life marathon; when you let go of what you are, you become what you might be: Solo Yolo Taiwan Trip Day 1 Outline

So, I am here to share about Day 1 of my itinerary for my solo trip! I will cover the costs and the directions to the places I go to! So if you are wondering if you should attempt a solo trip. Check this out! ---> Should I make a Solo Trip?

Also, check out some tips to note before heading to Taiwan: Tips Prior to / Upon Arrival in Airport

Brief Outline of Day 1

1. Changi Airport

2. Taoyuan Airport Terminal 2

3. Space Inn 太空艙青年旅舍

4. Mr J Fujiwara Tofu Shop (Mr J 藤原豆腐新生店)

5. Mr J French-Italian Restaurant II (Mr J 義法廚房北醫店)

6. Shilin Night Market 士林夜市

Day 0: Changi Airport, 11.45pm

Wanderlusts sending me to the airport

Day 1: Taoyuan Airport Terminal 2!

Go to the level below and this is the convenience store you see! Get your breakfast here! They sell all sorts of things ranging from sushi to tea leaf eggs!

The milk tea is extremely tasty! Try all 4 flavours!

So, after I have gotten some well-deserved breakfast (budget me took budget plane and did not order nor bring any food on board, haha), I sat within the waiting area, waiting for the telecommunications counters to open at 8am. My flight reached Taoyuan Airport at 5.50am! So much time to spare.

I got acquainted with 3 Singaporean girls who were still in Poly and this was their first time in Taiwan. They kindly looked after my bags when I went toilet. There was this taxi uncle who kept pestering us to take his taxi to town. But no! We had free bus tickets!

To find out about how to redeem the tickets and to collect more tips for the free-and-easy travellers,
click on this link!

I was thankful to have made friends with 3 Singaporean girls from poly! And then we took the ride together to Taipei Main Station (台北車站), where we bought our travel cards (悠遊卡), before we parted ways.

I was running behind my schedule; pretty tight one actually. So I skipped going to Longshan Temple (龍山寺) and went straight to deposit my luggages in my hostel (名宿).

Space Inn 太空艙青年旅舍

I booked this on Agoda, and this is an idea of how it looks like. Click on the above link for more detailed discussion.

So, next up, I went to Mr J 藤原豆腐新生店(Fujiwara Tofu Shop).

Mr J 藤原豆腐新生店(Fujiwara Tofu Shop)

My trip this time was to visit all of Jay Chou's restaurants! I have previously gone to his now defunct Mr J Restaurant (click here) in 2012, which was at Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, and unsuccessfully visited his Fujiwara Tofu Shop in 2013 (click here). So this time, I have to visit this tofu shop!!

It took me a long while to look for this shop. From the homework I had, it says to get to Taipower Station. However, I was directed by passer-bys to Guting Station. Imagine the amount of walking I did! So, it taught me one thing - to trust myself and not ask for help. I had Googlemaps; I just needed to have more faith in myself. Check out the directions and my restaurant review here!

Mr J 義法廚房北醫店 (Mr J French-Italian Restaurant II)

This is the most popular of all of the Mr J restaurants. It follows the movie theme: 不能说的秘密！It was quite easy to find this restaurant - this is located in some central hospital, near the school for doctor trainees. I spent around SGD 20 on my set meal here. Click on the link for the exact directions and review!

士林夜市(Shilin Night Market)

This is like my third time here this time! Check out the directions here! And below are some must-eats and must-buys from the night market!

2012 Shilin Night Market Trip

2013 Shilin Night Market Trip

I arranged to meet my Singaporean friends I have known from the airport in Shilin Night Market, but we did not see each other! I was also busy shopping for my stuff.. Besides, they were in the more inner part of Shilin Night Market.

Shilin is really huge and there are 2 parts. Be sure to go to the uncovered part which I have more details about it in my previous blog posts links as above.

So remember to alight at Jiantan Metro Station to get to Shilin Night Market.