Once we settled into Hommie Inn, our rumbling tummies urged us to seek out a lip-smacking late lunch. We wasted no time and strolled a mere 5 minutes to the renowned Taichung Second Market, curious to explore its culinary wonders. Back in 1917, during the Japanese colonial era, the Second Market was crafted by the […]

For our stay in Taichung, we reserved a room at Hommie Inn (荷米旅居), a 3-star hotel in the central district with easy access to local attractions and sights. Best of all, their room rates are competitive when compared to other hotels in the city. What really appeals to me is that Hommie Inn is just […]

I was sad to leave Hualien because I had grown attached to it after only a few days. But we had to continue on our journey, this time to Taichung. The night before, I texted the local taxi company via LINE to arrange for a taxi pickup to the Hualien train station the next morning. […]

We came across Dexin Chishang Fanbao (德欣池上飯包) on our way back to Angel Wings Inn after the coach dropped us off at the end of our Taroko Gorge day tour. Decided to get takeout from here to eat at our inn because we were exhausted from our day out. Menu They have eight different bento […]

We began our third day early because we had booked a Taroko Gorge Day Tour through Klook. The tour package cost approximately S$50+ per person and included coach pick-up and drop-off at A-Zone (Hualien Cultural and Creative Industries Park), a Mandarin-speaking tour guide, and lunch. Book the tour via Klook If you want to book […]

We walked to Zhongshan Road because we wanted to try the famous steamed buns at Gongzheng Baozi (公正包子店), which many people had raved about on Google. When we arrived, we were surprised to find no queue at the shop, but rather a very long queue at the next-door Zhou Jia Steamed Dumplings (周家蒸餃). The line […]

Nanbin Park, also known as Pacific Ocean Park, is a coastal park in Hualien that offers mesmerising views of the Pacific Ocean and awe-inspiring sunsets. It’s the perfect place to escape and rejuvenate. Pacific Ocean Park 太平洋公園 The park is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with a range of activities to enjoy. We spotted cyclists […]

We were unable to book a whale watching tour in time, so we had a free day in Hualien. Walked down Heping Road from Angel Wings Inn, where we stayed, to Nanbin Park. Came across Fang Yuan Chao Zhou Handmade Wonton Noodles 方元潮州手工餛飩麵 shop along the way and decided to stop for brunch. Had intended […]

Dongdamen Night Market (aka East Gate Night Market 東大門夜市), which opened in July 2015, is Hualien County’s largest night market. Hualien is Taiwan’s largest gateway to the Pacific Ocean, hence the name East Gate Night Market. The current location of the night market (between Beibin Park and Nanbin Park) was once the grounds of the […]

If you want to buy food gifts in Hualien, the first thing that many people think of is probably mochi, because mochi is a snack suitable for all ages, and the most famous mochi in Hualien has to be Tzen-Mochi. Tzen-Mochi only has outlets in Hualien and Yilan County’s Suao Town. If you live in […]

If you ask the locals which dessert shop in Hualien is worth visiting, I’m sure the majority, if not all, will recommend Cai Ji Dou Hua 蔡記豆花 on Minguo Road. Though they mention 豆花 aka soy beancurd or tofu pudding in their brand name, they do not just specialise in that. Surprisingly, the most popular […]

We took a taxi from Hualien Station to Angel Wings Inn, which was only a 6-7 minute drive away. The trip cost NT$130. We booked this inn through booking.com after reading glowing reviews about it. Angel Wings Inn is located in the heart of Hualien, and the best part is that it is within walking […]

We went to Hualien after spending a week in Taipei. We decided to take the train from Taipei to Hualien because it would be the quickest and most convenient mode of transportation. However, as the Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR) does not operate on Taiwan’s east coast, we can only rely on Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA), […]

After spending the day exploring Dadaocheng and Dihua Street, we boarded the MRT and travelled to Shilin Night Market in Taipei’s Shilin District. Shilin Night Market is one of Taiwan’s biggest and most well-known night markets. Anyone visiting Taipei should not miss this ‘attraction’. 🙂 Shilin Night Market 士林夜市 Shilin Night Market is known for […]

Brand new day, brand new adventure! After having breakfast at Yong He Dou Jiang Da Wang, we took a 20-minute walk towards Dihua Street and Dadaocheng, a historic neighbourhood in Taipei’s Datong District. Along the way, we passed by a number of interesting sites. Taipei Post Office (臺北郵局) One of Taiwan’s oldest post offices, Taipei […]

After dinner at Din Tai Fung, we decided to walk off some of the calories by exploring the surrounding area. That’s when we discovered Soypresso on Lishui Street. Soypresso is a cafe that specialises in drinks and desserts made with soy milk. Aside from regular soy milk, they also offer black sesame soy milk, tie […]