Children's Day Weekend--in Taiwan (4. - 6. May '19) [Random Edition]

More pictures from Taiwan!
 These pictures (and videos) didn't fit with my food or hotel posts, so I just lumped them all together into this 1 "random" post.

Enjoy!

Around Tainan

Panoramic view of the gazeebo/pagoda on the lake in Tainan Park.

Greg's silhouette in a dimly lit alley.

Want a coffee from a robot? Here's Barisbot!

You can watch him in action here.

Tainan Holiness Church (English website)

I was told, these are the original creators of the famous Taiwanese Pineapple Cakes.

This happens to be the comfiest toilet I've ever seen (and used).

Ever wonder how it is in a Taiwanese HSR train?
This video was taken in an unreserved car.
This means if you buy a ticket, but don't reserve a seat, you'll have to go to this car (I think cars 10 - 12 are the unreserved cars, but verify for yourselves).

By the time we arrived in Taipei, the aisle was full of standing people.

Taipei-Chiang Kai-shek Memorial

Overview of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial in Taipei

The Archway (before it lit up)

The National Theater

The National Concert Hall

The Archway is lit, but my camera's zoom is kaput.

The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

The Archway (after it's lit)

Angled-shot of the Archway

Singing in Kaohsiung

We took the HSR train back to Kaohsiung (in reserved seats). Initially, we wanted to walk around and explore Kaohsiung, but it was pouring that day. So, we had to satisfy ourselves by exploring a mall. We had hotpot for lunch, then tried out a karaoke booth in the mall.

I've been to karaoke rooms in Korea countless times (even once in Japan), but this one was different from all of those.

First off, it's a booth, not a building/floor with plenty of small rooms with their own karaoke system.
Second, the music came mostly from the headphones inside the booth. Korean ones don't have headphones, but speakers. The music and mikes can be thunderous, and everyone in every room can hear them. Not the case in this one in Kaohsiung.
Third, in Korean coin singing rooms (the cheap version), you can get 3 per dollar (-ish). One singing room near Greg's place gives you 6 songs per dollar!
This place was 1 dollar per song--so way more expensive than we were used to.
Fourth, the selection of English songs was minimal, compared to those available in Korean singing rooms. However, they have a few songs I've never seen available in Korea.

It was a different experience. I'm glad I went and tried.

Karaoke booth in Dream Mall, Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung International Airport 

We had really under-estimated this airport.

Just look at departures (after security and passport control).

No surprises in the bathroom--or, fewer surprises, at least.

Actually wondered if it was near Christmas.

Thanks for being cool, Kaohsiung International Airport.

Children's Day Weekend--in Taiwan (4. - 6. May '19) [Hotel Edition]

For our two nights in Taiwan, Greg made the reservations (relax, he got a separate room for each of us). Again, he has traveled to Taiwan on many occasions. Therefore, he has his favorite hotels in different cities.

In Tainan, we stayed in the Cambridge Hotel. It was very conveniently located in downtown Tainan. Price-wise, it was about the going rate for a 2- or 3-star hotel in the States. Just check out the room for yourself below.

In Taipei, our accommodation was The Tango Hotel, just a few steps from the Zhongshan Subway station, Exit 3 (1 stop from Taipei Station).

This hotel may be the fancy-schmanciest hotel I've ever stayed at. The Tango was about the price of a 3- or 4-star hotel in the States. Pretty sweet, right?

Just watch the video below, and you'll get a feel for it.

(Sorry for the poor lighting. I hadn't quite figured out all the lighting, and I couldn't wait to record this video).

Children's Day Weekend--in Taiwan (4. - 6. May '19) [Food Edition]

As the title suggests, I had a long weekend from Saturday (May 4th) until Monday (May 6th).
Why? Korea celebrates May 5th as "Children's Day." On this day, the most notable thing is that kids don't go to school (and neither do teachers) and parents are given the day off to spend with their kids (at least, that's what I understand).

My friend, Greg, and I agreed to go to Taiwan together. I've gone once before (see my pictures here), and he has visited many times. He was excited at the prospect of showing me his favorite haunts, and I was excited to follow a friend around than having to figure everything out on my own.

We had a great time, even when the weather wasn't cooperating.

For this post, I focus on my food pictures.

I hope you're not hungry . . .

Food in Tainan

After arriving into Kaohsiung International Airport, we made our way quickly to Tainan, Greg's favorite city (and also where he spent the most time). After checking in to our hotel and getting settled in our respective rooms, we went in search of the central theme of our trip: food.

We came to this hole-in-a-wall that had all kinds of baobing. We wanted the mango and got it for 200 Taiwanese Dollars (about 6.40 USD). Below you can see her in all her glory before we devoured her.

Mango, ice, mango syrup, mango sherbet, and gelatin of some kind 

I don't remember getting anything after that, until dinner.
Or should I call it "the first dinner?"

I don't know the restaurant's name, but it is a small, homey, charming kind of place. It serves a fusion of Chinese and Japanese cuisine. The best thing about it is probably the freshness of the organic ingredients. The cooks/owners put so much time and effort into their meals, it's admirable. I hadn't felt so healthy while eating food in a long time. Now don't expect a detailed review given by a food expert, since I can barely taste anything beyond "good" and "bad." Just know it was worth the visit and the price.

Chinese-Japanese fusion (Before)

(After)

As good as that meal was, it wasn't filling. Greg and I left, looking for 2nd dinner. Greg was in the mood for a burger (as long as it was small, so was I). "Thefreen Burger" (sorry, the page is in a Chinese language) ended up being our choice, seeing the other 2 before it were too far or closed.

As we arrived and looked at the menu, I saw one item that caught my eye: Peanut Butter Daxia Beef Burger. Knowing me as the explorer I am, I had made my decision (or it was made for me). Below is the part of the menu with my choice and Greg's.

Don't freak out people: the prices are in Taiwanese Dollars. This means our burgers were $4.04 and $4.17 in US Dollars respectively. That's the price for the burgers only, so no fries/chips and/or drinks with them.

I had the peanut butter burger.
Greg had the bacon mushroom burger set.

Not gonna lie: a peanut butter burger is entirely random. Who thought of this? Well, whoever it was, was a genius. The recipe was excellent. I would go back and eat it again.

My peanut butter burger is to the bottom left corner.
It was pretty good! I was pleasantly surprised!

On Sunday morning, after visiting Greg's church, we went to "Autumn" for soufflé pancakes. You can see them on Facebook and Instagram. 

Our sparkling drinks

Mine: Elderberry & Rose (back)
Greg's: Black Currant & Blueberry (front)

My Early Grey Pancake

See how tall these pancakes are?!

Greg's Seasonal (Mango) pancakes.

Mission accomplished.
Note: I ate all of mine and some of Greg's.

I remember Greg got some lovely bubble tea before heading out to church.

After Autumn's pancakes, we visited a cafe he used to frequent and whose owners he knew. We got some sort of tea with lime. I really don't know what it was, but it was good.

After that, it was a burger set from Mos Burger for Greg, and a few snacks from 7-11 for me before getting on the HSR (high-speed rail) train to Taipei.

Food in Taipei

Upon arriving at Taipei, we went and checked-in to our hotel. After getting our stuff into our respective rooms, we were ready to go out and eat Taipei--or so I thought.

Dinner #1: Din Tai Fung 

Only now, as I was preparing this blog post and looked up this restaurant online, am I starting to get the understanding of how I have been introduced to mammoth restaurant chain of excellent food!

DinTai Fung
Wanted to make sure I didn't forget the restaurant's name.

Appetizers, clockwise, starting from the top:
bamboo shoots, spicy cucumbers, sweet potato leaves with garlic (yum!), and bean sprouts.

From the top left, and going clockwise:
hot & sour pork soup, pork xiaolongbao, and chicken xiaolongbao (the chicken was mine)

Steamed lamb dumplings (new dish)

Dessert: Chocolate xiaolongbao
My hand is for size reference.

It was like a chocolate-lava dumpling. Sooooo good!

The record of the damage done.
Again, Taiwanese $1,232 = American $39.77--and this was for 2 people.

Dinner #2. Fish Bay

Greg searched for this place the last time he was here and found it--2 minutes after it closed.
Tonight was his redemption.
I wasn't up for it, so I skipped.

Find more about this place on Facebook and googling "Fish Bay Taipei."

By the way, I remember the price being about $110 Taiwanese (or $3.55 American)

Says it all, doesn't it?

Greg was elated.

Food in Kaohsiung - Hot Pot

Monday morning consisted of enjoying the hotel's breakfast and getting ourselves back down to Kaohsiung.

We wanted to walk around and explore Kaohsiung, but it was raining in torrents.

Greg found a mall near the airport where we could pass the time and get more food.

Today's lunch? Chinese Hot Pot in "Top One Pot."

This was my 1st time eating Chinese hot pot, but it's basically like Korean shabu-shabu.

Our pot and blue gas flame.

We ordered 2 kinds.
The left has cabbage and something (sorry, forgot)
The right is spicy. Indeed, it was at my spiciness-limit

Unlimited green tea and rice

Gorgeous marbled beef

A slushy!

Not sure about the flavor.
Maybe peach-mango fusion?
Don't quote me! Remember I'm horrible at identifying tastes!

Oh, it's so good to be alive. The dead cannot enjoy this food!