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Monday, November 24, 2014

Wheelchair-friendly CNY in Taipei - Winter '13/14

Navigations
TaoYuan Airport - XiMenDing

LongShan Temple - Mengjia Night Market - Taipei 101 - ATT4FUN - Shi Lin Night Market 

Dan Shui - Xi Men Ding  (Massage, Convenience food, dinner, late shopping)

TaoYuan Airport - Changi Airport (Paradise Inn)


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Conclusion
For the places that we went in Taiwan, I would say it was really convenient for us to bring our grandma around with wheelchair but some locations might be limited. Let me conclude for you:






Taking plane to Taiwan- I wouldn't recommend budget airlines because space is really an issue when the elderly gets up and down the seat when going for toilet trips and when leaving the aircraft. Remember to request from the airline staff when checking in at Changi Airport for airport staff to bring the passenger on wheelchair with one adult to a special counter for custom clearance. They will push the wheelchair for you till the aircraft and board first. When flying back to Singapore, they will pick you from the aircraft last and push you all the way for custom clearance too.




Taking train in Taipei - Most stations have public and handicap toilets where you do not need to get out of the stations. There are train staff at some of the doors which will guide the wheelchair in. There is ample space in the train station to place wheelchairs. Lifts are also available at most stations to the platform.






    

Hotel - We choose Tomorrow Hotel (https://www.facebook.com/tomorrowhotel) which was very near to Xi Men station exit 6 and they have two entrance/exit point - one along Chengdu road(top picture) and one at the back alleys of Xi Men Ding. The lobby is huge and there are lifts to our hotel room. Buffet breakfast area will require staircase climbing to the lower level (no lifts available) but the hotel staff will allow you to dine at the lobby :) We messaged them on Facebook for booking.




Xi Men Ding - excellent choice for shopping. eating and accommodation because there are early breakfast shops, busking, shopping (mostly opened after 11am till pretty late) and night markets. However, take note that some restaurants were located at level 2 which might not have lift access. We dined at Victoria Hong Kong restaurant (https://www.facebook.com/victoria.restaurant#) which was at the alley opposite Sasa. It can be quite crowded so maybe let them know before hand to prepare your arrival.


Taipei 101 / ATT4FUN - Very accessible by train to Taipei 101 station but require bridge crossing to ATT4FUN. Taipei 101 shopping wasn't really ideal because the lifts are filled with visitors most of the time and it is impossible to balance wheelchair on escalator too. The view of Taipei 101 is fascinating for a visit and can't be missed though!



Shi Lin Night Market - Not much difficulties to get to Shi Lin night market from Jian Tan Station. If you really want to go, I wouldn't recommend to go on weekends and probably around 4pm on weekdays because of the huge crowd. You will have a lot of problems squeezing especially when the night falls.




Dan Shui - No issues to arrive here from Dan Shui Station and pretty easy to go around Dan Shui since it is such a long stretch of shops. It can get crowded in the ïn-between" alleys but it shouldn't be much of an issue during weekdays. The sea view is fantastic!


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These are the places that I went and I think it is alright to arrive with public transport. For other interesting places like Jiu Fen, Shi Fen, Yang Ming Shan, I recommend private hire of drivers. Market rate is around NT4500 for 8 hour engagement, which is less than SGD200. I didn't try private hire for this trip because it was during Chinese New Year period and I heard most of them were booked so I didn't bother asking around.

I will be going Taiwan again with my God-family for Winter 14/15 which is around one year away this trip! Our accommodation is through airbnb.com with free&easy trips to more destinations, and we booked a private hire driver for a one-day trip! Please look forward to that post!




CNY in Taipei - Winter '13/14 Day 4

Navigations
TaoYuan Airport - XiMenDing

LongShan Temple - Mengjia Night Market - Taipei 101 - ATT4FUN - Shi Lin Night Market 

Dan Shui - Xi Men Ding  (Massage, Convenience food, dinner, late shopping)

TaoYuan Airport - Changi Airport (Paradise Inn)


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Our last breakfast at Tomorrow Hotel:

We bought only 40kg of check-in luggage so we managed it really well at the weighing counter at our hotel lobby, heehee :D

We quickly packed and cabbed to Taoyuan Airport:

And had our lunch before our flight.




Not sure what the rest think, but the food at Taoyuan Airport Food court were really bad. It might not be suitable to our taste that's why.




We had a one hour flight delay from Jetstar and was served by TransAsia instead.

After we touched down, we had our first CNY dinner at Changi Airport's Paradise Inn.













Thank you for reading!
Xoxo

CNY in Taipei - Winter '13/14 Day 3

Navigations
TaoYuan Airport - XiMenDing

LongShan Temple - Mengjia Night Market - Taipei 101 - ATT4FUN - Shi Lin Night Market 

Dan Shui - Xi Men Ding  (Massage, Convenience food, dinner, late shopping)

TaoYuan Airport - Changi Airport (Paradise Inn)


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


Yummy breakfast before we start the day :)

The train journey to Dan Shui was pleasant because the day view from the train was awesome!


Dan Shui station was so crowded with people at around 10am. There was a public and handicap toilet at the station too.



Fascinating street puppet show :)



Gorgeous view :)





















Since our hotel was at Xi Men Ding, it was so convenient to bring my grandma (on wheelchair) back easily on the train as well as the locations that we had been to.

This is the foot reflexology center that we went which opens 24 hours!




I haven't been to Japan yet but Taiwan's convenience store is impressive!

Three for NTWD79 is less than SGD4!

These were what we choose:


And it was so yummy! Difficult to find yourself in a hungry state when you are in Taiwan :D

We bought KOI too :)

And we had dinner at Victoria Restaurant (https://www.facebook.com/victoria.restaurant?pnref=lhc) which was just a stone throw away from our hotel and they sell hong kong style dishes :)

I love this dish, 乾隆蜜汁花雕雞 most!



Claypot rice!


After a round of shopping in XiMenDing, my parents finally had a chance to eat Ah Zhong Mian Xian! :)

Crazy winter wear clearance opposite Ah Zhong Mian Xian:

NTWD200 is around SGD9 for a boots like these??

Lots of busking at Xi Men Ding too!






Around 8pm, we girls took train to Taipower Building station to Shi Da Night Market. We didn't bring grandma along because Shi Da Night market was more of fashion shopping and lesser food as compared to other night markets.



Our loots from Shi Da Night Market! But most of the items there were winter wear..

A full display of all that we have bought from Taiwan!

Check this out!

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