bustling lane looks at 9:00 PM!
Wow! What a bright, efficiently tiny room! It was only a few short steps from the doorway to the refrigerator.
Wow! What a bright, efficiently tiny room! It was only a few short steps from the doorway to the refrigerator.
Here is Charles digging through his suitcase, which doubled as his 'dresser' for the next 4.5 days! The only furniture was a small glass table and a chair, so we had to keep our suitcases closed just to maneuver around the room. We were very glad we packed light!
Here is Charles digging through his suitcase, which doubled as his 'dresser' for the next 4.5 days! The only furniture was a small glass table and a chair, so we had to keep our suitcases closed just to maneuver around the room. We were very glad we packed light!
The bed was firm and wonderfully comfy!
The bed was firm and wonderfully comfy!
The bathroom was absolutely spotless and just the right size for one person.
The bathroom was absolutely spotless and just the right size for one person.
The Ximending neighborhood during a light morning shower. Notice the swarms of motor scooters and the shop awnings protecting wares from the rain!
The Ximending neighborhood during a light morning shower. Notice the swarms of motor scooters and the shop awnings protecting wares from the rain!

Amazing Food!

The food in Taipei is an absolute dream! From bustling street stalls to world-renowned restaurants, we ate incredibly well.

On our very first morning, we hunted down breakfast and found this quaint, open-air restaurant serving a fantastic variety of egg crepes!
On our very first morning, we hunted down breakfast and found this quaint, open-air restaurant serving a fantastic variety of egg crepes!
The meal included the delicious crepes, a crispy hash brown patty, and a drink. Everything was incredibly tasty!
The meal included the delicious crepes, a crispy hash brown patty, and a drink. Everything was incredibly tasty!
Another incredible breakfast! The white object on top is an egg resting on savory meat and fresh bok choy. Every meal in Taipei was a winner!
Another incredible breakfast! The white object on top is an egg resting on savory meat and fresh bok choy. Every meal in Taipei was a winner!
Noodles are a massively popular staple in Asia! Charles was in absolute heaven. Helen, on the other hand, had enough noodle soup to last a lifetime! This is a typical lunch spot for workers at a massive 8-story electronics building.
Noodles are a massively popular staple in Asia! Charles was in absolute heaven. Helen, on the other hand, had enough noodle soup to last a lifetime! This is a typical lunch spot for workers at a massive 8-story electronics building.
Egads! Another giant bowl of soup! This one featured one of Charles's favorites: a hard-boiled egg.
Egads! Another giant bowl of soup! This one featured one of Charles's favorites: a hard-boiled egg.
This is Din Tai Fung, one of the most famous dumpling restaurants in the entire world! They started in Taipei and have branches globally (even a few in the USA!). This specific location was inside the Sogo department store.
This is Din Tai Fung, one of the most famous dumpling restaurants in the entire world! They started in Taipei and have branches globally (even a few in the USA!). This specific location was inside the Sogo department store.
Their legendary signature dumplings actually have hot soup inside them! They provide specific instructions on how to eat them so you don't burn your tongue!
Their legendary signature dumplings actually have hot soup inside them! They provide specific instructions on how to eat them so you don't burn your tongue!
You can watch the master chefs making the dumplings through glass! They are incredibly methodical: one person rolls the dough, the next adds the filling, and the final chef folds it with a perfectly precise serrated edge!
You can watch the master chefs making the dumplings through glass! They are incredibly methodical: one person rolls the dough, the next adds the filling, and the final chef folds it with a perfectly precise serrated edge!

The Regent Hotel Taipei

At the end of our first week, I had to get to work! As a consultant for the international computer memory standards organization, JEDEC, I need to stay where the meetings are held due to all the equipment I haul around. These are always top-tier luxury hotels! We went from a tiny $50-a-night room to a massive $250-a-night suite at The Regent. You can imagine how wildly luxurious it felt!

The Regent is only two subway stops away from Ximending. Since we had all our luggage, we mapped out the exact route to ensure we found the nearest station elevator!
The Regent is only two subway stops away from Ximending. Since we had all our luggage, we mapped out the exact route to ensure we found the nearest station elevator!
The Regent is spectacular, featuring a beautiful pond and water sculpture right at the entrance.
The Regent is spectacular, featuring a beautiful pond and water sculpture right at the entrance.
They even had ducks swimming in front of the hotel! We assumed they were part of a charity auction.
They even had ducks swimming in front of the hotel! We assumed they were part of a charity auction.
The sleeping room was absolutely massive! After our tiny boutique hotel, having space to walk around and store luggage felt amazing.
The sleeping room was absolutely massive! After our tiny boutique hotel, having space to walk around and store luggage felt amazing.
We were on a high floor with spectacular, sweeping views of the city!
We were on a high floor with spectacular, sweeping views of the city!
The towering, iconic building just left of center is Taipei 101! It is the second tallest building in the world (and was the tallest when it was built!).
The towering, iconic building just left of center is Taipei 101! It is the second tallest building in the world (and was the tallest when it was built!).

Taipei 101 Building

Taiwan Northern Coast Tour

Helen took a fantastic guided tour of the dramatic Northern Coast! The group was driven via minivan to several spectacular sightseeing spots, including Keelung City, Keelung Harbor, the massive Buddha Statue, and the fascinating rock formations at Yehliu Park (including the famous "Queen's Head").

Taipei Lantern Festival

An absolute highlight of the trip was the dazzling Lantern Festival! This spectacular event lasts for two weeks during the Chinese New Year festivities. According to Helen's favorite legend, the festival originated as a "gift of light" from the wealthy to the poor during the longest, darkest nights of winter, allowing everyone to celebrate late into the night!

The Taipei City Lantern Festival featured an incredible 2-kilometer (over a mile!) walk along busy city streets that were transformed into brilliant tunnels of light leading straight to the main festival park.

A self-portrait of Helen and me taking a quick rest break!
A self-portrait of Helen and me taking a quick rest break!
2013 was the Year of the Snake on the zodiac calendar!
2013 was the Year of the Snake on the zodiac calendar!
Because it was the Year of the Snake, reptile lanterns were everywhere! This massive snake was the main centerpiece of the festival, towering about 30 feet tall!
Because it was the Year of the Snake, reptile lanterns were everywhere! This massive snake was the main centerpiece of the festival, towering about 30 feet tall!
A dazzling close-up of the giant snake head!
A dazzling close-up of the giant snake head!
Other majestic animals were also depicted, like this brilliant lion!
Other majestic animals were also depicted, like this brilliant lion!

All Taiwan Lantern Festival in Hsinchu County

We had soooo much fun at the Taipei festival that we decided to hit the massive "All Taiwan" festival too! This official national event moves to a different city each year, and this year it was held in Hsinchu County, just a thrilling high-speed bullet train ride away!

We blasted out of Taipei at 5:30 PM on Friday night, and an hour later we were 50 miles away! We navigated the insanely huge crowds to meet up with our JEDEC friends, Howard and Roelof. Finding them in the sea of people was tough, but being tall with blond hair definitely made me easy to spot!

Since I had an early flight home the next day, we only planned to stay a couple of hours and booked 9:30 PM return tickets. But the festival was so spectacularly fun that we didn't leave until 10:30 PM! Fortunately, they added extra trains to handle the massive crowds, and we all managed to get seats for the ride back.

The absolute highlight of the festival was the explosive laser and fireworks display occurring every two hours!
The absolute highlight of the festival was the explosive laser and fireworks display occurring every two hours!

Interesting Cultural Finds

Exploring the city brought some really fun surprises!

I had never seen this before! A high-tech digital sign outside the women's restroom at the train station that actively tracks which stalls are occupied, empty, or out of service!
I had never seen this before! A high-tech digital sign outside the women's restroom at the train station that actively tracks which stalls are occupied, empty, or out of service!
This crosswalk sign is hilarious! A green man walks leisurely, but right before the light changes, he panics and starts sprinting! We found these all over Taipei and they were endlessly entertaining to watch.

Saying Goodbye to Taiwan

We had the most wonderful, action-packed time in Taiwan! I easily could have spent another full week exploring. It was sad to leave, but it was time to fly home!

Helen and I hope you enjoyed sharing this wild adventure as much as we enjoyed reliving it! Stick around for more of our exciting travels!