27th February 2013. As usual, we got up early as we had to catch a train to Ruifang station (瑞芳车站). We had planned to visit another tourist site, the old-fashioned Jiufen street (九份老街) better known as Jiufen Old Street.
We had Breakfast at one of the more common Breakfast shops in Taipei. It is called the Yong He Chinese Type Breakfast (永和豆浆). We ordered some you tiao (油条) and soy milk (豆花水). If you do not know what you tiao (油条) is, it literally means oil strip also known to us Hokkiens as yu char kueh. It is dough, deep fried to give its oily and crisp golden brown texture.
You tiao (油条) is normally eaten as accompaniment with rice-congee/porridge or soy milk (豆花水).
Right after our Breakfast at Yong He (永和豆浆), we proceeded straight to Taipei Railway Station (台北车站) to catch a train to Ruifang station (瑞芳车站). It was pouring by the time we got to Ruifang station. You might get to see some aunties selling umbrellas at ridiculous prices make a quick profit for people like us who do not have an umbrella.
We exited by Ruifang station's main entrance. Directly opposite the station's main entrance, there is a wellcome convenience store (顶好超市). It is easily spotted as it have a red background with yellow headings on it.
Proceed in the direction of the wellcome convenience store (顶好超市). At that side, there is a bus-stop. At that bus stop, there is a bus that will take you straight to the Jiufen old street (九份老街). I do apologise as I forgotten what bus number we took to Jiufen (九份).
Boarded the bus to Jiufen
Adam adjusting his hair
I did not bother to participate during the planning phase of this trip as I merely wanted to tag along and keep an open mind. As such I did not realise that Jiufen (九份) is located in the highlands, until the bus started ascending up a winding road.
A temple in jiufen (九份)
On my way up the mountain road, I noticed a temple which is located one stop before the stop we alighted. If you are do plan to take a bus up like we do, do look out for this temple as it will indicate that you will be arriving near Jiufen old street. I apologise as I do not know what this temple name is.
Moving on, we proceeded to walk up the wet and winding road till we reached the entrance of the Jiufen old street (九份老街). Do be extra careful as tour buses tend to stop at the bend where the entrance is to allow tourist to alight. As tour buses require a larger turning circle, they might tend to eat into your walking path, if you happened to be walking up.
The temperature got colder due to the rain. But I did not expect it to get all misty up there. It does feel refreshing and comfortable I say.
The entrance is just right round this corner
Brace yourself the fog is coming
The entrance to 九份老街
Jiufen (九份) was founded due to the discovery of gold. Like Shifen (十分), this place initially was a mining town. But sadly most of it were lost during the WWII. Thankfully, quaint streets, tea houses and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean saved it from turning into a mining ghost town. As the rain got heavier, I could not risk getting my DSLR wet (Water and Cameras don't mixed). So I took a video of our walk in Jiufen old street (九份老街) using my iPhone.
I do apologise for the long, boring and poorly edited video. Jiufen old street (九份老街) is not only a good place to relieve scenes of the past and film videos, it is also a fantastic getaway from the busy urban jungle of Taipei. If you might noticed in the near end section of the video, that there are inns/hostels located along the Jiufen old street (九份老街). You might want to consider looking them up via Google search.
Stopped for some lunch at a tea ho
Simply Breathtaking
We stopped by a random tea house for some light lunch. This particular tea house have a traditional Chinese interior. With the added antiques on display, it does add a rather
Antiques on display in the tea house
This option should be given at every flight of stairs in the world.
As the rain did not stop, we decided to forego the initial plan of climbing up to the top of the hill/mountain as it was very wet and slippery. Soon, we slowly descend to a bus stop. From there, we took a bus (I do apologise again as I forgotten what bus number we boarded) that brought us back into the concrete jungle of Tapei. (I recommend getting off at Ruifang station (瑞芳车站) as the bus ride is very long )
The bus dropped us of at its final stop. I do not know where in Taipei we had alighted but, if memory serves me right, I think its at 忠孝复兴(Zhong Xiao Fu Xing) station where its entrance is within a mega posh shopping mall (I think its is a Japanese shopping mall? as I remember the red title: SOGO or 太平洋 (tai ping yang)
As such I went scouting on google maps and found the exact location where we alighted the bus that we boarded at Jiufen (九份). See image below.
Section 1 复兴 南路 (Fuxing south road) Daan District Taipei
We walked up towards the green building at the background. That green building is SOGO or 太平洋 (tai ping yang) they call it. From 忠孝复兴(Zhong Xiao Fu Xing) station, we switched over to the red line and alight at 剑潭(Jiantan) station.
Shilin metro station
Upon alighting at this station, all you got to do is follow the crowd. That's right, the night crowd will eventually lead you to the famous 士林夜市(shilin night market). Upon following the crowd, we decided to split into two groups one to queue for our favourite Taiwanese fried chicken chop (鸡爬) and the another, for the locals' favourite Prince cheese potatoes delight (王子起士马铃薯)
Us guys for some 鸡爬
Yichin and Ruiqi queued for PCP (prince cheese potatoes) delight
And here it is, the Prince cheese potatoes delight (王子起士马铃薯) and a must have 鸡爬 (Taiwanese Fried Chicken Chop).
Cheese potatoes on the left accompanied by some fried chicken chop
Hmmm, One must visit the night markets of Taipei to truly taste the local food and have an idea what the majority of the Taipei locals life is like after working hours. Who knows, if you might get addicted to the 鸡爬 (Taiwanese Fried Chicken Chop).
Know what these are?
If you guessed sausages, well yeah! These are sausages that are covered with dough and fried to give its chewy brown exterior. The stall tender calls it a Super Dog. Each for only NT$40, with a 4 flavours to choose you will be spoiled for choice.
Mr YanHui, enjoying his Super Dog with ketchup on
Game stalls are very common in 士林夜市(shilin night market). Though you might see some games being replicated at other game stalls nearby but if your hands are itching for some fun, you might want to try them out.
Air gun shoot out
Boy testing out his marksmanship
Adam had a go with mix and match mahjong
Mr YanHui throwing some angry birds
And my group decided to throw birds for another 35 minutes
After some fun and games, we proceed to follow the crowd. Walking further down brought us to the entrance of the 士林夜市(shilin night market). During my visit, there were many Japanese and maybe Korean tourist going from stall to stall. I guess the 士林夜市(shilin night market) is popular with the Japanese and Koreans.
Like any other night markets in Taipei, this one is pretty big. It consists of a basement level where all the good food stalls are located. And apparels, souvenirs and game stalls occupy mainly the ground level.
If you can't get enough game, why not try your hands on some prawning or fishing? Here we have Mr YanHui and YiChin trying to hook up some prawns by its tail. The rule is only to hook the prawn by its tail and also not to break the string. Each game gives us only 5 tries. Sadly, we did not caught any.
And if you are uncomfortable with prawns, why not try the traditional Japanese fishing game? Commonly found in the night markets in Japan during the summer festival, where you are given a net made up of thin tissue and you are suppose to catch the fish with it. You can have as many times as you want till your net tissue breaks. And if you caught one, you can bring your fishy home!
Apart from the usual food, games and apparel stalls, you might be able to get your hands on some third party gadget accessories. They have a wide variety of phone and tablet protection cases to screen protectors for almost every phone or tablet sold in the market. Perhaps you fancy a LED iPod cable?
A 3rd party iPod/iPhone cable with LED
As I said before, this place is very popular with the Japanese tourist and maybe Korean tourist. Here is a photo of a Japanese lady looking through some of the shirts at a stall.
"Kawaii" she said while pointing at the pink shirt
Perhaps you fancy a "KUMA" (Bear in Japanese) then a PUMA?
A Japanese tourist trying out one of the game stall
A typical ball game.....
Mr YanHui checking out some Taiwanese nougats
Fancy some slices of peanut pan cake?
We tried out a shooting game
RuiQi taking her aim on one of the tissues
We proceeded to walk deeper into the night market and were led to a street filled with lit up stalls selling mainly apparels and food. The street part of the 士林夜市(shilin night market) is located further in.
Winding through the corwd
Lots of people in this area of the night market
Another store selling shirts with a lot of different designs to choose
Ever tried some 鸡蛋糕 (ji dan gao)? [Egg cake]
Another apparel store selling merchandise focused on the female public
There is rice wine, rice oil, rice cake and even rice biscults
Peanut ice-cream hmmm delicious
Cheese everyone!
Some more bubble tea
And Adam had to have another 鸡爬(chicken chop) but this time in size XL
A satisfied Adam is a happy Adam
One can never be satisfied until he tries every food in the night market. As such we were led by Adam to the basement part of the 士林夜市(shilin night market). Upon which, we discovered a food paradise. To people who love food, this could definitely be in your one of the places to visit in Taipei.
Adam walking from stall to stall thinking which food to try next
Much like Singapore's hawker centres except each individual stall have their own table and seats. Where attracted customers will then take a seat and order their own food or order first before taking a seat.
I have no idea what this is??
Fried crabs sold in night markets are absolutely delicious. These small crabs were fried till their outer shell turns gold and crispy. Giving me the crunchy and chewy sensation, taste good too. Comes in both small or medium sizes. I recommend going for the small size as I feel it is the right size for a snack.
Fried crabs!!! You certainly must try these.
Small fried crabs.
Getting crowded over here.
How about another fried oyster?
Love peanut-butter yam cakes?
Yoke Chew loves them!
Well that is the end for Day 3. We left right after Yoke Chew finishes his yam cakes and took the train back to our hostel. Most of our time is roaming in Jiufen old street (九份老街), but its is all worth it as I get to see some breathtaking views and of course experience a fog.
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