Taiwan - The Heart of Asia has opened its doors to tourists from all over the world. It has welcome Filipinos to no visa entry from 2017 to 2019.
The Heart of the Filipinos, Philippine Airlines has been bringing people to Taipei. With flights from Manila, They have been building bridges for Filipinos to travel and visit Taipei easier. Alongside with Global Link Travel and Tours, travel life has been made hassle-free.
Why would you want to visit Taiwan?
- Taiwan has so much to showcase and contribute to the world. To the mountainside in the east, to the city life of Taipei and industrial living in Kaohsiung. It is worth to be discovered and experienced. Taiwan's old name was "Formosa" given by the Portuguese which means beautiful island. With its 390 km stretch from North to South and an area of 35,883 km, it indeed has so much to give to the tourists.
- Taiwan has four seasons. You can always opt to visit Taiwan in any season you want. Spring is the best season to catch a sight of cherry blossoms and other blooming flowers in Taiwan. This happens every mid- February to mid- April.
- Taiwan is not just a beautiful country. It also has very nice and kind people. They are very helpful to tourists especially if you ask them for direction, they would go out of their way to help you.
Last October 18-21, 2018, I was invited to join and document a familiarization tour with the Visayas and Mindanao Travel Agents. It was an amazing experience! To each participant, to the tour guide and to the travel agencies (Global Link Travel and Tours and Edison Travel of Taiwan), to Philippine Airlines who made everything possible and who made this trip excellent, Kudos to all of you! I commend you all for making this trip unforgettable.
 | ||
| Mabuhay Lounge - Cebu
Let me start with our flight from Cebu to Manila at 4:10 am connecting to Taipei at 7am. Accommodation at Mabuhay lounge never fails to amaze me. With the food and drinks offered unlimited. It makes the waiting more enjoyable. You will be spending your time doing some important things like writing or blogging while having a bowl of delicious Arroz Caldo and a cup of coffee at Mabuhay lounge.
When we arrived in Taipei, our tour guide, Alice Chen of Edison Travel welcomed us with a banner of Global Link Travel and Tours. Then she led us to our clean and cozy bus with wifi connection.
Our bus service for our four-day tour c/o Global Link Travel and Tours and Edison Travel of Taiwan
First day in Taipei:
1. Taipei's National Palace Museum - A world-class museum that hosts an eclectic collection of treasures kept by generations of Emperors ruling from the Forbidden City. It is designed in the style of the Northern Chinese palace. It is a home to hundreds of thousands of historical relics that make up the world's most comprehensive and precious collection of ancient Chinese artifacts.
Entrance Fee: Adult: NTD 350 / PHP 414 / USD 8, Student NTD 150 / PHP 248 / USD5
Open Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 8:30 AM -6:30 PM
Friday – Saturday: 8:30 AM -9:00 PM
Sunday: 8:30 AM -6:30 PM
Address: No. 221, Section 2, Zhishan Road, Shilin District, Taipei City, Taiwan 111
With Ms. Eldee of PAL Sales
 |
2. Lungshan Temple of Manka - This spot excites me because I came to learn how Taiwanese pray to their gods. They also had their matchmaker god whom you can ask questions answerable by yes or no regarding your love life ;)
Entrance Fee: Free but donations are highly encouraged.
At Lungshan Temple of Manka
The man-made waterfall at Lungshan Temple of Manka
At Lungshan Temple of Manka
3. Chiang Kai- Shek Memorial Hall - is a national monument, landmark and tourist attraction in memory of the former President of Taiwan, Chiang Kai Shek. This is where we were able to witness the hourly change of their guards, photos of Chiang Kai Shek and his sitting wax figure in the exhibition room. The most touching part for me was to see those senior citizens voluntarily giving their time to protect and help their memorial hall for their hero.
Entrance Fee: Free
Open Hours: 09:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily, except for Chinese New Year Eve & Chinese New Year.
Address: No. 21, Zhongshan South Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100
At Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
Fam Tour at Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
4. Presidential Office Building - Taiwan's highest authority building. The building has four ground floors and one underground floor. With a capacity of two thousand people.
 |
| Chiang Kai Shek's sitting wax figure |
 |
| People watching their change of guards |
4. Presidential Office Building - Taiwan's highest authority building. The building has four ground floors and one underground floor. With a capacity of two thousand people.
 |
| With the Presidential Office Building as our background |
Entrance Fee: Free
Open Hours: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, daily, except for Chinese New Year Eve & Chinese New Year.
Address: No. 505, Section 4, Ren’ai Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110
 |
With Cebu & VisMin Travel Agents at Sun Yat-Sen Memorial A Great shot of Taipei 101 at Sun Yat-Sen Memorial
6. Taipei 101 Building - Taipei World Financial Center - is a landmark supertall skyscraper in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan. The building was officially classified as the world's tallest in 2004 and remained such until the completion of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai in 2010. It used to have the fastest elevator in the world, traveling at 60.6 km/h (37.7 mph) and transporting passengers from the 5th to 89th floor in 37 seconds. In 2016, the title for the fastest elevator was given to the Shanghai Tower in Shanghai. The tower has second heaviest wind damper that measures 660 tons to withstand earthquakes and typhoons. And it has its observatory deck which gives you a 360 view of Taipei. (Entrance fee is $20 USD/ person)
Taipei 101 Open Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM
Friday – Saturday: 11:00 AM -10:00 PM
Sunday – 11:00 AM -9:30 PM
|
At Taipei 101 Building
 | |
Taipei 101 Building at our background Taipei 101 displaying Taiwan's unique architectural design  Taipei's magnificent view on the 89th floor
7. Din Tai Fung in Taipei 101- One of the Michelin star restaurants in Taipei. The very delicious Xiao Long Bao which is my new Taipei favorite food. And I've learned that there are steps to follow in eating Xiao Long Bao and here's how to eat it:
Put soy sauce and vinegar into the bowl with sliced ginger. Take the soup dumpling and dip it into the sauce. Then put the dumpling into your spoon, and poke a hole in the wrapper of the dumpling to release the juices. And finally, eat.
 Watching the chefs preparing their delicious dumplings at Din Tai Fung
Xiao Long Bao at Din Tai Fung
My favorite chocolate dessert at Din Tai Fung
Second day in Taipei:
1. Yehliu Geopark - One of the premier destinations in northern Taiwan, Yehliu Geopark is home to a number of unique geological formations including the iconic "Queen's Head". It is where you can find the 4 kinds of mushroom rocks named: No neck, Thin neck, Thick neck, and Broken neck. (Entrance fee is $80NT per person)
|
 | ||
Cebu and VisMin Travel Agents with our two tour guides, Miss Alice Chen of Edison Travel and Miss Arti Chang of Leofoo Theme Park
Cebu and VisMin Travel Agents trying the Safari of Leofoo Theme Park
Buffaloes at Leofoo Theme Park
Flamingoes at Leofoo Theme Park
Safari at Leofoo Theme Park
Arabian Theme at Leofoo Theme Park
Arabian Theme at Leofoo Theme Park
Wild West Theme at Leofoo Theme Park
Leofoo Theme Park's Waterpark
 
Miss Bing Amistoso, very happy with her super large burger
3. Photo shoot at Taipei's Grand Hotel - is one of Taipei's landmarks located at Yuanshan in Zhongshan District. The hotel was established in 1952 and was completed on October 10, 1973. It is owned by the Duen-Mou Foundation of Taiwan, a non-profit organization, and has been a host to a lot of foreign dignitaries including our ex-president Corazon Aquino. The main building of the hotel is one of the world's tallest Chinese classical buildings. It was also the tallest building in Taiwan from 1973 to 1981.
   
Thousands of dragon designs found at The Grand Hotel
4. Takao 1972 - One of the best Shabu- Shabu dinner in Taipei is Takao 1972. This is where we had our last dinner in Taiwan. Big servings, seafood included (Shrimps, squid, fish) and of course unlimited hot tea.
Last dinner at Takeo 1972
5. Shilin Night Market - In Shilin Market, it’s more on street food like big squids, scallops, shrimps and shells. Also, they have their famous bubble milk tea, stinky tofu, mashed potato, fried chicken and of course, the pasalubong area; where you can buy pineapple cake, mochi and a lot more.
|
 |
| Shilin food night market |
 |
| Shilin food night market |
 |
| Shilin food night market |
 |
| Shilin food night market |
 |
| Shilin food night market |
 |
| Shilin food night market |
 |
| Shilin food night market |
The five must eat of Taipei according to our tour guide, Alice.
1.Hot star fried chicken - It cost $70 NT and its super big!
 |
| Hot Star Fried Chicken |
 |
| 50 Bubble Tea |
 |
| Stinky Tofu |
4. Oyster Omelette: $60 NT one serving good for 2 people
 |
| Oyster Omelette |
5. Sausage for $100 NT for 3 sausages
 |
| Taiwan's Sausage |
And if you are looking for goodies to buy for your loved ones from your Taiwan, here are some of my suggestions:
 |
| Tea Egg |
 |
| Mushroom |
 |
| Pineapple cake, wafers in different flavors, Taipei 101 water bottle and a ref magnet of Taiwan's map.
My take away in this familiarization tour in Taiwan is that we may speak different languages but we speak one language from the heart. Philippines and Taiwan were both conquered by powerful countries but we fought. We are both strong, beautiful and resilient people.
Taiwan also has a story to tell and that can be best curated if you have a tour guide to tell you its history. Indeed, Taiwan is the Heart of Asia!
|
Post a Comment