It is a cloudy day. Winter in Taipei has long gone, leaving behind a cool breeze wafting through the entire city.
"It was very warm and sunny last week. The weather is weird. This is Taipei, as usual," Sarinee Cheng explains, just as it starts to rain.
Sarinee is a small Thai lady who is married to a Taiwanese. After spending years in Taiwan, biking around the island and visiting a number of attractions across the country, Sarinee has written a travel book that reveals interesting angles for Thai travellers.
Of course, it is far different from any itinerary provided by tour operators. Her informative guidebook is packed with essential tips for individual travellers, like visa procedures, box hotels, viewpoints, tableware shops and tips on how to make easy international phone calls.
Taipei is a vibrant place. From dawn till late night, you will find a number of people on the streets, except during typhoons or storms. Shopping is a favourite Taiwanese pastime, much like Thailand. Besides countless modern and stylish megamalls, night markets are aplenty.
Similar to night markets in Thailand, Taipei's markets are lively with an abundance of merchants, bargain hunters and adventurous diners looking for new dishes. Products on sale range from clothing, ornaments, electric appliances, fresh fruits and vegetables, to a wide selection of street foods freshly cooked on site. The markets are chaotic and fun.
It is amazing to ride the crystal cabin of Maokong Gondola and see the forest under your feet. Maokong is a famous scenic spot. On the mountaintop, people soak up the view while enjoying quality locally-grown tea. There are many cute teahouses and a variety of teas to choose from. Peerawat Jariyasombat
"Fried and boiled tofu dishes are cooked in different styles and sold at these markets. Some are stinky tofu, which omits a strong odour. The night markets are very nice place to try the local dishes of Taiwan," Sarinee explains, while walking through the Tonghua Night Market.
Deep fried food, roasted corn, mochi... the list goes on and the variety of street food on display is astonishing. A dish found at every night market is the ice cream roti or peanut ice cream roll. One or two scoops of ice cream is placed on a roti, topped with shaved peanut candy and a few sprigs of fresh coriander. All the ingredients are rolled together in a thin roti and served.
The market also has an art and handicrafts corner.
There are more than 20 night markets in Taipei. The famous ones are Shilin, Gongguan and Ningxia.
The next day, Sarinee guides me to a long line for the cable car to go up Maokong Mountain. "We are going to board the crystal cabin. It will be a very unusual experience," she explains.
After 40 minutes, we get on the crystal cabin. The see-through floor allows us magnificent views of the lush forest below our cable car. The ride is about 4km to the top of the mountain.
"Riding the cable car is a popular weekend activity. Taiwanese families visit the Taipei Zoo and then ride the cable car. Along the way, the car stops at Zhinan temple station. You will find that no couples get off here. The Taiwanese believe that love comes to an end if the temple is visited with your lover."
At the top of Maokong Mountain, teashops and restaurants line a narrow winding road. Taiwanese elders, with colourful backpacks and walking sticks, slowly explore the area. Holidaymakers hop from one place to another, enjoying great views of Taipei in the embrace of an enchanted forest, sipping tea in romantic teahouses.
"Taiwan is much more than shopping malls and street food. There are a number of serene places to enjoy within a low budget. I think Taipei is a nice place to enjoy life," says Sarinee.
The elegant Longshan Temple is always crowded with Buddhists who pay homage and bring offerings after their wishes are fulfilled. The beautiful temple is free to visit. Built in 1738 by Chinese settlers from Fujian, the temple was badly destroyed by American bombers during the Raid of Taipei in World War II. Local residents contributed to rebuild it. The Longshan Temple is among the oldest and the largest Buddhist temples in Taiwan. Peerawat Jariyasombat
Taipei's night markets offer a chance to explore the lively backstreets of the city. Street food includes a wide range of local specialities and a few unique services. I came across this spa offering a knife massage, or dao liao in Chinese. A therapist gently chops your muscles with blunt knives, which works better than their fingers. The massage improves blood circulation and relieves muscle stress. Dao liao is an ancient Chinese therapy dating back 2,000 years. Peerawat Jariyasombat
Besides the modern look, Taipei also preserves its history. Bo Pi Liao Historic Street or Lane 173 is where photo sessions-in-progress can be found all-day-long. Old buildings have been transformed into museums, telling stories from the old days and educating children about the history of their neighbourhood and lifestyles of their ancestors. Children seem to enjoy old-fashioned toys more than the nostalgic museum. Peerawat Jariyasombat
Dining at the famous Din Tai Fung in Taipei is an unforgettable experience. The restaurant serves delicious dim sum, particularly xiao long bao, or the Chinese soup dumpling. It has seven branches in Taipei, but it is very special to dine at the original Din Tai Fung on Xinyi Road. A favourite with Japanese diners, it is always extremely busy. At lunchtime, diners have to wait at least 30 minutes for a table. A few waitresses speak Thai at this branch. Peerawat Jariyasombat
Taipei has a number of markets or outlets dedicated to art, design and handicrafts. Red House, designed by a Japanese architect, was the island's first market in 1908, when Taiwan was under Japanese occupancy. It was transformed into a theatre, which then changed to a contemporary art gallery. Around the building is an art market. Peerawat Jariyasombat
The ice cream roti or peanut ice cream roll is one of Taipei's must-try street foods. Though strange is the addition of fresh coriander, its fragrance supplements the sweetness. Peerawat Jariyasombat
