Of FOOD in Taiwan

For someone who loves food (and shopping too), I was in love with the night markets in Taiwan. Night markets in Taiwan are always crowded and happening, and each of them differ in their own famous snacks. Some of the famous ones include Shihlin Night Market in Taipei and Feng Chia Night Market in Taichung. Most of the night markets operate daily, selling snacks and fast food, clothes, accessories, electrical devices etc..

Yi Zhong night market in Taichung

“There is no love sincerer than the love of food” – George Bernard Shaw

There is also a Chinese saying “To the people, food is heaven”.

Thanks to the recommendation of my fellow Taiwanese friends, I was so blessed by indulging in good food every single day. Well Taiwan is definitely famous for their street food. Bubble tea, fried chicken fillet, stinky tofu, fried mushrooms, sausages, oyster omelette and so much scrumptious food available not only in night markets, and also restaurants, shops and wet market. How could one ever resist?!

They call this "small sausage within big sausage". Basically it's sausage wrapped in glutinous rice with some vege in it. You can see long queues especially in Feng Chia night market.

Top left (clockwise): Bubble tea (50 'lan' shops), Ah Po herbal egg (Sun Moon Lake), Fried Mushrooms (Yi Zhong Night Market), Fried chicken fillet (Feng Chia Night Market)

Popia wrapped ice-cream (Jiu Fen, Taipei)

Top (clockwise): Oyster omelette, Stinky tofu, Cheesy potato (Feng Chia Night Market)

Mango ice. Must try especially during summer.

Drooling isn't it....

Besides snacks, beef noodles and braised pork rice are some of the must have in Taiwan.

Beef noodles. The best I've had from Jiu Fen, Taipei.

Braised pork rice

Before departing to Taiwan, Sorrano had warned me NOT to grow too fat in Taiwan. Haha.. I guess I didn’t disappoint her.

Photo taken on my last day in Taiwan. Still looking good =D

Is Malaysia safe?

Besides the Tsunami which hit the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia in 2004, and some flooding cases during the rainy season, Malaysia should top your list as a natural disaster free country.

So, being a Malaysian, we are indeed ‘sua-kus’ (in hokkien which literally means Mountain tortoise-not knowledgeable) dealing with natural disaster. During the summer exchange in Taiwan, me and my university mates were lucky enough to meet Typhoon Soulik when it arrived Taiwan. Alerts were all over the news on how strong and dangerous this typhoon was gonna be, expected to be equivalent to a hurricane. 

Now, typhoon is something we don’t get to see and even experience it in Malaysia. Most of our reactions were like

“Wow really? Let’s go out and experience it!”

“Nah you guys are exaggerating. We wouldn’t wanna spend our weekend locked up in the dormitory.”

Well, typical ‘sua-kus’ and stubborn students.

A day before the typhoon arrive, strong winds can be felt. Everyone was rushing home immediately after work. Grocery shops had more customers than usual, shopping for groceries and preparing for the worst. And that was only when we started to panic. So we grabbed instant noodles, biscuits, junk food and packet drinks as if there was no tomorrow. Nah, just kidding.

Preparing for Typhoon. 

Guys, when the locals advice you something, listen to them.

The wind was stronger than usual and basically it was raining heavily the whole day. Schools and offices were closed and certain areas in the northern region were flooded. We were locked advised to stay in the dormitory to keep us safe.

Aftermath of Typhoon Soulik – flood, cars and houses destroyed, fallen signboards and trees.

  

Well to be frank, to me, typhoon is just destructive winds and heavy downpour (thank God I was based in Taichung as Typhoon Soulik impacted Taipei the most)

Malaysia is a safe place to live in if you are looking for a natural disaster free country. However, I bet you are thinking twice now due to the recent surge in gunshooting cases.

Eight cases in a week? You have got to be kidding me!

It is indeed shocking to learn about the gunshooting incidents which had occurred over the past fortnight. Shooting and killing people in the day. The person shot might be a target or can be an innocent man. Besides that, snatch theft, rape and murder cases happening in the country leave Malaysians wonder, is our country still safe to live in?

No doubt I have been overly-cautious driving alone especially at night. I check my surroundings before getting out of the car, aware of the people around and taking possible safety precautions. But we can never predict what is going to happen to us. Malaysia is not safe, and I think it is the same everywhere. Most importantly, pray for God’s protection and blessing before starting a journey.

I love Malaysia. And I really do.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Muslims

 “Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Maaf zahir dan batin.”

Off to Raya open house for food. Om nom nom..

FUN in Taiwan

“Congratulations! You are flying to Taiwan.”

Imagine a little girl riding on a cute little pony galloping around the garden. YES. I was that happy when I got offered to join the university’s summer exchange programme to Taiwan in July. It was what I really need at that moment, a moment of happiness, apart from being occupied with thesis and final exams.

So, June was hell of a hectic month. Last minute Reading journals (pulling hair) and writing for my thesis (Banging my head on the wall). Well, I got through it, thank God. Final exam is a b*tch for adding salt on my wound. Oh July, please be kind to me and come quickly.

24 days in Taiwan is UN-FOR-GET-TA-BLE.

Visiting Taiwan as an exchange student was different compared to when I first visited that beautiful country as a tourist two years back during winter. Joining a local tour with a well-planned itinerary versus attending classes and last minute planning of trips. Besides, it’s summer. Less restriction on my daily activities. Whee~

150 students (Whoa..) of different faculties took part in this programme, so yeah, I met new friends, not to forget Taiwanese friends too.  Lecturers were so passionate of their profession, cracking jokes and enlightening our days in every classes. The facilitators were so young, yet dedicated and were great helping hands throughout our stay in their university. Even the lady boss of the cafeteria was always concerned and ensured that all of us had taken our meals. Are Taiwanese that kind-hearted and helpful? No doubt.

That was a huge group of people.

Taipei – first visited destination, and also my very first backpacking destination. Together with three friends (whom I just met in this programme and randomly decided on backpacking) we embarked on our luxury backpacking adventure. Though it only lasted for a day, backpacking was FUN but super tiring. Like seriously.

More than 12 hours of traveling with a lot of walking, catching buses and trains, sweating, yet it was worth it by the good memories gained from this trip.

My backpacking group (from left: Andy, Tat Joon, Cheuw Yan & me)

Day 1: Tamsui, Taipei

Tamsui street.

Cycling around Tamsui was something interesting. I have got to say the guys have really good stamina in controlling the bicycle with such great weight on it.

Fisherman’s Wharf at Tamsui. Also known as Lovers’ Harbour.

We even visited Jay Chou’s high school – Tam Kang High School.

Day 2: Jiufen, Shifen, Qing Tong

Jiufen Old Street

Golden Waterfall

Familiar? We were trying to imitate a scene in the movie “You are the apple of my eye”. Great photo taken by Mr Eric Chen whom we met at Jiu Fen.

Railway track at Shifen.

Wishes written on a sky lantern at Shifen.

There it goes. May our wishes come true.

Bamboo letters at Qing Tong.

Oh this is something worth remembering. Twice in a day, we ran like mad people (good looks and reputation? Screw it!) chasing after trains. And the best part, the train stopped for us to board in. *heads held high*

Day 3: Mao Kong Cable Car station, Taipei City

Mao Kong Station.

Spot the colour difference. We got stuck on top of the hill for more than an hour due to the rain downhill. Cable car system was stopped and we had to queue for the shuttle bus.

The magnificent Taipei 101.

Day 4: Taipei City

Old Palace Museum in Taipei.

We didn’t manage to visit all the hotspots in Taipei due to restriction of time. Taiwan, a beautiful country indeed.

It would be an extremely long essay to talk about Taiwan. Keep following as I blog more about my stay in Taiwan. As for now, toodles~