NICK CHAN DOT NET

Category: Travel

  • Visit To University Of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus

    Visit To University Of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus

    Visit To University Of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus – Went to an excursion to Kajang yesterday, to find a friend at University of Nottingham. A very nice and prestige UK university, but located in the middle of a rural green forest, very near to Broga Hill. I know it’s good for the student to concentrate on studies when the campus is located very far from the city, but I find the place quite rural and there’s nothing much around the town.
    Anyway, the friend was Yiphing, she brought me around the campus to check it out. It’s quite cool and green, and a lot bigger than Taylor’s University (that I am in), as well as peaceful. It has a modern architecture campus building, similar to UTAR, but somehow, I just don’t like the location. I am more a city person. 😀 Did I mention it’s about an hour to the city centre?
    Working out.
    Beautiful lake surround with nice greenery.
    Western students really have life, enjoying fresh air and sun by the platform outside the room.
    Very beautiful black campus accommodation. I like this.
  • Taipei Trip: Wu Fen Pu & Raohe Night Market

    Taipei Trip: Wu Fen Pu & Raohe Night Market

    Taipei Trip: Wu Fen Pu & Raohe Night Market (Day 3) – First of all, do not visit Wu Fen Pu Wholesale Garment Market on a Monday (go on other day but not Monday), because the people will not entertain you or sell you anything. You can touch, you can see but you just can’t buy! Sad, should have know this earlier. But nevermind, Raohe Night Market is just a stone throw away, we headed to the night market after a quick disappointed walk in Wu Fen Pu.
    Bike sharing in Taipei, I like it!
    I tell you, I want this pig pet, where can I find?!
    (Wu Fen Pu Wholesale Area)
    (Wu Fen Pu Wholesale Area)
    (Wu Fen Pu Wholesale Area)
    (Wu Fen Pu Wholesale Area)
    Cute little poodle.
    I’ve read on the net that Raohe Night Market is one of the good night market in Taipei. To be honest, it’s good, in term of food choices, but not shopping. There’s nothing much to shop, eat is number one here, buy is number zero. Of course, do pay a visit to this place, because you can find some good eat here! Weather turned a bit colder when night falls, so visiting the night market was not a warm one.
    Temple in front of Raohe Night Market, the place where you can find public toilet. (Raohe Night Market)
    One of my favourite beverage in Taiwan – Bittergourd Juice. (Raohe Night Market)
    As usual, night markets in Taipei are filled with tourists, of course locals too. The first thing to do, visit the the temple, go to the public washroom (temples are the good place for free public toilet) and have the hands washed, then we started the night market exploration.
    Hu Jiao Bing. (Raohe Night Market)
    Wu Jiao Bing (Pepper Biscuit) is a must try because there’s many people queuing for it. HAHA. It’s Chinese-style biscuit stuffed with a whole lot of pepper-marinated meat and yes, it’s indeed delicious.
    Interestingly, there’s many this game store where you can win teddy bear. Only in Taiwan. (Raohe Night Market)
    Herbal Pork Ribs Soup. Must try. There’s so many stalls at there, and you must be thinking which is the best. Well, they are they same to me. (Raohe Night Market)
    Lu Rou Fan, all-time favourite. (Raaohe Night Market)
    Herbal Pork Ribs Soup is another must try at there. The fragrance of Chinese herbs is very strong and tasty together with the essence of pork ribs. Well, it’s a modified version of our Bak Kut Teh I would say, but with a stronger herb taste and lighter in colour. An addition of Lu Rou Fan (again) do serves the meal well.
    This person is selling deep fried Oreo biscuit, dare to try? (Raohe Night Market)
    Taofu Fa Pudding, which I find it quite normal, just like normal sweet jelly. (Raohe Night Market)
    They claim that the string treatment on the face can remove blackhead permanently. Seriously? (Raohe Night Market)
    Huge sesame chicken drumstick. (Raohe Night Market)
    Pork Liver soup, quite interesting. (Raohe Night Market)
    Food doesn’t stop coming to us at Raohe Night Market. We had exotic pork liver soup and a huge chicken drumstick cooked with sesame oil which I find it somewhat special, and good too!
    Handmade Bubble Pearl. (Raohe Night Market)
    What a food-ful night at Raohe, ended with a Taiwanese bubble tea. We were lazy to walk to the MRT and cab was the solution to go back to the hotel.
  • Taipei Trip: Visiting Taipei 101, Ding Tai Fung & Surroundings

    Taipei Trip: Visiting Taipei 101, Ding Tai Fung & Surroundings

    Taipei Trip: Visiting Taipei 101, Ding Tai Fung & Surroundings (Day 3) – Visiting the 3rd attractions, the once the tallest bamboo-shape building in the world – Taipei 101. If you ask me whether I like maize-shape building – Petronas KLCC or the bamboo-shape building – Taipei 101, I’ll pick the maize. Come on, it’s really not as magnificent as I thought. Petronas KLCC is sparking clean every day with shiny stainless steel frame, but the Taipei 101, looks old and dusty. They need some polish and cleaning.
    LOVE Sculpture.
    I should have stop complaining now, it’s still one of the greatest architecture success after all. 😛 Taipei 101, tallest building in Taiwan, and that’s it. The one and only tall building in Taipei. If you do notice, there’s not really many tall skyscrapers in Taipei.
    BRANDED!
    Inside it houses office as well as a shopping mall that includes all the high-end designers’ label which will makes rich go WOW. It’s a quiet mall on a Monday afternoon, Prada is very cheap in Taiwan as far as I know, comparing to other Asian country.
    For food, Ding Tai Fung is a must try, because it’s the number one restaurant on TripAdvisor! Don’t expect it to be expensive because I find the food is quite reasonable. Food taste is great but what’s even better is the service, you will know what I mean if you visit the restaurant. Young Taiwanese waitress, with their cute voices, you will just get goosebumps after a while and the service was just superb. Every worker has a smile on their face. Well, just not regretting visiting the number 1 restaurant.
    After that, we walked towards to the MRT station which is rather far. Passed by Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, a departmental store with a funny long Japanese name where every department is allocate in one building. So men’s section in one building, ladies’ section in another. That’s big!
  • Taipei Trip: National Martyrs Shrine

    Taipei Trip: National Martyrs Shrine

    Taipei Trip: National Martyrs Shrine (Day 3) – Not many people will visit this place except Chinese tourists in big tourist bus, or people who visited the Tripadvisor for attractions like me because you can only access this place by cab. It’s just a shrine, dedicated to the war dead soldiers of Taiwan, but what interesting is checking out the changing of National Guard which makes it the main attraction of the place. Other than that, it’s the Chinese architecture then that’s it. Inside is just ancestral tlablets of the dead soldier, a bit creepy, it’s more of a tourist attractions to me.
    We were just so lucky to be in time to check out the changing of guards and it’s really very cool I tell you. All the soldiers were very well synchronized. I wonder how much is their salary. HAHA.
  • Taipei Trip: Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall 國立中正紀念堂

    Taipei Trip: Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall 國立中正紀念堂

    Taipei Trip: Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall 國立中正紀念堂 (Day 3) – Talking about the must-visit in Taipei, the CKS Memorial Hall is one of it. Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall (in Mandarin it’s not Jiang Kai Shek, but it’s named as Jiang Jie Shi) also known as the Natioanl Taiwan Democracy Hall is a famous monument, landmark in Taiwan which is built in memory of former President of Taiwan – Chiang-Kai Shek.
    National Concert Hall
    CKS Memorial Hall
    National Theater
    The Memorial Hall Square has 3 Chinese architecture buildings surrounding it with National Concert Hall on the left, CKS Memorial Hall at the centre and National Theater on the right. A simple, clean square, yet evokes the feeling of Taiwanese patriotism.
    It reads Freedom’s Square.
    Sky was not that beautiful for a photoshoot. Brother told me that if you go in the evening, you will get to see the National Guard changing the flag.
    I didn’t really spend a long time at there, just about 30 minutes or less, we moved on to another memorial – National Martyrs Shrine. 
  • Taipei Trip: Ximending (Night)

    Taipei Trip: Ximending (Night)

    Taipei Trip: Ximending (Night) (Day 2) – The one-day trip didn’t end up at Keelung Night Market, we spent about 2 hours at there and we couldn’t continue anymore because of the super huge crowds at there. We hopped on a cab and went back to Taipei city, to Ximending where my hotel was located. Funny was I guided the cab driver on how to go back to our hotel with Google Maps because he’s from Keelung.
    Huge sausage, Taiwan style!
    Anyway, after dropping our bags of shopping bags at the hotel, we went to the famous Ximending shopping district to explore, hunt and eat again. Ximending, you can call it the Harajuku of Taipei, Bukit Bintang of Taipei, Times Square of Taipei, Causeway Bay of Taipei, Orchard Road of Taipei, East Nanjing Road of Taipei, or just anything equivalent you can think of, filled with vibrant billboards, shopping malls, retail outlet, youths and tourists.
    Bird eggs, the sinful street food!
    Street performer. Very entertaining. =)
    Dancer from some local school, performing there to collect fund for their club.
    The red one reads – DU LAN Guo Xiao. Du Lan is more a vulgar word in Malaysia, but it’s a place in Taiwan. LOL.
    Oh cute leopard catty!!!!
    Dogs.
    If you are hunting for young and fashionable thing, or cute Taiwanese girls and boys, food, cats, dogs, then this is the place. HAHA. It’s really vibrant and happening, especially on the weekends night. Just glad that my hotel is so nearby and convenient to walk there.
    Didn’t buy anything but ended up the exploration with meal of Taiwanese Lu Wei street food, a combination of braised pork organs and vegetables. Yums
  • Taipei Trip: Keelung Miao Kou Night Market 基隆庙口夜市

    Taipei Trip: Keelung Miao Kou Night Market 基隆庙口夜市

    Taipei Trip: Keelung Miao Kou Night Market 基隆庙口夜市 (Day 2) – Continued on my day trip out of Taipei and now I am bring you to my last stop where the hired cab driver dropped us and say bye bye. It’s Keelung! A sea port little town north east of Taipei! This is where all the cruise, ships and ports are!
    Our one and only main destination in Keelung was the Keelung Miao Kou Night Market (基隆庙口夜市) where I’ve seen many good reviews about this night market for having the most food stalls, most authentic, and larger than any night market in Taipei too! Coming on a Sunday night is not a good idea, in fact going any tourist attractions on a weekend is bad because you can hardly imagine the crowds at there!
    The variety of food at there will amaze you, seafood, noodle, sandwich, ice cream, all the Taiwanese street food, you name it, you got it. How I wish I have a bigger stomach to indulge in all the beautiful and delicious street food. The deep fried sandwich and theone-bite sausage as well as Pao Pao Bing are must try at there. Read about the butter crab too, but it a mixed review and expensive so we skipped that.
    We spent about 2 hours at there, mostly eat and we hopped on a cab back to Taipei city and we couldn’t spend any longer at there because of the crowds. Funny was that the cab driver didn’t really know Taipei well as he’s from Keelung and I have to turn on Google Maps and lead him back to my hotel.
    Well, call it a day? Not really, took a small shower at the hotel then we went walked around Ximending, the night is still young what.

    Beautiful sunset over Port of Keelung.
    Welcome to the beautiful Keelung Night Market.
    Night market tends to build around temple in Taipei. When you are at a night market, you definitely will not miss a Chinese temple. The temple also serves as public toilet to all!
    Pao Pao Bing – shaved ice. Didn’t get a chance to try it.
    Chinese eats frogs.
    Fishing game with thin piece of paper.
    Prawning.
    Adult video shop. Wooooo.
    One-bite sausage. Cheap, small and delicious!
    This is the crazy one at the night market – deep fried nutritious sandwich! Price at NT$55 only but the queue is just crazy! You have to get a number at there and the waiting time is always around 100 people! There was a kind aunty who saw me standing there and wait for the 100 people and offer a help to buy for me!
    The sandwich is good, I tell you!
    Had a lot of Lu Rou Fan, it’s NT$20 only.
    Pork Rib Herbal Soup.
    Spinach with soy sauce.
    Taiwanese are very keen in eating pigs, they eat all parts of pig! This one is the pig’s heart.
    This is the coagulated pig’s blood. I don’t really like it.
  • Taipei Trip: 九份 Jiufen

    Taipei Trip: 九份 Jiufen

    Taipei Trip: 九份 Jiufen (Day 2) – Narrow uphill streets, hilly, the inspiration for Spirited Away, the view of East China Sea, street food, super crowded, people, people, people & taro balls are what describing this beautiful Jiufen. Do not visit on a Sunday I warn you, as the street is packed and crowded which makes walking difficult.
    If you are young and want to relax, spend a night here at the Minsu, catch the sunrise, sip a few cup of coffee, enjoy the breeze here! Too bad, I couldn’t experience any of these. When the night falls, red lanterns outside the shops light up, it is then turned into a beautiful old town of Taiwan.
    Jiufen is a place that has ‘feel’ and relaxing, somewhat not during the weekend due to the crowds. Eat the fish ball there, as well as the taro ball with red bean soup. If you have time, just chill at there, and give your mind a break.
    On the way to Jiufen…
    Entrance of Jiu Fen Old Street.
    Oh beautiful houses on the hill slopes. Feels like Brazil to me.
    East China Sea!
    First taro ball! Well, no need to search for the best taro ball or the most famous one because they all look and taste the same to me!
    I prefer Blackball, Snowflakes, Meatfresh because I don’t like to eat with red bean soup.
    Oh very good fish ball I tell you!
    Famous takoyaki chain in Taiwan.
    Sweet potato puff.
    Wild boar meat sausage. Sounds good right? Not really to me.
    My first encounter with white bittergourd! The bittergourd juice with honey lemon taste good in Taiwan by the way!
    Do not eat this grilled mushroom, I don’t like!
    Taro balls again and seriously, they taste the same!
    At somewhere in Jiufen.
    Yo aunty, or uncle?
  • Taipei Trip: 十分 Shifen & Sky Lanterns

    Taipei Trip: 十分 Shifen & Sky Lanterns

    Taipei Trip: 十分 Shifen & Sky Lanterns (Day 2) – About 30 minutes was spent at Jingtong and we  proceeded to the next station – Shifen, the famous place for sky lanterns in the whole Taiwan. You will be super amazed if you visit the place on the 15th day of Chinese New Year where the sky will turn into a massive and beautiful flying lanterns air space! Too bad, it’s not Chinese New Year, nor it’s night time. Don’t be surprise that people releasing sky lantern to the air during the day, because it’s Shifen and people do that.
    When mentioning about Shifen, first thing comes to the mind is the old street that lies along the single railway track, then the not-so-famous Shifen Waterfall. At the Shifen old street, there’s a row of shops selling sky lantern as well as food, and at the end, there’s the Shifen railway station on the Pingxi line. It is also the last station too, that’s why you will see a lot of people alight at this station when the train approached.
    Releasing sky lantern is a must-do no matter what time of the day, price is only NT$100 for one colour and NT$150 for multiple colour, you write your wishes, draw your artwork and the person will even help you to snap photos when you are releasing the lantern in the air happily. =D So yeah.
    Shifen Waterfall? Not worth to visit because it’s just a waterfall, with entrance fee. So yeah.
    Lovely railway track!
    A bridge, near Shifen.
    Sky lantern, up up here we go!
    Drawing and writing wishes on the sky lantern.
    Mom showing off her calligraphy skill.
    Grilled chicken ass.
    Tunnel to the failyland! Remind me of Spirited Away anime.
    Once I saw the entrance ticket stuff, I straight away turn back and leave the Shifen Waterfall. It’s not that awesome after all.
    At least, I took a photo in front of the signage of Shifen Waterfall. =D
  • Taipei Trip: Jingtong 菁桐

    Taipei Trip: Jingtong 菁桐

    Taipei Trip: Jingtong 菁桐 (Day 2) – It’s a day trip out of Taipei where I visited a few interesting tourist attractions. We actually hired a cab for our whole day trip and it costed 3500NT$ for about 8 hours and the trip took us from our hotel to Jingtong – Shifen – Jiufen and ended at Keelung Miao Kou Night Market. I would say the price was quite reasonable for a day trip. If we were to take the public transport, I don’t think we can visit all of the places in one day, they are all quite far apart.
    There’s actually a plan to include Yehliu Geological Park, but couldn’t make it as it’s quite far away. We started our trip by our cab driver – Mr Zhang. He took us to Jingtong which used to be a small mining town along the Pingxi train line. At there you can take photos on the railway track, check out the old street of Jingtong for a little snacks and breakfast, send a post card and chill. It’s not a major attraction but somehow interesting to see and experience.
    Initially, I didn’t plan to visit Jingtong, but since it’s on the way to other places, it’s nice to stop by.
    Lamborghini on the way to Jingtong.
    Randomly spotted a temple and went to make a little prayer.
    Welcome to Jingtong.
    It’s me, on the railway track. Very nostalgic.
    Wishing bamboo.
    Refreshing Taiwanese jelly.
    Cheap Sui Gao @ 35NT$ for 8 pieces. Not bad, finally I see chili!
    Soft shell crab where I don’t find it interesting.
    Homemade ice cream, OKOK-only.
    Post box for post card delivery, very common things to do in Taiwan.
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