While I’m focusing on my family getting back to our daily routine and recovering from jet lag, I put together highlights of our recent trip To Taiwan from my Instagram between unpacking and several loads of laundry. Hope you enjoy!
Leaving for Taiwan
1) The morning of our trip. After many trips back home, I usually need 2-3 hours to pack for my family.
2) San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
3) Four suitcases total, checking in two.
Taipei, Taiwan (North of Taiwan 台北)
1) Taipei 101, the 2nd tallest building in the world.
2) The amazing view from the 89th floor.
3) Taipei 101 from the ground level.
4) National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
5) Dr. Sun Yat-Sen and my daughter.
6) Busy street at night near Regent Hotel.
7) Subway ticketing machine.
8) Taking subways is fun – reminds me of my life back in Japan.
9) Lots of motorcycles on the street.
1) The view of Taipei 101 from our room at Regent Hotel.
2) View of Taipei 101 at night.
3) Japanese flavor macarons from Patisserie Sadaharu Aoki Paris: yuzu, hojicha, matcha, (strawberry for my daughter,) genmaicha, (blueberry for my son).
4) A friend took us to the best Peking Duck restaurant in Taipei (龍都酒樓).
5) We loved their thin wraps instead of buns!
6) Ippudo, one of the popular ramen shops from Japan (with locations in NYC, SG, HK, South Korea, Sydney, Taipei), happens to be close to our hotel.
7) Shiromaru – original ramen .
8) Akamaru – modern ramen (I prefer this over Shiromaru)
9) Pork belly bun.
Train Trip to Taitung, Taiwan (East of Taiwan 台東)
1) Taking a train to Taitung (East of Taiwan).
2) Traditional bento box on a train with pork chop, seasoned egg, veggies, and rice.
3) Surrounded by the rice field.
4) Peaceful view near the resort.
5) Papago Resort, where we stayed.
6) Our spacious villa with a private pool.
Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Southwest of Taiwan 高雄)
1) Our first meal, Tonkatsu at Shinjuku Saboten.
2) Traditional breakfast stand.
3) 2 egg pancakes and 6 pot stickers with garlic sauce for $3!
4) Dan Zai noodles, pork ball soup, and pig feet.
5) Black chicken soup (skin and bone are black).
6) 7 ingredients soup including shark fin and frog ovary.
1) Sweet rice with crab – my favorite dish at the wedding reception.
2) Another day with crab.
3) And more crab!!
4) Mullet soft roe – not really my favorite.
5) Braised pork belly with bittermelon.
6) Traditional Taiwanese stew dish.
7) Famous Chou’s Shrimp Roll from Tainan.
8) Fish and fish ball soup.
9) Deep fried stinky tofu – I love this particular restaurant where they serve special sauce over the tofu.
1) A Taiwanese wedding reception. It reminded me of my wedding in Taiwan 7 years ago with 500 guests (which I don’t know most of them).
2) One of the most beautiful subway stations I’ve seen, in Kaohsiung.
3) Visiting a temple with Ama (“grandma” in Taiwanese).
4) Kids praying for education.
5) Taiwanese opera on the street at the temple.
6) Playing at a park. Besides that, we went swimming almost everyday.
7) VIP room at cinema – my husband and I watched Skyfall and Breaking Dawn Part II.
8) My most favorite thing to do in Taiwan: foot and whole body massage (went 3 times!).
9) Going home, at Taoyuan International Airport, Taipei.
If you are interested in other Taiwan posts, check out 5 Things to Eat at Taiwan Night Market (Travel Vlog).
Last but not least, I want to thank my friend Sonia of Nasi Lemak Lover for sending me beautiful wooden plates and bowls. On her recent trip to Bali, she remembered that I have hard time finding wooden products here in the US so she bought some for me and shipped these along with other kitchen gadgets to my in-laws in Taiwan from Malaysia. Thank you so much Sonia!
If you haven’t seen her blog Nasi Lemak Lover, I hope you stop by. She has a wide-ranging collection of Asian and baked goods recipes from her kitchen in Malaysia.
It looks like you had a great time in Taiwan! Gorgeous food and lovely landscapes (countryside).
Cheers,
Rosa
Hi Nami, welcome back! Sounds (and looks) like you and the kids had a wonderful time. The food looks marvellous.
It’s settled! I’m making a trip there for the ramen alone! So glad you guys had a good time 🙂
I am so envious of your trip. I have yet to go to Asia. Your pics are so beautiful and I like the personal touch of them …as if we were there to. Japanese flavored macarons lol? First time I see that.
Thanks so much for sharing these pictures. Helped me feel like I’m more in touch with my Taiwanese roots. Hopefully I can experience it myself next year. I just want to say that your recipes and cookbook turned me into a better cook, and I thank you for that. The black sesame ice cream was such a hit during my Thanksgiving dinner. Keep the recipes coming! =)
Hi Betty! I’m happy to hear you enjoyed my post. 🙂
Your feedback made my day. I’m glad you enjoy cooking my recipes and I will continue trying to be better at cooking and sharing my recipes on this site. And yay for your black sesame ice cream! 🙂
Welcome back! You had awesome trip there when you went for massage 3 times. Definitely something that we can do to often here. Not to mention peking duck, crab, buns – what a lovely vacation.
Love your pictures, Nami! Glad you were able to eat well and relax a little – yay for the massages! 😉
OH MY GOSH!! All of that food!! I want to go with you next time. What an amazing trip!!
Welcome back! We’re missed you! What a great family adventure!
I just saw few new bloggers stopping by my blog and I was wondering why, look like they all direct from your blog , hahaha..Just few small humble gifts, don’t mentioned, Nami.
You know what, my mother, sisters and few blogger friends also went to Taiwan in Nov, I was so envy you all , hehehe .. Thanks for sharing your trip, will keep these info for my future reference, I must visit one day.
I loved every picture from your trip, one by one.
Thank you Nami for showing me different things.
So now, happy “Western Holiday season”!
Hugs and Kisses!
Hi,beautiful travelling pictures of Taiwan. It looks such an interesting place and the food… it looks so good!
Ciao.
Wow, Nami what an awesome album packed with so many wonderful memories. You are now making me want to go to Taiwan and experience all these. I love the food shots most of all! How cute your children are. I can imagine how it must have been for you — a lot of work to prepare for the trip, but at the same time, an exciting time with family. You’re fortunate to have this chance to bring your kids to visit their roots and family ties. Thanks for sharing, Nami. And I love those wooden spoons and bowls. I’ll go visit her Sonia’s site!
Your pictures tell a great story, and the collages are very nicely done. Taiwan is always about the food, and if I were to visit one day, I’d probably have to stay for a month to try all the food! Nice to see you and the family had such an enjoyable trip, and the kids are so photogenic, as always 🙂
I haven’t been to Taiwan and I haven’t seen many photos of it either so it’s been lovely to read your post. The food looks great and it looks like your children are having the best time xx