3rd to 7th of April 2015
Introduction:
There was a national holiday in China and really wanted to go somewhere. After a small conversation with Claire (who was working in Shanghai and some of my closest friends) it has been decided to go to Taipei. Another friend from Skema joint us: Wendy... So in total we were three.
In the meantime, I have contacted Bryan a Taiwanese who was my roommate in India, and we were supposed to meet the last day.
Funny part:
In this time of the period the spring was already in Beijing and the weather in Taipei was around 30. However, the tickets I have booked were with a night stop in Chonqing (1000km north from Beijing) and I left Beijing -where the temperature was around 10 - with one small jacket. Once arrived in Chonqing airport, there was not a transit section and the airport was closed... The only place to spend the night waiting were the benches before the check-in section. The only problem: the temperature outside was -1 to -5, it was snowing and there was not heating system in the airport... To summarize: I was freezing. During all the night long the only place I was able to get my body warm was the heater in the toilets... Well in the early morning I took the plane to Taipei with the few survivors from the night, got a Fervex to avoid getting ill and fell asleep before waking up in Taipei... Where the city welcomed me with a sun and 30 degrees... Enough time to change my clothes: flip flops, short and t-shirt.
First impressions:
We have booked an Airbnb for this trip and I needed to take a bus from the central station (which was quite big but ugly building) and while waiting 2 random persons came to me asking me in English if I needed help so I get to the place I wanted to go to... That's so nice and gives you an excellent image about the country.
Once arrived, I met Claire & Wendy, dropped my luggage and we went out to explore the city.
First impressions: Taipei made me think a bit about HK regarding the architecture. It is obvious that this city had its development happened years ago judging from the buildings and the roads which were literally passing across them
We went back to central station from where we went to the "228 peace memorial Park" where we visited the war museum (between the communist currently China and the republicans who left for Taiwan).
In the late afternoon we went to the Chiang Kai-shek district where it was a huge park with government buildings and temples from where we managed to see the sunset.
There was a national holiday in China and really wanted to go somewhere. After a small conversation with Claire (who was working in Shanghai and some of my closest friends) it has been decided to go to Taipei. Another friend from Skema joint us: Wendy... So in total we were three.
In the meantime, I have contacted Bryan a Taiwanese who was my roommate in India, and we were supposed to meet the last day.
Funny part:
In this time of the period the spring was already in Beijing and the weather in Taipei was around 30. However, the tickets I have booked were with a night stop in Chonqing (1000km north from Beijing) and I left Beijing -where the temperature was around 10 - with one small jacket. Once arrived in Chonqing airport, there was not a transit section and the airport was closed... The only place to spend the night waiting were the benches before the check-in section. The only problem: the temperature outside was -1 to -5, it was snowing and there was not heating system in the airport... To summarize: I was freezing. During all the night long the only place I was able to get my body warm was the heater in the toilets... Well in the early morning I took the plane to Taipei with the few survivors from the night, got a Fervex to avoid getting ill and fell asleep before waking up in Taipei... Where the city welcomed me with a sun and 30 degrees... Enough time to change my clothes: flip flops, short and t-shirt.
First impressions:
We have booked an Airbnb for this trip and I needed to take a bus from the central station (which was quite big but ugly building) and while waiting 2 random persons came to me asking me in English if I needed help so I get to the place I wanted to go to... That's so nice and gives you an excellent image about the country.
Once arrived, I met Claire & Wendy, dropped my luggage and we went out to explore the city.
First impressions: Taipei made me think a bit about HK regarding the architecture. It is obvious that this city had its development happened years ago judging from the buildings and the roads which were literally passing across them
We went back to central station from where we went to the "228 peace memorial Park" where we visited the war museum (between the communist currently China and the republicans who left for Taiwan).
In the late afternoon we went to the Chiang Kai-shek district where it was a huge park with government buildings and temples from where we managed to see the sunset.
4th of April 2016
The day after we went to Maokong Park (which is close to the last stop of one of the subway 1 - Taipei Zoo) where we were able to go for a trek in the hills and visit the tea fields.
We took a lift which was crossing several hills before reaching the last spot from where our trip could start. We had a nice walk for almost all the afternoon with a lot of nice spots and views over the hills.
In the night we went to the central district of Taipei which is similar to all the business districts except that there is one of the images of Taipei: The 101 Tower which used to be the tallest in the world with its: 509m. Well we went up to enjoy the view... And I guess I will never forget the elevator which was super fast (Like 30sec to on the top).
The view indeed amazing !
After this we went for dinner in the famous Dim Tai Fung restaurant where we ate delicious dumplings. Definitely a place to go in Taiwan! An excellent service!
To finish the day we went for a walk around the downtown and for a drink.
The day after we went to Maokong Park (which is close to the last stop of one of the subway 1 - Taipei Zoo) where we were able to go for a trek in the hills and visit the tea fields.
We took a lift which was crossing several hills before reaching the last spot from where our trip could start. We had a nice walk for almost all the afternoon with a lot of nice spots and views over the hills.
In the night we went to the central district of Taipei which is similar to all the business districts except that there is one of the images of Taipei: The 101 Tower which used to be the tallest in the world with its: 509m. Well we went up to enjoy the view... And I guess I will never forget the elevator which was super fast (Like 30sec to on the top).
The view indeed amazing !
After this we went for dinner in the famous Dim Tai Fung restaurant where we ate delicious dumplings. Definitely a place to go in Taiwan! An excellent service!
To finish the day we went for a walk around the downtown and for a drink.
5th of April - Beach Day
Claire has shown interest in going on the beach where we could spend the day laying down, chilling and drinking a beer. As Taipei is very close to the coast we took a bus going South and we reached the Qianshui bay. Where we spent the day and had a diner.
Claire has shown interest in going on the beach where we could spend the day laying down, chilling and drinking a beer. As Taipei is very close to the coast we took a bus going South and we reached the Qianshui bay. Where we spent the day and had a diner.
after a nice sleep, the next day we met my former roommate Bryan who came to pick up us with car with his friends and went to visit the North-East coast.