Hello Kitty at T2 of Taoyuan Int'l Airport

This is how the design of their aircraft actually looks like.

Hello Kitty Eva Air Kiosk

Hello Kitty Jet travels with you . That's Eva Air's tagline for their Hello Kitty airplanes traveling from Taipei to Shangahai , Japan , Seoul Korea, hongkong and Guam.  In the departure Hall of the T2 of Taoyuan Airport you will find the Hello Kitty lounge (i don't know really what to call it but it's sort of a lounge with eva air's hello kitty kiosk for check in purposes and some hello kitty merchandise ).

Here's Eva Air Hello kitty flight info/website.

I found a blogger who actually experienced riding the Hello Kitty aircraft. Oh how i envy him. I hope someday i may also experience it for myself. I couldn't get enough of this Hello Kitty madness as i have told my previous encounter with it in the city.

Hello Kitty in Taipei

Hello Kitty Donuts from Mister Donut Taiwan

The last place i thought would find Hello Kitty is inside a donut place immortalized in what else ? a kitty shaped donut! I went gaga over the cuteness of these donuts. I simply cannot pass the chance and went ahead and bought one.  I was like a child in a candy store feasting my eyes with the pink kitty cuteness. The Kitty donuts were unlike the ordinary ones because they are very chewy and soft to the bite. It's like it is made from glutinous rice consistency.

I wish to buy a box to take home to my niece back in the Philippines who loves Hello Kitty so much. I'm sure she would love it.

All these Kitty cuteness is available at all Mister Donut stores around Taipei city.

You may also find Hello Kitty at the Terminal 2 of Taoyuan International Airport.

Taipei - day 03 (Taipei 101)

Our last day in Taipei was a bit gloomy with the onset of Typhoon Soulik . It's all over the news even the night before the government was forewarning the locals of possible havoc this typhoon can cause the country. Anway, after our swift hotel checkout at One2Stay in Ximending we went directly to Taipei Main Station ( It's just one stop from Ximen). Our purpose for going to TMS was to look for baggage lockers where we could leave our luggages before we head to the airport for our flight. I have researched and read from other blogs that there are baggage lockers in TMS. And by following directions to the TRA ticketing windows we found what we're looking for. Multicolored lockers with different sizes which you can choose which best fits your needs.

Multicolored Baggage lockers in Taipei Main Station

 How to get to Taipei 101 from Taipei Main Station?
Board the MRT going to Taipei City Hall. Upon exit look for exit 2 then go outside. Wait for the free shuttle bus going to Taipei 101.

After leaving our luggages we then boarded the MRT to Taipei City Hall. At exit 2 you will find free shuttle bus going directly to Taipei 101. It's a short ride to the 2nd tallest building in the world but then the skies are now showing it's gonna pour huge amounts of water so we then immediately sought refuge in Taipei 101. This building houses lots of branded stuff. All very expensive brand (which definitely i cannot afford to buy) but we chanced upon 50% off SALE in Longchamp store. After calculations , it came out cheaper and so was able to buy 2 longchamp bags. So happy with my purchase!!

Longchamp Flagship store in Taipei 101

We were able to collect a TAX refund from our purchase. Our total bill for the 2 bags was NTD6,100 and our refund was NTD300 so that makes our purchase price go down to NTD5,800 (approximately USD190) for 2 bags. One limited edition Autour de Halong (medium long handle) and Poney Patch (large long handle).

After our purchase we went to their foodcourt to spend our tax refund. There was lots of food choices from Korean to japanese food. We opted for local taiwanese food.

Lo rou fan , porkchop cutlet, fishball soup , oyster omelet, kangkong , chinese fried race

Our lunch cost us NTD250 good for 2 (approx usd8). It was a big lunch that would carry us through late afternoon before we get to the airport.

To burn all those food we stuffed ourselves we then walked it off around the mall. And when the rain stopped it gave us an opportunity to take a picture of the building outside.

the famous L-O-V-E sign right outside the building

Taipei 101 building.

See how gray the skies are? We were so pressured to take a picture of the building because anytime rain might fall.

How to get back to the MRT?
You see the LOVE sign? walk behind it then turn right at the corner. A few meters you will see a covered shed with lots of people queueing for the free shuttle bus to the MRT. The bus will drop you off exactly at the mrt exit and then proceed to your destination.

We originally wanted to visit Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall but according to authorities heavy rains are expected that afternoon so for safety, we deleted it in the itinerary. We went back to Taipei Main Station to collect our luggages and headed straight to Taipei west bus station to board a bus going to the Taoyuan International Airport.

Taipei (day 02) - Jiufen and Shifen

Day 02 in Taipei is actually my Birthday!!! My itinerary includes releasing of sky lantern in Shifen. Here's a rundown of our itinerary for day number 2:

0900am - Breakfast
1000am - Go to Taipei Main Station ; Buy train tickets to Ruifang Station (1hour ride)
1130am - etd TRA
1230pm - eta Ruifang station ; board a bus going to Jiufen (15mins ride, NTD15 fare)
1245pm - lunch in Jiufen
0300pm - go back to Ruifang station ; buy train tickets to Shifen station
0330pm - eta Shifen ; buy sky lantern to be released
0430pm - leave Shifen and board a train going back to Ruifang station
0500pm - Buy tickets going to Taipei Main Station (1 hour ride)
0600pm - eta TMS and shop a little bit in the underground mall
0800pm - head back to hotel

How to get to Jiufen?
From Taipei Main Station buy a TRA (train ) ticket to Ruifang Station. Travel time is approximately 1 hour and no reserve seating . Fare is NTD50 - NTD75. Upon arrival in Ruifang station exit , cross the road where the bus stop is. Board a keelung bus  with a signage Jiufen . The bus ride takes around 15mins only and you will disembark a few meters from the Jiufen Old Street entrance.

TRA -----}Ruifang Station------}board a bus to jiufen

Jiufen overlooking the sea

Jiufen is a small town north of taiwan. It's an old gold mining town but now a tourist attraction. Throngs of tourist buses loaded with tourists (mostly koreans and japanese) are led to this town everyday. Because of Jiufen's high altitude, it's climate is cooler than the city. It's like Tagaytay here in the Philippines. But what makes it unappealing to me is the too crowded streets laden with food vendors and tourists. Best to navigate the back streets to experience the culture of the place and to avoid people at the same time. If you're a photo enthusiast then you may find interesting subjects far away from the people. You just have to be adventurous to explore more.

We did not buy anything from here because we find the prices too high and geared towards the tourists. We found a cozy nook at a restaurant (i forgot the name) overlooking the sea. It's located at the back away from the crowd. Food served was not nice but the view is fantastic!

Yay!! Look at the throngs of tourists!!!

Maltose candies molded into cartoon characters

Grilled Snails anyone?

To get back to Ruifang Station , board a bus on the opposite side where you disembarked and board a bus going to the station.

After Jiufen, my mission is to release a sky lantern in Shifen.

How to get to Shifen?
At the Ruifang Station, buy tickets for Pingsi Line heading to Shifen. Fare is NTD20. Travel time is roughly 30 mins.

Going to Shifen the train was not too crowded and we had seats. But going back was a different story. It's way too crowded and overflowing with passengers. But it's okay .

Pingsi Line train going to Shifen

Upon arriving, we wasted no time and immediately looked for a shop that would sell us a sky lantern. It costs NTD150 for four colors lantern. And you have to write (using a calligraphy pen) your wishes.

Me writing my birthday wishes!!!

Then fly away my sky lantern.

Sky Lantern Festival is being held in Shifen every year (i think every February). I wish i could go back and witness this festival. But for now i wish all my wishes would come true!!