My First International Trip for 2017 was to explore the nearby city of Taipei in Taiwan. Here are some highlights of my trip -
1. Cherry Blossoms - yes. We all know that when you hear that flower the 1st thing that comes to mind is Japan. But yes, Taiwan has Cherry Blossoms too! Since I traveled a little later in March, its not as many but I was still able to catch the remaining few.
2. Chiang Kai Sek Memorial Hall - probably one of the most visited sites in the city. If you like architecture, you’ll be able to admire the intricate details of the buildings. Its also a good way to spend your time, taking pictures, people watching, and grabbing a snack or some souvenirs as well. Plus, you can see Cherry Blossoms here too!
3. Night Markets - in particular, I visited Shilin night market. I guess your Taipei experience wouldn’t be complete without some shopping and street food, these 2 are my favorite things.
4. Tianyuan Temple in Tamsui District - this is also a good place to see some Cherry Blossoms. Also, you can see more of Tamsui by going to the boardwalk.
5. Yangmishan National Park - if you like the outdoors and do some hiking, then this is for you. You have different trails and areas which you can explore and easily you can spend the entire day here.
6. Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall - another site to visit while in Taipei. I particularly liked the garden and that it was already near Taipei 101 (if you plan to go there).
7. Taipei 101 - probably the icon of Taipei and Taiwan. You can probably spend and entire day here, there’s the observatory, shops and a lot of dining options to suit your budget. We did 2 things in particular here: 1. Din Tai Fung - this famous restaurant and their Xiao Long Bao is what we came here for. The wait time can take 60 - 80 minutes (this was a Sunday) but you can pass the time by going around the mall and checking out the shops. 2. Secret Starbucks at the 35th floor - there are 2 Starbucks here, one at the ground level, and another, what they call secret and is located at the 35th floor. You’ll need a day in advance to reserve your place and you’ll need to spend a minimum of NT 200. But again, you’ll have a nice view of the city, while drinking your coffee.
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