3 days in Taiwan for only Php 9,800 all-in

Taiwan was not actually on my planned December trip because i’m already set to go to Perth, Australia until Airasia announced their new routes which were Taipei and Beijing in November. I instantly booked my roundtrip ticket to Taipei for only Php 2,100 and booked a hostel at booking.com. I used my valid and unused Australia visa to apply for visa exemption to enter Taiwan. You may apply for visa-free entry to Taiwan here.
It was so sudden but was so worth it.

I arrived in Taoyuan International Airport terminal 1 at around 1am. So I had to stay at the airport until 5:30 am to claim the mobile wifi which I rented via Klook for 3 days. After claiming the mobile wifi, I proceeded to the lower floor of the airport arrival area to purchase bus ticket to Taipei. Travel time is roughly about 1 hr. I arrived at the Taipei Discover Hostel too early so I couldn’t check in yet. I just left my backpack at the reception, bought Easy Card at 7/11 and started roaming around Taipei. Easy Card is a transportation card for trains and buses.

My first stop is Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall.

It’s best to visit early so you can take nice pictures of the place without the overflowing number of tourists.

At 9am they started to open the hall with an opening ceremony with the guards.

How to get there: Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall Station. Exit 5. 

After spending hours in Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, I headed to the famous Taipei 101. 

How to get there: Taipei 101/World Trade Center Station

I only took pictures of Taipei 101 outside. I didn’t get to enter building to go to the viewing deck. After a while, i proceeded to Daan Park. There’s really nothing much to see but it was a good place to just relax and rest. Went back to the hostel to take few hours sleep and at night I went to Shihlin Night Market to try some street foods for dinner.

How to get there? : Jiantian Station (Red Line)

The next day I went to Yehliu Geopark. It took me a while to find the right bus terminal going to Yehliu at Taipei Main Station. There were 2 bus terminals. But there are some good people who can speak english and helped me find the right bus bound for Yehliu. Travel time was approximately 1.5 to 2 hrs.

I only  spent 2 hours in Yehliu before going back to Taipei to go to Ximending and the Elephant Mountain.

An amazing view of the Taipei 101 from Elephant Mountain. I thought it was going to rain so I decided to come down sooner.

My 3rd and last day was for Longshang Temple, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall and Tamsui.

I was planning to go to the Fisherman’s Wharf but I ended up food tripping at Tamsui old street that i spent almost whole afternoon eating and watching people having great time at Tamsui.

Filipinos may now enter Taiwan without a visa soon. So here’s the breakdown of my expenses for your guide.

Roundtrip airfare – P2,100

Philippine Travel tax – P1,620

Accomodation – P1,550

Pocket Wifi for 3 days – P285

Bus fare from airport – P137

Easy Card – P663

Yehlui Entrance fee – P125 (TWD80)

Souvenirs – P1,161

Food – P2,159

Have fun in Taiwan!

Advertisement

3 days in Myanmar

Wandering around Yangon

My 2nd solo trip and my first for this year. I chose Myanmar because I find it very majestic even by just looking at the pictures and that I wanted to explore it myself.

I heard some people say that Myanmar is 40 years behind Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries. But I must say that Burmese people are the most friendly and most sincere people I ever met in Southeast Asia.

Before heading to Yangon, I had to stay in Malaysia for a 14-hr lay over. There’s no direct flights from Manila to Yangon by the way. I decided not to go to KL since I have been there twice. I stayed in Capsule by Container Hotel inside KLIA2 which i booked in Booking.com. It’s a pretty awesome experience to sleep in a container.

 

here’s my room

The price is I think reasonable since it just inside the airport. They offer free wifi around the facility.

Day 1

My flight the next day is at 6:55AM and i arrived at Yangon International Airport at 8:00AM and immediately took a taxi going to Backpacker Bed & Breakfast. The hostel is a little difficult to find because it is located at the 2nd floor of a building. But thanks to the friendly taxi driver who helped me. The hostel’s location is perfect because it is in the downtown and very near Sule Pagoda and Bogyoke Market. Check in time is at 12noon so I’m very early that i decided to walk around the area first and tried some yummy street foods.

After check in, my first stop is Bogyoke Market which can be reached by foot.

Me and the friend I met, hired a taxi going to Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple and Botataung Pagoda and then back to Bogyoke for only 15,ooo kyats.

Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple

Entrance Fee: Donation only

Botataung Pagoda

Entrance Fee: 4,000 kyats

Make sure to bring with you a bag or a plastic bag to carry your shoes because you are not allowed to wear them in the pagodas.

Day 2

After breakfast, i took the taxi to Shwedagon Pagoda, the biggest pagoda in Yangon and the highlight of my trip. It is probably one of the reasons why I was interested in Yangon. It was around 10am and was so hot but I didn’t mind because I was so amazed and I can’t believe that I am actually inside the Shwedagon.

The stairs to the pagoda. I entered the East Gate and i didn’t know that there was an elevator.

There are so many interesting spots inside Shwedagon. You might want to hire a tour guide to show you around plus they are also good in taking pictures.

Entrance Fee: 8,000 kyats

Taxi fare: 3,ooo kyats

It took me about 2 hours to explore the pagoda. After that, I walked towards the Kandawgyi Lake and from there I took a taxi going back to the hostel coz i needed to rest because of the very hot weather.

I can’t get enough of the Shwedagon and I decided to go back at night.

Shwedagon at night

Dinner at Feel Myanmar Restaurant

Day 3

My last day in Yangon. I went out very early to roam around the city.

The Sule Pagoda

Yangon City Hall

My last stop is the National Museum of Myanmar. From there, i went straight to the airport to catch my evening flight.

Myanmar is now my 2nd favorite country in Asia. I want to go back to see Bagan and Mandalay next time.