MY TAIWANdering STORIES

What I know about Taiwan? Ofcourse, Meteor Garden and F4! hahaha..

Going to Taiwan was never included on my bucket list (kuno)… but because I’m taking advantage of the visa free privilege to Filipinos (from November 1, 2017 – July 31,  2018), I booked my flight last January. Who knows I get to see Dao Ming Se (Gerry Yan).. actually, mas fan ako ni vic zhou… haha… (so anong feeling ko? Pakalat kalat lang sila sa Taipei para makasalubong ko? Charot).

Anyway, our flight to Taipei via Cebu Pacific supposed to take off at 10:55pm and not so surprising, was delayed almost an hour.

My travel buddy, who will soon to be married, which means baka huling beses ko na syang makakaladkad sa mga gantong trip ko . haha

Our another friend got there (in Taipei)  ahead of us, because her flight was rescheduled (sabay kaming tatlo dapat, but I don’t know what happened to Cebu Pacific, maybe overbooking? That she needed to be separated). Anyway, it was a blessing in disguise because the reception in our Hostel will close at 10pm, so our friend checked in first and sent us pictures of the hostel since we will arrive there past midnight we might had a hard time looking for it especially the train will no longer operational at that time.

Day 0

We arrived at Taipei past 1 am, we rode the BUS 1819 and alighted at Taipei Main station, then from there we took a Taxi. As expected, the Taxi driver couldn’t understand us. I gave him our accommodation address written in English and yet he couldn't figured it out. Then I remembered the nearest MRT station, thank God , dun lang kami nagkaintindihan. When we reached the Gonguan station, we we’re just looking at the buildings along the road using the picture our friend sent us..

Tadann! Glad we found it.

 

Day 1

Breakfast in our Hostel.

Our room was okay, we had our own T&B. The kitchen is so lovely despite the small area. We had bread / butter & jam.

Our first on the list that day is the National Taiwan University a.k.a Yengdi University in Meteor Garden ( hindi naman halatang fan ako? ;) ), this is just walking distance in our Hostel.

spare my so baduy posture.. Hindi talaga ako marunong magpose.. haha

Lakas maka F4, pero tatlo lang kami.

Ganto pala feeling ni Shan Chai!

I wish I had watched again the Meteor Garden so I could refresh and find the exact area they shoot their scenes.. hahahaha

After exploring the University, we  went to Gonguan MRT Station. Our Hostel is also just 5 to 10 minute  walk to this station.

                        

Chiang Kai Shek. This is very much accessible to MRT (ofcourse, the Chiang Kai Shek station). This was built to honor the late President Chiang Kai-Shek.

We climbed the Main Hall and fortunately we had witnessed the changing of guards.

sign of aging, ang dali ko ng mapagod. ;)

Presidential Office. As per google, this is originally built as the office of the Governor-General of Taiwan during the Japanese Colonial  Period. (ang astig ng mga hapon na 'to, lahat na lang sinasakop. hehe). This was just restored after it sustained damages during the World War II. I wasn't sure if it's still functional, though there are plenty  of guards surrounding the area.

napagod nanaman ako... :)

After resting a while, we searched the internet where we can have our late lunch. Anyway we rented a Wifi device thru KKday as well (I'm not sure how much exactly my friend paid for it, I just gave her 100TWD for 4 days na ).

The internet led us to Ximending. On my itinerary, we’re supposed to visit the Ximen area the next day . But because we intend to eat at the Beef Noodles resto the internet suggested, we walked all the way to Ximending. We got lost a little (despite following the locator on my friend's phone), and we when we finally found the place, it was closed for renovation.. (yes, after we sweat a lot, aching legs, hungry stomach, sarado pala sya!!). Then we looked for another.

                           

We had our lunch here. 

Grabeh, ang sarap ng Coke sa mga oras na yan... promise. haha

Taipei 101-- In 2004, this was tagged as the tallest building in the world. But after it was surpassed  by other skyscrapers nowadays, it is still the largest green building in the world. We didn't get to enter the Observatory Deck as we planned to see the better picture of Taipei 101 and the rest of the city in Elephant Mountain, not to mention, (but I'm mentioning it.. lol) that we don't want to spend almost a thousand as entrance fee (bakit pa? when we can have it free in Elephant Mountain.. practical lang hehe)

Just one more station from Taipei 101 station is the Xiangshan Station, this is where you should alight going to Elephant Mountain. Pero, If there’s one place I regret for including it on my itinerary is The Elephant Mountain,why? (nakalibre nga pero bakit nga ba???) Because I thought I’m gonna die in hiking! Hahaha… we took hundred stair steps, I was catching my breath, mga 1 year na pawis ko yung  pinaligo ko, medyo malamok pa, di ako sanay maghike on elevated areas!! (magjogging nga, pagod na ako after mga 10 meters lang.. haha exaggerated though, pero promise di  na ako uulit umakyat sa mga ganito dito).. 

Then we reached this place,

                                      

It wasn’t the highest spot, coz I can’t take one more step, if I would try to climb more then I might not catch my breath anymore... lol..  yeah, what a poor endurance. But despite the mosquito bites, the exhaustion, it was eradicated as soon as we saw that view. We waited to get dark so we could see the city lights. 

(Photo by Sheryl Claridad, basta pag maganda yung kuha, sya daw kumuha nun, nakakahiya naman ginagamit ko yung picture nya, but she was using my camera, so quits lang naman hehe.)

Maybe it was almost 7 pm when we started to descend. At least mas madaling bumaba.

From Xiangshan station, we traveled to Jiantan Station (not shilin Station) so we could get to Shilin Night Market. Had our dinner there and got some refreshments. The place is packed with food vendors, people are lining up to most of the stalls. But we we're not able  to explore much of their foods.

Day 2

Tamsui Fisherman Wharf. From Tamsui train station, we took the Red 26 bus going to the wharf (the last bus stop). It's beautiful here, they said the sunset here is the best. But we arrived there late, about 11am, the original plan of waking up early was not achieved , we were so worn out the previous day. 

"Kunwari di ako nakatingin ha".. hehe

We could have taken the ferry boat back to Tamsui proper, but one of my friends refused to, so we took the same bus #.

Next thing, we were looking for the Well known Tamsui Old Street.

We had our lunch at Tamsui. (not exactly at the old street, pero sa tabi lang ng MRT Tamsui Station). The Old street was on the other side, we didn't have enough time so we skipped that.

At past 3pm. We decided to go to Yangmingshan National Park, I know during that time, we’re too late for the Cherry Blossoms. I haven’t read so much about how to go to different part of Yangmingshan park (ang lawak pala nya, at ang layo, I underestimated the distance of 15TWD fare, kala ko malapit lang). The last stop of the Bus S15 we took at Jiantan station is the Qingtiangang Grassland Trails. The scenery is so breathtaking, but we didn’t stay long lest we’ll sleep on the middle of the meadows overnight.. haha. We’re supposed to see the flower farm, the Calla Lilies but it’s getting dark and already closing as what the staff at Qintiangang station informed us.

MRT going home. Tired but happy (char!)

Day 3

Breakfast again.  Same food!

On our 3^rd day, we joined a day tour package via KKDay, for Jiufen, Yehliu and Shifen Tour. Our met up place was in Taipei Main Station.

Our tour started at 9am. And our first stop is the Yehliu Geopark. The rock formations are astonishing. We had an hour here, so everything was quick. There are plenty of people lining up to take a photo with the iconic Queens head.

Then we headed to the quaint village of Shifen. We released our lantern, wandered along the  old train tracks, and ate Chicken Wings (which was criticized by our tour Guide as not so delicious, and yet we bought one for each, gutom na kase.)

Captured the passing of the train.. parang PNR lang eh. :)

I am  trying so hard to take an astig shot on the middle of the railway... pero look at the  outcome, para akong zombie na naiwan ng Train to Busan, so lifeless! haha

Then just  3 minutes by our tour bus (20minutes by walking daw), we we transferred to Shifen Waterfall. Fair enough, I think our Water falls here in Philippines are way much majestic than this one..

Too many people I couldn't find a spot to take a selfie

And when I finally had the spot, na conscious na ako.. kaya ganyan yung pose ko... terrible! haha

Then finally, we explored the Jiufen. This place is famed as the inspiration of Miyazaki’s ‘Spirited Away’ (ano ba yun? diko rin napanuod, narinig ko lang, papanuorin ko na lang para makarelate hehe). Before we entered the old streets and Buildings of Jiufen, we passed into this spectacular  view (makaspectacular naman o haha).

Then as we entered the crowded old streets of Jiufen, our Tour guide instructed us to be on our bus after one hour and 15 minutes, I was listening to her attentively ( after we separate ways) not knowing my two friends left me behind (excited? Iniwan ako?). I’ve walked here and there, back and forth, just to find them, I think I’ve been doing that for almost 30 minutes until I gave up. I told myself, I need to do this on my own, I’ll get to see them on the bus anyway (hoping I’ll find my way back.. haha). We’re supposed to take our lunch there, but I don’t know where to eat all by myself, so I decided to bought a piece of bread with chocolate filling. (masarap sya, pero diko masyado ramdam, feeling ko kase para akong batang naliligaw na binigyan lang ng tinapay ng good Samaritan haha).. Then while walking and eating that bread, I bumped into my missing friends (or ako ba yung missing?)… I expected that they had eaten already accepting also to go on with their lives without me (charot)… that they might be thinking to see me in the bus too, But they have not eaten yet, kelangan daw muna nila akong mahanap.. (so wala silang tiwala na kaya kong mag –isa haha). So we had our late lunch here.

We need to consume our food as fast as we could, so we won’t get left by our travel group. 

The day tour is recommended if you only have limited days to explore Taiwan. The KKDay bus is convenient you don't have to transfer from one public bus to another & transfer to  local train. I don't think you could get into those 4 places when you do it on your own in one day only (considering the possibility of getting lost :), pwede siguro if you wake up real early and travel back to Taipei very late) But if you have enough days in Taiwan, then you better DIY it, para sulit.)

Then we’re back to Taipei. We roamed around the night market near our Hostel. Had some dinner at noodles restaurant (again).  I had my first bubble tea on our last night too. 

My last night in Taipei..

Day 4

10:45am is our Departure back to Manila, so we left the hostel early. We we’re instructed by one of our Hostel Staff to take the Airport Train in Beimen Station to avoid the queue in Taipei Main Station. 

The Express Purple Train.. pero di naman sya mabilis, few stops lang. You'll reach the airport for about 40minutes.

To sum this up. Traveling to Taipei is a worth remembering experience. I know this country is not included on the common travel list of the Filipinos, but I want to change your mind coz aside from the trial free visa, and the two-hour flight only, there are more to see in Taiwan, so it deserves a try.... I wish we had more time so we can go to Taichung and Alishan... 

Notes:

The train system is so easy and efficient. It can lead you to some iconic spots of Taipei. Buy the EasyCard.

Food. Too many food choices, but not my taste or we just didn't focus much on that. 

People are nice... but the language barrier can be nose bleeding. hehe

Pasalubong. Medyo mahal. actually mahal talaga compare mo sa ibang bansa. Ref magnet lang nasa 90TWD na. We exchanged our TWD in one of the money changer in Antipolo for Php1.9 = TWD 1.

Expenses. On my previous travel posts, I don't really indicate my expenses...ayoko kase isipin yung expenses... but for Taipei.. here it is in Philippine Peso, in case you want to know.. in case lang naman. haha

Airfare Dvo-Mla RT 4k (promo syempre, ommit this if you're not coming from Mindanao)
MLA to Taipei RT - 5k (promo din)
Travel Tax - 1620
Accommodation - 12,100/3 = 4,033
1 Day tour KKday - 1,606
Pocket money (transpo/food/shopping ng slight/pasalubong) - 10k (pero pwedeng may sukli pa)
Total = 26,259.00

That's it. If in the case, you reached the bottom of my blog... congrats! di kita nabore... haha

Thanks for reading. A frustrated Travel Blogger here. ;)

Broke up so Many times.. Lol

Could relate on that I needed to save it here...yeah? it sucks... but I hope I had broke up with them personally.. so the closure i real! hahaha.. doesn't matter if we're not in a relationship.. hahaha

Good night!

The Loneliest Feeling

LATE PUBLISHED: I wrote this last April 1, maybe :)


5.55am

I hadn't had a nice sleep... Not just because I'm watching over my little niece but because I have to leave home again today... Since my niece's parents are in the hospital I had to sleep in their room, and ofcourse I love watching over my first niece... but the feeling of sadness hits me so hard.. I wanna stay here as always... I wish I could work here, so I could go home everyday....

2:10pm
On board... for davao trip. i pray for safe trip
.

praying for a safe 4 flights in a week

6:10pm

At Davao airport. As always... I feel so tense at the moment... I'm taking the plane again... so hindi na talaga ako nasanay... So lets pray for a safe flight to Manila.

9:15pm
Last night's flight was smooth.. thank God. Now waiting for the 2nd flight at 10.55pm later... praying for another safe flight.

Update: 4.27.2018

This is really a late update but I thank God for the safe flights between April 19 to 24.

You know how much flights terrify me.. that if only I'm not afraid of flying then maybe I'll be flying more frequent. I just really love traveling, so despite how suicidal for me the plane ride is, I'll go with it.

5 things to say to 5 people 3.5.18

Things I couldn't say to 5 People

1. First thing is for my  little niece. Yes, I couldn't 't tell her because she's only a year and a half  old.. she may not understand me now.

You may not be my own, because I'm just your Tita (auntie), but I love you so much more than you'll ever know, you, your little sister and your cousin, are treasures to me. I never thought I could manage to take care of you from your early months (so timing I resigned from my job) till I went back to work. I didn't much of dull days during my jobless days because you were there. And now, I get to see you often, my love for you didn't subside, and it will never be. Your videos  and pictures sent to me are whats keeping me alive on my empty room, far away from all of you. Going home always excites me because I know I'll be seeing you. I hope and pray, you'll grow up healthy, kind hearted and nice to your Tita.. It's bit frustrating everytime you can't recognize me for not seeing me too long... but it doesn't matter.. you'll always be my baby..

2. Hi. Still mad at me? I'm sorry if I get tired of drama that I'm not doing any move now. It's not that I'm giving up on our friendship, but its just that,  I need to take time accepting or be happy on what you want me to be happy about. But whatever your decisions right now, I'll always be that friend you used to know... don't mix that up with the things I can't agree of.. Your decisions are yours, no objections, never will I object of the things that would make you happy.. but don't push me to feel what you want me to feel, you, nor I, can't control that.. No matter how I try to be happy when it's not what I feel, then it will never be... I'm just honest here. But I promise I'll try, surely someday, it would be okay, maybe not now. I tried to think about why I can't be completely happy for this, no matter how I dictate to feel the other way. It can be too selfish. Yes, I'm worried for you to jump on things so impulsively, but as I've said, if it makes you happy then go for it. Maybe I'm sad for myself, because things will change now. You're that one of a kind friend who accepts even the worst side of me... the only one who listens and never get tired of my nonsense blah blah down to my deep thoughts.. But since things will change now, say you're going to marry the person you met just few weeks ago, I can't talk to you often. So its better this way, I need to train myself talking to no one. haha.. and please understand that I may not attend that special day because it will gonna hurt me only. It will only remind me how cruel life for me, you all guys are getting married, and I'm left alone, and I get to witness that. Then people will ask me, hey, "how bout you?"... please don't make it hard for me to find answers to that.

And one thing, this I admit is selfish, you always take care of me, my host, my cook, my home when I can't have a shelter to spend to , my alibi when I feel the world embarrass me.... which means no one would do that when I go to your wedding day. Would you watch over someone other than your Man on your wedding day??? haha... ofcourse I can't let you! Get your attention wholly to your husband-to-be.. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine... I may not be there, I may not be completely happy for myself ( yes, not for you), but please don't mind me... There are too many lonely people in the world, not finding the love of their life, don't join us, go get seize your happiness. :)... I'll always be your friend, nothing will change, maybe its you who would change, married life you know! haha thank you for everything..  and I'm not really lonely, I wont tolerate that. so be happy!

3. Hey boss. I hope in its smallest possible way, you wouldn't find this page. haha. You know what, I'm thankful I have a job, that you put me on this... But sometimes,  you make me me feel that I have a terrible boss, that any moment, I would grab my bag and leave and never return. Don't worry, I once had a monster boss in my first job, and you're way much nicer than him. At the moment, I'm not really pestered by you, glad its not everyday. You're generally a good person that's why I'm staying despite those days you're being so inconsiderate, boastful and mean. No ones really perfect... You know what's so irritating sometimes? When you question my "leave" which I believe is very often... I'm working so I can go some places, it inspires me to work harder... So if you'll stop me to do the things I love, then what am I working for? You might gonna lose me, so better careful with your words.. haha.. do I sound threatening?

4. In every post like this, "my unspoken words to someone", you're always on it. I guess you're my favorite canvas, I can't count how many letters I've wrote for you, maybe if every words were written on the stars, then you might be reading the sky till your hair turns gray.

Those letters include those days I was happy with your presence down to you - breaking my heart unconsciously. You know, I still hate you, though I must not.. but despite that,  I still want to talk to you about everything... I wanna tell you about how my day was, how tired I am and even to that little kitten who made me smile awhile ago... But I know , none of this you wanna hear. We look at things differently, I settle for less while you settle for things I couldn't give. I still question why it's so easy for you to be gone by not saying goodbye.. ? Was it easier that way or because I was nothing to you that you wouldn't mind how I'll feel after all? I wish I had your farewell, maybe I could smile everytime I'll remember you because I knew I had you, not like this, you're distorting my face  everytime I remember you!, I'm becoming more ugly.. haha... So these unspoken words will remain here just like those letters that soon and hopefully will lose its meaning. It's kinda taking too long or maybe everything is okay now, I'm just so used to writing about you. I miss you sometimes, but I hate you most of the times. I know I should not. I'm sorry if I hate you.

5. Finally, my last one here is for my stupid soulmate. haha... where in the world are you? I've been given you so much extension but you're abusing it. I know I'm hard to find... and its going to be much harder because I'm trying to be unreachable to everyone... So goodbye now!

I'm so damn single.. so what?

Hey. how are you? happy? What were you doing? if you're sad or something, it's okay, you were not alone. I'm not saying I am sad nor I am happy, I am just alone at the moment... and most of the time..

Some friends of my age maybe busy taking good care of their family by now, their husband.. or/and their kids. while me, watching "The Good Son" series while trying to consume this mango float I bought in SM lanang... I've been there to pay my bills... And I had fun eating the Barbq flavor Fries from potato Corner while I was on the Taxi on my way home. I found bliss in eating, whos not? I'm gaining so much weight.. but it was a dream come true. I maybe easily feeling annoyed, but little things could ease my pestered mood away.


I wanna hide myself from  various kinds of people, particularly those happily married people... i'm tired of hearing people questioning me why Am I still single??? duh??? why do I need to be married as well?! haha.. why can't it be normal to be single for life?  ... what do they want to hear from me?...I stayed single because I am too weird? I am too ugly?? I am too different? I am too picky?? I am inlove with fictional characters?? I am inlove with someone who couldn't love me back?? I'm in a relatioship with someone whose terrible as I am so we end up before it started? I can't find the right person?? if I'll answer them any of those, will they shut up?? Pathetic right??

Anyway, I need to hide... really. haha.
Coz no one would accept my reasoning that I'm fine even if I'm not happy... o, seeing my niece last night is making me happy... at least there is someone who's surely putting smile on my face.. so stop, pitying me!! will you?

I wanna......

..... I wanna get lost for a while.. be on a place I never been and no one knows me... I wanna be somewhere no one would judge me... I wanna meet new people. These people I knew were all having the time of their life... it's making me feel outcasted.. so I wanna be away... I'm tired of these people who's making me feel I'm not normal... I know I'm different, so I need to be out. Old friends are good, but I don't wanna be with them for now, some wont understand me and force me to be one of them which I cannot...coz I am not.

I have these thoughts of being on a new place, will meet a stranger, it doesn't matter if its only a day or two.. we'd talk... about how life treated us.. we'll be fine.. we'll laugh... maybe we'll cry.. and will bid goodbye.. but I'll remember the stranger...

I'm sorry but being with normal people, some acquintance,  is saddening me ... because we see things differently... I got tired of listening to people who only make me feel that I don't belong here...

But don't get me wrong.. I still love you, I still love them... those few people who love  me too but want to see me the way they want to... I know these people are too few because I'm so unlovable... but I'll be okay on my own.