Arrived at Taoyuan Airport, Taipei, Taiwan at around 4.30pm at Gate D4 Terminal 3. There seems to be quite a few tour group from China arriving at that time from other flights and immigration queue is very long. After clearing immigration we wanted to get the local prepare sim card so we can still contact each other via call or whatsapp.
When you exit from the sterile area into the public area right in front is the taiwan tourism counter where you can get brochures for buses, different part of taipei or even ask the counter staff for assistance. If you want to get the local sim card like me, turn to the left once you exit (note this information is for Taoyuan Airport terminal 3) and walk to the end you will see a few counters selling them. Actually their plan and price are quite similar just different provider.
I got the card from the taiwan da ge da counter as that has the longest queue and turn out that it is also one of the bigger ones in Taipei. The plan are as follows:
The sim card is valid for 6 months and you can top-up if the pre-paid plan has been exhasted.
If do not need a local sim card and want to proceed to the main city (i.e. Taipei main train station) you will turn right once you exit from the sterile area into the public area.
After turning right and walking further down you will see signs for Bus to city. I took the Kuo Kuang Motor Transport (as recommended by the staff at the taiwan tourism counter) to Taipei main train station. Its bus 1819 and cost NT$125, the frequency is 15-20mins. The bus journey is about 1hr 30mins to the Taipei main train station.
We took a cab from Taipei main train station to our hotel at ChangAn area which cost just NT$70. After checking-in we head out immediately to Wu Fen Pu. The nearest met to Wu Fen Pu is Houshanpi station but it isn't so near that you can see Wu Fen Pu after exiting from the station. Once you reach Houshanpi station take exit 1 and walk along Zhongpo North Road (中坡南路) till the intersection of Zhongpo North Road and Yongji Road (永吉路) and Wu Fen Pu is towards your left.
As it is already dinner time and we are very hungry we decided to eat our dinner first before proceeding to Wu Fen Pu. We ate at this shop at the intersection of Zhongpo North Road and Yongji Road.
Formosa Chang (胡须张) which is famous for it braised meat rice (卤肉饭), so we decided to give it a try.
This is a half portion braised meat rice, quite a small bowl for me. The taste is not bad but I wouldn't say that it would have me coming back for more.
Also ordered a plate of bean sprouts, which couldn't go too wrong. As we wanted to go to Raohe night market later hence didn't eat alot. After this we proceed on to Wu Fen Pu.
This is the only photo taken there, the place wasn't too crowded although its a Saturday night. Not a place for guys, most are selling ladies fashion.
So we made our way to Raohe Street Night Market, it is about 15 minutes leisure walk from Wu Fen Pu. From Wu Fen Pu you should be walking towards Songshan train station (not MRT) to get to Raohe Street. There isn't much sign around, I used google map to navigate there.
This is the famous pepper bun (胡椒饼), super long queue.
You can see 4 people making the bun here, there is still an army of people behind hence the queue clear quite fast. Basically it is just a bun with spring onions and pepper minced pork, again it taste not bad but I do not crave for it.
Next we tried the egg prawn ball, which has quite a queue also.
How is the egg prawn ball made? They crack an egg (those small ones) into the hole in the metal tray and put a prawn into it, they will squeeze a sauce onto the balls depending on what flavour your ordered. A good snack to eat and shop at the night market.
Again another egg snack which has a long queue. This is one of the shop that has been recommended on a taiwan show (食尚玩家).
Basically they will fry the egg into a long square roll and depending on the flavour you order they will put different ingredients on top of it. We realise that most of the stalls which has long queue are selling eggs related snack, we need to watch our cholesterol level so decided to give the rest a miss.
Didn't take much pictures that night as we were eating as we walk and its very packed. Don't be mistaken that this night market is very small, it is quite a long stretch but of course not as big as Shilin. After walking the entire stretch we decided to call it a day and head back to hotel.
Locations:
1) Taoyuan Airport, Taipei, Taiwan
2) Formosa Chang, No.146 Section 4, Chongqing North Road, Taipei, Taiwan
3) Wu Fen Pu
4) Raohe Night Market
Taipei (other parts):
Part 2: Taipei, Taiwan: Ding Tai Feng, Ximending, Barbie Cafe, Shilin (Part 2)
Part 3: Taipei, Taiwan: Hot Spring, Bei Tou, Dan Shui, Yu Ren Ma Tou, Aranzi Cafe, Wu Lao Guo (Part 3)
Part 4: Taipei, Taiwan: Hello Kitty Cafe, Dian Shui Lou (Part 4)
Part 5: Taipei, Taiwan: Hello Kitty Gate, Silver Kris Lounge (Finale)
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