Monday 16 December 2013

TAIPEI + HONG KONG 1-7 DECEMBER 2013


DAY 1 -

Transited at Hong Kong and....we reached Taipei!

The amazing resort we stayed at for 2D1N. Felt like we were in "We Bought A Zoo"! Giraffes/zebras/lemurs etc were behind the concierge and we even had goats and alpacas outside our room window. I loved it :) even though it smelled of poop outside.

View from outside the concierge.
Me and my sister's room :)
Learned that rhinos have poor vision and they have bad temper. This photo was taken when these two siblings were head butting one another.
Conclusion: Rhinos need anger management...and spectacles.

DAY 2 - 

We started our day with BUFFET BREAKFAST. I love bread so I was really happy to see so many square bread and the best thing invented- a toaster. Oh and how can I forget, butter and BACON~
Most animals here come in pairs, usually siblings :)
Giraffes have freakishly long tongues. They hate sitting down 'cos it takes tons of strength to get up and they hate bending down to eat 'cos it'll make them dizzy. Who doesn't? ^^
We then headed down to Leo Foo Theme Park where it was super cosy and chill :) It's not packed like Disneyland/USS where you wait super long for rides.

The parrot that kept going "Herrrllo! Herrllo? Heerlo!". Well my bad 'cos I kept saying "Hello" to it.
Queuing to go on the Nairobi Express. Time to learn more about animals :) 
This pony sneezed on my mum and sister. LOL

Left the theme park at about 4+pm 'cos we were heading to the city later.
Goodbye animals :'(
I didn't know their eyes were like that :O 
Welcome to Ximending!


DAY 3 - 

Had buffet breakfast at Cosmos Hotel and off to see museums!
 Our lunch at SOGO first :)
Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall.
National Palace Museum.
Headed to Dongmen for dinner! Went to Yong Kang street if I'm not wrong?

Dinner at a dim sum place (I forgot the name not sure if you can see from the photo). The food was good and cheap :)
The xiao long bao was only NTD$90. Who needs din tai fung :@
Chewy prawns :)
Streets in Dongmen.

DAY 4 - 

For this day we signed up for a one day tour! We covered places like Shifen Waterfall > Shifen Train Station > Jiu Fen > Gold Ecological Park > Huang Jin Waterfall > Nanya Peculiar Stone > Bay of Two Colours > Some museum to see the guard exchange ceremony > Shilin Night Market
First stop! Shifen Waterfall :)

Shifen Waterfall. First time seeing a real waterfall is so amazing :)
 Next stop was Shifen Train Station where we lit the sky lantern.

Next was to Jiu Fen :) Drived up the mountains then down then back up again. This place is lovely!
View from Jiu Fen.

Gold Ecological Park :)

Next: Huang Jin Waterfall

To the beautiful Nanya Peculiar Stone!

Last stop: Shilin Night Market :) 
Didn't take much photos 'cos my camera and phone batteries were dying :(

DAY 5 -  

It was time to leave Taipei and have some HONG KONG time! :) I didn't really visit any new places 'cos I decided to bring my mum and sister to places I visited the previous trip. I also didn't take much photos here :\
Queuing for Ji Dan Zai! 
Sai Yong Choi Street <3
The super nice dessert perfect for the weather at Jia Jia Tian Pin in Jordan Street. I ordered sesame + walnut paste for HKD$17!

DAY 6 - 

We went Macau and I brought them to see the Ruins of St Pauls :) But first we had lunch at Old Neptune Restaurant in Venetian Hotel. Food was expensive and not good at all.
Fried vermicelli with snow cabbage and roasted duck.

For dinner, we took the boat back to Hong Kong island to eat at Aberdeen Jumbo Kingdom. This place is so magnificent! However the food was expensive and not worth. But the ambience and building was definitely worth seeing!
We had to take a boat ride to the restaurant. 
Do y'all do this when eating prawn crackers? ^^
So awesome right? 

DAY 7 - 

Last day in Hong Kong and heading home :'( I suggested going back Tim Ho Wan 'cos the first time when we went we disliked the dim sum. BUT that was because we went to eat roasted duck whilst waiting for an hour to pass. This time round, we also had to wait for an hour but we did the right thing, that is, not to eat until so full :P
Breakfast at Relax For A While
Tim Ho Wan outlet in Hong Kong Station/IFC Mall. Look at the number of people. My favourite was their siew mai and the baked pork bun. The siew mai is one of the best I've tasted :)

Bought Yu Dan to try! Oh my gosh the gravy that came along with the fishball was soooo salty.
View above you in the toilet. NOT in the cubicle.

So that's it for Taipei and Hong Kong! I only uploaded like 40% of the photos I took 'cos I didn't have time to edit them. Hope you liked my photos :) Pictures were taken with Nikon V1 & my iPhone. Thanks for dropping by :) It means a lot!

With love, Maycey