Taipei: Good Way to Start the Weekend! - Fri 3/18

Last year in March, the Taiwan Trade Center offered a free flight for buyers from foreign countries to go to Taipei to check out the trade shows, and I was lucky enough to be the one sent for that particular trip. Of course, I fully took advantage of it, stayed for roughly 5-6 days and ate as much as I could. Too much probably.

This year, they contacted us again and the same incentive was offered. Since I went last year, it was decided that there should be a sort of continuity since now I know what products were there last year and what not so just 2 weeks ago, I got a short little business trip to Taipei once again :] Not as long as last year, roughly the same as a long weekend, but hey, any chance I get to go back, I'm gonna take it!

This time I jotted down when I had the food to kinda check my pattern of how I eat. Don't think I went as crazy this time as before but... man, I ate more than I thought hahah.

With enough miles, I upgraded to business class on China Airlines and with it comes lounge privileges :]

The food station.

Didn't want to go too crazy since I had a big dinner before I left, so just got some snacks and a blueberry apricot danish. Of course, it's almost a tradition for me to have at least one ginger ale when I travel!

The sushi selection that was offered for the Asian travelers. The lounge is a shared lounge among many airlines so they try to accommodate. Also couldn't resist the call of Taiwan beer :P

After the plane takes off, they start serving "late night dinner" and this time opted for the Szechuan Chicken.

Not really spicy... but meh, it's good enough.

Comes with seafood salad (with this huge piece of shrimp), and unlimited garlic bread.

About 3 hours before the plane lands, they'll serve breakfast, and you can choose between Oriental style or Western. Western usually involves some weird looking omelette so the Oriental style it is.

Comes with two types of plain buns.

With porridge, there's always side dishes. From left to right: pork sung, chilled stir fry veggie, pickled veggie, and braised oil tofu.

After landing around 6am, I took the bus to my aunt's place from the airport to Taipei. Street vendors are already out around 7am selling breakfast!

Cha! Didn't know TenRen started Cha in Taiwan as well haha.

Aunt's place, where I stayed for the next 3 nights.

Around 10am, left my aunt's place and headed over to my grandma to see her. Never a big fan of food on the plane, I had to get some traditional Taiwanese breakfast while on my way to see my grandma.

飯糰夾蛋餅 egg crepe wrapped rice roll. Posted this numerous times, but still, just as good as I remembered.

燒餅油條 fried donut in sesame bread. As for as traditional breakfast go, this is as old school as it gets.

Yes, had to get some milk tea :P Small, but only $15NT!

And before officially starting my work, some homemade dumplings around noon for lunch.

On the way to the convention center, had to get an oolong milk tea (2pm) :]


After the end of 1st day of the convention, decided to walk across the street to Taipei 101's food court.


MOS Burger! I had to do it. (5:30pm)


Oh maaaaaaaan, how I miss the marinated pork and the awesome rice bun.


After window shopping and feeling like crap cause I can't buy anything at 101, decided to head back but not before I head to 清心福 Qing Xin Fu for milk tea!


Oolong fresh milk tea. So what's so good about this place that everytime I come back to Taiwan I get it 2-3 times? Well, to start, their oolong tea is great. Strong roasted tea flavors that can withstand the milk and sugar. Also, fresh milk in Taiwan has way more of a milky flavor to it, so when you mix fresh milk and good tea together, it's a drink that the shops in US cannot compete with. (6:30pm)


Street food near the Da An MRT station.


Had to get 雞蛋糕 egg cake (6:40pm)


Didn't expect it to be hollow but crispy outside plus the little bit of cake in the middle = good eats!

After eating the egg cake, headed back to my grandma's cake and somehow... somehow still manage to eat dinner with the family. Definitely a good start to the trip :]

Most more to be posted when I have time haha.