Timeless Taipei.

Four nights and three days is not enough time visit all the attractions and to sample the delicious food in the capital of Taiwan. 

But thanks to the Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) or Metro, we manage to visit 10 tourist spots. This is quite an accomplishment considering we are travelling with a toddler in tow.   

Although we had earliest listed places to go based on the suggestions in the Lonely Planet book, a booklet provided by the MRT proves to be more useful for its handy size.

The free booklets come with the purchase of two 3-day Taipei passes costing NT$440 (RM53.10) each-one booklet for each pass. It includes MRT map, places accessible via MRT, recommended food and souvenirs as well as discounted vouchers in entrance fee and food. 

MUST-HAVES

Topping our list of places to visit are Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial hall, Dr Sun Yat Sen Memorial hall and National Palace museum. These are also among the most recommended in any guides book and on the Internet.

Visits to those monuments offer better insights into the famous figures, who played significant roles in contributing towards the development of post-Imperial China to today’s Taipei.  

The National Palace museum, which houses is a place 650,000 pieces of Chinese artifacts including porcelains, jades, paintings that span many dynasties, is a place for art and history lovers.  

Visitors will also appreciate the traditional Chinese gardening art in the Chih-shan and Chih-te gardens. In the other part of the museum is the painter Chang Dai-Ch’ien memorial residence. Chang was one of the most prodigious artists and gifted master fosters of the 20^th century. Visitors, however,  will have to buy the entrance ticket to the memorial residence one week in advance.

NIGHT MARKETS

A Taipei trip is not complete without experiencing its legendary night markets.

The largest, Shilin night market and Xi Men Ding night market, are about five to 10 minutes walk from MRT station.

A pair of good walking shoes and a bottle of water will ensure a more pleasant experience at these markets. It takes more than an hour to explore each place, sample the local delicacies, shop for clothes and souvenirs. 

For the first time in my life, I try stinky tofu and have to agree with the saying on “the smellier the tofu, the better it tastes”. 

It only costs NT30 for small piece and its flavours are based on the strength of “odors”.

I also try multicolour glutinous balls, pepperbun, sausage wrapped in glutinous rice, fried chicken fillet, and oyster omelette. Both places also offer nicely brew coffee and Taipei's famous bubble milky tea.

Xi Men Ding night market, also known as Shibuya or Harajaku of Taipei, is a shopping haven for clothes, shoes and accessories with Japanese and Korean influences. Best of all, they are sold as cheap as NT200 per piece.

We mostly shop for gifts to bring home such as pineapple tarts, soft nougat candies, dried meat, keychains and fridge magnets.

BREATHTAKING VIEWS  

What is sightseeing if not for the breathtaking views? For this, we have the the 89^th floor of Taipei 101 tower in Xinyi district and Thermal Spring Valley in Beitou district in our list.

Besides the 360 degree view from the indoor observatory deck of the once tallest tower in the world,  we are amazed at the speed of the elevator moves from 5^th floor to 89^th floor in less than a minute. It has maximum speed of 1,010m per min.

The view at the Thermal Spring Valley, located within the bustling Beitou district, offers calming effect- the clouding vapours come from the jade like spring where water is at a constant temperature of 100 degree celcius.

At certain spots of the valley, visitors are able to soak in hot springs operated by the locals. There are also stalls selling eggs boiled in the sulphuric water.

We drop by the Beitou Hot Spring Museum, which was formerly the largest public bathhouse in the East Asia in 1910s, exhibits a blend of Japanese and Roman styles of bathhouse.

Not far from the museum is the Ketagalan Culture centre which provides Taipei’s aboriginal information, research resources and live performances.

A short rest within the Beitou public library amidst the lush green would be worthy, too. Due to its beautiful design, it becomes popular spots for photoshoots.

Other than that, the double-storey of green building is designed with eco-friendly features such as large window and the use of wall glass to allow natural sunlight giving brightness inside the library.  It also harvests rain to water plants.

If I were to have a chance to travel to Taipei next time, I would definitely book an accommodation at the district to spend more time reading books at the serene environment.

THE PEOPLE 
Travelling around places of attraction using Metro may be troublesome, especially for parents with young children. 

However, the locals, both young and old passengers, are always courteous and offer their seats. In fact, the MRT management also gives extra attention to the needs of mothers by ensuring their safety and privacy. 

Most of the 107 stations within the five-line system have special breastfeeding rooms equipped with comfortable furniture, washing basin, changing mat, water heater and emergency button. 

The safety measure is taken to a higher level by having its staff to conduct regular patrols around the stations and anti-spy camera device in washrooms.

In Taipei, fret not when travellers have difficulty in sorting out the right train to board or alight. Other commuters seem to be good in reading others’ body language and approached us before we asked them direction.

Volunteers at the MRT station, mostly senior citizens, would walked us to the platform just to ensure we were at the right place. We felt bad but really grateful that these silver-haired people, who might have problem to walk too much, had to guide us.  

Most of them conversed using the local Chinese dialect but the language differences between the locals and visitors have never stopped the former to help others as they tried their best to guide people.

Husband and I also enjoyed the way they speak which show their politeness by using words such as “ni hao” (How are you?), “Bu hao yi shi” (I am sorry) and “Xie Xie” (thank you) in almost any occasions and places.    

While we were on escalator exiting the platform during peak hour, I overheard a boy about four-year-old was saying “stand at the right side and allow others who are rushing to use the left lane” to her mother. Perhaps he recalled what others have taught him since younger.

The early non-formal education to create civic-minded community might explain the people do not simply abuse the availability of lifts meant for elderly, passengers with luggages, parents with children and disabled people.  

Other etiquette at the Metro which most of passengers observe include not eating or drinking to keep the place clean, as well as wearing surgical mask when they are sick.

At other places such as shopping mall, escalators are being sanitised every two hours for better hygiene. Such practice gave better assurance on my toddler’s and our wellbeing during our stay, too.