What can you do during 6hour-only in Taipei?
in
the past few months, I've been receiving messages from my
friends,"Hey...I'm going to transit in Taipei for some hours! Let's
hang out somewhere?"In one way, I felt a bit sad, "ah? Only for
transitting in Taipei?"but in another one, I felt so excited,
"Hey...finally you come to Taipei"Few years ago, I met couple young
students from Japan arriving from Osaka and transferring next morning
flight to Vietnam. They stayed in Taipei for only 1 night without any
advance reservation. Lucky I met them in the bus on their way to town,
and I tried to book a hostel for them and escorted them around the
night market. We still contact with each other by MIXI (the social
website in Japan) sharing our travel experiences.

Marco,
the most passionate and energic guy I've met in the world, always graps
the very limited few hours driving his bike to catch the wavies with
his surfing board while we worked together in Bali.
YES,....the Reunion of Bali REC TEAM 2002 in Taipei!! Sandy Jeremy & Marco!!!
In
his impression, Taiwan is a boring place and he swore that he'd never
visit Taiwan! BUT, he broke his swear this year! Mar 2009, he planned
his holiday with his wife to Bali. He chose to fly China Airlines from
Rome to Bali with one night overnight in Taipei by paying 20Euro to
travel agency to book for a contracted hotel nearby Taoyuan (Taipei)
International Airport. Definately it was the great chance to show him
around Taipei in half day!That day, I met him in Toayuan station, 3pm,
taking the train to Taipei. Quick transfer to MRT system and arrive
Taipei 101 in few minutes. They were surprised by first impression of
Taipei by such achievement of building in the world, though it was too
cloudy and foggy to see the scenary from top of the building that
day!We went to Sung Shan Night market, "check check look look" what's
new for them, and we stopped in the Taoism Temple in the ending point
of Rao-He Night Market. Though I know Marco got his religion, however,
visiting temple can be a very cultural and traditional but new
experience for these couple from Europe! Marco's wife seems quite
impressive but the beautiful decorations of cultivating and painting in
the temple!

So many God and Goddess in this temple! I seldom notice about the beautiful carving jobs in a temple!
Of
course, very local Taiwan food (熱炒) by the night market with couple
glasses of beers is a Must for them! Drinking, chatting, laughing,
sharing the life we've been experience after depart from Bali, it came
to so late by 10pm. Only short walk to reach SungShan Railway station
then the train drove them to Taoyuan safely!I do hope this short visit
has change Marco's impression about Taipei!Taipei, or Taiwan, still got
much more than that, for sure!

MEG Bachan...Welcome to Taipei!!! Cho hisashiburi jan!
MEG,
my very good Japanese girl friend we worked together in Phuket, visited
Taipei on her way to Europe by flying EVA AIR. Meeting her in Airport,
I took her to the town by the High Speed Rail, which is imported from
Japan, the JR Shinkansen system.

Let's
enjoy the High Speed Rail in Taiwan yo! (Taoyuan to Taipei, 20min!)It's
the train of NOZOMI (JR Shinkansen), but Taiwan color/operation now!
To
be relax before taking another long haul flight, I suggested her to
take a Shampoo Massage, by sitting on the chair instead of lying on the
rinse chair in most western hair saloon.

SHAMPOO ICE CREAM!!!!!SUGOIIII@@!!
Gourmet
is cruicial in Taiwan! "Cha For FUN", serving great Chinese food by
lots innovated concepts of fusion with "Tea" themes. "Steaming Dumpling
with Tea", or "QQ Milk Tea" (the milk Tea shake with tapioca)... I felt
somehow sorry for her that how can she feel the "inflight catering"
after experiencing these great food in town?

Cho Oishii SHO LONG PO....the dumpling

QQ Milk Tea....the famous drink fromTaiwan!!!
Will
these short time stay bring another longer holiday in Taiwan? For sure!
They will do, but it's the matter of time! More than that, words of
mouth will be another effecient communicating tool for their
friends!Welcome to Taiwan!!