Jiufen Old Street 九份老街 @ Taiwan (updated August 2018)

One of the highlights of my Taiwan trip is Jiufen (Jioufen/Chiufen). But first, here's a quick, yet informative introduction which I hoped will not bore you:

Originally housed with only nine families in the 1800s, the villagers would purchase nine pieces of the same item in one reservation (hence the name, meaning nine parts/pieces) as roads were not built yet and materials were brought in mainly by ships. Located only minutes away from Jin Gua Shi (金瓜石), it was not long before someone struck gold at this rural village. Words leaked out and the village was soon swarmed with thousands of prospectors hoping to strike rich. The gold mines eventually exhausted and like its faded counterpart, Jiufen suffered the same fate.

Time passes and today, Jiufen is one of the most popular tourist attraction visited by travellers from all over the world to experience its former glory and well, its current glory of being a prosperous old street which offers nostalgic teahouses and the best Taiwanese cuisine, such as popular yam dishes, glutinous rice balls (粉圆), beef noodles, fish balls, herbal eggs, sun cakes (太陽餅) and the list goes on infinitely.

11 MUST-TRY Xi'an Street Food

Xi'an is the ancient capital of China and the start of the silk road, it happens to be also the hometown of my lovely Lady M. We were recently there in November 2017 where we met her relatives, explore the history with all the terracotta and Emperor Qin, and stuff our faces with all the mouthgasm street food. If you have not been to this beautiful part of China, here's a quick summary of the food - most are both spicy and heavy in taste. Yup, all thanks to the influence of their close neighbour a.k.a. Sichuan.

One of my favourite places in Xi'an is the Muslim Street (回民街) - the bustling food haven for both tourists and locals. Okay, maybe more for the tourists. Also translated as Muslim Quarters, this street is open from day till night, with stalls selling all sorts of Xi'an goodies in this really, really long street. 

If you're heading there, here's what you should not miss out! Oh, as with every other food street, there are plenty of stalls selling the exact same thing. Don't know which stalls to buy from? Here's a general rule - Go with the longest queue.

1. Lamb Skewers (羊肉串)

The Chinese pretty much have skewers on everything - chicken liver, beef, quail eggs, and even scorpions, but lamb skewers top the list with its herby, spicy and gamey taste. Most stalls carve the meat literally next to the stall and grill it upon ordering. 

Bon Cafe @ Pattaya-Naklua Road, Thailand

Pad thai, green curry, tom yum goong..? If you're bored of eating these local food in Pattaya, why not head to Bon Cafe for some American-styled breakfast? Opened as a franchise by a Swiss businessman, Bon Cafe, which features al-fresco dining, has a large, lovely space decorated with glass table-tops and rattan chairs, and could seat more than 50 people. From our recent trip, customers are evidently Caucasian men in their late 50s, accompanied by their browner counterparts (aka Pattaya girlfriends). Oh ya, the location to this cafe is not a hassle as it is located at the main roads of North Pattaya, otherwise, ask the ang-mohs. I'm pretty sure Bon Cafe is their hot-spot for bringing their one-night dates for breakfast after a night of excitement. Do what? Watch movies la, you dirty-minded sia.

7 MUST-VISIT Places in Pattaya, Thailand

Pattaya got things to see meh? That's what we thought before our trip in July 2015, but after that, our lives are changed forever. Okay, that's exaggeration but trust me, Pattaya is gorgeous and it's no wonder why many Caucasian men choose it as their top holiday spot. Well, besides for the company of Thai ladies, I'm sure. In the morning you can stroll along the long stretch of sandy beaches, while at night, there is the famous Walking Street or you could chill out at one of the many bars or cafes along the beach. Without further ado, here's a list of 10 places you must visit when you're in Pattaya!

Roast Coffee and Eatery Part II @ Thong Lor, Bangkok

And.. we are back to Roast! During our recent trip to Thailand, we decided to bring two new friends from Hong Kong to try out what they have to offer. Nothing much had changed since two years ago (probably their menu) on my last visit, Roast is still a gastronomical haven for both coffee and brunch lovers, serving a selection of tantalising international dishes and caffeine crafted by the hands of their seasoned barristas. Amidst their decorations of mostly rustic wood furniture, small pots of greenery, and artistic art pieces hanging from their high ceilings, lies the pride of Roast - a full fledged roast machine glistering in the colours of golden black.

Coffee Valley @ Jalan Trus, Johor Bahru

Like its name literally suggests, Coffee Valley is a quaint cafe located at an (v)alley off Jalan Trus, a stretch of road which inhabits old-fashioned shop-houses and eateries, such as the Faculty of Caffeine. With the aroma of freshly grounded coffee beans whiffing through the air and soft music serenading in the background, it is no wonder why this cafe never fails to attract both regulars and newcomers.

Faculty of Caffeine @ Jalan Trus, Johor Bahru

Situated along Jalan Trus, Faculty of Caffeine (FOC) is the brainchild of two childhood buddies, Vinc and Edward, who are both enthusiasts of coffee and design. The exterior is difficult to be missed, with its hipster-matte-looking black-and-white signboard set upon walls of pastel blue. Given that most of the shop-houses along the stretch were unfurnished and old-fashioned, FOC sure sticks out like a sore thumb.

As expected, its interior were designed with no less thoughts. With a combination of chic and vintage, it allows a cosy space for timeless furniture, such as a vintage sewing machine and a huge mirror with Chinese characters, completed with artwork designed by the owners - a place where coffee meets art.

Roast Coffee and Eatery @ Thong Lor, Bangkok

A recent trip to the "city of angels" brought me to Seenspace in Thong Lor 13, a newly opened boutique mall, which housed a good number of trendy and quirky restaurants, such as every children's favourite Mr Jones Orphanage and Belon, where oysters are best served fresh. Likewise, Roast offers a gastronomical haven for both coffee and brunch lovers, serving a selection of tantalising international dishes and caffeine crafted by the hands of their seasoned barristas. Amidst their decorations of mostly rustic wood furniture, small pots of greenery, and artistic art pieces hanging from their high ceilings, lies the pride of Roast - a full fledged roast machine glistering in the colours of golden black.

Gardens by the Bay: Photo Journal

If you have not check out my review on Gardens by the Bay, please do so here (opens up in new window).

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit one of Singapore's newest and greenest attraction once again, this time with the company of my dear aunt and grandmother, who was so adorably afraid to step on the 6-storey high platforms at the Cloud Forest. Besides that, she did enjoy the vibrantly-coloured flowers to a great extent, as well as aunt and myself did. 

Look, I am not going to make this photo journal look like a blog post describing our journey to the gardens, so without furthur I present to you some of the wonders of God (aye, Christian here), which includes some of the very beautiful flowers and cacti (mostly nestled at the Flower Dome.) And obviously, these are not all of the sceneries you could expect!

Ole Sayang @ Taman Melaka Raya, Melaka

As a center of the exotic Peranakan culture, Malacca is well known for the small - and unfortunately diminishing - Babas (men) and Nyonyas (women) community. For Singaporeans, I am sure you got to catch a glimpse of the Peranakan society, such as what they do, eat and wear, in the 2008 hit drama series titled "The Little Nyonya" or better known in Mandarin as 小娘惹. Therefore, it's true to say that one haven't been to Malacca, until one try out their traditional Nyonya cuisine.

Located at the streets of Taman Melaka Raya (a few minutes drive from central), Ole Sayang is probably one of the most established Nyonya restaurant in Melaka. Being said that, reservations are highly recommended, as we waited approximately 30 minutes for a table of ten. One of the reasons being the restaurant has shifted from a quiet residential makan place to a popular tourist trapattraction, with tour groups from all over the world and the other states of Malaya hoarding several tables during the lunch/dinner timings.

St Paul's Hill, Melaka

In the early 16th century (1511 - 1641), the straits of Malacca was widely colonised by the Portugese empire during the struggles between super powers. As a mean to maintain its colonial foothold in Melaka, a fort was designed and erected encompassing St Paul's Hill. The fort served not only as a housing and meeting place for the Portugese officials, but also an important vantage point, strategically overlooking the rivers. Following a seven-month attack by the Dutch, the fort was mostly destroyed and what remained is the entrance facade and ruins of the church.

Today, hundreds and thousands of travellers from all over the world visit the ruins of the what-used-to-be a majestic and powerful Portugese fort. Just be warned though, the ascend of St Paul's Hill via a series of steeply-inclined stairway is not for the faint-hearted.

Formosa Chicken Rice Ball @ Jalan Bendahara, Melaka

During my recent trip to Malacca, one of the few food that was introduced to me was the legendary Chicken Rice Ball, among the gula-packed chendol and famous nyonya dishes. Located along the streets of Jalan Bendahara, a half-hour drive from the central, Formosa boasts itself with its famous chicken rice ball made with a team of experienced staff in food and restaurant management, as well as being integrated as part of a journey into the Historical City of Malacca.

Is it worth the big hoo-ha and the long queue, or is it simply just over-rated?

Malacca Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary, Melaka

Officially opened in February 1991, the Malacca Butterfly & Reptile Sanctuary is a popular tourist attraction located in Ayer Keroh, 15km away from Malacca Central. Also known as Tama Rama Rama, the sanctuary is home to more than hundreds of species of insects and reptiles, ranging from beautiful butterflies to birds, koi fishes, creepy crawlies and reptiles, such as crocodiles, tortoises and lizards.

The largest attraction is probably the Butterfly Gardens, which features hundreds of butterflies and moths of more than 20 different species, including the "Black and White Helen, Malayan Birdwing, and the Rajah Brooke’s Birdwing (Malaysia’s National Butterfly, named after Sir James Brooke, the ‘Raja’ (King) of Sarawak)." [Source: Malacca.ws]

Marine Life Park: S.E.A Aquarium @ Singapore

Instead of doing the weekend routine, which probably differs no less than watching movies, shopping or even staying at home, why not make a trip down to Sentosa's newest attraction to experience the world's largest aquarium. Home to more than 100,000 marine animals of over 800 species in a whopping 45 million liters of water, some of its residents include the majestic manta rays, moray eels, hammerhead sharks and the controversial Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins, and yes, animal rights activists has made quite a big fuss on this particular issue.

Our Great Redang Escapade Part 2

The highlight of the trip is none other than snorkeling. Aside from my recruit days in Pulau Tekong, I've had been to Batam, Langkawi and Pulau Tioman, and the waters in Redang are one of the clearest. Again, I am still thankful that we were blessed with such good weathers, which might have affected the clarity of the waters and the brightness/colours of the corals.

During the second snorkeling trip, we had amazing opportunities to marvel at the beauty of God's creation, such as schools of colourful fishes, beautiful corals and a wide variety of anemones (like the one below which resembles brown noodles imo).

Jesline with "noodle-anemone"

Our Great Redang Escapade Part 1

After a gruelling 12-hours coach and ferry ride (10 and 2-hours respectively) from Singapore's Golden Mile Complex, we finally made it to Redang Island! Locally known as Pulau Redang, it is one of the largest islands off the east coast of Malaysia and which offers snorkeling and diving opportunities at its picturesque, crystal-clear waters. And if one would to watch the Hong Kong film titled Summer Holiday (夏日的麼麼茶) prior, which was released in 2000 and stars Richie Ren and Sammi Cheng, this island should be no stranger to you.

Reviewing 2012

While the days and months passed-by so quickly that I barely took notice, especially the month of December - it was quite a hectic month for myself, and soon enough, another year is coming to a close soon. For some people, 2012 meant the Mayan's forecast to the end of time, which fortunately did not occur, obviously. And for some, this year has proved to be another abundance-filled and fruitful one, whether you graduated, got a job promotion, found your significant other or even, did something that you wanted to do for a long time, yet did not have the chance (and the list goes on and on..)

 

And, I thought it was high time to review back some highlights of my year.

 

1. TheNomsaurus

 

About 4 months back in late August, I had this idea of sharing reviews of food that I have came across, coupled with my travel journals and occasional recipes, and soon after - this food blog titled "TheNomsaurus" came to life. To be honest, little did I expect it to garner so many views. Although I do humbly know that 8,400 (as of 30 Dec) is nothing to "wow" about, it was indeed an achievement to myself and I will continue to strive for higher viewerships and goals, well.. one step at a time. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all my readers for the support. You have no idea how important you are to the development of this humble blog.

 

 

My Top 3 Blog Posts

Itacho Sushi @ The Star Vista

Ryoshi Sushi Ikeikemaru @ Liang Court

Max Brenner Chocolate Bar @ Vivocity

 

 

 

2. Travelling

 

Despite gotten my compulsory vocation as a full-time soldier, I have had the chance to travel around a fair bit this year. In the month of March, I visited my Malaysian relatives at Kuala Lumpur for the first time in many years. After which, we played host when they came over just recently. 

 

 

 

In July, some friends and I embarked on a relaxing journey to Tioman, far away from our hectic lifestyles. Together with girlfriend's family, I visited Kuala Lumpur (and Genting) again in early October. Do check out my itinerary for Tioman under the Index tab.

Last but not least, the long awaited Taiwan trip was finally checked-off the list in mid-November. Do check out my itinerary for Taiwan under the Index tab.

 

 

3. Giving Back to Society

 

Recently, I have been volunteering in Toa-Payoh/Bishan's Youth Executive Committee (YEC). Although residing in the West area in Clementi, I might consider giving their committee a try. I always wanted to participate in charity or volunteering works, but constantly finding lame excuses to postpone them till furthur dates, well.. I decided it's time to give back to the society. Partially, thanks to my good friend - Jin Kiat, a YEC grassroot leader who continues to encourage me to participate.

 

 

4. Digital Doodles

 

One of my favourite past-times is drawing, and earlier this year, I took up digital art. For your information, I did my diploma in digital media (3D animation major), but planning on taking a bachelor in psychology instead. My drawing  skills are still far from standard, but here are some samples, for more drawings and art pieces (photography and 3D), please do visit my online portfolio at: http://thomaschancw.wix.com/portfolio

 

 

(clockwise from top left): Jayesslee, Seduction of O Adam, My Friend as Wonderwoman, Portman

 

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Once again, I look forward in welcoming you onboard to embark on this gastronomy journey. May 2013 be a more exciting and fruitful year, yet.

Thank you and God bless.

5D4N Taiwan Trip Itinerary: Day 5 - National Palace Museum

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Day 5

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Activity 1: National Palace Museum

The National Palace Museum is an art museum in Taipei City, Taiwan. It is the national museum of the Republic of China, and has a permanent collection of 693,507 pieces of ancient Chinese artifacts and artworks, making it one of the largest in the world. The collection encompasses over 8,000 years of Chinese history from the Neolithic age to the late Qing Dynasty. Most of the collection are high quality pieces collected by China's ancient emperors.

The National Palace Museum and Palace Museum, located inside the Forbidden City in the People's Republic of China, share the same original roots, which was split in two as a result of the Chinese Civil War. In English, the institution in Taipei is distinguished from the one in Beijing by the additional "National" designation. In common usage in Chinese, the institution in Taipei is known as the "Taipei Gugong" (臺北故宮), while that in Beijing is known as the "Beijing Gugong" (北京故宮).

-Extracted from Wikipedia

Directions to National Palace Museum

1. From Shilin MRT Station, take bus Red30, 255 or 304 to the museum.

The exhibitions are vast and it took us no less than 2 whole hours to browse through everything. For your information, photography (as well as videography) and haversacks are prohibited, hence you would have to deposit your items at the counter if you have any.

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If time allows, do revisit any of the places such as departmental stores or night markets to do any last-minute shopping. Just a friendly reminder: Do not miss your flight back home!

I do hope you have enjoyed my different segments of 5D4N Taiwan Trip Itinerary, and that it gives you a rough idea of what would your itinerary consists of, for more information or enquiries, please kindly drop me a mail (info at "About" tab).

My Top 30 Taiwanese Eats

Mention the beautiful city of Taiwan and most people would quickly link it up with shopping, be it in the famous streets of Xi Men Ding or the night markets in Shilin, and the vast variety of food, ranging from the highly acclaimed chicken cutlets to a bowl of slimy sea-snails. Leaving the shopping part out, this blog post will be highly focused on the good eats in Taiwan.

For me, I had a physical list of food that I want to try and I highly recommend you to do up a similar list as well, striking off the names or putting a tick beside after you savoured them. By doing this, it helps to keep track of what you have eaten, and what you have not. Being in a city where good food is everywhere, you surely do not want to miss out any of them.

Again, please do note that taste is subjective to personal likings, for example I can't stand the pungent smell of stinky tofu, while some just totally love it etc. Without furthur ado, I present to you my favourite 30 eats in Taiwan.

Check out my newer list of 13 MUST-TRY Street Food in Taiwan.

My Top 30 Taiwanese Eats

Note: Those food items marked with an asterisk(*) are suitable as souvenirs.

1. TRADITIONAL TAIWANESE BREAKFAST

There are a lot of shops that specializes in soy bean milk and you tiao, however I highly recommend Fu Hang Dou Jiang (if you don't mind the insanely long queues.)

2. FISHBALL NOODLES

The fishballs are bouncy and juicy that I could use it as a ping-pong ball substitute, except that I would regret later on for wasting such a treasure. I highly recommend the store located near the entrance of Jiufen Old Street.

3. FEN YUAN (粉圆)

The price of their typical bowl of fen yuan (NT$50+/-) is 50% of Singapore's, but 200% of the awesomeness.

4. CHEESE POTATO

One of the greatest creations created by mankind is combining a piping hot baked potato wrapped in a nicely crisped skin, together with a generous amount of mayonaise and melted cheese. It is usually served with fillings, such as broccoli, minced tuna, bacon or grilled eel.

5. TIAN BU LA (甜不辣)

Different from the Japanese version, this is actually fried fish paste, which is usually served with slices of crunchy pickled cucumber and sweet sauce.

6. BEEF NOODLES

One does not simply leave Taiwan without eating this dish.

7. BRAISED PORK RICE W/ MUTTON SOUP

8. SALT WATER CHICKEN (盐水鸡)

De-boned chicken thigh or breast, which is cut into smaller pieces and mixed together with assorted vegetables and/or innards, and drizzled with sesame and chilli oil. Highly addictive. A particular corner store in Shida night market is an expert in this dish.

9. TAIWANESE MILK TEA*

Look no furthur than their convenient marts, they serve an impressive selection of home-brewed milk tea, but "A San Mu" still remains as my favourite.

10. OYSTER OMELETTE

11. PEANUT ICE CREAM BURRITO

2 scoops of ice cream topped with peanut brittle shavings and coriander (/Chinese parsley), wrapped in a paper-like skin (or known as "popiah" skin). The what-seems-to-be a weird combination produced an indescribable, surprising flavour that you got to truly experience it yourself.

12. FRIED CHICKEN CUTLET

豪大大雞排 from Shilin Night Market is a favourite to many and for lucky Singaporeans, there are currently 2 branches locally, located at Ion Orchard and Nex.

13. DA BING BAO XIAO BING (大餅包小餅)

14. MANGO SHAVED ICE

15. BUBBLE TEA

There are lots of bubble tea shops in Taiwan, but apparently C-Tea (50嵐) is the most popular choice among the locals.

16. DA CHANG BAO XIAO CHANG (大腸包小腸)

It resembles an American hotdog bun, just that it is replaced with a Taiwanese sausage and crunchy veg wrapped between glutinous rice "sausage" (bun, rather).

17. WANTON W/ CHILLI OIL

18. HERBAL EGGS

19. MUAH CHI (麻滋)

There are different types of muah chi, but I do recommend the store at Xi Men Ding, where they serve this in Japanese style - by grilling and topping with assorted flavours of your choice.

20. SCALLION PANCAKE (蔥抓餅)

21. SUN CAKES (太陽餅)*

A popular souvenir to bring back home. I recommend 李仪饼店 (Li Yi Bing Dian) which is located outside the Jiufen Old Street. There is also another branch in Taipei Main Station for better convinience.

22. ALMOND BISCUITS*

These freshly made biscuits bring along a strong, crispy nutty flavour and a whiff of almond aroma.

23. RAILWAY BENTO BOX

Perfect for long train rides - I bought this at the convenient store just located beside the gantry of Taiwan Railway Adminstration (TRA).

24. QUAIL EGGS

One of Danshui's speciality - it is seasoned with a dash of pepper and oyster sauce, doned up as the same method as your traditional Takoyaki.

25. CHINESE DUMPLINGS

26. PINEAPPLE CAKES (鳳梨酥)*

Another popular souvenir. Maison Kaser from Danshui Old Street serves good pineapple cakes.

27. SOFT SHELL CRAB

28. OYSTER MIAN XIAN

29. IRON EGGS (铁蛋)*

30. SEA-SNAILS (螺)

An exotic food for the more adventurous - slightly different from their cousins - escargots, it is seemingly less flavourful and more slimy. This snails (NT$100 for 4 -5) are usually washed in warm water and seasoned with five-spices sauce just before serving.