Bound for Hong Kong

A couple of months ago saw me flying out to Hong Kong for a small convention featuring some of the best financial advisors from my company, and I had my trusty camera in tow for a planned long-overdue update to this blog. It was my first time there, and while there had been itineraries planned for my stay, I was unable to follow it, leaving me with just the Peak, the Avenue of the Stars, and minor walk-around destinations to go to in my free time. Nevertheless, it was a good experience, and I’m looking forward to revisiting the city for all the other things it offers.

But let me ramble on about the Peak for now. Also known as Victoria Peak (after Queen Victoria, the British Empire’s monarch for most of the 19th century), this tourist-attracting mountain in Hong Kong is all of the following:

• one of the most popular destinations in the city offering great views of the Hong Kong skyline,
• home of the Peak Tram, which I’ll write about later below,
• an upscale residential area from the 19th century to present,
• the location of the Peak Tower and the Peak Galleria, leisure malls offering diverse shopping and dining options, and
• the highest point in Hong Kong Island with an altitude of at least 1,800 feet (the Peak Tram rises to around 1,300 feet)

Funny thing (or maybe not so) about this Hong Kong trip is that with an already-thin list of places to go to, I decided to visit the Peak twice. Shall I mention too that I had my meals at the same noodle house both times? Maybe not the smartest travel plan ever, but at least I got to see what it offers at both day and night, and accessing it from Tsim Sha Tsui via two routes, which I’ll share below.

First Visit: MTR, a Long Walk, the Peak Tram; Night View

For our first visit to the Peak, we took the MTR from Tsim Sha Tsui to Central, from where we walked to the base of the Peak Tram. I didn’t know it was going to be a very long walk, but it was a nice way to get acquainted with the Hong Kong cityscape from the ground level. As with every place I travel to, I can’t help but compare Hong Kong to where I come from, and Metro Manila will definitely need decades’ worth of continuous urban development to get anywhere this level. Still, my dreams are bigger than what my eyes show me, and I hope the day comes when I can build a building like one of these skyscrapers to call my own.

It was back to reality when we finally reached the base of the Peak Tram, which wasn’t really as spectacular as I first thought.

There were no views, just a bunch of trees (which, by the way, covers what little view there is of the city below) on the way up to the Peak. I know there’s much history to be appreciated about the Peak Tram, but that aside, I see the train as just a more expensive way to get to the top from the bottom.

At the top is a shopping area peppered with stores and restaurants, made special by a view of the Hong Kong skyline unmatched by any normal vantage point (see the photo at the beginning of the post), especially at night time when the bright lights of the city bathed the horizon with life in yellow.

Finally, I found this wax figure of Bruce Lee just outside the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum at the Peak Tower, and I just had to take a picture with it.

I saw a picture of potential and growth (and there’s much growing up to do, looking in), and if there’s a place in existence like this, then it must be possible, and if it’s possible, it must be done. That’s the kid in me writing, getting off the bus and thanking the driver for the experience.

Second Visit: Star Ferry, Bus Ride; Day View

A couple of days later, I’d join my Manila teammates in visiting the same place, although via a different route. We walked from Tsim Sha Tsui to the nearest Star Ferry pier and took a ferry to Central. From there we rode a bus to the Peak, this time not taking the Peak Tram which I’m no longer excited about (after the other night’s trial).

After taking the Stubbs Road route to the Peak, we went straight to viewing the Hong Kong skyline. Unfortunately, while still majestic in its proud buildings, the magic of the bright lights the other night was gone, replaced by a fog that draped over the cityscape. I’m glad I was able to experience it at night, and I recommend anyone visiting it to do so at that time instead of day.

I travel in search of inspiration. The Peak might not be that inspiring to most people, but I take what I can from every experience and my takeaway for this particular excursion is this: I saw a picture of potential and growth (and there’s much growing up to do, looking in), and if there’s a place in existence like this, then it must be possible, and if it’s possible, it must be done. That’s the kid in me writing, getting off the bus and thanking the driver for the experience.

The Peak (Victoria Peak)
Mid Levels, Hong Kong
thepeak.com.hk
+852 2849 0668 (The Peak Tower)

The bus left a few minutes later than it was scheduled to, but I was too sleepy to care. Still, I was only able to doze off half the time we spent en route to Banaue, Ifugao for Route +63′s inaugural group trip to the two thousand year-old Batad Rice Terraces, part of the region’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. I had a good feeling about the trip, but at the back of my mind I knew that real dangers existed beyond the safety of the bus door. Perhaps it was just me and the travel insurance policy I got for the entire group earlier that afternoon? A short while after daylight, we were out of the bus, in and out of a jeepney, and already settling in at Uyami’s Greenview Lodge in Banaue for breakfast and briefings. It has been a ten-hour ride.

I didn’t listen to the guy briefing the group about the trip. I shrugged off the lecture and thought I’d take in the “urban” scenery outside the lodge instead, which was a strip of a collection of a few more lodges, a local DENR office, a couple of souvenir shops, and a drugstore. Nothing much to see. After breakfast, we boarded our jeepneys – some of us, including me, toploading them just like I’ve seen in photos before – to the Batad Saddle. (I think toploading oughta be mainstream wherever it’s not as polluted as Metro Manila.)

It was about an hour of trekking from the saddle to the Hillside Inn where we checked in for an overnight stay. It served as our base of operations for our entire Batad experience, and serve well it did. It is owned by the family of Mr. Pedro Addug (in his mother’s name, I guess), a retired school principal who proved himself a great resource person throughout our stay there. His family apparently also owns the part of the Batad Rice Terraces we traveled all the way from Manila to help repair, and he was sincerely thankful for the contributions our group made.

The said contributions were primarily our participation in a local effort called bachang, which I think roughly translates to the Filipino word bayanihan (cooperation between neighbors for a common purpose). Natural occurrences at the Batad Rice Terraces led to erosion in some parts of it, and the bachang invites outside intervention to help restore these sections. Route +63′s role was limited to transferring soil and rocks from a lower terrace to one level up, and it took much energy from us to do the simple tasks required to complete the job. Still, it was a proud moment for the participants to have helped out in the restoration process, not to mention completing an hour-long walk from Hillside Inn to the work area and back.

I heard the other participants met with the barangay captain before returning to the inn for formal thanks, but I only had two things on my mind after shoveling dirt and digging through soil: to cut through whatever was on the plan next and to get myself under a flowing shower. So off to the bathroom I headed, to a line of three people waiting for their turn to take a shower (to my dismay). The only consolation is that I was still the first one to wash off all the dirt from our group, leading me to hum “So Fresh, So Clean” by Outkast on my way out of the showers. Yep, I’m dope like that.

After dinner, Mr. Addug gave us a much appreciated lecture on rice wine and moma (betel nut). It was then that I understood the weight of the traditions and ceremonies that come with these goods, that these are not just simple acts of respect, but intricate practices that need our attention and preservation. I have much to learn on my next trip to Batad, I thought to myself, but further lessons would come sooner than I anticipated.

“Maphod,” I whispered to myself. Mr. Addug taught us the word the previous night, in the context of the rice wine being “good for everyone,” which the word meant. Maphod, the story we’ll share back home.

The rest of the group ventured to a nearby falls and traditional village the following day, but I opted to stay behind at the inn. There, Mr. Addug told me more about Batad: that outsiders must stay for about two days and two nights to grasp all the best sights Batad has to offer, that the amphitheater the Batad Rice Terraces resemble is best viewed from a mountaintop to the right side from where the inn’s view was, that the said mountaintop can be reached by trekking for two hours (to my disappointment), and that there’s actually an old story about how the said rice terraces came about.

We left after lunch and after thanking our hosts for the stories and everything else. It was another hour’s worth of walking back to the saddle, and this time we anticipated a downpour due to the looming dark clouds. Hell of a day to travel, I thought, but there was no other way but to go at the designated time, so I had a porter carry my huge backpack up the mountainside. For a cheap sum, I’d gladly save my legs for the work week to come.

We reached the saddle, all safe and sound, relieved of the burden of trekking ever again for the rest of the day. We looked forward to a few more sights (at the famous Banaue Rice Terraces) and a hearty early dinner back at the Greenview Lodge.

“Maphod,” I whispered to myself. Mr. Addug taught us the word the previous night, in the context of the rice wine being “good for everyone,” which the word meant. Maphod, the story we’ll share back home.

Batad Rice Terraces
Batad District, Banaue, Ifugao
Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines

Route +63
route63.org

This “UK Fun Fair” thing wasn’t part of our itinerary. However, on our first night at Kota Kinabalu when we were supposed to retire early, we found ourselves looking for something to do and this perya (fair) was sitting right across the street from our hotel, so we decided to have a look. And look was about all that we did, what with the safety concerns and the huge crowd the place has drawn.

Apparently, UK Fun Fair is a mobile fair that comes to different towns. Before I knew that, I had the stupid experience of asking a random man about the attraction in question. “What’s this place, sir?” I asked him, to which he replied, “It’s a fair.” Right, right. So I followed up with, “So what’s special about this fair?” and he snapped, “It’s from the UK.” Right, right. I felt like the biggest idiot ever right then and there.

Entrance to the entire fair costs RM 2 per person, with an additional RM 2 price tag for every ride you wish to try. To be fair, some of the rides seem downright scary, especially when the seats creak loudly while you fly in different directions. I’m guessing that’s the kind of thrill you pay for here. Other game booths are also available, none of which interested me. The Winnie the Pooh booth was cute as hell, though, but I think it’d be somewhat frightening to get stuck in there when it’s dark.

“What’s this place, sir?” I asked him, to which he replied, “It’s a fair.” Right, right. So I followed up with, “So what’s special about this fair?” and he snapped, “It’s from the UK.” Right, right. I felt like the biggest idiot ever right then and there.

I don’t even know if the fair is still where we found it because it’s mobile. At any rate, I’m writing about it to record the stupid exchange I had with that random bystander near the Winnie the Pooh booth. I will never forget about you now, thank you very much.

(Also, this was written to remind me of the Jakel Silk House which towered over the UK Fun Fair – we had a good laugh about what they might be selling or manufacturing in there.)

UK Fun Fair
Jalan Sulaman, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

Being the only “Our Pick” recommendation from my outdated copy of Lonely Planet Southeast Asia, we looked forward to dining out at Nishiki Japanese Restaurant on our second night at Kota Kinabalu. More than looking forward to the food, however, we wanted to set a new benchmark for dining in Sabah after below average experiences elsewhere in the couple of days that preceded our Nishiki visit.

“Sigurado ka ba diyan sa Nishiki? (Are you sure about Nishiki?)” I vaguely remember Tin asking hours earlier. I also remember saying something like, “It’s the one sure restaurant I have on our itinerary.” Thus, the high expectations we had of that place. We asked our cab to come pick us up around nine in the evening, just in time for us to order food and finish it before within an hour.

I wanted a little bit of everything, and I thought a set meal would be the most affordable way to get what I want, so I ordered Teishoku C (RM 45). It includes Yaki Zakana (fish grilled on a griddle), assorted tempura, sashimi, Oshinkoh (assorted Japanese pickles), plain rice, miso soup, and fruits all in small portions. Of particular interest to me were the grilled fish, miso soup, and tempura.

There were three things I noted from our experience at Nishiki. Firstly, the food was delicious, as expected, at least for me. I actually think the positive reviews I’ve read with regards to the taste of Nishiki’s teishoku were deserved. Secondly and unfortunately, the prices quoted on the Lonely Planet edition I had were very outdated. It stated that a set meal would have costed a person around RM 16, but mine was at about thrice that much; it was my fault, though, for not knowing the updated costs.

It’s the one sure restaurant I have on our itinerary.

Lastly and most unfortunate of all, our food came in about an hour after ordering it. That’s plainly unacceptable, no matter how delicious the food may have been. Tin completely lost her appetite, while Gelo and I were probably too hungry to argue then. She had just went out of the restaurant to say sorry to the cab driver for the delay as our food wasn’t ready yet, and was about to complain big time to the restaurant’s manager when in defense, the restaurant sent an elderly waitress to sincerely apologize on the crew’s behalf. We simply didn’t have the heart to give nasty remarks to her, so we just left the restaurant without tipping for the service.

Bottomline: good food, terrible service. And that’s probably all I’ll ever have to say about Nishiki.

Nishiki Japanese Restaurant
59 Jalan Gaya, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

There’s this new bar and restaurant along E. Rodriguez Avenue in Quezon City that you guys might want to check out. Named The Bunker Restopub, the new joint is the brainchild of upcoming chefs Jess Efenio and Jimbo Sarmiento. Not bad at all for a first venture, as Jess shares: “We built the Bunker from scratch and bought everything down to the last nail and screws used in the construction. Not only are we certified foodies, we are also part-time construction workers!” And “construct” their plates of comfort food they do well.

I had the pleasure of trying out their dishes (and mojito) recently and the experience affirmed that good food need not come with a hefty price tag, and good pubs can also serve awesome food.

We started the meal light with Cheese Sticks, which I imagine would be heaven in a bucket if only I could bring so much of it to a movie theater. (Cheese sticks by the bucket! If only that existed, no one would be buying popcorn to take to movies!) It was a great appetizer best remembered as the snack we munched on while Kat (the chef’s travel freak sister) talked about her own business plans for the near future.

Kat also shared that at home, Jess would whip up the very same creations she brought to the Bunker, and that the Chicken Roulade was one of her favorites. I think it became one of mine too. Jess adds: “The dishes on the menu are our favorite comfort food. These are the food we always crave for.”

The highlights of the night, however, were the Honey Walnut Salad with Grilled Chicken and the Prawn Pesto. The former was a nice, juicy, leafy treat with a nice walnut touch, and the latter was just my kind of comfort food (how can you go wrong with prawn and pesto?). When I return, I’d probably order either one of the two again.

I asked Jess about how they came up with the name of the restaurant and her answer was simply: “Bunker literally means a large container for storing fuel. At The Bunker, we also store our fuel, which is food and alcohol!” It does make sense, actually. Imagine a war-time raiding of supply tents for rations and medicine. Now think of an equal, similar, and desperate reason to raid a bar for food and booze. See what I mean? Just remember to fork over some cash for the goods you acquired, as this ain’t no supply tent raid. As the restaurant jokes on a wall message, “If you’re drinking to forget, please pay in advance.”

Should you find yourself at the northern part of Metro Manila, give this nice little bar and restaurant some love. Better enjoyed with a group of friends and best with tons of booze.

“The dishes on the menu are our favorite comfort food. These are the food we always crave for.” [Jess Efenio]

The Bunker Restopub
E. Rodriguez Avenue
Quezon City, Philippines

Sake Night!

So it happened that a few days ago, I was invited to join Geisha Modern Japanese Cuisine’s “Sake Night” – a feast specifically designed to pair Geisha’s excellent dishes with a variety of high grade sake brews. It was also my first time trying out the restaurant, an exquisite Japanese dining place at the new Bonifacio High Street Central owned by the Red Kimono group. If you’re already familiar with Red Kimono’s offerings, well, you can consider Geisha as a huge upgrade. This joint raises the bar for modern Japanese dining up a few notches and I think they’ve set it at a height that’s hard to match.

To kick the night off, I had myself an order of sakejito (sake variation of mojito) that lasted me throughout the evening (there were other brews served, but this one was refillable as my go-to drink). I’m such a sucker for mojito and this one hit the spot quite well.

The first set of dishes was paired with Gekkeikan Traditional Sake and Zipang Sparkling Sake. The first one can be served at any temperature, and I had mine at room level. Semi-dry and light to medium bodied, it can be paired with all kinds of Japanese dishes, it being some sort of a generic brew. Zipang, on the other hand, is a carbonated sparkling sake using the Champagne method. Unlike the first one which I opted to be served in a masu (wooden box cup), this was served chilled and in a shot glass.

One side note about the wooden container, it’s apparent that the wood affects the flavor of the sake because of its texture and natural smell. Therefore, it’s up to the drinker whether he prefers the box to complement the taste of sake or to have it in a modern shot glass to maintain its purity. At any rate, it’s all a matter of preference.

As the first set of dishes rolled in, the first thing I noticed was the attention to detail they put in preparing the food, the handiwork of a collaboration between British chef Tom Hines (of Capari Resort) and Ramon Antonio. Their intricate work is consistent from the first dish to the last.

One of my favorites from the evening was the above-pictured Spicy Tuna Crisps, authentically-spiced yellowfin tuna on paper thin crisps. I don’t think I could ever get enough of them, honestly. Same goes with the Butter Wasabi Oysters (oven-baked and served on a bed of salt), but then again, I’m a bit allergic to seafood so I’d have to exercise caution with it, even though it’s immensely delectable.

Their Kurobuta Gyoza, premium-grade pork dumplings on miso-infused tomato sauce, was another favorite that will work as a great appetizer with any dinner. The sauce is much more than mere decoration, and I sneaked in a few scrapes off the plate just to have second and third samples of its taste. About the dish that followed, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Prawn Tempura served in a cocktail glass, but they did it.

Next was a delightful set of Spider Rolls (crunchy soft shell crab and kani salad), which tastes as good as it is pictured above. The Hamachi Sashimi was presented in a bowl of ice that glows. Glows? Yes, you read that right – there’s something glowing beneath the ice the sashimi is served on.

The Rock Shrimp Tempura Salad was an interesting dish with mesclun, cucumber, shrimp, carrots, and creamy sesame dressing. It was paired with unfiltered sake featuring sweet, milky, and mildly fruity taste called Nigori Sake. It’s said that this drink complements fruits and salads, and I have to agree that it does partner with the tempura salad quite well.

The next dish, Miso Glazed Gindara (with edamame risotto and hajikami) was what I think was the second best one from the evening. It was paired, along with Grilled Chilean Seabass (with Wakame pesto and aubergine and kyuri salad), with Namachozo Draft Sake, fresh sake that is pasteurized shortly for two seconds before bottling. It also has a fruity taste (banana, red apple, and peach) and goes well with sashimi, tempura, and grilled seafoods, hence the pairing choice.

I decided to delay eating the dessert as long as I could, not wanting to spoil the taste of Wagyu steak in my taste buds.

They also severed what they call Skewered Pork 72 (with ginger wasabi vinaigrette and gohan) after the 72 hours (3 days) it takes to cook the meat. It is paired with Taru Cedar-Barrelled Sake which bears a semi-sweet and woody flavor.

Paired with my favorite drink of the evening, cold Bizan Gold Shochu (shochu made of rice, aged for over a year in sherry barrels, with 25% alcohol content), was the U.S. Angus Beef Teppanyaki (U.S. prime ribeye with eggplant shigiyaki and lotus crisps). It was very tender and tasty, and while I’m not really an eggplant fan, the shigiyaki went really well with it. A well-put together trio, I think.

Finally, with a little ceremony, they presented last this Japanese A5 Wagyu Steak. A5 is the highest grade of Japanese Wagyu and is arguably the best beef in the world, most known for its fine marbling characteristics, that is, the white layers of fat through lean meat that intensifies its flavor and tender texture. So good is this meat that it’d be a shame to try to do too much with it; simply salt and pepper work best, and cooking it past medium rare may already be too much. Having tried this out at Geisha was a check mark off my bucket list, and it helps that it was paired with Horin Super Premium Sake (chilled and refreshing with a fruity aroma and full-bodied flavor).

We were to cap the night off with a serving of Matcha Cheesecake, but I decided to delay eating the dessert as long as I could, not wanting to spoil the taste of Wagyu steak in my taste buds. When I finally did, it provided a nice, sweet end to a feast of great food and sake at Geisha.

Well, I’ll probably be back soon.

Geisha Modern Japanese Cuisine
2/F Bonifacio High Street Central
Bonifacio Global City
Taguig City, Philippines

I consider visiting the Chang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Square (also called the Liberty Square and Freedom Square) as the architectural highlight of our Taiwan trip. Unluckily for us, though, there was a huge event with stalls and a couple of concert-style stages set up when we visited, obstructing our full view of the landmark. Still, it was a nice place to visit and the number of visitors attending the event did not deter us from taking dozens of pictures and enjoying what view was available to us.

Chang Kai-shek was what my current boss would call a “game changer,” and to the modern world, it seems like the man has his place among the best of them.

Within the square is the Chang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (duh) with the twins – the National Theater and the National Concert Hall - on each of its sides. The main archway, which itself is a huge and interesting structure, serves as the entrance and stands at the side of the square opposite the memorial hall.

The Memorial Hall is a white structure with a blue-tiled octagonal roof, symbolic of good fortune and prosperity in Asian culture. The colors blue, white, and red (the flowerbeds parallel to the plaza leading to the hall) mirror those of the Republic of China flag. A pair of stairs with eighty nine steps each correspond to the age of Chang Kai-shek at the time of his passing, and lead to the main hall where an enormous bronze statue of the Generalissimo sits.

I stared at the bronze statue and because I had but a shallow understanding of their history, I couldn’t bring myself to a full appreciation of what the hall contained; instead, I just thought to myself: just how much good should a man do in his lifetime to deserve such recognition, such preservation of achievements? I admit ignorance in matters of politics in the Republic of China, but from what I understand, approval for the late former President is not, by far, unanimous. So, if it’s not the goodness of the man in question nor the political approval of the people which is to credit for this gigantic tribute, then what is?

Immortality is deserved by people who make their mark in history regardless of what exactly they did, and the magnitude of it correlates to how much they are to be remembered in the years to come. Chang Kai-shek was what my current boss would call a “game changer,” and to the modern world, it seems like the man has his place among the best of them. So maybe that’s just that?

I let the idea rest for a while while I explored the rest of what can be explored within the walls of the memorial hall.

On the hall’s caisson ceiling, the emblem of the Kuomintang of China is displayed (Chang Kai-shek assumed leadership of the said party after Sun Yat-sen’s death in 1925). An added tourist attraction is found just by the entrance, where two guards from the armed service guard the hall and change every hour.

Unfortunately for us, we didn’t spend enough time at the square to explore the library and museum at the lower level of the memorial hall, nor did we check out what’s inside the National Theater and National Concert Hall. Anyway, it seemed like an eventful weekend for the locals as stages were set and a market was in place for an occasion we didn’t understand at all, so we just decided to take a lot of photos around the area as our means of enjoying the square.

Our visit to the CKS Memorial Hall and its neighboring buildings was a peek into the culture and arts of the country, but I feel like there’s still much to understand about their history, Chang Kai-shek himself, and the symbols and references that seemingly abound everywhere. Perhaps better understanding lies in knowing their language?

Chang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Square (Liberty Square)
Taipei, Taiwan
cksmh.gov.tw/eng/index.php

It’s the largest night market in Taiwan and it probably gets the lion’s share of pedestrians at any given day. As such, when you travel to the Shilin Night Market, make sure all your belongings are safe. Along with Ximending, this place has one of the highest crime rates due to crowd size – however, we weren’t a group to worry much. We’re too used to Manila’s markets that we thought it can’t be that scary in Taipei’s.

As for us, the highlight of our Shilin Night Market visit was trying out the different snacks available, none of which we have ever tasted before.

The stalls open around four in the afternoon and close past midnight, but if you’re taking the train out of Shilin, be sure to leave before midnight when the last train leaves.

People would  generally have two reasons for going to Shilin: to shop or to dine. The shopping selection is generally on the cheaper side as it is within a short distance from various schools, making students their primary market. Even some popular brands with stores here offer items at a discount to appease the young crowd! A word of advice: since many stores carry similar items in their inventory, it’s best not to be impulsive and buy the one you want immediately. Check if any other store offers the same item and compare prices for the best value out of your money.

As for us, the highlight of our Shilin Night Market visit was trying out the different snacks available, none of which we have ever tasted before. Taipei’s more famous snacks include fried chicken fillets, oyster omelets, bubble tea, oyster vermicelli, and stinky tofu. Unfortunately, as for the snacks that we did try, I couldn’t really identify them well enough, so I’m going to let the following photos do the talking.

I’ve heard it more than once that for people who plan to visit a night market in Taiwan, it’s best not to eat anything until you get there. The food selection is simply overwhelming both in variety and in being cheap. If you’re traveling in a group like we were, I think it’s a good idea to intentionally buy snacks in small portions for sharing. This way, you’ll have a lot of room for different things to try out.

We saw quite a number of these “Wow Frog Eggs” stalls, but we didn’t try it. For starters, I found the signage a bit unappetizing, and secondly, I didn’t want frogs to do anything with whatever I eat. Judging from the number of stalls we saw, however, I think this products sells. It’s just that we’re not their target market.

Definitely, Shilin Night Market is a place to check out for any tourist who visits Taipei. We made our bet on it being the night market destination of our choice (we only had room for one in our packed itinerary) and we were satisfied with how our visit turned out.

Shilin Night Market
Shilin District, Taipei, Taiwan

We were quite fortunate that our hotel in Taipei was located in Ximending, a shopping area immensely popular with Taiwan’s fashionable youth. Just on our street, rows of local and Western shops, food stalls, and restaurants attract the attention of young pedestrians; unsurprisingly, due to the volume of consumer youth in the area, outdoor advertisements and on-ground promotional events abound, and we were witnesses to quite a lot of it during our entire three-day stay there. In fact, it was, since the Japanese colonial period, planned as a recreational and commercial district, and it has been the same way since, still being one of the most popular areas in Taipei’s West District.

The Ximending Pedestrian Area and the streets behind it come alive every night with shoppers, diners, and just about a sample from all walks of Taipei life. It becomes so crowded in the evenings that there is a scheduled time for it to close itself to motorists (weekends and holidays) so pedestrians can roam freely and explore the area.

At one point while we were on our way to the Ximending train station, a local hip-hop artist decided to lug around a boombox with him and set up a live performance right smack in the middle of the crowd. I envied him, for I could have easily done what he did (but in Tagalog)! Apparently, this is a normal occurrence as new CD releases and small concerts are regularly being staged here.

Ximending is also known for its Movie Theater Street (Sec. 2 of Wuchang Street) where many film production outfits hold events and post promotional movie posters in the pedestrian area. Movie theaters abound and it can easily be packed whenever a movie stages a promotion here. Also standing tall above the other locations in Ximending is the Red House, a century-old, public-run market that is “the most well-preserved historical and market building classed as a municipal heritage site.” We haven’t had the time to check out what’s in the building (called the Octagon Building due to its shape) and around it, but it’s said that the Grid of Hundred Treasures inside and the Market for Artists and Designers at the North Square just outside is a visual treat.

As for shopping and dining, I think it’ll be near impossible for any tourist with just a few days in Taipei to fully appreciate this sprawling district with tons of local and international brands begging you to visit them. Such is the abundance of stores and its fashionable appeal that its called the Harajuku (and Shibuya, as well) of Taipei. My tip to budget travelers: leave your wallet at home and bring just enough for meals, as the temptation to buy clothes, trinkets, and whatever else just screams at you from every imaginable direction. Well, yeah, leave your wallet at home, as along with the Shilin Night Market, Ximending is one of the areas with the highest crime rates in the city (although we felt safe walking around its crowded streets).

For a dose of youthful urbanity in today’s Taipei, Ximending is the place to go. Believe me, they’ve got it all right here in one place.

A local hip-hop artist decided to lug around a boombox with him and set up a live performance right smack in the middle of the crowd. I envied him, for I could have easily done what he did (but in Tagalog)!

Ximending
Wanhua District, Taipei, Taiwan

It’s especially true with me, and much truer this year, as I’ve gone and made drastic decisions in 2011 that I’m hopeful will come to fruition in 2012. I’m entering this Day One with excitement, a sense of urgency, and a Narutoesque determination that’s partly foolish and fully gritty. As I relaxed, watching fireworks explode in the sky, I wondered how far I can take myself this year. It’s a full year ahead, and yet, I feel like there’s not much time left. Something has to happen now.

Whatever this New Year means to you, dear reader, I wish you success. If the world doesn’t end this year (as if it really will), may we all come out of it better persons than how we came into 2012 as motivated, hungry individuals.

I’m entering this Day One with excitement, a sense of urgency, and a Narutoesque determination that’s partly foolish and fully gritty.

I’ve decided to forget about any other way to celebrate New Year and from this first of January and every such day onwards, I will benchmark myself against the achievements of my past and be better. Better, always, and never taking a step back: yes, that’s how I’m picturing myself today.

Cheers to a prosperous 2012!