台湾 DAY 5 | 台北自由行 Taipei Free & Easy (淡水Tamsui / 士林Shih Lin Night Market/西门町 Ximending)

This post covers about:
- 淡水老街 Tamsui Old Street (Attractions, Lunch)
- 源味本铺古早味传统蛋糕 Taiwan Original Cake
- 淡水小吃：阿给
- 黄色水岸 Tamsui Waterfront
- 士林夜市 Shih Lin Night Market
- 火锅の屋 @ 西门町商店 Personal Steamboat @ Ximending Night Market

MRT from Zhongshan to Tamsui

There's no direct MRT route from Ximen Station to Tamsui station. Under the guidance from customer service counter, we left Ximen station (西门站), transit via Zhongshan station(中山站) which took about 45 minutes to Tamsui as it is the terminal station of Tamsui Line.

The crowd at each station is unexpectedly larger than I thought as it is the peak hour for white-collars. We actually blended in since we already set our itinerary, not to forget, taking precautions with our belongings.

Tamsui MRT station 淡水站

First building to be seen right exit from Tamsui MRT terminal

We followed the crowd to exit the station though. I felt for the weather once exited the terminal, surrounded by the cool breeze and the mist. But it wasn't freezing, that's why it was perfect for a stroll

Tamsui is famous for the specialty food namely Ah Gei (阿给). The shop lots there in a row are selling the similar thing. We randomly stepped into one of them and later found that we were actually at the original shop, 正宗滬尾「淡水手工阿給創始店」(according to google)

This restaurant also restricts each diner to spend minimum 35 Taiwan dollar.

Clockwise:

鱼丸汤 (Fish ball soup)

大条米粉汤 (thick vermicelli in clear soup)

鱼翅阿给

鱼翅阿给

鱼翅inside is good but not the beancurd because I don't like it generally.

Tamsui Old Street

Same goes to  old-school sponge cake as it's so-called origin from Tamsui too.

My sister surveyed before and said this is the authentic one (创始店) at there

(we're neutral on it after all).

Be expected to see few more different shops selling the cake too, recipe is almost similar I would say.

We had cheese flavour one at 100 Taiwan dollar.

Ferry service to 八里左岸 at the pier of Tamsui

No lie that I really felt for the weather like this.

Street performance of "Golden Man" had apparently caught many attention

It was at the station exit towards the bay.

Tourist-hunting restaurant (LOL) and also souvenir shop set up as well 

We went back on route to Shih Lin Night Market. After my sister's research before this trip, we know that people all strongly advise to drop off at Jian Tan Station (剑谭站) instead of Shilin Station (士林站) if you were to head for the night market. The latter is of more walking distance despite the station name that may be more convincible to tourists.

Shin Lin's landmark, Shih Lin Night Market

大肠包小肠

No next time! It's just not my thing, rather smelly I would say.

钓虾

Shrimp fishing

Shrimp fishing, significance to Taiwan's night market.

Shop Lots at Shih Lin Night Market

Guess that we were too early for the night market. None of any was attractive to have (some just preparing to open stall), thus, we got back via MRT back to Ximending instead without having a clue what to have for dinner exactly. 

Steamboat restaurant @ Ximending

Personal steamboat each for my family, as low as 99 Taiwan dollar per pot.

Quite decent one, they simply enjoyed it.

While I had cheese baked rice.  

View from the restaurant featuring a multi-storey theatre and Uniqlo store.

In short, we particularly enjoyed ourselves over the weather, environment and food at Tamsui. Definitely, it deserves a return visit from us (Nostalgia triggered).

We don't find Shih Lin Night Market to be as exciting as people say. It's rather more to like 越夜越精彩, the stalls were just started to set up, some not even as we were there. Maybe because we're not really pasar malam kaki.

Next, Jiu fen and Taipei 101!

Archive:

Penang - Hong Kong Airport - Taiwan Taoyuan Airport (Tourist SIM Card)

Little Discover at Taoyuan Airport (Free Photo Session + 24 hr Convenience Store)

Day 2 : 8-hr Cab Tour in Taizhung

Day 3: Taizhung Free & Easy (Ji Guang Street, Yi Zhong Night Market)

Day 4: From Taizhung to Ximending, Taipei