2011 October | Alec Travel Guide

From the monthly archives: October 2011

Hello Kitty Everywhere!!! – Hello Kitty Sweets Restaurant in Taipei, Taiwan

By Alec On October 25, 2011 · 4 Comments

I love Hello Kitty!!! Okay, maybe not to that extreme, but I do admit I am quite fascinated with how such a simple cartoon character as Hello Kitty, can create such a cult like following of fans from around the world. While I was researching for some of the many themed restaurants in Taipei to visit, I managed to stumbled across this restaurant in Taipei that specialized purely in Hello Kitty! Some people called me crazy, while some have called me obsessed, but there was no doubt in my mind that I must visit this Hello Kitty restaurant in Taipei! Read Full Article →

Magnificent Taroko Gorge, Part 2 – The Sacred Eternal Spring Shrine

By Alec On October 22, 2011 · Leave a Comment

After exploring the Shakadang Trail, the next stop for my wife and I to explore Taroko Gorge was the Eternal Spring Shrine. About 1 to 2 km down the road from the entrance of the Shakadang Trail lies the Eternal Spring Shrine that is nestled in the corner of a valley, sitting peacefully while spring water flows underneath it. The story behind this shrine was that it was built by the Taiwanese government to commerate the 226 personnel (most of whom were military veterans) who died in the 1950′s during the construction of the Central Cross Island Highway that cuts right through the mountainous range of Taroko Gorge. Looking at the spring water that flows naturally underneath the shrine, along with the rich vegetation all around, it was a very peaceful and serene site. Read Full Article →

Magnificent Taroko Gorge, Part 1 – Mysterious Shakadang Trail

By Alec On October 20, 2011 · 3 Comments

Clear blue water rushing through smooth marble rocks surrounded by lush green vegetation and dramatic marble cliffs, this is the scenery of the Shakadang Trail at the Taroko Gorge National Park near Hualien City, Taiwan. The main focal point of this trail is the crystal clear Shakadang River that flows through it. The trademark of this river is its rich blue colour (sometimes with a tinge of green), which is attributed by the mineral deposits in the rocks that the river flows over on. According to the guide that took us through this trail, rain or shine, the river is always clear and never murky. Simply a very stunning trail to explore… Read Full Article →

Only “OK” At the Miramar Entertainment Park – Taipei, Taiwan

By Alec On October 18, 2011 · Leave a Comment

After reading a few travel books and fancy brochures, my wife and I wanted to check out what the hype was all about at the Miramar Entertainment Park in the northern part of Taipei, Taiwan. They call it an entertainment park, but really its just a glorified shopping mall, with a large ferris wheel on the top floor of the mall. We took a quick tour of the place on a Friday night, and here are my top 3 first impressions: Read Full Article →

The National Revolutionary Martyr’s Shrine – Taipei, Taiwan

By Alec On October 14, 2011 · 1 Comment

Located just next to The Grand Hotel in northern Taipei, is the National Revolutionary Martyr’s Shrine. This is a memorial hall built in 1969 to commemorate the war dead of the Republic of China. Inside the main hall houses the spirtual tablets honouring the 390,000 persons (approximate figure) killed during the various wars in the region that has shaped the histories of both the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China. It is a solemn place, so do remember to take off your hats and to speak silently when around the main hall. Read Full Article →

Very Grand Indeed – The Grand Hotel in Taipei, Taiwan

By Alec On October 12, 2011 · 2 Comments

A place of elegance, history, and grandeur. This pretty much sums up The Grand Hotel located in the northern part of Taipei City in Taiwan. Established in 1952, this landmark hotel in Taipei was constructed on the basis of Chiang Kai Shek’s vision of having an extravagant hotel to serve visiting foreign dignitaries and to promote Chinese culture. Such famous dignitaries include Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela, and Margaret Thatcher. It is a truly remarkable piece of architecture inspired by traditional Chinese elements that resemeble the grandness of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Currently it has the world’s largest Chinese styled roof. Although the hotel shows many signs of aging, its legacy and importance in Taiwan will still live on. Read Full Article →

Get FAT at Shilin Night Market in Taipei, Taiwan!

By Alec On October 12, 2011 · 2 Comments

If you only have a few days in Taipei City in Taiwan, then one of the must visit places would be Shilin Nightmarket located in the northern part of Taipei. It is probably the biggest and most famous nightmarket in Taipei. It has a history of over 100 years, and everything from shoes, accessories, to herbal tea and of course…the fabulous greasy but tasty street food can be found here at Shilin Nightmarket. Sampling the food at Shilin Nightmarket alone, you probably will have a good taste of the famous street snacks of Taiwan! If you haven’t come to Shilin Nightmarket, then you most definitely haven’t really experienced Taipei City at its best! Read Full Article →