AMBA HOTEL • Taipei, Taiwan

It's not difficult to spot this artsy building along the stretch of 中山 Zhong Shan road.

HOME HOTEL • Taipei, Taiwan

A mere three-minute walk from the Zhong Xiao Fu Xing 忠孝復興 metro station and adjacent to the shopping district around the SOGO Department Store, this new branch of HOME Hotel offers a brand new high-end accommodation option in Taipei's East District.

TAIWAN • December 2014 • Part 9

Good morning, 台中 Taichung! 
Despite sleeping late the previous night, I needed to wake up early today since it's my last day in Taiwan. I was flying out in the evening so why not maximize my last full day here, right?

DESTINATION 1:

PARK LANE

Had breakfast at Starbucks Eslite Bookstore (the biggest bookstore chain in Taiwan) because...

TAIWAN • December 2014 • Part 8

DESTINATION 1:

TUNTEX SKY TOWER- 

85 SKY TOWER

Good morning, Kaohsiung!

Love the view from the 21st floor of the building!

TAIWAN • December 2014 • Part 7

Good morning 台東 Taidung! 

Started my day with this newly discovered RTD (ready to drink) milk tea I bought from 7-11! It's so good! 

TAIWAN • December 2014 • Part 6

Good morning Hualien! 

On this day, I was supposed to try out an activity I have always wanted to do: PARAGLIDING. Sadly, due to the bad weather conditions (it was super cloudy), the owner said they couldn't let me fly :(

Nonetheless, there are a million and one activities that can be done in this city so no need to waste any single minute as a day full of adventure awaits... 

DESTINATION 1:

七星潭 SEVEN STAR LAKE BEACH

The name originated from tales that there were lakes scattered around the National Hualien University of Education and Hualien Airport before they were filled in later as a result of constructions.

TAIWAN • December 2014 • Part 5

I love how despite sleeping late, I still managed to wake up early and eat hearty breakfast meals during my entire stay in Taiwan. 
I usually don't have the time to do that back here in Manila :(

Taiwan has a lot of breakfast places that are open from midnight up to lunch time.

TAIWAN • December 2014 • Part 4

Good morning, Taipei!

Starting my day with a very Chinese breakfast: Soya with Rice Milk + Xiao Long Bao 

After breakfast, I headed off to my first destination of the day...

TAIWAN • December 2014 • Part 3

Started the day with a yummy breakfast. It may not seem that enticing in the picture (nor physically) but this famous local 小吃 (xiao chi; snack) called 肉圓 (rou yuan; meatballs) will definitely grab your hearts. Just make sure to inform the person cooking if you don't like any ingredients to be included. For example, cilantro, for my case.

TAIWAN • December 2014 • Part 2

I can't believe it's just my second time in Taiwan. My first time here was way back in 2008 to study and train for International Math Competitions (yes, I was a Mathlete haha). Nonetheless, I feel so close and familiar to this country since I LOVE watching and am avid fan of Taiwan Idol Dramas since I was young. Coming back to this country after so long excited me so much.


Got out of the airport at around 2am of December 14 and since I felt a little hungry, dropped by this famous beef noodle house on my way to the hotel.

Long line of customers at this early hour just means one thing: MUST TRY!

TAIWAN • December 2014 • Part 1

UP Diliman was the first school to move the academic year from June-April to August-June last 2014. This meant that instead of having the regular 2-month summer break, we would be enjoying a whooping 4-month summer vacation! However, due to being caught up with maximizing the break, I ended up overworking and spending too much time with work and school. That's why when a friend from a travel agency called me up last June and informed me that an airline was having a ticket promo,  I immediately asked her to help me book one ticket to Taiwan for a quick getaway before my senior year started.

Since I was paranoid about getting stuck in the traffic, I arrived in NAIA Terminal 3 six (6) hours before my flight. Better safe than sorry :))