AS THE journey – from Clark International Airport, so is the destination – Taipei City, in smoothness, in enjoyment. It’s my sixth touchdown on Taiwan’s capital, the last in 2018 yet. But for one spot – Taipei 101 – everything in the itinerary is new. The usual museums and memorial halls unlisted.
In this narrative – as in all travel tales – comes to fore the British statesman Benjamin Disraeli’s adage: “I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.” Hence:
PERFECT NIGHT OUT
Spend it best at Ximending, starting with a hearty treat at Mala Hot Pot, Ximen Branch with the widest variety of choices from meat to seafood, leafy vegetables and mushrooms of all kinds, mix your own condiments, all into the shimmering pot of flavored broth and savor the aroma of ambrosia itself – eat all you can but no leftovers, fruits in season, unli drinks too from assorted teas to colas, from coffee to juices, pastries and cakes, ice cream of all flavors but only by Haagen Dazs and Movenpick.
Post-prandial stroll along the walking streets teeming with happy people perks up the night fantastic.
TAIPEI 101
The capital city of Taipei’s, if not the whole of Taiwan’s top tourist draw. Verily, the country’s signature image. A monument to human achievement. Once the tallest building in the whole world. Behold the lay of Taipei City from its 89th Floor Observatory, see a bird’s eye view of the familiar landmarks: Chiang Kai-Sek Memorial Hall, Taipei National Palace Museum, Dr. Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, Grand Hotel – where Ninoy Aquino slept the night before his martyrdom; marvel at the sinuous rivers in sparkling silver under the sun and the vast areas of green in parks and the mountains in the distance that surround the city. Truly, an awesome, exhilirating experience to share. Suffice it to say. Be there.
DIN TAI FUNG
Wok. Peace. Abundance. The utensil used for cooking. The ambience most conducive to happy dining. The abundance of menu options. Elements to a most delightful gustatory experience, that define Din Tai Fung, a destination unto itself at the ground floor of Taipei 101. With no table reservations, everyone queues up – a waiting time of 50 minutes on an average day. But every second of the wait is well worth it, if only for a taste of xiaolong bao, its most famous dish craved for, the world over. Favorites too are its hot and sour soup, shrimp siu mai, steamed dumplings with veggies and meat, fried rice with shredded pork and egg, and for dessert – soybean paste dumplings. With complimentary house tea, to perk up the taste buds.
PINEAPPLE CAKE MUSEUM
A different take from your usual museum – you get to taste what’s on display and get it home too. Plus, a workshop for DIY cake-making – you get to knead and mold the dough for the mentor to bake and give to you at the end of the tour. Light and music show – of giant red-seeded dandelion flowers bursting at every touch, of paper lanterns bearing good luck wishes flying skyward at every tap – to everyone’s delight, waiting at the second floor. Only at Vigor Kobo Pineapple Cake Museum, Wenlin Rd., Shilin District, Taipei City
DADAOCHENG WHARF
The old trading port near No. 5 Water Gate on the banks of the Tamsui River found a new incarnation as a tourism destination, cycling area, and embarkation point for river boat tours. As part of the riverine summer program of the city, the wharf hosts a fireworks festival, complete with street food peddled from container vans and music that draw thousands of locals and tourists alike. One of Taipei’s oldest neighborhoods, Dadaocheng still holds remnants of its storied past in its narrow streets lined with little stores selling tea and coffee, dried sweets and seafood, textiles, tea cups, and other goods, as well as cafes. Find spiritual respite, if only for a few minutes, at the Dadaocheng Mazu (Mother-Ancestor) Temple.
DISNEY SAND
Mickey Mouse and the Gang, Snow White and her Castle, Aladdin and the Lion King, Frozen and Moana, Monsters and Toy Story, Avatar and the Marvel Universe, Star Wars too, and more, much more. No Disneyland but Disney Sand at the Fulong International Sand Sculpture Festival celebrating Disney’s 100th anniversary at the eponymous beach in Gongliao District, New Taipei City. Yes, that happy place for both the young’uns and the young once. Nearby at Fuji restaurant, the best seafood dishes I have ever tasted in all my visits to Taipei.
JIUFEN
Shot to prominence with the claim of being the inspiration behind the highly popular Japanese anime Spirited Away by the renowned Studio Ghibli, the mountain town of Jiufen, east of Taipei, has – despite that claim shot down by the anime creator himself – remained a must-visit destination with its own magical vibe of the coast and mountains, its meandering alleyways lined up with street food stalls, souvenir shops, and tea houses – the most famous of which is Amei Teahouse, the very centerpiece of the anime inspiration. A tea ceremony, we had there. For real.
YEHLIU GEOPARK
The geological formations of sandstones and mudstones carved by the wind and the waves here have so taken the rough shapes of human parts, animals, even utensils — earning sobriquets as Queen’s Head, Gorilla Rock, Maling Bird Rock, Cute Princess Rock, Dragon Head Rock, Giant’s Kettle, and Sea Urchin Fossil, leaving visitors in awe. Turning to a world of wonder comes night time with a spectacle of light, water, and shadow at the Queen’s Head, Cute Princess Rock, and a giant water wheel at the amphitheater by the beach.
FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD
In the swirl of two-and-a-half days, Taipei totally satiated the senses. But even as the sights and sounds of the places visited start turning from moments to memories, there shall remain that lingering taste of the city’s flavors: Mala Hot Pot. Din Tai Fung. Fuji Restaurant. Inhouse Hotel Yeihlu’s Fisherman’s Kitchen. The street food at Dadaocheng and Ximindeng.
Fly from Clark International Airport to Taipei via Cebu Pacific, EVA Air, and soon Starlux Airlines.
