Day 4 Taiwan Trip (Feb/Mar 2015) - Taipei Main Station | YongKangStreet| Wu Fen Pu | Raohe Night Market | Ximending

So an overview of the places we will be going on Day 4 would be:
- Taipei Main Station
- Yong Kang Street (MRT: Dongmen Station)
- Wu Fen Pu (MRT: Houshanpi Station)
- Raohe Night Market
- Ximending


Our morning started with us heading towards Taipei Main Station. One of the purpose other than shopping around, would be to get TRA tickets heading towards Ruifang Station in advance for Day 6 which is to explore Shifen and Jiufen. Yes, you may wish to get your tickets early if you intend to go towards Ruifang Station.  Recommended if you could at least get one day in advance if possible, just in case. Will share more in my post for Day 6. That aside, after purchasing the tickets, we then walk around Taipei Main Station.

Eslite Stationery Store

Eslite Bookstore. A great place if you are a book lover :)

While walking around, came across a shop selling Hello Kitty wine and glass set. My mum's favourite. So in the end got both for her. But the problem is that since we might not have time to come back, I have to carry these around with me throughout the day:( It might seem okay at the start, but as you carry the whole day, it gets heavier and heavier. Heavy die me~

Yong Kang Street
Next stop is to Yong Kang Street for lunch and desserts! There's lots of cafes over here. So take your pick and maybe you can explore the area. But there's so much we wanna try but we just can't stomach everything. Have to filter which to prioritize. 


Din Tai Fung 
No. 194, Section 2, Xinyi Road
Mon-Fri: 10am - 9pm
Sat & Sun: 9am - 9pm

Lunch is decided to have Din Tai Fung since the original outlet is located here. Only thing is the queue. Craziness. To save time, we took a queue number first at the same time asking the estimated waiting time, thereafter went off to walk walk around. Smart move since the waiting time is around 30-45 mins! 

Back to Din Tai Fung....

Something epic happened during our visit here. 

The staff when serving us the Xiao Long Bao, asked whether we would like her to do an introduction. Thinking that since we had Din Tai Fung before, so do not need an introduction, I rejected her, saying that it's okay. LOL. 

It was not until we wanted to pour vinegar that we realized. Cuz their vinegar is white in colour, different from Singapore. So end up, we asked the staff for assistance. And she went on to explain that we need to mix the vinegar and soy sauce together. The ratio of soy sauce to vinegar is 1:3.

Paiseh to the max! But at least we learnt something. 

Up till now, we are still reminded of this incident and will still laugh about it. Next time, don't reject people so soon! :P

Xiao Long Bao!! 

Noodles with Minced Pork Sauce

Steamed Shrimp and Pork Dumplings

After lunch, we went on for dessert at Smoothie House.

Smoothie House

Yong Kang 15 @ Yong Kang Street

Mon-Sun: 10am - 11pm

    

Mango Shaved Ice! The ice is super fine! Shiok and freezing cold!

Remaining time was spent walking around exploring Yong Kang Street before making our way to Wu Fen Pu at 4pm. Since the shops only open at around 3pm, we decided that making our way there at 4pm will be just nice:) 


Wu Fen Pu (MRT: Houshanpi Station)

This place is known for great bargains for clothing and accessories shopping! But we didn't managed to buy anything much since most of the clothing is for winter, considering the weather is cold. So not pretty suitable for buying back to Singapore. However, we did got some accessories though.

After shopping around Wu Fen Pu, we can then proceed to Raohe Night Market. It's a 600m long night market, shaped as a "U". You will never get lost inside this night market! LOL.

Directions from Wu Fen Pu to Raohe Night Market:

Wu Fen Pu -> Walk to Songshan Railway Station (not Metro), there is a red bridge and you can see the sign pointing to Raohe Night Market -> Cross over to the other side

Tadah! Here we are~

Children having fun catching fishes

Didn't take much photos since it's very very crowded that you have to squeeze your way through. We didn't even have the space to stop and look at the things they are selling. Just briefly glance through. Maybe it's a Saturday that's why it's even crowded than normal? But personally, I would never go for this night market another time on a weekend. You can't even have breathing space. LOL. So after pushing through our way, we were finally out in the open. Phew~ Now back to Ximending!

By then, my feet is hurting very very much in the heels. And my friend's feet is also hurting from blisters from the boots she was wearing. But the strange thing is, both of us didn't tell each other. It was not until my friend asked if we could take a cab back to Ximending instead. Which of course I agreed without hesitation! Then both of us only to know the reasons was that our feets are hurting so badly. HAHA! 

So finally back to hotel, we changed off our boots, with me choosing slippers before heading down to shopping at Ximending:) Slippers are so much comfortable! 

My first time trying White Bitter Gourd Juice! It didn't taste that bitter since we ordered it with Honey :)

 阿宗 Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle (Pork Intestine Mee Sua)
No.8-1, Emei St., Wanhua District, Taipei City
Nearest MRT: Ximen (Exit 6)

People gathering outside the shop savoring their bowl of Mee Sua

Aftermath of carrying the 2 sets of wine - aching arms. Have to put Salonpas to ease the pain 

That's all for the updates of our 4th day in Taiwan!