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  • 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.
  • Taipei Trip: Shida Night Market 师大夜市

    Taipei Trip: Shida Night Market 师大夜市

    Taipei Trip: Shida Night Market 师大夜市 (Day 1) – I went to Taipei for a week of leisure trip last month. After landed in Taipei and checked into the hotel, we did not want to waste any more time and headed straight to our first destination in Taipei – Shida Night Market.
    As you know, Taiwan is famous for night market, how can we not visit them? Moreover we were so hungry and night market is the best place to fill up the empty stomach.
    Shida Night Market is actually located right opposite of Shida University, and that’s where the name comes from. Unlike the famous Shihlin Night Market, this one is cater more to locals and also the university students.
    I was pretty excited with my first exploration in Taipei but the night was pretty warm, about 24 degree celcius only. Nevertheless, Shida Night Market did not disappoint me. The food are very interesting, so do the small little fashion stalls and of course the very friendly locals, you just be amazed with the friendly locals at there. They smile to everyone, even if I took pictures of the stallss and never buy a food, they will also smile or say thank you. Taiwanese are awesome!
    The night ended up with a couple shopping bags of cloths and a stomach filled with awesome Taiwan food.
    One interesting Taiwanese food is 卤味, or English – Braised Aromatic Goodness, or simple English – food braised in aromatic brine! You will find stuff like pig’s organs, sausage, vegetable, mushrooms and more that are braised in aromatic brine. Onefamous and must try at Shida Night Market is the Deng Lung Lu Wei 灯笼卤味! It’s the most famous one and has a long queue.
    Deep fried stinky toufu and it’s good and sinfu!
    Pork liver soup which I find it’s nice! Do you realised that Taiwanese love animal’s organs?
    Taiwanese version of fried oyster which I find Malaysia has a better one! Serious, trust me.
    Spinach in Taiwanese style, not bad not bad.
    The blogger Nick Chan.
    Another thing to try out – 盐水鸡 Salt Water Chicken, which is something like steamed chicken salted and added with spring onion. Quite and interesting street food.
    Taiwan is a very pet-friendly country! You will see pretty and cute puppies everywhere!
    Before ending the trip at Shida, I’d a bowl of Toufu Fa with bubble, they call it 粉圆 at there! Yummeh!
  • 4th MY Astro Music Awards (MY Astro至尊流行榜颁奖典礼) @ Bukit Jalil Putra Indoor Stadium

    4th MY Astro Music Awards (MY Astro至尊流行榜颁奖典礼) @ Bukit Jalil Putra Indoor Stadium

    4th MY Astro Music Awards (MY Astro至尊流行榜颁奖典礼) @ Bukit Jalil Putra Indoor Stadium – The tickets were free, who doesn’t wanna go to a free concert anyway? It’s a local produced music awards for Chinese songs by Astro and it featured a lot of Taiwanese and local Chinese singer, somehow it’s more like a concert to me.
    Happened on last Sunday at Bukit Jalil Putra Indoor Stadium where most of the concert are held and it’s my first time checking out the place! I really got to thanks the gang of friends helping me to get the ticket from Seremban. Anyway, the whole thing started at 7.30pm and we were there about 6pm. Lots of fans were there earlier than us. Initially our tickets were Rock Zone’s but later we switch to Free Seating’s because we were just not excited to stand all night, afterall those singers are not my favourites.
    What’s interesting was the stage set up, very professionally done for a local event, but what’s dissapointed was the turn up of the crowds despite the entrance tickets were free. It’s good that our country produce such event, somehow it’s the problem of the producer that the music award not excited at all, perhaps no presence of Hong Kong’s singer. Haha.
    It was a long 3.5 hours show, a bit of fun, a bit of enjoyment and a bit of tired. Well, since it’s free, I couldn’t expect more. Anyway, I can see that Malaysia will has a good Chinese entertainment industry in the future. Yeah.
    Wah! So many people was earlier than us.
    Very awesome stage design.
    Wow! The blogger Nick Chan!
    A group shot before going home after a long 3.5 hours of concert. Yeah!
  • Klang Valley: S.Wine Cafe @ Publika, Solaris Dutamas

    Klang Valley: S.Wine Cafe @ Publika, Solaris Dutamas

    Klang Valley: S.Wine Cafe @ Publika, Solaris Dutamas – Oh pork, recently I am addicted to pork and found this nice pork restaurant at Publika, Solaris Dutamas. To be exact, it’s located in the grocery – Ben’s Independent Grocers (B.I.G.). I actually went there once but failed to eat because we were late and ended up with Namoo On The Park. Lesson learned, and I was there earlier than before!
    When you go to grocery shopping in Malaysia, normally the pork section is separated from the rest because it’s Non-Halal. Well, the S.Wine Cafe is located at the Non-Halal section and also right beside the alcohol section of B.I.G. Pretty interesting.
    Pork is the main thing there and so all the dishes were all about pork. We’ve got pork chop, pork meatball, and pork sausage wrapped with bacon. Yummeh. Food presentation and the interiors are quite nice. Taste on the other hand is heavier than Betty’s Kitchen (I prefer the gravy at Betty’s though) and what I like about is the texture of the pork, it felt nice comparing to local Chinese pork dish. Wonder what pigs do they use? Haha. Well, the price was on the high side, but given a good atmosphere and food, it justifies. S.Wine, I’m pretty much I will come back again, perhaps bring my parents for a try.
    Good food and good people. Good people of the night – Siyi, Connie, Jason, me, Henry, Hooipheng and Quenna.
    Caesar sald.
    Tomato soup.
    Mini pork sausage with bacon.
    The pork chop!
    Look at the oily part of the pork, I just can’t put that into my body! Sinful!
    S.Wine Cafe
    Ben’s Independent Grocers,
    Lot 1A 83-95, Level UG1,
    Publika, Solaris Dutamas,
    Jalan Dutamas 1,
    50480 Kuala Lumpur.
    Telephone: +60362091700
    Business Hours: 11am-10pm (daily) *last order at 9.30pm

    View Shiok Or Not : Food & Travel Map in a larger map
  • Cycling At Taman Botani, Putrajaya

    Cycling At Taman Botani, Putrajaya

    Cycling At Taman Botani, Putrajaya – I like cycling, do you? I would buy myself a folding bike and go cycling in the city if I still resides in Penang. The problem is I do not stay at a place long for now. I am now in KL where cycling is not a favor transport and activities, I have to go to Putrajaya which is more bicycle friendly, there’s the Botanical Garden (Taman Botani) of Putrajaya that provides bicycle rental service and you can ride in the huge park all day long.
    RM4/hour for the weekend and you can release your perspiration and inhale the fresh oxygen in the garden and enjoy a relaxing weekend away from the hustle and bustle Kuala Lumpur city. That was my weekend few weeks back with my girlfriend.
    Not really a good day for photography, the weather sucks.
  • Pulau Ketam – A Weekend Getaway Island

    Pulau Ketam – A Weekend Getaway Island

    Pulau Ketam – A Weekend Getaway Island – Last Saturday was a pretty interesting one and a bit of tiring because lots of walking. Luckily the weather was just nice to allow us to walk! It was a visit to Pulau Ketam (Crab Island), an island 45 minutes off Port Klang. Thinking of beautiful ivory sandy beach and 5-star resorts with parasailing and banana boats, as well as bikini chicks? You are on the wrong page, it’s nothing close to that, it’s a Chinese fishing village!
    It’s quite a fun exploration because we took the KTM train to from Subang to Port Klang, then changed to a ferry that cost RM7/one way to Pulau Ketam. Whole journey to the island took about 2 hours, that, yeah, quite long.
    For a while I was in the city, and another while, I came to somewhere really far away from the bustling city, it’s serene, calm and relax. It’s a village after all, with no motor vehicles, except boats. Walking is one way to travel around, another way is cycle. No car, or motorcycle, that’s why I would say it’s totally different from the city.
    Well, people said it’s famous for seafood, but I still prefer going to Kuala Selangor for seafood, it’s more likely touristy business for the seafood. There’s not much business on the island, people there relax, and I believe they know every one on the island. Tourist like us go there to spend part of the day to getaway from the city, relax, and see something different.
    We walked around the island, we prayed at the Buddhist temple, we ate the seafood, we shoot a lot of photos and we laughed.
    If someone were to maintain the island well, clean up the rubbish, beautify the village, I am sure that this will be one good tourist destination, but… there’s still big space of improvement. See Penang’s Chew Jetty, it’s so touristy and beautiful now.
    Nevertheless, it was still a nice getaway.
    A photo with the ex prime minister before he go home and retires. Jason, Wei Shi, Siyi and Henry.
    Me, Hooi Pheng, Connie, Zhi Inn, Quenna.
    Car wash, good! I’ve forget to tell you, the KTM train is so slow!
    The RM7/way ferry that bring us to the island.
    The ferry interior, somehow mysterious, and old school, and old.
    Reached!
    Sign of election is coming where the parties are competiing on who has the most or biggest flags. Lame shit.
    Rent a bicycle for RM5 per day and we decided to just walk!
    The road.
    Police station.
    The girls doing prayers, praying for good man to appear in their life? Haha.
    Nice table to sleep!
    Well look, I am camouflage!
    Noah’s Ark in work.
    White shoes, reminded me of high school.
    Hello little girls!
  • SHOW LUO 罗志祥 at Paradigm Mall

    SHOW LUO 罗志祥 at Paradigm Mall

    SHOW LUO 罗志祥 at Paradigm Mall – Show, show, show, show off, show hand, show me, show bird, show you; NO, it’s SHOW LUO! Luo Zhi Xiang went to Paradigm Mall to promote his upcoming concert in Genting Highland in May and I happened to be there to see him! Not really a fan of him, but salute and respect him as a good singer, dancer and funny host for the former 100% Entertainment 娱乐百分百. Yay. That’s it.
    Didn’t really spend a long SHOW time, after a while, stomach went drumming, and it’s SUSHI time, dinner at my favourite Zanmai with the designers again. And that’s mark an end for my Friday night. Blah!
    Not interested in SHOW ah?
    Nick, Jason, Dai Lou.
    Henry, Connie, Inn, Quenna.
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