We landed and stumbled upon a charming Antique shop, '大人小學古文具', where the owner had curated an impressive collection of vintage school accessories, including calculators, stationery, cameras, notebooks, and even cigars! As we explored the shop, we indulged in a delightful apple iced coffee and cheese yogurt white cake. The unique ordering system, where we placed a marble in a slot to select our meal, added to the excitement.

We made our way to the vibrant Ximending District and savored the delectable Ay Chung Rice Noodle, '阿宗麵線', with its rich sweet and sour broth, expertly flavored with salt-cured intestines, skipjack tuna, and shredded bamboo shoots. The dish was garnished with a sprinkle of cilantro, basil, pureed garlic, and a drizzle of dark vinegar, making for a truly unforgettable culinary experience.

Next, at the same night market, we stopped by Prince Cheese, '王子起司馬鈴薯', and indulged in a mouthwatering fried mashed potato dish, topped with a medley of meats and seafood, ham, melted cheese, corn, mayo, and pineapple. The perfect blend of flavors and textures left us craving for more!

To cap off the day, we headed to the Wan Nian Building shopping mall (萬年商業大樓) and treated ourselves to a culinary delight at Lao Shangdong '老山東牛肉家常麵店', a Michelin-starred restaurant. We savored the signature beef hand-cut thick noodle soup, which offered a sublime combination of soft, chewy noodles and a rich, flavorful broth, perfectly complemented by a selection of condiments. The perfect ending to a fantastic day!

Second day at Taipei.

Starting the day with a twist at McDonald's - who knew a mushroom, tomato, and egg bagel could be so good? And of course, a classic sausage and egg McMuffin never goes out of style!

Rain or shine, I'm exploring this city! A peaceful stroll through a serene garden and temple was just what I needed to clear my mind. And, I even managed to squeeze in a magic trick video - stay tuned for that!

But, boredom struck, and I found myself wandering the vibrant streets of Ximending district once again. That's when I stumbled upon a hidden gem - a Pokémon card store tucked away upstairs! I found some Charizard cards that I wanted like the "Charizard: Lost Origin Trainer Gallery" card, but there were in Japanese.

Ending the day with a culinary bang at 大稻埕魯肉飯! The braised pork, Lu Rou, on rice was absolute perfection (the best I had in Taiwan) - that beef fat just melted in my mouth. And let's not forget the pork hock and radish spare rib soup... heavenly!

On our third day, we began our day with a delightful breakfast at '尚雯早餐' (Shàng Wén), where we savored a Tuna omelette (鮪魚蛋餅), Turnip cake (蘿蔔糕), and Sticky Rice with a very crispy Fried Dough and Basil (太極飯糰).

Next, we joined a tour that took us to Yehliu Geopark (野柳地質公園), a stunning landscape of honeycomb and mushroom rocks eroded by the sea. We marveled at the iconic formations, including the Queen's Head, Gorilla Rock, Fairy Shoe, and a Heart-Shaped rock. Unfortunately, the Queen's Head structure is at risk of collapsing due to erosion, but we felt fortunate to see it during our visit.

We then stopped by Shifen Waterfall (十分瀑布), which is like a mini Niagara Falls with a total height of 20 meters and a width of 40 meters, making it the broadest waterfall in Taiwan.

Afterward, we explored Shifen Old Street (十分老街), a historic railway town famous for its sky lanterns, traditional snacks, and magnificent waterfalls. We had the opportunity to release a sky lantern into the air, writing messages on all four sides with themes of Health & Peace, Money & Wealth, Career & Promotion, and Love & Marriage.

We bought this chicken leg filled with sticky rice. It was tasty.

Then we passed by The Golden Waterfall (黃金瀑布) which was pretty neat. The water that runs off contains many minerals including sulfur, arsenic, and copper ore, which give the water its golden color.

Our final tour stop was Jiufen Old Street (九份老街), famous for its narrow streets, food stalls, and stunning mountain and sea views. At '九份老麵店', we enjoyed Beef noodle soup with a rich broth, mushroom and meatball soup, and unique almond tea. We also tried a dessert crepe with ice cream, peanut, and cilantro at '阿珠 花生捲 + 冰淇淋'., but the flavors didn't quite work together. Not sure what type of ice cream was used, but it wasn't sweet.

Finally, we ended our day at Ningxia Night Market (寧夏夜市), where we enjoyed a delicious egg oyster cake at '圓環邊蚵仔煎' and plum-flavored potato balls from '丸 手作地瓜球'. We also tried the famous stinky tofu from '一品臭豆腐', which was the best stinky tofu we had during our trip. I wish I could have had another serving of this tofu before I left Taiwan.

Day 4 in Taipei, Taiwan!

We started the day with a delicious breakfast at 劉山東小吃店, indulging in our third beef noodle soup (yes, we loved it that much!). This time, we paired it with pork chop, seaweed, and beancurd noodles, I tried eating a piece of raw garlic with the noodles soup. That was a bit nasty, but a good experience.

Next, we explored the historic Red House Theater (西門紅樓), this iconic building has served many purposes over the years, from market to bookstore, cinema, and theater. Today, it's a hub for Taiwan's cultural and creative industry, thanks to the Taipei Culture Foundation's efforts since 2007. We discovered unique arts, crafts, and souvenirs at the various booths.

For lunch, we went to Shi Yuen 師園. At first, I didn't expect much from this as I thought the place served steam boiled meat/fish balls. But this turned out to be my favorite Taiwan dish for our trip. All items were garlic and basil fried. We had fish balls, chicken, chicken cartilage, and fish cake (甜不辣). Don't miss this hidden gem!

After lunch, we shopped for cool plushies, figurines, and watches at Ximen's Wan Nian Building shopping mall (萬年商業大樓). I scored a Charizard figurine for a great deal!

We quenched our thirst with white bitter melon juice at 檸檬屋. We ordered the honey bitter melon because we were afraid it might be too bitter for us. Surprisedly, it wasn't bitter at all. It tasted like a watered-down watermelon juice.

At night, we explored the massive Raohe Night Market '饒河街觀光夜市' and indulged in black pepper biscuit at Fuzhou Ancestor Pepper Pie (福州世祖 胡椒餅). We also tried pepper mushrooms and went for plum-flavored potato balls at 一代 地瓜球 again! (addictive!). Stinky tofu and egg oyster cake at 下港名彭臭豆腐 were a bit of a letdown. The tofu was not stinky enough and the oysters were tiny. Looking forward to more adventures tomorrow!

Taipei Adventures Continue!

Day 5. We started with a delicious breakfast at 蔡迪化街古早味蚵嗲, indulging in oyster soup and fried oyster cake. Yum!

With no set plans, we wandered through the charming streets of Dihua Street, discovering hidden gems and enjoying the local vibe.

Later, we headed to Taipei 101 and dined at the famous Din Tai Fung. While the carb dumplings were a hit, the rest of the meal was a bit pricey and average. At the restaurant, We had beef noodle soup, shrimp-melon dumplings, and drunken chicken.

But the day got better! We strolled through the beautiful Songshan Cultural and Creative Park (松山文創園區), taking in the lush greenery and exploring the indoor art and craft booths.

For our final night market adventure, we visited Nanjichang Night Market (南機場夜市) and tried the stinky tofu soup at '臭老闆'... which wasn't stinky at all. But the oil-cooked chicken at '阿男麻油雞' was a game-changer! We also enjoyed lu rou rice, and a unique winter melon and ribs soup at '曉迪筒仔米糕' which we're really good. And, of course, we couldn't resist a pack of mochi for the next morning (because we were too full to eat it that night).

Stay tuned for our next adventure!

Last but not least, our final day in Taiwan!

We ended our beef noodle soup with a delicious visit to 富宏牛肉麵. The quality was just as impressive as our first try on day one! We paired it with some tasty dumplings because, why not?

Before departing, we savored a comforting airport lunch at 小王煮瓜 - lu rou rice, watermelon soup, bamboo shoots, briased duck egg and a soothing tea to wash it down. The lu rou rice was decent, but the real treat came next... Wheel Pies! We indulged in two flavors: peanut butter+custard (a game-changer!) and plain custard. The perfect sweet escape before our next adventure...

And that's a wrap, Taiwan! Next stop: a day trip to Japan, Narita! Stay tuned for more travel tales!

Touchdown in Japan! Our late evening arrival at Narita Airport was greeted with a warm welcome at Tsukinoya Narita Izakaya Restaurant, where we indulged in a midnight feast. Our table was filled with an array of mouth-watering delights: Thigh with shiso and plum sauce, Chicken Thigh, Tsukune with egg yolk and sauce, Chicken liver, and Chicken cartilage, all washed down with a large bottle of beer. The perfect start to our Japanese adventure!

The next morning, we boarded the train to Shibuya City, ready to dive into the vibrant heart of Tokyo. Our first stop was the enchanting Disney store, where I couldn't resist the adorable Stitch plushie. Lunchtime took us to Tsuru Ton Tan Udon Noodle, where I devoured a gigantic bowl of coconut curry and crisp shrimp udon - pure bliss!

Next, we embarked on a shopping spree, scouring the racks for the perfect finds. A must-visit destination was the Pokémon Center on the 6th floor of a department store, a paradise for Pokémon enthusiasts! Although I wasn't interested in the latest Gen 9 Pokémon (Scarlet & Violet), the electric atmosphere was infectious. The perfect start to our Japanese escapade! 

On our final day, we squeezed in a visit to Naritasan Omotesando Road, a hidden gem just 10 minutes from Narita Airport. This charming street stole our hearts with its ancient shrine, retro vibes, and mouthwatering eats!

We ate freshly baked shoyu senbei (soy-sauce-flavored rice cracker), frozen amazake (which was really sweet, I didn't taste much sake in it), and the famous viral 10 yen bread overflowing with melted mozzarella cheese. The longest cheese pull ever. Just check out the pic!!!

We had lunch at Kawatoyo Annex which was a culinary dream. Our meal consisted of grilled eel over rice, a massive tofu salad, savory egg custard, and eel liver soup (oh, that was eel liver...ugh). Aside from the nice atmosphere, the back of the restaurant led to a beautiful garden where we get to enjoy more view and the fresh air.

Finally, we explored Aeontown Outlet Mall before bidding farewell to Japan. What a trip!