Taiwan 2014: Day 1 Part 1 (Singapore Changi Airport - Taoyuan International Airport)

Hey there! The holidays are here (for me at least)! That means its time for blogging catch-up (and more holidays) =)

I'm going to begin with my Taiwan 2014 travel itinerary with my family that we did back in December 2014. It is winter during December in Taiwan, but not a crazy kind with snow and hail, just strong chilly-winds, or fogs (in Taichung). Nevertheless, the weather was perfect for snacking on the amazing street food all over Taiwan which has been voted the top foodie haven this year mind you. I absolutely love Taiwan and would come back every year if I grew a money tree in my backyard. The world however is not so perfect and the soil conditions in my backyard here in Perth are only suitable for weeds and onions.

We took the scoot flight to Taipei, with a UOB card promotion for 1-for-1 tickets. My family of 5 plus my sister's bf (who is soon to be family too so our family of 6!) met at the airport the night prior as we were taking a midnight flight to Taipei.

The itinerary booklet which i printed for everyone!

Me and ma bro =)

Everyone's ready to go in and embark on an awesome adventure!

TOURIST TIPS: If you're taking Scoot, look out for Morning Glory Tuesday Sales - that means getting up early to buy your tickets. HOWEVER there are better sale prices on special occasions rather than Morning Glory Tuesdays so don't be too hasty in purchasing your tickets. Do your research using websites such as skyscanner and such - and don't forget to clear your cache after every search. Airlines use a tracking system with your IP address to track your searches and increase the prices with every search on airlines and locations you make.

Totally exciteddddd!!!

Our arrival in Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.
Just for you guys out there! I was a total cheapo and decided to take the cheaper flight which departs Singapore at midnight and arrives in Taiwan at 6am or so. While it is cheaper, I must admit that the flight timing is terrible as there is nothing much to do upon arrival, and if you hang around to wait for the telecom companies to open at 8am, it is a rather torturous wait. Not to mention, you and your travel companions will be dead tired by noon-time so you spend your afternoon sleeping in the hotel upon check-in to regain your energy. Weigh your options and decide which flight timings would suit you better.

The brother and sister feasting on convenience store grub in Taoyuan International Airport while we waited for the telecom companies to open so that we could buy some SIM cards.

My must-drink Milk Tea/Coffee series in Taiwan - the packaging is just so elegant and most of the drinks are pretty good. Guava Juice too - I highly recommend it!

Head to the basement area to board the airport buses that head out of the airport to Taipei - check on the airport website which buses you should take, or check on the TV screens in the basement area which bus is suitable for you. There are various bus companies operating the routes - so if you speak Mandarin you can ask the staff at the counter for help. Otherwise do your research beforehand so that you won't be lost before you even begin your trip.

I recommend buying the tickets at the Kuo Kuang Counter at the Express Buses Station located in TaoYuan Airport basement (NTD125 = SGD5.40)

Seated in the bus and waiting to head over to Taipei - a good time to sleep! =)

Arrival at Taipei Main Station upon alighting from the bus. The trip takes about an hour or so and is filled with tourists and locals just waiting to alight at Taipei Main Station so don't be afraid about missing your stop.

I will continue the next post with Part 2 of Day 1 where we explored Yongkang Street and Shihlin Night market =) YUMMY FOOD PICTURES APPROACHING ALERT!

Till then,

Fly Safe and Eat Happy,
V

Food Review: Eighteen Chefs at BPP (Bukit Panjang Plaza)

Alright foodies, time to gear up those tummies!

We're back to another glorious food review and i assure you the pictures this time are pretty gratifying.

If you're not from Singapore, you need to know that we're an island country full of food connoisseurs. We have high expectations for food, ambience, taste - regardless of cuisine, price or portion. Why you ask? Because we've grown up with international cuisines all over our country. We can get Western cuisine and Asian cuisine all in one place (called a food court or hawker centre). We have Asian people selling amazing Western food and Westerners selling tantalising Asian food. We're a giant melting pot of flavours and cultures and we aren't afraid to express that.

Its no surprise that we have plenty of fusion food places all over then. What better way to embrace our love for one another than by combining our food to create innovative dishes?

Eighteen Chefs is a local brand that all Singaporeans are familiar with. In the past few years, more outlets have sprung up all over the island due to their popularity for being affordable, Halal certified, having delicious food and their motto to give strength and hope to inspire troubled youths and people with conviction backgrounds to find alternative positive ways to reintegrate back into society.
Delicious, affordable meals with a heart! That's an enterprise worth supporting!

When Eighteen Chefs first opened in Bukit Panjang, the entire area was abuzz! They had long queues even at non-peak hours.

Don't mind us Bukit Panjang-ers we get excited every time something new is introduced into the neighbourhood because we are just that deprived. I bet some of you don't even know where Bukit Panjang is, or have never heard of it.

After queuing for a good 30 mins, during the first few days of its opening ceremony, my family and I got seats! I love how Eighteen Chefs really caters to the locals - discounts for students, senior citizens (pioneer generation), lunchtime specials, SAFRA members (not sure if this is still on).

Make your orders via writing the food code on an order sheet on your table, and proceed to the cashier counter to make your payment. Water and cutlery are self-serve but they are conveniently placed around the restaurant (so don't be lazy!)

Iced Tea which comes with the Lunch Combo =)

Garlic Bread which is part of Combo C.

Heart Attack Fried Rice for Two (SGD$28.80)
400 grams of New York strips served with Heart Attack Fried Rice

This was pretty delicious. The beef pieces were perfectly cooked. The heart attack fried rice is cooked with the drippings from cooking these New York strips - making it tasty despite it being so simple. I highly recommend this if you can eat beef.

Double Cheese Bolognaise Fries (SGD$6.50)
Mouthwatering cheese fries mixed with minced beef with bolognaise sauce. A House Special!

This was SO GOOD! I repeat - so good. My sister recommended us ordering this dish because Chef Benny is really famous for his bolognaise sauce. We were definitely not disappointed. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED especially if you are in a big group and looking to share some dishes.

Salted Egg Prawn Pasta (Ala-carte SGD$13.80 | Add $2 for homemade Iced Tea)
A Singapore favourite - because we swear by salted egg sauces with pretty much everything.
This is my all-time favourite dish to order here. I'm an absolute fusion food fan - so to have this absolutely amazing salted egg sauce combined with pasta - this dish just screams me. The taste of this dish is not consistent though. The second time I came here it tasted slightly different and way more spicy. Still good - but it would be nice if the taste could be maintained. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for you salted egg lovers out there though.

Students' Special - Creamy Mango Pasta with Chicken Sausage (SGD$6.40)
Mix & Match Your own Pasta or Cheese Baked Rice with choices of sauce and ingredients. This meal comes inclusive of their Ice Lemon Tea and Ice Cream. (Available at AMK Hub, Cathay Cineleisure Orchard, The Cathay, Tiong Bahru Plaza but check your local store for details)

This dish was surprisingly amazing. We ordered it because Creamy Mango sauce sounded interesting and we were not disappointed. The sweetness of the mango complemented the cream sauce so well and the chicken sausages were a nice touch. Also, for $6.40 - this is a really awesome steal! As an "adult", this dish would cost you $7.80 without Iced Tea or Ice Cream.

Aglio Olio with Mushroom Chicken (SGD$12.80)Aglio Olio with grilled chicken topped with mushroom sauce.
This was o-kay. Nothing special but still of a good standard. Not unique enough compared to their house specials though. I'd still recommend ordering one of the dishes above.

BTW: Students and Senior Citizens get $2 off regular priced items upon presenting your valid
           identification. MORE DISCOUNTS - amazing!


My verdict? Considering the fact that I do get cravings to come back here for their food - and the amazing amount of discounts and special prices you get, I definitely recommend Eighteen Chefs as a choice location for meals. The Heart Attack Fried Rice is a must-try: but with the beef (not just on its own) and the salted egg prawn pasta - YUM!




Eighteen Chefs - locations all over Singapore
Website: http://www.eighteenchefs.com/v2/
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/EighteenChefs


Thanks for your read! Grab that tissue by the way 'cos your drool is all over.


Till then,

Fly Safe and Eat Happy,
V

Seoul 2014: Day 8 (Angel-in-us Coffee 엔제리너스 - Autumn in Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung 창덕궁와 창경궁)

Alright its time for the last leg of the Seoul 2014 blog!

For my previous post on Day 7 of my Seoul 2014 trip where I went to Myeongdong Cathedral and N Seoul Tower, click on this link:
http://vanvanscully.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/seoul-2014-day-7-myeongdong-cathedral.html

Thanks for being so supportive you people out there giving me reads and love! <3
Your views mean heaps to me!

So on the last day of my Seoul 2014 journey, I left the hotel at about 11am (but left my bags with the reception so I could return in the evening to get them and head to the airport).

It was pouring that day (mind you) and the weather was just terrible! I ended up being stranded at Seoul Station which resulted in my trip to Angel-in-us Coffee to warm up with some caffeine!

Angel-In-Us’s 엔제리너스 name implies that coffee is God’s gift delivered by angels. Only the best-quality arabica beans are roasted using the pure roasting system (a method of suspending coffee beans in the air to roast them evenly). A fresh, smooth coffee taste is guaranteed at Angel-In-Us coffeehouse. A range of desserts are also available so you may enjoy a light meal with your coffee: sweet and moist maple bread, Belgium-style premium waffles, bagels, muffins, sandwiches, and more. The interior of the Angel-In-Us stores are characterized by antique tables and chairs under soft lighting, providing a cozy ambience. 
(http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?gotoPage=1&cid=1552578)

The coffee was excellent and so was the ambience! It was a great place to people-watch and to chill-out but I figured that it would be a waste of my time (and money) to spend my last day stranded in a coffee-house because of rain. So i got my butt off the chair and went to the convenience store to buy an umbrella... it was time to take some good photos no matter how heavy the rain was.

To go to Changdeokgung 창덕궁, you'll have to head to Anguk Station 안국역and take about a 5 minute walk to Changdeokgung 창덕궁.

There were heaps of schoolgirls there probably on a school tour of some sorts - so the place was packed at the entrance areas, but it was pretty quiet by the time I entered. The ticketing office is on the left side of this photo (can't quite be seen here).

The Ticketing Counter

Admission Fees: Sorry I didn't realise how blur this photo is. But if you've got supersonic eyes~

Muddy grounds from the pouring rain.

Beautiful Autumn =)

Entrance to the Secret Garden within Changdeokgung. I didn't want to pay more to enter the place, so I took this photo for you interested parties. I've heard that exploring the Secret Garden is better when you take the guided tour.

You can buy the entrance tickets into the Secret Garden here if you made a last minute decision that you want to go in! This ticketing counter is just outside the Secret Garden entrance.

The entrance to Changgyeonggung 창경궁 - which in my opinion is the most beautiful!

A guided Korean tour which I obviously could not join haha!

It was raining so heavily and it was so cold. This effect is actually from the frosting of my lens having to constantly wipe off the water. There was a Korean Photography club of sorts around that area as well, and they were definitely 10x more prepared than me. They had their cameras wrapped with plastic bags etc to protect their gear.

I apologise in advance for my fascination with these benches and red leaves. I was here taking photos for a good 5 minutes and spent the next 5 just admiring how beautiful this scene was.

My favourite place in Changgyeonggung. The aesthetics of this building is just spectacular.

This building is actually a garden of gorgeous plants and flowers. SECRET GARDEN MOMENT =)

Mandatory last shot before leaving Changdeokgung where I had the best time ever this Seoul trip.
If you're feeling stressed and need some peace and quiet, it doesn't get any better than this.

My verdict? Worth a visit for those of you who are not in Korea for the first time. While Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung are close to the other major palaces, they are in a different league and are more spectacular for how close they are to nature. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND a visit here if you've got spare time, and you've seen all the other palaces.

Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon (창덕궁과 후원) [UNESCO World Heritage]
99, Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 종로구 율곡로 99 (권농동)
Opening Hours: Closed on Mondays
                             Regular Tour (Changdeokgung Palace)
                                April–September: 09:00-18:30
                                October: 09:00-18:00
                                March & November: 09:00-17:30
                                December–February: 09:00-17:00
                                                                    Last admission: 1 hour before closing.
                             Huwon - Secret Garden Course (Guided Tour only)
                                 February–May & September-October: 10:00-18:00
                                 June-August: 10:00-18:30
                                 November-January: 10:00-17:30
Website: eng.cdg.go.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
How to Get Here: Alight at Jongno 3 (sam)-ga Station (Subway Line 1, 3 or 5), Exit 6.
                                 - Go straight along Donhwamun-ro Street for 10 min. OR
                                 Alight at Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 3.
                                  - Go straight for 5 min.


Changgyeonggung Palace (창경궁)
185, Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 종로구 창경궁로 185 (와룡동)
Opening Hours: varies so be sure to check the Korean tourism website or their webpage
Webpage: jikimi.cha.go.kr (Korean, English)
How to Get Here: Enter through Changdeokgung OR
                                Alight at Hyehwa Station (Seoul Subway Line 4), taking Exit 3.
                                Go 20m and then turn left at Seoul Jongno Pharmacy (서울종로약국).
                                Go 180m and then turn left at Jeongmin Onnuri Pharmacy (정민온누리약국)
                                Go 200m and then turn left. Go 60m and then cross the road to arrive at      
                                Changgyeonggung Palace.

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Headed back to Myeongdong for O'Sulloc and also to meet my Singaporean friend and her travel buddy at Myeongdong at night and we had some awesome Dalkgalbi!

One of my big misses ever since leaving Korea.

End of the Korea trip with Soju ㅎㅎ

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Once I bid farewell to my friend, I headed back to the residence to get my luggage and head over to the airport. Initially, I thought I would have the opportunity to take the airport bus from the hotel and after lugging my heavy luggage over, I was told that the last bus service was at 6.30pm. I was so exhausted but I had to keep going otherwise I would miss the airport train as well. I lugged my luggage up and down steep slopes and headed to Seoul Station, where I boarded the airport train that took me to Incheon International Airport.

The crowded train - thankfully I managed to get a seat. yes this giant pink thing is only my hand luggage which is sitting on my actual luggage.

 

At the counter full of feels - but happy that I could put my heavy luggage up on that conveyor belt!

The Scoot Plane back to Taiwan and Singapore. 안녕 Korea! Thank you for a good time!

And that's it for the Seoul 2014 trip! I'll try to include some food reviews and get on with my family trip to Taiwan which took place in December!

BTW: I've finally decided to get a facebook page! Like it for more updates:
https://www.facebook.com/thehungryvan

Till then,

Fly Safe and Eat Happy,
V