boon's log 5207.01: Blessed Christmas and A Happy New Year

Here's wishing boonspot readers a blessed Christ-mas and a Happy New Year 2008.

boon out...

boon's log 5107.07: Taiwan 2007 [Pt3] and ANOTHER birthday greeting...

This time, the greetings goes all the way to Korea! HAPPYBIRTHDAY, Justy!

And here are the remaining photo jog from my recent trip to Taipei...


$S30 just to sleep in Singapore's Changi Airport??!!; Or alternatively, do it the old fashion way... well, just sleep where ever you are.


Yes! I've finally watched Sivaji: The Boss. It was quite entertaining actually. I'd recommend it - not really your typical Indian flick.


Rush Hour at Taipei Main Station (the busiest MRT Station)


Interesting sign at the urinals in Danshui


The little Masked Avengers - The Taiwanese start 'em at a young age. Honestly, I question the real need for the masks. It's more of a fashion than anything else; Scooter is a very popular thing in Taiwan... they are everywhere!


Even the Police force have modified scooters


But of course for more serious police-work, there's always the Bavarian-powered bike.


And I did mentioned we met ShuQi at Taipei101. She was there, officiating an opening ceremony for a watch-shop (or something - who cares?!)


And of course, there's the (in)famous GRO. These actually grab you by the hand or your shirt. I accidentally walked past a few during my roaming (!!!)

boon out...

boon's log 5107.05: Taipei 2007 [Pt2] (and Birthday Greetings!)

Ok this is a late birthday greeting... but as the old saying goes, better late then never, yes?

Happy BirthdAy WH

Now back to more of Taipei, Taiwan. As mentioned, here are some of the places of interest in and around Taipei.

(note: click on images for larger version)


"Hi! My name is Pukii!" - I was greeted by this cute little piggy (mascot of some Shanghai Bank) on the side of a public bus at the TaoYuan International.


Inside Taipei101 from Ground floor up; Taipei101 Exterior; taking the world's fastest elevator (1010m/min) up to the Observation Deck


Inside Taipei101, notice the spaciousness in the 3-tier layout; View from Observation Deck


Shilin Night Market (one of the biggest night markets around, if you only have one night to visit a night market, this HAS to be it...)


Relics in the National Palace Museum: A jade that looks like a BokChoy; A stone that looks like a piece of Pork meat; erm... I forgot what the last one was...


National Palace Museum... huge, but may be boring to some...


Gates to LoongShan Temple; ceiling of QingShui Temple; LoongShan Temple, Exterior


LoongShan Temple


View from maoKung Tea Farm with Taipei city skyline at the background; Taipei Skyline


Along Dadaocheng Wharf which spans along the Danshui river


Media covering the riot at Cheng Kai Shek Memorial


Cheng Kai Shek Memorial - undergoing a historical change; Rio at Cheng Kai Shek


Sun Yat Sen Memorial (photography forbidden inside the memorial hall); National Taiwan Museum


Taiwan Presential Building


Mural Wall in Danshui; Lady Selling A-Ge in Danshui


Busy street in Danshui, north-most city covered by the city's MRT system


Our Hotels (1) Grand Formosa Regent (2) Fullerton Taipei; our room with a view


Hot springs at Beitou, a few MRT stops from Danshui


Hazy versus non-Hazy days

Next (final) episode: Others/Random pixies

boon out...

boon's log 5107.01: Taiwan 2007 [Pt1]

To sum up Taiwan into 2 words? Great Food. Of all the things that I enjoy the most whilst in Taiwan is definitely the variaty and the great tasting food. Though it is leaning towards Asian-Chinese type of cuisine, but it's managed to create a sense of individuality on its own. IL had a conference up in Taipei and I just tagged along and roamed the town on my own. Apart from the food, of course there are a couple of other good spots for sight seeing, namely Taipei 101, Memorial halls - Sun Yat Sen & Cheng Kai Shek, Temples, Night Markets, Museums, and Hollywood Stars... and some where in there was some encounter with general relations officers and riots and then more food...

Here are some of picture accounts. After compiling some of the pictures, I figured that it may be too much to post all of them in one single entry, so I've decided to go by batches. So... let's do food first!

(note: click on images for larger version)


Typical Stall selling sausages-type on sticks


Beef Brisket Noodles and Dumplings with soup (Xiao Long Bao)


Sausages and kebabs


San Bei (3-cups) chicken and Prok Knuckles


More Kebabs...


Marinated and Breaded Pork with noodles and MOS Pork Burger


Lady Selling Grilled Stinky Toufu at Shilin Night Market


Deep Fried Stinky Toufu and Porridge Meal with Vegetables and Pork


Grilled Corn


Peppered Pork Bun and Big-Biscuit-Wrap-Around-Small-Biscuit


Rice noodles (Mee Suah) with pig intestines


Tea on top of MaoKung and Sea Coconut at Night Market


Taiwanese Hot Pot (a.k.a. Steamboat)

Next episode: Places of Interest...

boon out...