4D3N The Best No-Nonsense #Instaworthy Busan Itinerary

My wife and I are the biggest Korean fanatics. Even with two kids, we find time to binge watch k-dramas all these years. 50 series would be an under estimation. We did Seoul, but frankly, it's Singapore with a river in between, and with a different season. Last year when we started on Busan, many including us would think that Busan is a third-world fishing village or a zombie town (geddit?).

But after doing our homework, our eyes are opened. Now we absolutely fell in love with Busan, so much so we travelled there twice in two months.

If you have been reading my humble blog, you would know that we are always looking out for the best photo opportunities. And yes, that means missing out the humble malls and local roadside stalls. But time is limited, it is what it is.

We have stayed in a couple of places - Gwangalli (BAMU + AirBnb) and Haeundae (Signiel). Both are fantastic as they are beside the beach, so you can wake up to the sea breeze. Gwangalli is famous for the long stretch of cafes and bars, while Haeundae for its upscale hotels and night activities. For us, we LOVE Gwangalli, I even joked about getting a holiday house there.

BAMU (Boutique hotel with this sick view)

Signiel Busan (Upscale hotel with free flow Diptyque)

Unlike the other itineraries, I will leave out the flights but list suggestions on places to go.

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Day 1: Gwangalli

There is no better way to start than to chillax at the famous Gwangalli Beach, lined with countless beautiful cafes and bars. For breakfast/brunch, I suggest:

Working Holiday (>2000 reviews, 4.9 stars) - The vibes is strong with this, you'll be getting a lot of sentiments if you are from or love Australia. If you are craving for a Western brunch - Egg Benedict, pasta, cakes, this is the place. 

La feuille - A coffee and bakery place with many queuing for their freshly baked pastries. It's those kind of shop when you walk past, the smell of bread hits you in the right spot. You must try their croissant and salt bread.

Spend the day exploring their local shops or lazing at the beach. It's a pretty long stretch, so there's lots to see. For meals I suggest:

9D8N The BEST Switzerland Family Itinerary WITH CHILDREN

When my lady and I were planning this trip, to be honest, Switzerland never crossed our minds. We could not imagine lugging two kids up the Swiss alps, paired with the crazy expenses (which it is), but this trip was amazing. We had fun, the kids had fun.

We did our research through the sites, and now with ChatGPT planning itineraries even, booked our tickets and accommodations, packed our bags, and here we start our great Swiss adventures. Before I continue, here contains valuable tips that may help you navigate through your travels, but it's mainly intended for parents travelling with children - we brought our 7 and 3 year old along! If you're still reading, don't worry, you will survive the trip.

Trip Summary

From Singapore, we took a direct 12-hour red-eye flight to Switzerland, collected our rental car straight at the airport and headed to Bern. On our way to Lamoura (France), we stopped by Lausanne and explored Geneva. Next up, we visited the Alps, stationing ourselves at a mountain Airbnb at Embd near Visp, and headed to Zermatt to see the Matterhorn. Took the car-tram passed the mountains to Interlaken, Lungern and Lucerne before stopping at Zurich before flying back. That's almost an entire round covered in one trip!

9D8N Switzerland Itinerary

Day 1: Singapore > Zurich > Bern

We took a 12-hour red-eye to Zurich with Swiss Air. Honest opinion, this airline is on par with SQ. They have 4 seats in middle section (for economy), the stewards explain to you personally what's on the food and wine menu, they even have a pantry cart in case you're hungry in the middle of the flight. Thank God, we including the kids rested almost 70% of the flight, which is a big win for us.

Pro tip: Get the SIM direct from airport (beside luggage collection). They have a lot of options. Since my telco Circle didn't have the Switzerland plans, and we are travelling to France for a couple of days, we got the EU unlimited data option which was around SGD$60 for 1 month.

We rented our car from SIXT. Ordered a BMW 2 series, but got "upgraded" for a CUPRA instead. FYI it's left-hand drive, meaning to say that driver sits on the left (opposite from Singapore). It always take me 20-30 mins to get used to, and some horning from the back. Trust me, Swiss drivers are impatient AF.

Pro tip: If you're driving cross borders, you need to get the relevant permits which you could check with the car rental. SIXT has one of the most affordable. Also, if you're planning to travel on highways, which you should be, please check that you have the motorway vignette (again SIXT provides, but do check with your car rental).

TOP 5 Cafes in Jeju You ABSOLUTELY Cannot Miss Out!

 When it comes to Jeju, most people think of a few things - hiking Mount Hallasan, strolling along the scenic coasts, and cafe-hopping. Jeju has got cafes planted in almost every corner. And being an island well-known for its volcanic terrains, most cafes boast breathtaking views, be it the seas or the mountains.

Before our trip, we did our researched and bookmarked a heck lot. But to be honest, there are simply too many which we couldn’t possibly cover all, especially when we have a 5 year-old who constantly complained we are taking too many photos.

Without any particular order, here are the top 5 we been to.

1. BOMNAL

Address: 25 Aewol-ro 1-gil, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

BOMNAL is nestled in a bustling street where there are lots of cafes. This cafe is seriously insta-worthy with photo opportunities at every turn. Given its popularity among tourists, be sure to grab your slots to secure the best views! Best place IMO is definitely close to sunset, where you can see the sun hides itself in front of you.

The BEST 7D6N Jeju Itinerary (Perfect for family with children!)

When it comes to our annual holiday, we put in a heck load of thought. The first being - can our little Emmanuel (1.5 y.o at point of writing) follow us? Probably next year. So where to? We shortlisted a few places with our budget - Sydney, Melbourne.. But having been to Western Australia last year, we thought why not go somewhere in Asia? Japan? Korea? We did plan on going to Seoul, but ended up with Jeju. A whole week of Jeju. When I did my research, there are a lot of people doing 4D3N or even less. But we know we wanted a slow and relaxing one, so we opted for 7D6N. And to be awfully honest, it was still kinda rushed, as Jeju has lots to offer.

Trip Summary

With children, we love to do road trips (as with Perth), if not you'll be carrying them around. Trust me. This trip ain't any different. Once we rested at Jeju city for a day, we will embark on a 5-day road trip, covering an entire ring of Jeju - East Jeju, Seogwipo (South Jeju), and West Jeju, before returning to the city. Since we are bringing our 5 y.o daughter, Olivia, we have slot in lots of activities for children, and not to miss out many insta-worthy cafe and scenic spots. Initially we thought of station ourselves in a location and travel to-and-fro daily, but found the travelling time a bit 

Do Koreans speak English?

Most don't. But  don't worry, due to the influx of travelers, most places have pictures, and English (and Mandarin) signs. There are lots of Chinese residing and working there as well. If all else fails, there's always Google translate. And uh, hand signs.

The Weather

We went during autumn in late October, where temperature is around 13C to 20C. The sun shines pretty harshly in the afternoons, so there are many times we just forgo our jackets and just put on a sweater. On hot days, you could even wear sleeveless. Thank God it's not as sweaty as Singapore. But do take note that it starts to get chilly when the sun goes down. Skies go entirely dark by 7pm as the weather transits to winter. Here's their weather across the year for your reference:

Our Packing List

I wouldn't go as extensive as I did for Perth. Pack according to the weather. Food can be found every where and is affordable. An average meal is approximately $10/pax. If you would like to cook or something to-go, there are a  heck load of supermarts and convenience stores. Unlike Perth, where a meal for 3 easily cost up $80, I didn't have to bring my trusty rice cooker. Again, being in an Asian country, rice can be easily found. Yay!

Before the Trip

International Driving Permit (IDP - IMPORTANT if you're driving in Korea)

Unlike many countries that your local driving license can be used, you need to apply for a IDP. For Singapore license, you can apply to convert at this link. It costs just $20. There are two options:

1. Walk-in at their locations (please check their website) and collect on the spot (approximately 1 hour).

2.  Apply online and have it delivered to your house (additional $5.50 courier fees apply). PLEASE NOTE THIS WILL TAKE APPROX 2 WEEKS TO ARRIVE. So if you're in a hurry, please go with the first option.

Download these APPS

1. KAKAO T - mainly for cab/private hire services. It works like GRAB or UBER and you can select cash payment (= pay direct to driver via card). Downside is that you might need to search in Korean if the place is not that well-known, but you can simply copy the Korean address via Google and paste it in the app.

2. NAVER - especially useful for driving and saving key places. It works like Google Maps, but has a heck load of local reviews (if you can't read Korean, see the ratings), and way more accurate than Google as locals will update Naver. We learnt this the hard way.

3. Google Translate - duh. Best function is it's real-time translate via camera - simply point and aim, and the text will be automatically translated to your preferred language.

3D2N The BEST Desaru Itinerary - Westin Desaru Coast Resort + Homestay

Ever since I got attached, not to even mention after getting married and having two kids, we haven’t had overseas trip with our parents. And since it’s my dad’s 70th birthday, we planned to make it slightly special by doing it overseas. So after researching on the basis of some considerations, such as budget, convenience and having to bring two children along, we decided on Desaru - a beautiful coastal city in Malaysia.

Animal feeding in Desaru Fruit Farm

What to do in Desaru

Considering the short 2 to 3 hour travelling time from Singapore, it's no surprise that Desaru is one of the most popular weekend getaway locations for Singaporeans. There are not exactly a lot to do in Desaru, but it's perfect to fill your itinerary for a quick one or two night's getaway from Singapore. You could check out:

• Desaru Fruit Farm
• Desaru Beach
• Adventure Waterpark
• Kota Tinggi Firefly Park
• Desaru Ostrich Farm
• Desaru Alpaca Farm *NEW*

Getting to Desaru

There are three main ways to get to Desaru:

1. Private hire cars - extremely convenient as they pick you up directly at our residence and drive you straight to wherever you’re going in Desaru. 2-way fees range from $300 (7 seater) to $380 (luxury 7/11 seater) for a 2.5-3h ride, depending on traffic. 

Source: SGMYTRIPS

2. Ferry - multiple timings to and fro Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal and Desaru Terminal (90min/way). Once you’re there, you would need to arrange for hotel transfer. Ferry 2-way tickets is approximately $110/pax.

3. Self-drive - pretty straightforward 1-2 hour drive (from Woodlands checkpoint, without jam and stopping) so it is a popular option, but please check you have the relevant document and items beforehand to ensure a smooth journey.

Considering that we have 9 pax, including two elderlies and two young children, the best method of transport for us is getting a private hire car. I didn't drive because (1) there are too many people even for my seven-seater, (2) never drove into Malaysia before, and (3) I read horror stories of wheels of Singapore cars getting stolen in bright daylight. So after researching and a lot of liaising, we decided on SGMYTRIPS, which offers multiple pick up points (at only $5 per additional location). It’s super fuss-free and unlike the ferry, we are able to go at our own schedule and pace. The ferry would cost close to $800 for all of us! We even stopped for lunch at Aeon on our way to Desaru (break chargeable at $40/hour).

General transport in Desaru

“You’re not driving?!” was the response from our AirBnb host. Yes, most Singaporeans who visited Desaru is either by coach (usually organised in a big group like CC/RC activities) or self-drive, because to be honest, transport is extremely inconvenient there. Is there Grab? Yes. But there aren’t many Grab drivers on the road. But fret not, hotel concierge would usually assist to get a private car for you, which we did.

Accommodation - Westin Desaru Coast Resort

There are some hotels for you to choose from, and ranges vastly in pricing. As my brother and his wife are only joining for the second day, we decided to do hotel for the first night, and a homestay on the second. For the hotel, considering our budget, we strike off Anantara and One&Only as they cost over $1000/night. Some of the hotels were quite old, so we didn’t consider them as well. After shortlisting, we were down to Westin Desaru Coast Resort and Hard Rock, and chose the former ultimately. Compared to their Singapore counterpart, Desaru’s was extremely worth it at approximately $350/night for a full sea-view room with balcony.

And here’s why we love Westin

1. Beautiful, clean rooms - completed with a superb uncovered view of the South China Sea. The beds are comfy and the facilities are great. That night, I had a great HTHT with mummy at the balcony. We absolutely love the spacious toilet with a full glass window, perfect for couples, those without the kids around. 

What to do in Western Australia - TOP and BEST 15 Attractions!

Before every single trip, I love to put to-go pins on my Google Maps. Not sure if it's my personality, but I always know where am I heading to and not get lost. And this is especially important as we are bringing a screaming toddler along. Trust me, you don't want to be stuck with one inside the car for long.

I mean, if you're looking at this post means you should be heading to Australia in the near future. Look forward to it as there are so many fun things to do in Western Australia alone. This simple guide is for those who are travelling in and, mostly out of Perth. Make the most out of your trip, rent a car to explore what Western Australia got to offer!

Here are the top and best attractions of what Western Australia has to offer. For easy viewing, we have sort this list into: South of-, North of- and Central Perth. 

South of Perth

1. Stay at a farm (Margaret River)

Recommended duration: 2-3 nights stay

Rating: ★★★★★

This made it as one of our favourite to-dos in the region of Margaret River. There are a couple of options for a farmstay, their animals differs, and some of them provide animal feedings. Your child will be so hyped just feeding the farm animals. Just a tip: Book early! These places are always fully packed.

2. Bunbury Farmer's Market (Bunbury)

Recommended duration: 1-2 hours

Rating: ★★★★★

If you're cooking your food (which I did), this place is an ABSOLUTE HAVEN. The amount of fresh produce, vegetables, fruits, all sorts of meat is crazy. And the best thing? It's not pricey at all. Just for reference, this whole bunch of carrots (approximately 10) only costs AUD$2.50! It's so fresh you can even take a bite like this!

3. Walk the Busselton Jetty (Busselton)

Recommended duration: 1-2 hours

Rating: ★★★★★

Hiking? How 'bout conquering the longest second boardwalk in the world? Coming in at 1.8km, it takes about 25 minutes to walk this - one way! If you're bringing kids or feeling extra touristy, there's the jetty ride operating every day. Just check the timing beforehand.

8D7N Perth Family Road Trip Itinerary - The only guide you need for Western Australia

Ever since the border measures have been relaxed, many of our friends start to fly overseas. As frequent travelers ourselves before the whole covid situation, our butt starts to itch. We were thinking where could we go with our soon-to-be 4 year old daughter. And to be honest, Sydney was our first choice. We even started to plan the places we wanted to go. But then the air tickets become really crazy at over $1,000 per pax. So we decided to ditch that and see what other budget-friendly options were there in Australia. Perth. $700-800 on Singapore Airlines sound great. 

And thus, marks the start of our Great Western Australia Journey.

Lady M had been to Perth several years back, but missed on travelling out of Perth. So we decided to rent a car for a little road trip in Western Australia on September 2022. If you still don't know, we absolutely love road trips (still missing New Zealand and Iceland)! And this time, we will be bringing our third-wheel  daughter along. 

Trip Summary

We are going to start our trip at Perth itself, going to Rottnest Island to have our quokka selfie checked. After we collect our car, we will be travelling up north to Geraldton and Hutt Lagoon (or better known as Pink Lake), stopping at Lancelin for a sandboarding session. After which, we will be going south to Cervantes, passed by Perth, Bunbury, Busselton, and finally Margaret River, where we will have our long awaited farmstay. We will head back to Perth before flying home the following day.

11 Pro-tips for Osaka and Kyoto

Ohayo, our latest and long-awaited trip brought us to the land of the rising sun, among other things, such as its rich history, great sushi, and weird fetishes. Like many others, we faced the common dilemma of where to lose our Nippon virginity - would it be Osaka or Tokyo? We chose Osaka ultimately because it seems to be more cultural appealing, cheaper, and its close proximity to Kyoto and Nara. For now, to us, Tokyo seems just like another city, busy, crowded, albeit lively. So Osaka, it is.

If you haven't, click here to see my 1-week Osaka, Nara and Kyoto itinerary!

After visiting Japan, I understand why it remains a popular holiday destination for Singaporeans. In many ways, Japan is similar to Singapore, just that its cleaner and neater, the people are more friendly and courteous (arguably more beautiful), almost everything looks like an art-piece from their food to toilet seats. It's as if perfectionism seeps in their blood. Despite our existence on the same continent, here are things you should know before you arrive in Japan like a headless chicken. This post will focus on the cities of Osaka and Kyoto which we temporarily made "home" for a week.

See #10 for USJ tips!

1. Get your passes in advance.

There are a lot of different sites to do this, like Klook, Kkday, Changi Recommends, etc. The first thing you should do is to compare their prices and check out their existing promo codes. We went with Klook and got our travel passes (inter-city, SUICA, etc.), 4G SIM card, and attraction passes (USJ, Kaiyukan Aquarium, HEP5). Not only it is cheaper, it also saves you queuing time. You just simply flash the QR code, beep, and you are good to go.

Train leaves on time, just sayin'.

Japan: Osaka + Nara + Kyoto 1-Week Itinerary

Ohayo! Japan is one country that has been on our travel bucket list for the longest time (heck, I was even a huge J-fan before Kpop comes about), and we finally checked it off in May 2019. Because of our pregnancy and the early stages of caring for baby Olivia, it was the first trip we did in almost nine months (the last was Taiwan in August 2018). It wasn't exactly easy to leave our six-month-old baby to go on a holiday, especially for mummy who worried day in and out, but it was a much-needed break.

Here are 11 pro-tips if you're heading to Osaka and Kyoto!

Korea was one of our choices, but then decided to strike it off we have both travelled there in the past, and perhaps, friends have been posting lots on their recent Korea trip. Japan was an alternative, one that I'm glad we chose. It is timeless, and it is amazing how their traditions and cultures still seep deeply in the architecture and its people. It was late spring when we travelled - the warmth in the afternoons coupled with the cool evening breeze.

Read on for:

1. Our full, actual itinerary (places of interests are marked in orange!)
2. More travel tips to Japan's Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto districts.
3. Budget breakdown

Things to do in Kenting, Taiwan (updated August 2018)

Located at the southern tip of Taiwan, Kenting is well-known for its sandy beaches, mountains,  and its relaxing atmosphere. A chat with our friendly Uber driver revealed that he used to attend party gatherings in Kenting to kao lui (fishing for girls). My wife and I? Too disqualified for that now, so we rather enjoy each other's company while we stroll along the beaches and the streets of Kenting. 

Here's what this post is going to tell you.

- Getting to Kenting

- Getting around Kenting

- What to do

- Where to stay

Things to do in Kaohsiung, Taiwan (updated August 2018)

I have been to Taiwan a couple of times, but it was my first time venturing all the way south on my recent trip - which is gonna to be the last for at least a year. Well, because baby Olivia is coming soon in November 2018 (yay)! If you haven't been to been to Taiwan, extend your trip by two to three days and venture beyond the usual Taipei, because South Taiwan has lots to offer too!

Our initial plan was to head straight to Kenting, but the continuous 4.5h flight and 2h train ride would be too strenuous for Lady M, so we decided to stop by Kaohsiung for a day. So, if you're like us, check this post on what to do when you're in Kaohsiung!

Here's what this post is going to tell you.

- Getting to Kaohsiung

- Travelling in Kaohsiung

- What to do

- Where to stay

Cijin Island, Kaohsiung

11 Things You Must Try in New Zealand

New Zealand is outrageously beautiful, the sceneries look like they are created straight out from a fairytale book. To fully explore the islands, you may need to migrate there. If you're like me, a salaried employee with limited annual leave, you'll need to strategise and maximise your time at New Zealand. Having said that, please, please, please take time to slow down your pace, and just enjoy the marvellous sceneries that New Zealand has got to offer. Remember you're not on Amazing Race. Without further ado, here's 11 things to clear from your NZ's bucket list!

Dive into the Maori culture

What's better than to immerse yourself in the beautiful culture of the indigenous Polynesian people? Head down to Tamaki Maori Village in Rotorua for a cultural experience of the Maoris. If you ever saw videos of people stomping their feet and roaring with their tongues out, that's their traditional haka (war dance). Learn to dance like a local, or if you're up for it, why not get a Maori tattoo? Nah, I'm just kidding.

Source

New Zealand 2-Week Self-Drive South Island Itinerary

Kia Ora! - I’m probably gonna start all my New Zealand blog post like this. So, we took one of the common destinations as part of our honeymoon (we did consider Turkey, just saying), and we spent a total of 4 days in the North Island and 13 days in the South Island. This country which was once inhabited by hobbits, elves and dwarves... and Maori, is a natural beauty with its gorgeous curves and peaks. It’s not difficult to understand why the Lord of the Rings trilogy was shot here.

So if you were like us who’s temporarily sick of the city life and wish to explore Mama Nature, read on for:

1. Our full, actual itinerary (places of interests are marked in orange!)
2. More travel tips to NZ
3. Budget breakdown

If you know what you're in for, I'm still sure that you'll still need these essential tips (it saved our asses, and might save yours too!).

11 New Zealand Travel Tips You Wish You Knew, Seriously.

Kia Ora! If you are wondering where the hell did I disappear to (if only anyone noticed in the first place), we were in the beautiful land of New Zealand for our honeymoon for more than half-a-month. It was a same-same-but-different experience as Iceland, but just as amazing and epic. For most parts of the trip, we had a car, going on crazy road trips discovering the South Island. In fact, we just came back a few days ago, and as we are still basking in the holiday mood (yes, even when we are working), we would like to share some essential travel tips that we wished we knew that could make our lives so much better, seriously.

Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Tekapo

Keelung Miaokou Night Market (基隆廟口夜市) @ Taiwan

The main attraction of KeeLung, a district located at Taiwan's north-east coast, is definitely the Miaokou Night Market (廟口夜市). Like most of the night markets in Taiwan, they focus greatly on food. Although it's called a "night market", they are actually opened 24 hours to cater to the local fishermen and residents. Limbeh went there at about 4pm on a weekday and it was sibei (super) crowded.

Xin Bei Tou 新北投 @ Taiwan

Known for its hot-springs, lush greeneries and rich Ketagalan culture, Beitou (北投) might just be the ideal place one might be looking for a quick getaway from the bustling city life. Attractions include the Hell Valley (Geothermal valley), Hot-springs Museum and the Ketagalan Cultural Center.

If you're interested in their hot-springs, you could find a hundred and one of them, both private and public (gender-mixed, male/female separate). Most public hot-springs' rules would require the user to put on a swimsuit, unless it is gender-separated. These tubs of goodness have a light sulfur smell, and vary in temperature and acidity, but usually hovers around 50 - 90 degrees celsius with an acidity level of ph 4.

If you're looking for a pleasant environment to relax and unwind, Sweetme Hotspring Resort offers a spacious private room with basic toiletries at an affordable price. Read my review about this resort here. 

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall 中正纪念堂 @ Taiwan

Chiang Kai Shek (CKS) Memorial Hall is one of Taipei's most popular and distinctive hallmark. Following CKS's death in 1975, the 70-metre tall memorial hall is built and opened five years later as a tribute to commemorate his great contributions to the Republic of China. The landmark has two flights of stairs with 88 steps (the age when CKS passed on) and is framed with lush gardens, and two other buildings of grandiose - National Theater and National Concert Hall.

Directions to CKS Memorial Hall

1. Take the MRT to CKS Memorial Hall, exit from Exit 5.

Such a big building is hard to be missed. Admission is free.

5D4N Taiwan Trip Itinerary: Day 4 - Fu Hang Dou Jiang + Taipei 101 + Ximending + Shida + Ningxia Night Market

5D4N Taiwan Trip Itinerary - Day 4

Activity 1: Breakfast at Fu Hang Dou Jiang

If you are looking an authentic and traditional Taiwanese breakfast, fried dough fritters (油條) accompanied by a good cup of soy bean milk (豆漿) is your best bet. While hundreds, if not thousands of eateries in Taipei sells these Chinese delights, Fu Hang Dou Jiang 阜杭豆漿 dominates the rest of them.

Located at Huashan Market, Fu Hang Dou Jiang is not only well-known for its food, but also for its insane, long queues as well. According to my internet research beforehand, one can easy wait up to an hour before ordering on a good weekend. Prior to this, we decided to head out early on a Wednesday morning and was no less surprised that it already has at least a 40-person queue. By the moment I joined the queue, I was at the staircase. That's how long it is and there is even a queue diagram on how to line up!

Activity 2: Taipei 101

Formally known as the Taipei World Financial Center, the iconic Taipei 101 (台北101) is officially the tallest and largest green building in the world as of July 2011. It comprises of 101 stories and 5 floors underground, with 6 stories dedicated to shopping. The 509m building features a 660 metric-ton damper which reduces up to 40% of swaying movement and is built to withstand strong winds and earthquake tremors.

Besides holding a world record as one of the tallest building, Taipei 101 is also equipped with the fastest elevators built with state-of-art technology, which goes up to the 89th floor in just 37 seconds - that's a whopping vertical speed of 3314 ft per minute!

Activity 3: Ximending

Widely known as the "Harajuku of Taipei", Xi Men Ding is the place to head for modern fashion, good eats and culture, that is partially influenced by the Japanese. With several departmental stores such as Wanguo and Eslite, bookstores, pubs and individual vendors selling a wide variety of clothes, accessories, souvenirs and local eats, Xi Men Ding attracts shoppers and tourists of different age groups and cultures. Based on Wikipedia, it attracts more than 3 million visitors in a month!

The streets and alleys of Xi Men Ding are so vast and filled with excitement in every single corner. One night or even an entire day of exploration is definitely not enough, that we realized. Similarly to night markets, some items sold are repetitive, therefore putting on your determination and exploration spirit might just find you a better deal elsewhere.

Activity 4: Shida Night Market

There are some rumours that Shida  (師大夜市) has been closed down, but I would like to clarify that it is up and running (as of Nov 2012). Maybe a portion of it has been downed, but Shida Night Market still holds its vibrancy. It is located near a couple of universities, so do expect no less than crowded streets flocked by university students.