20 Hour Layover in Taiwan: How to get out of Taipei Taoyuan Airport and Eating at Ning Xia Night Market

I finally paid Manila a visit after 10 years of living in New York City. Last summer, I went on a smorgasbord trip to Italy, Israel and France (and havent blogged most of it yet - soon, I will do it!)

I ended up in Taiwan because some flights to Manila involved 20 hour layovers. The choices were Japan and Taiwan. I picked Taiwan because I have never been there, and it was 20 hours both ways (as opposed to Japan having 20 hours only one way) and it was a cheaper place and the visa for Philippine passport holders with US/Schengen Visas/GreenCards were easy to obtain online. To me, the 20 hour layover is a "free trip"!

20 hours is good enough if you know how to get out of the airport like a pro. And i did it like a pro, thanks to this youtube video!



Note that there is the NT$90 and NT$125 fare. The difference is 30 mins faster. Kuo Kang bus lines will charge NT$125 but will be 30 minutes faster than CitiAirBus. It seems "a lot" but really, you are paying less than US$2 more. On my first try, I took the cheaper bus because I didn't know any better, and I was being a cheapskate. This proved to be lucky because the CitiAirBus takes you back to the bus terminal itself. The Kuo Kang bus let us out at a regular bus stop somewhere around the Taipei Main station, and it could be a little troublesome to find the bus terminal back to the airport. IF YOU GET LOST, JUST ASK!

Bus Ticket Counters

My Baggage Tag and Ticket. They stored my carry-on under the bus.

This was my bus, dont worry - the stands are numbered.
If you are still confused, just show your ticket to the drivers
and keep saying "Taipei Main Station."

The driver's cockpit. He has his own ticket machine.
My bus driver was doing some comedy while driving,
but I couldn't understand a thing and everyone was just laughing at the jokes.
After his comic stint, he started using the PA system
as a Karaoke and serenaded the passengers!

The bus will take you to TAIPEI MAIN STATION. If you are staying for the night, make sure that your hotel is walking distance from the bus station, because it's easier to deal with than finding a cab to take you there.

The bus ride is convenient, cheap and safe. I generally prefer taking public transportation out of any airport because it's I know it wont charge me extra, or do some touristy upsell. Take note, most airports are NOT IN the city itself, so it is cost effective to learn how to take the bus out of the airport and into the city.

One lesson to learn, HAVE YOUR HOTEL NAME WRITTEN IN CHINESE CHARACTERS SO DIRECTIONS ARE EASIER TO ASK. A lot of people in Taiwan speak English, however, the English spelling of the streets will be different from the street sign and different from the one you will get from Google maps.

As soon as I got off the bus, I didn't understand where I was, nor did I understand the orientation of the streets. First, I asked a bus driver where my hotel was, but he didn't understand my map. So I asked two twentysomething girls where my hotel was and they walked me to my hotel (it was about a 15 minute walk, and it was half past midnight!!!) They were mapping it out with their phones and such and didn't even think that my little hostel existed. I gave them both a hug and they thought I was brave enough to travel by myself.

After I dropped my stuff off at NiHao Taipei, I asked the building guard (the hostel is not the entire building, it just rents a couple of units in the building.) to find me a taxi to take me to the night market - mind you, the guard was apprehensive because it was already late. I thought I was going to Shilin Night Market - however the cab driver brought me to the Ning Xia Night Market.

And I ate my ass off.

The first stall I saw. OH MY! YUMMY!

IN. TEST. INES!!!! WOOHOO!!!

Get a basket, put your choices in a basket and they will grill it for you.

Mmm.

Mmm.

The night market was half empty and some stalls were closing.

I didn't eat these. I was too scared of deboning while walking.

I think this was the small intestine in large intestine. I didn't try it

Eggs beside mop and bucket.

Braised pork feet

I ate it on this table with steel chopsticks!

It is served with rice a side of tea egg and bamboo shoots.

Oh what an exciting time!

These in addition to fried chicken...

Plenty of yummy innards choose from!

 

IMHO, these had too much MSG, and i didnt even finish it.

In this trip, I realized that grilled is the way to go, and if you can point to a picture menu - you can order. People are happy to serve you food as long as you are not squeamish.

The stalls were about to close when I got here, so for the "full experience" in photos, you can go to My Kafkaesque Life.

Italy – Daytrip to the Leaning Tower of Pisa from Florence for 9 Euros!

One of Italy’s most known architectural structures is the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It is a freestanding bell tower that tilted to one side because the foundation on ground on one side was too soft to support its own weight.

This campanile is part of the Piazza dei Miracoli otherwise known as Piazza del Duomo where there are four great religious structures – the Duomo, the Baptistery, the Campanile (Leaning Tower) and the Camposanto Monumentale.

How to spend the least amount of money on this daytrip from Florence: 

1.     Find out these two train schedules:

a.     Firenze Santa Maria Novella to Pisa Centrale

b.     Pisa S. Rossore back to Firenze SMN.

Keep in mind that your one-way ticket is good for 4 hours after validation; so pick the ones that will fit this timeframe, so you only pay for a one-way ticket. A one-way ticket will set you back about 8,20€.



EDIT 6/12/2013 - The validity of regional trains have changed to 4 hours - when I did this trip, my ticket was valid for 6 hours - and it was enough time to tour Pisa from Florence and go back on a one-way ticket. Now, you should buy a round trip ticket. Read more about Trenitalia here.

Trenitalia Ticket to Pisa S Rossore

2.     BUY A TICKET THAT IS GOING TO PISA S. ROSSORE 

because this is a station that is farther than Pisa Centrale coming from Florence, but take whatever train that goes to Pisa Centrale on your way to Pisa.

3.     Validate your ticket at the last possible moment. 

2 minutes before the train leaves is just about right BUT NEVER GET ON THE TRAIN WITHOUT VALIDATION.

Train ticket validating machine.

4.     Get off Pisa Centrale. 

Click here for walking directions. It takes about 30-45mins walking at a leisurely pace. These are some of the things you will see on the way to the Piazza Dei Miracoli:

Vittorio Emanuele II Statue 

That is NOT Ross Dress for Less.

The sad truth is, you pay a "cover charge" to sit in a lot of places.

5.     You need tickets to get inside the buildings. 

I only bought the 2-attraction ticket and just spent time taking pics.

6.     Walk to Pisa S. Rossore Station.

Google maps can’t point the exact way, but here’s anapproximation of how I got there. When you get to Via Andrea Pisano, ask for directions on how to get to the stazioni, just to make sure.

Of course "not eating lunch there" does not mean that I can't stop for dessert! (uhm, snacks?)

Pastries from Salza, the oldest patisserie in Pisa

La Borsa Gelato (I eat gelato every chance I get.)

I didn't eat lunch there, BUT I SNACKED!!!!

I ate my breakfast in Firenze with the intention of having lunch in Firenze AFTER my visit to Pisa to avoid paying for my return ticket. However, there was a fire on the train tracks on my way back and we got stranded at a random stop. Along with the other passengers, we waited for a bus to take us to a different station and caught the train there to get back to Florence.

That's my mom in her hat, keeping her cool and trying to be not
annoyed at me while I grabbed lunch.

Doner Kebab! Yes. I was eating this shawarma-ish snack and I tell you,
it was pretty good!

Other passengers scrambling to get into the bus to get to a different
train station. 

Let me say it again - in the event that something like that happens – follow everyone else, and DON’T GET HYSTERICAL. Every one is stranded just like you – so find out what the wait time is and immediately find a bathroom, get yourself something to eat or drink (if something is available nearby) and try to be friendly with another passenger who understands Italian and can translate what is going on for you.

You'll be fine - and it's a better story to tell when you get home. 

Here are the tourist photos!

It is smaller than you think it is. See the scale?

The Baptistery is the building with the red brick roof,
Duomo in the middle and the Campanile (Leaning Tower) in the back.

Inside the Baptistery (that's how Wiki spells it.)

Camposanto Monumentale from the Baptistery

View of the Duomo from the Baptistery

Duomo

Leading to the main altar of the Duomo

Yes, that's the magnificent ceiling.

Pews of the Duomo

Urna di San Ranieri (Bones of St. Ranieri, the patron saint of Pisa)

Don't forget to buy presents for all your friends named David. ;)

*****

Other blogposts in this series:

Italy: Practical Travel Advice

Meatopia 2012

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Meatopia 2012 has come and gone and while it was a crazy weather day, it was full of fantastic food, delicious cocktails and rain! Rain?! New Yorkers love their meat (and booze) and it wont stop them from getting the full experience that is Meatopia. Tornado warnings notwithstanding, we partied on.

And we ate well. Mmm hmm.

See how we managed to go through it all! Meatopia 2012 Survivor Tips

He sees a lot of bacon.

Armed Forces Foundation grillmasters

All this, wrapped in bacon from the Armed Forces Foundation!
Grilled Venison Steaks and Marinated Tenderloin

Crown Royal Black Op Cocktail

Grilling some duck!

Gabriele Corcos and Debi Mazar
Pizza al Carpaccio with Certified Piedmontese Eye Round beef

Gabriele Corcos

Portable woodburning pizza oven!!!

Gabriele shooting a segment

Harold Moore of Commerce

Harold Moore
Duo of Squab Rillete and Roasted Breast Ancienne

Jeni Britton Bauer

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
Rainbow Frozen Yogurt

Jonathon Sawyer

Jonathon Sawyer
Brains and Bread

Bill Dorrier of Osteria Morini
(Any man who looks like this, can cook like he does and holding
pork cheeks? So Hawt! Yes, quote me on that.)

Michael White
Grilled Hampshire Pork Cheeks with Late Summer Mostarda

Shane McBride and Josh Ozersky

Add caption

Shane McBride
Smoked Duck Neck Gumbo with Wild Rice

Long lines to one spot!

Aaron Franklin

Aaron Franklin
Texas Beef Brisket

Adam Perry Lang
Charred and Scruffed Beef Short Ribs

Adam Sappington

Adam Sappington
Friday Morning Turkey Trio
Confited Wings, Pope's Nose and Turkey Scrapple

Alex Guarnaschelli
and her Meatopia Team

Alex Guarnaschelli
Carnard A la Presse with Sauce Chasseur

Noah Bermanoff
Sizzling Smoked Veal Brisket with Hot Pickled Tomatoes

Follow the boney bone road.

Paul Denamiel

Paul Denamiel
Beef Shank Bourguignon

Beef Shanks a-stewing!

Butcher Competition

Craig Koketsu
Peking Chicken Sausage

Eduard Frauneder
Grilled Veal Breast Roulade with Arugula,
Peach and Rye Bread Mustard Vinaigrette

Mike Toscano
Grilled Quail Alla Diavola
with Charred Schallions and Buttermilk Crema

Fatback Collective

The Fatback Collective's Freebie

Franklin Decker
Danish Meatballs with Creamy Dill Sauce

George Dickel Handmade Bar

Hemant Mathur
Tandoori Chicken

Honeydrop Teas!
I love their Blueberry.

Siggi Hall for Icelandic Lamb
Icelandic Free Range Gras Fed Boneless Butterflied Leg of Lamb

Philippe Massoud
Lebanese Smores!

Philippe Massoud
Pulled Aleppo and Sumac Rubbed Lamb Sandwich

Jon Adams
Grilled Vegas Strip with Carrot Salad

Creekstone Farms Booth / Jon Adams

Kahlua Iced Coffee: Delicioso To-Go!
(this is breakfast at my desk legal, right? ;)

Marc Forgione

Marc Forgione
Grilled Rib Steak with Bone Marrow Maitre' D Butter,
Pierre Poivre and Smoked Onion Chimichurri

Mmm. Yes, Marc Forgione lets you have the bone.

Pat Lafreida
Whole Thousand-Pound Marinated Creekhouse Steer

That's what a thousand-pound steer looks like on a grill.

April Bloomfield had this head of hog as her table centerpiece.
It's so beautiful!

Plainville Farms

Grilling corn on the cob

San Benedetto Water was all over the place for you to grab one.
Genius!

Scotty Smith
Skin-On Barbecued Jamaican Jerk Pork Belly
with Allspice Pickles

Tim Bynes

Tim Bynes
Best Butcher's Steak with Pickled Celery,
Mustard Caviar and Buttermilk

This? It didnt stop us from partying.

Whole Foods
The World's Largest Sausage Toppings Bar

They have redefined "sliced mushrooms" and I love it!!!

Taken when it just started...

And this is how it all ended.

Meatopia 2012 is always something i look forward to each year. Of course - a girl could only eat so much (hah! but that is good!). I look forward to doing it all over again. There are some booths that I didn't get to visit, and my friend @Roxwriting was happy to chomp on the others I didn't get a chance to do so. Find her at Spam is Better Fried.

Well done, Josh and the entire team of Meatopia! And no, I'm not ordering steak. ;) 

I look forward to MEATing you, next year. *aaaaw*