After a 4 years hiatus from Taiwan, we are finally here again for a good 8 days. Secured our air tickets in 2023, contacted our best driver in Taiwan and booked our accommodations. All in 2023 for our March 2024. Can tell how eager I am to be back for their sceneries and their local food?
Also find that it was kind of expensive this time round, probably because we are travelling longer than last time (4-5 days). A quick breakdown of our expenses:
- Air tickets via SQ: SGD1,068.20 for 2 pax (SGD534.10 per pax)
- Travel Insurance via Income: SGD101 for 2 pax (SGD50.50 per pax)
- Transport: TWD8333 per pax (est. SGD350 per pax for 6 days, asked for F&E on last 2 days)
- 3 Accommodations: est. SGD900 for 2 pax (est. SGD450 per pax for 7 nights)
Total for 2 pax is SGD2770, excluding cash expenses which we brought est. SGD1300. What do you think?
I did not have a specific plan for this trip so just let our driver guide bring us around his pocket-list places. Follow me on my journey in brief and stay tune to my YouTube Channel for more.
ACCOMMODATION
No. 8, Ren 3rd Rd, Ren’ai Dist., Keelung City 200, Taiwan
The 5-storey hotel is located by the streets of Keelung City, housed in the old shophouses. Coming out from the hotel, turn to your right and walk about 5 minutes to reach Keelung Night Market. A convenience store, PX Mart right across and a nice, retro coffee shop just beside the hotel. Love this cosy hotel that has everything that I'm looking for. Except that there isn't breakfast provided but rest assure that you get drinks, snacks and even simple toast free at their communal kitchen. I do recommend this hotel.
Check out the hotel in my Youtube Shorts.
KEELUNG MIAOKOU NIGHT MARKET
基隆庙口夜市
Because it was Saturday when we arrived in Taiwan, that explained the crowd at the night market. Like I said in my YT Shorts, Taiwanese variety shows filming the crowds in night markets weren't kidding at all. We experienced first hand of the crowd. However, there were so many stalls that seems a must-try but totally ditched the idea due to the crowd and long queue. So we quickly settled for the ones we were able to find a seat. And that's our first meal too in Taiwan.
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| Round 1 of Keelung Night Market Food |
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| Round 2 of Keelung Night Market Food |
I finally had a flavourful bowl of 米粉汤 Beehoon Soup. I had once which was quite bland in the same market (can't remember which stall already). Their beehoon is like our Thick Beehoon in Singapore or udon-looking beehoon maybe. And also not to miss their Pig/Duck Blood in soup base or Mala Tang 麻辣汤. So fresh with the springiness.
Our driver guide recommended the Braised Meat Rice 卤肉饭 beside the temple in the market and also Tempura 甜不辣 too. He lives in Keelung so he knows his place well enough to bring us around. 在地基隆人. Must come to Keelung MiaoKou Night Market 基隆庙口夜市 when you visit.
Check out the market in my Youtube Shorts.
KEELUNG LANDMARK SIGNAGE
Been here the first time in 2019 (click here for the past post) and there wasn't any bookstore (Bleu & Book 太平青鸟) like now in 2024. Actually there is nothing much to do here except for the bird-eye view of Keelung. So if you insist, you can make a quick trip up for the landmark sign, see the view, grab a coffee in the bookstore and move on to the next destination.
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| The vibes in the bookstore |
KEELUNG TOWER
基隆塔
My husband or friend actually spotted this place from Keelung landmark site. So sharp-eyed. According to our driver guide, it is a new attraction cum spot for a 360° bird-eye view of Keelung. Happened that on that weekend, they have naval ship show or something (like our Airshow or Army Open House) so from Keelung Tower, you can see some naval ships in grey. This attraction is free so you may want to add into your itinerary for a 15 minutes slot will do.
Check out the place in my Youtube Shorts.
JINSHAN OLD STREET
金山老街
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| Our spread for lunch |
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| You take your own food to your table |
Flashback 300 years ago, Jinshan Old Street is a bustling street for farm good and fishery and it is also the only remaining Qing dynasty old street in the north coast of Taiwan. A nice place to walk and savour the good old sights that remains in this street of Jinshan.
We came here for lunch and also to take a walk down this old street thereafter despite the weekend crowd. Our guide Xiao Li brought us to this popular meat stall where it sells duck meat as their signature dish. What makes them special is that you take the dishes from their stall to your table yourself. Then when you have finished, their staff will calculate your bill and pay. They see by plates if I'm not wrong. Very interesting culture. And now I love Taiwan bamboo shoots because it doesn't have the funky taste/smell which I hate it so much in Singapore. The ones I had here was crunchy and sweet.
By the way, I find that Taiwanese have light taste bud because of health conscious (correct me if I'm wrong), so you may not like their food if you have a strong taste bud. I'm okay with that but not for my man who said the food were so-so only.
Check out the place in my Youtube Shorts.
JINSHAN SHITOUSHAN PARK
金山狮头山公园
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| Entrance of Jinshan Shitoushan Park |
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| The Candle Holder Islets |
ShiTouShan has been an army-controlled zone for long time, with it well-protected natural ecology. At the end of the trail, you will see the famous 2 Candle Holder Islets shaped by platonic movements and natural erosions and after enduring winds, rain and waves for a long time, they now look like a finely crafted natural artwork.
That's all for Keelung and Jinshan attraction. I actually leave one place out here because I feel it is almost the same. Now I realized Taiwan has so many mountains to explore. Check out my daily Youtube Shorts for more 1 min of Taiwan to you, at least for the next 1 week. Stay tune for the next post on Yilan and Jiufen.
Disclaimer: All the above were paid by the writer. Not a sponsored post.