We landed at the airport and got exchange for NT dollars before headed out to catch the coach to town. There is no MTR connected the airport and Taipei city yet so we took the option to travel in airport transfer coach for NT125 per person.

The trip wasn’t planned in every detail, we have travel guide with us so we started to flip through it when we arrived at Taipei station. We’re still too early from checking in to our hotel so we opted to go to Taiwan Storyland, which is just right opposite Taipei station. It’s a museum that demonstrating the lifestyle of Taiwanese back in 60’s or early than that.

Me and MAN who never lives during those early era doesn’t know how to appreciate the whole storyland, we felt cheated because it’s so small and most of the scene are for display only and no introduction on each of the scene so we took a few pictures and realized that we’ve finished visiting it.

The food in the picture is real, we didn’t plan to eat in there purposely but the entrance ticket of NT280 per person is inclusive of NT150 food coupon so we spent it in the very ancient looking restaurant typically built to match the theme but MAN was feeling not comfortable with the environment, he has a feeling that the food was prepared back in that era and we shouldn’t be taking it. Weird.

We checked in hotel and rest for a while before heading to Shihlin Night market for dinner.

Fried oyster egg, Penang has better one but I guess these is the Taiwanese style so consider not too bad, but I was looking for chili sauce to add to taste but couldn’t find any. The very famous fried chicken chop, I think this is overrated, the flour is thicker than the meat, that’s why it’s so big it’s called XXL fried chicken chop.

The jumbo size sausage is good, Taiwanese sausages have a special taste, it’s the taste in between Chinese sausages and frankfurters, it’s more chewy with slight taste of barbecue, nice. The long waited mixed fruit ice, I tried this on my last visit, it’s nothing but the fresh fruits on top of ice and top with condensed milk, I can make this too, if only I have ice shaving machine.

We saw a lot of people wearing mask with some cartoon or decoration everywhere in Taipei city, MAN too wanted to get one and we got this for NT100, it’s hand drawing that created by a group of fresh graduates from art school. While MAN is checking himself in the mirror when trying on the mask covering his nose and mouth, he has a sudden thought that he can use this as sleeping eye mask, he pulled the mask to cover his eye and check in the mirror again to see if it looks good and … he couldn’t see anything.

So I take this picture of him wearing mask. He is funny.

SZ Home. Shopped at HK today, bought a leather jacket and a blazer at 20% off. Nice.

Both me and MAN never been to Macau before 2009 and in a year, we have been there 3 times, once in March, once in May and this time is November.

We decided that we have enough of Macau, at least for 2009. I do not know if we are going to plan for another trip there again in next few months, so I don’t make extreme assumption.

The stay in Venetian Macao was a great experience. The luxurious hotel suite, spacious sunken living room, the comfy bed and a bathroom of our SZ bedroom size that decorated mostly in gold. A 3 days 2 nights stay in the palace liked suite is never enough.

Though the classic design of the suite is the one that many dream of but I prefer the contemporary design of the hotel we stayed in Taipei.

High tea at Boca cafe at the Grand Canal Shoppes, a relaxed ambience restaurant that overlooked San Luca Canal watching the gondolas. Dinner at Galo Portuguese restaurant at Rua do Cunha, the food was just average, another Portuguese restaurant O Santo II on the same street is recommended.

MAN was on the phone so I play around and disturbing him, the phone reception was too bad we both sit very close to the window.

This trip was great. We spent most of our time strolling in the grand canal shoppes, lazying in the room and savoring fine food. Everything was so great except a few hundreds that we lost in the casino, we never have luck in gamble.

We were back in SZ at night, unpacked our luggage and packed again for another 5 days in Taipei. Eat, eat and eat trip.

SZ Home. Dan pinged me this afternoon to ask information of Macau. He will be visiting Macau soon. I’m turning into a little tour guide of Macau, but I enjoy helping people to plan for their trip and give recommendation. I should consider to change a job. Hah.

SZ Home. Feeling afresh after back from a short break, I love holiday. Awaiting for another break.

MAN and I went for a short break in Macau during the short break of Labour day weekend. Just two of us. The last trip was too short we hardly explore much of Macau except eat. We spent 3 days 2 nights this round, it was a relaxing one.

Unlike the previous trip, we have 2 photographers with us and took a lot of nice photo.

This was the night view of Venetian Hotel from far during our visit a month ago.

This was the day view at the exactly same location but take turn to take photo of each other.

But still, we had a good time.

location ~ HKIA CX Lounge
thought ~ Me and MAN are waiting for departure in the lounge, there are free flow of coffee, juices, wine and Haagen-Dazs.

I am expecting a very busy week ahead.

My mum’s birthday on 23rd.

I haven’t got any new year cloth for myself.

I need to get a white dress to attend a wedding.

A lot of new year dinner.

A lot of new year gathering.

A lot of food.

A lot of gambling.

Happy Lunar New Year.