{"id":1369,"date":"2015-05-08T04:35:58","date_gmt":"2015-05-08T04:35:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.diningtraveler.com\/?p=1369"},"modified":"2022-02-07T17:21:41","modified_gmt":"2022-02-07T22:21:41","slug":"72-hours-in-taipei","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diningtraveler.com\/2015\/05\/72-hours-in-taipei.html","title":{"rendered":"72 Hours in Taipei"},"content":{"rendered":"

Arrival:\u00a0 After spending five weeks on a military base working 12 hour shifts<\/a>, I decided to treat myself to 72 hours in Taipei.\u00a0\u00a0 As much as I wanted to cram as much as I could into this small period of time, I decided to take it slow.\u00a0 Given that my job will be taking me to Asia more often, there will always be a chance to return. I flew a Japanese low-cost carrier, Peach from Okinawa to Taipei, it was cheap, quick, and efficient.<\/p>\n

\"72<\/a>
Taipei Local Park<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Day 1: I arrived late morning, checked into the Mandarin Oriental Taipei<\/a> and had a long lunch at their Ya Ge restaurant.\u00a0 As I lunched with the PR Manager, Luanne, I asked her for tips on what to see and where to eat. So many places to experience and savor during 72\u00a0hours in Taipei. These were my highlights:<\/p>\n

Ever since I was a kid, I have always been fascinated with electronics. When I read there was a market exclusively dedicated to this, I made it my first stop.\u00a0 When I entered the Guang Hua Digital Plaza, my inner six year old beamed with joy.\u00a0 It was a Best Buy on steroids.\u00a0 As you enter it is digital sensory overload with small shops lined with computers, cameras, mobile phones, and everything in-between.\u00a0 This is a 5-story indoor market with every electronic piece and accessory imaginable.\u00a0\u00a0 I did not find the prices much cheaper than the US (expect 5-10% less for most items) however, what struck me was the variety.\u00a0 I was not in the lookout for electronics, but I was taken with the selection of accessories.\u00a0 Mobile phone cases, selfie sticks, camera cases\/straps were made in creative designs from super kitsch to modern.\u00a0 I walked away with a cute leather and fabric camera strap for $12.<\/p>\n

\"72<\/a>
Pork at Ya Ge, Mandarin Oriental Taipei<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

All this shopping sparked my appetite so I headed to one of the most popular night markets, Raohe Night Market.\u00a0 Entering the market was a sensory explosion too.\u00a0 The scent of the stinky Tofu, the masses of people eating and shopping, music, vendors using their microphones hosting demonstrations, bright fruits lined up to be made smoothies, cooked chicken feet, and crab which had recently met its fate at the market. \u00a0I ended up going for the crab smothered in chili sauce and a papaya smoothie for desert. I ended my excursion with an hour foot massage for $10. By that time it was almost 1am!
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