Taiwan 2019 - 3 days DIY Travel Itinerary

Taiwan is a small country, a one and a half hour travel by plane from the Philippines. It has a variety of sights and a complete package of tourist spots. With hundred of mountains, hot springs, waterfalls, national parks, museums, temples, high-tech public trains, and variety of nights markets, Taiwan has something that everyone can enjoy.

Taiwan extends visa-free privilege for Filipinos till July 2020 who will stay upto 14 days. The best time to visit Taiwan is between April - June, and September - November, when the weather is pleasant, and the tourist season isn’t at its peak. I went there last week of October.

It was a solo travel and I stayed there for 3 days, just took my rest days at work. Short, but I definitely had a great time. 

TRAVEL GUIDELINES:

🕙 Timezone: There is no time difference between Taiwan and the Philippines.

💰 Currency: Taiwan currency is in New Taipei Dollor (NTD) which is about 1.67 PHP during my trip. You can only exchange your money through banks and at the airport. So I suggest you to change your peso bill to NTD before you go to Taiwan. PHP actually has no value in Taiwan or there are only very limited places where you can exchange and they give it in a small rate. So I would suggest you to also bring extra USD that you can exchange if your NTD money is not enough.

📶 Pocket WiFi Rental and Data SIM: You can purchase a pocket WiFi or SIM through KLOOK. I have purchased the EasyCard & 4G SIM Card (Taoyuan Airport Pick Up) at P547.00. The 4G SIM card has unlimited internet access that is good for 5 days. While the EasyCard is very useful for riding MRT. You just have to load certain amount at convenience stores or ticketing machines to top up for public transportations.

🏠 Where to Stay in Taipei: 

During my travel, I have stayed in a hostel. It is a dormitory type where you shared room with other guests. I recommend that you stay near MRT stations. The better place to stay is within Taipei Main Station, Ximen Station and Taipei 101 Station. As for me, I have stayed in Space Inn Henyang Branch Hostel near Ximen station. It is located in B1 No.51 Henyang Road. I searched different hostels in Agoda and this one attracts my attention as they have good reviews when it comes to cleanliness. They also have alot of cubicles in the restroom to avoid queue.

THE PERFECT 3 DAY ITINERARY:

DAY 1: 

✈  Arrival at Taoyuan Airport (09:45AM)

⏳ Check In at Space Inn Henyang  
               🚩From Airport ride the express train going to Taipei Main Station
               🚩From Taipei Main Station, transfer to Green Line (Beimen Station) and drop off                                                to Ximen Station Exit 4.
               🚩It is a 5 minute walk from Ximen Station. Just walk straight to No.51 Building

⏳ Ximending Shopping District
               🚩From Ximen Station Exit 6

⏳ Shilin Night Market
               🚩Take the Red Line to Jiantan Station, not Shilin Station. After leaving Exit 1,                                           diagonally cross the street to the left to enter the night market.

DAY 2: 

⏳Booked tour from Klook:
              🚩Yehliu Geopark
              🚩Jiufen Old Street
              🚩Shifen Old Street
              🚩Shifen Waterfall (Missed due to peak)
              🚩Golden Waterfall (Cancelled due to weekend traffic)

I would suggest not to go there during weekends to avoid hassle and traffic. 

DAY 3: 

⏳Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall

               🚩From Ximen Station where I stayed at, ride green line and drop off to Chiang Kai                       Shek Memorial Hall Station directly 

⏳ Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

               🚩Take the blue line and drop off directly to Sun Yat-sen station

⏳ Taipei 101
               🚩From Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, you can walk towards Taipei 101 directly.

⏳ Raohe Night Market
               🚩From Taipei 101, ride pink line going back to Chiang Kai Shek Station and ride green line then drop off to the last station Songshan Station. 

Many of us have a bucket list of places we want to see. Travel is an all-consuming all desiring addiction that many of us enjoy and that’s why making decisions about it are so difficult. The allure of something new, something foreign, something to satisfy that feeling is a drug you can pursue for your entire life. Now I understand why many quit their job and have chosen to travel around the world. But for me, I stick with my job to take me to more travels.

💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

Bukchon Hanok Village

Have you ever wondered how Seoul looks like in the past? Bukchon Hanok Village is a Korean traditional village in Seoul with a long history that is located at the top of the 3 huge palaces. Bukchon 북촌 means "North Village" and Hanok 한옥 means "Korean traditional house". It's located north of Cheonggye and Jongno streams and was open to public last 2015 as part of the Seoul Museum History. 

Bukchon was traditionally the residential quarter of high-ranking government officials and nobility during the Joseon Dynasty. Traditionally, this place was inhabited by nobles, serving in the palace and their families. Later on, due to wars and disasters, the place was occupied by commoners. However, Bukchon is still a residential area and people are currently living there. There are restaurants, tea houses, museums, hostels and other traditional stores in Bukchon that you can visit. 

How to get there:

• The nearest subway station is Anguk - subway line 3 (orange line). Go to subway exit 2 and walk straight for about 600 meters until you reach Bukchon-ro 11 Gil at the left side or Bukchon-ro 12 Gil at the right side. Both streets will lead you to Bukchon village. 

DAISO Store in Myeongdong

I was searching some Shopping stores in Seoul that offer big discounts and I have found that there is (I think) a newly opened DAISO in Myeondong which consider as one of the biggest DAISO stores in the country. It is a 5-story building near Myeongdong station exit 1 & 2 and just almost beside The North Face building. 

Each floor sells a different category of items. So I would suggest that you start from the 5th floor going down the 1st floor not to missed anything. 

In Daiso Myeondong, you can find everything that you want, unlike in Manila that there are only limited stocks. From food to kitchenware, toiletries, tools, cosmetics, school supplies, tumbles, arts, souvenirs.. name it.. it's available there. And most of the items are selling in a cheaper price. 

Changdeokgung Palace (창덕궁)

Changdeokgung Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage and one of the 5 Grand Palaces in South Korea that built by the kings of the Joseon Dynasty. It is located in Jongno-gu, Seoul and used to film the hugely popular Korean drama Dae Jang Gum or Jewel in the Palace. Behind this palace lies Huwon or known as the "Secret Garden" that is a rear garden at the palace that flows naturally with nature and was used as a place of leisure by members of the royal family. 

Changdeokgung Palace entrance fee costs 3,000 won while Huwon (Secret Garden) costs an additional 5,000 won with an advance reservation required. Please note that all the palaces in South Korea are closed every Monday. 

I thought I will miss to see the cherry blossom during my travel in the second week of March but glad that I didn't. I heard that you will see the first cherry blossom by early March here at Changdeokgung Palace though not that fully bloomed. When I entered the palace, I greeted by the amazing beauty of Maehwa flowers. Plum Blossom (매화) more commonly known as the Maehwa in Korea is one of the earliest flowers to bloom right after the winter. It signals the arrival of spring. 

Cherry Blossom trees are not yet fully bloomed but there are portions that flowers are growing. 

Nothing compares to the excitement and happiness I've felt that time. I shouldn't miss the spring season next year. 


HOW TO GET THERE:

• By metro, ride lines 1, 3 & 5, Jongno 3 (sam)-ga Station, exit 6, 10 minutes walking

Nami Island (남이섬)

Related post: Nami Island 2017

The first time I went here was 2 years ago. There are 3 options how to get there: 1st is by booking a shuttle bus that includes entrance ticket, 2nd is by ITX-Cheongchun and 3rd is by subway/metro which I've tried. (Please see below information) 

When you reach Gapyeong Station, there’s a City Bus that runs once an hour between 9AM – 7PM starting from Gapyeong Station and covers all 4 sites (Nami Island, Garden of Morning Calm, Petite France and Gangchon Rail Park). For a flat rate of ₩6,000, you can purchase the Gapyeong Bus Pass from the bus driver for unlimited rides within a day. Keep this ticket and show it to the bus driver at every pickup point. I only wanted to see Nami Island as I have to go back early in the hotel.
Nami Island's admission fee increased to 13,000 won from 8,000 won after 2 years. It includes the Ferry Boat going to the island. You also have an option to go through the zipline which cost 38,000 won. 

It was super cold when I went there but a bit warmer compared last January 2017. Since it was March, it's still the last week of winter season and cherry blossoms are not bloomed yet. Nami Island is super huge and it will take alot of time for you to explore the whole island. I've only walked around the places that I wasn't able to see the last time I went here. 

Nami Island became popular because of the K-drama Winter Sonata. This place is really a picturesque. 

The most iconic image here is the spot between two rows of tall maple trees. Expect alot of photo bombers as it is very impossible to take a solo picture there. 

You can enjoy walking along the river and experience to see rabbits and squirrels running around.  

You can also stop to an old Korean traditional house and hut. 

Nami Island has alot to offer. There may not be a lot to say about this place and most of the photos you see may all look like the others, but being there definitely felt different and was truly… magical. The photos you see online will never give justice. The place was serene and beautiful and there was nothing like it that you will see in Seoul.

HOW TO GET THERE:

• From Euljiro where I stayed at, ride subway green like going to Wangsimni
• Transfer to Gyeongi Jungang Line (skyblue line) going to Cheongyangni Station
• Ride Gyeongchun Line (gray line) going directly to Gapyeong Station