Taiwan | Halal Food in Taipei City

If you’ve read my old entries, you would know how much I love Taiwan. It is like love at the first site, well for me, in this case…. Love at many site…. Like, ALL the site I’ve visited – physically and virtually. I find it hard to not fall in love with Taiwan. I might be bias here as I am fluent in Mandarin, and added advantage.

The only thing I find Taiwan not to my liking is the food, I guess it is because I can’t sample all the yummeh food that I have been hearing. Yup! It is not halal, and good halal food is not that easy to find. And if there is one, it is not that convenient.  Kinda sad huh! Having said that, the 3 below are those that I would like to recommend. Am very sure there are plenty more, but due to time constraint, I was unable to locate nor try them. Next time maybe *wink*.

The first 2 that I am featuring are very Taiwan type of delicacy which is the famous beef noodle. I highly encourage for you guys to try this else kira tak aci lah kan. Hehehhhee…. Worry not guys, all the restaurants stated below are halal certified tau. So, jangan risau.

Chang's Beef Noodles Shop

This is one of the HALAL beef noodle restaurant in Taipei that I like. I love the side orders the most to be honest... especially the one that looks like gyoza and ommelette, sodaaaap. Few things I would like to highlight :

1. The price range is pretty reasonable
2. The options are aplenty
3. There's a few other halal resto within this street
4. Next door is a hostel hence it is convenient for low budget travelers (swipe to view hotel name). 5. The resto location itself is within reach
6. Its crowded so come early or be abit patient hokkay

Chang's Beef Noodles Shop
21, Yanping South Road
Zhongzheng District
Taipei City, Taiwan

Master Diced Beef Nankan Restaurant

This is also one of the Taiwan halal diced beef noodle restaurant. This time around I sampled the braised beef noodle of which I don't think I like the taste, I guess am the clear soup type of a girl. But I have to give credit to the diced beef... giler sedap hokkay.

By the way, the restaurant have the clear soup type too but I thought I should try something new and different.

Master Diced Beef Nankan Restaurant

95, Taoyuan St

Luzhu Dist, Taoyuan

Taiwan

Yunus Halal Restaurant

Steam fish! A must order. The other dish is suhun with vege and prawn, I have no idea the name of the dish though, perhaps if you visit this place, you can show this picture for them to see and cook.

As it is an ala carte meal so it will be slightly pricey if you were to eat a lot. Better to in a small group. I forgot to tale a picture of the halal sign, my bad.

Yunus Halal Restaurant

36, Beining Road

Songshan District

Taipei City

Taiwan

Kunming Islamic Restaurant, Taipei

This is more of a rice and dishes type of restaurant (in Malaysia kira macam order nasi ngan lauk lah) and my favourite dish is the curry chicken. Sumpah sedap giler.

OK ok ok… I know I must be fair and all. In all honesty, all the dishes are yummeh (kid you not) either that I was plan hungry. Ahaks! 2 dishes that you must order (kalau tekak melayu kita sama lah) are curry chicken and the sambal fish, add on would be tomyam and vege dish. If there’s only 2-3 of you guys eating, curry chicken or the fish will do, plus another vege dish. If 5 pax or more, you probably can have 3 dishes or so.

Kunming Islamic Restaurant, Taipei

26, Lane 81

Fuxing North Road

Songshan District

Taipei City

Taiwan

Ice Monster

Similar to our very own Air Batu Campur or fondly known as ABC, Ice Monster is basically Taiwan's famous kakigori or shaved ice dessert chain. Impressed with the amazingly large range of shaved ice flavours/options, we decided to go with mango flavour (as it is THE MANGO season now and Taiwan is also famous for this yummeh fruit). This cotton candy like textured shaved ice was served with ice cream and cubes of mango that is heavenly in taste. Swipe to view.

I also learnt that Ice Monster in Taiwan is Halal certified; ensuring their Muslim customers that all ingredients used are.

​Ice Monster

No.204, Sec. 2

Xinyi, Taipei

Taiwan

Gonna share more on Taiwan. Lepas tuh you guys must go tau.

#TravellingBeruang takes Taipei

I have so much to share.

But I lost all my photos.

Just my luck.

These are are photos from my phone, thank goodness it is decent enough for me to share (lap peluh).

I was tasked to embarked in a journey of helping Adek Mimi, an adorable seven-year-old battling cancer. She was first diagnosed with leukemia in 2012, she is now at Stage 4 of her illness.

#TravelingBeruang / #TravellingBeruang

The Travelling Beruang campaign was created to increase awareness towards cancer and raise funds for Malaysian children diagnosed with cancer. Like other children, these young cancer patients too have dreams to see the world, but are unable to, due to their circumstances. This campaign aims to bring the world to them, via a travelling teddy bear, which will be travelling the world on their behalf. Travelling Beruang Campaign was launched to encourage our community to help children with cancer in Malaysia. Sales of these bears will be channelled to Tabung Travelling MAKNA. Your contribution will make a difference in their lives.

I am the bearer of a little child’s dream to travel the world. As he/she has cancer, so I travel in his/her place. Would you be my travelling companion as we realise this child’s dream?

• Bring me to anywhere you like
• Take pictures with me
• Upload our pictures on your social media page with #travellingberuang

May our adventures bring meaning to others. Let’s be best of friends.

For more information, please go to http://travellingberuang.com.my/donation/

I decide to take #TravelingBeruang with me to Taiwan for a short trip, having been to Taipei before, I decided that this time around I shall cover few places that is new to me. One of it being the National Theater and Concert Hall, and as usual, traveling unprepared has been quite consistent of late I gambled to visit this place after my training. I have to give Taipei two thumbs up lar when it comes to transportation efficiency, precision is the keyword here. And to top it off, National Theater and Concert Hall is right at the Metro Stop, no walking, searching, wondering (and wandering) required (kalau sesat jugak agak kagum lah).

Open spaces and big buildings easily awe me, and this place gave me the same feel. I immediately felt affectionate to this majestic place, with a small parks at its compound, you see the locals strolling with kids, some dating, joggers sweating their work stress, and some even having a ‘quiet me time’ and just drown in the presents. Strangely I felt connected, a sense of belonging here as I greet the locals in Mandarin. One thing impresses me and I set down staring was the school kids using the huge place to study and practice, practice their dance steps (KPop sangat). I guess this is where I felt connected, the ‘practicing-dance-step’ bit. I smiled as I watch them, at the same time reminiscing my school days. The CHS folks would know what I meant *wink*.

Background

The National Theater and National Concert Hall are twinperforming arts venues at Liberty Square in Zhongzheng District, Taipei,Taiwan. Completed in 1987, the landmarks stand on the south and north sides ofthe square with Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall to the east. Taiwan's NationalTheater and National Concert Hall are two of the first major modern performingarts facilities to be established in Asia. Upon the death of Chiang Kai-shek in1975, the Kuomintang government authorized the construction of a monument andcultural arts facilities on the grounds of a memorial plaza.

Source : Wikipedia

I snapped a few shots here and there with #TravellingBeruang, did a few videos and start hunting for the signages that indicate history in brief of each building. (besar jugak tempat ni, berpeluh-peluh). Despite the sun was setting and glooming cloud welcoming the evening darkness, I tried my best to snap all the places and it turned out perfect (at least to me lar).

Not wanting to miss out anything on Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, I decided to walk and climb up, look easy and simple but it was superbly tiring, either that or I am superbly unfit (the latter sounds right).

Background

The National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is a Taiwanese national monument, landmark erected in memory of Chiang Kai-shek, former President of the Republic of China. It is located in Zhongzheng District, Taipei, Taiwan. The Memorial Hall is white with four sides. The roof is blue and octagonal, a shape that picks up the symbolism of the number eight, a number traditionally associated in Asia with abundance and good fortune. Two sets of white stairs, each with 89 steps to represent Chiang's age at the time of his death, lead to the main entrance. The ground level of the memorial houses a library and museum documenting Chiang Kai-shek's life and career and exhibits related to Republic of China-era Chinese history, and Taiwan's history and development. The upper level contains the main hall, in which a large statue of Chiang Kai-shek is located, and where a guard mounting ceremony takes place in regular intervals.

Source : Wikipedia

Due to the limited time and the place is closing for the date, I have to leave this majestic historical place (sadly). I knew I will definitely do a repeat here, as it is, this was my second trip here *smile*.

I hope the #TravelingBeruang enjoyed the sightseeing as much as I did (and Mr. Beruang got educated too).

Hiking in Yangmingshan, Taiwan (grassland)

Grassland. Enough said.

Yangmingshan's original name was Caoshan (Grass Mountain in Mandarin), referring to the tall silvergrass that covers the highest slopes. Chiang Kai-shek renamed it Mount Yangming after his favorite Ming philosopher Wang Yang-ming.

The tallest peak, Mount Qixing (Seven Star Mountain), has an elevation of 1120 meters (3,674 ft), and its peak is the highest point in Taipei City. Trails leading throughout the entire park consist of basalt pavers, are steep in places, and can be fairly treacherous during periods of rain. Expect to be passed by septuagenarian locals who make the trip every week! (Wikipedia)

I first fell in love with this place after I accidentally bump into Yangmingshan National Park main website while looking for outdoor activities in Taipei. Since then, it has been in my list if when I visit Taiwan. Though not so much of a hiking nor a trekking freak (too scared of leeches), I do enjoy the serenity, the calmness, the wide open space where I feel fresh that it made me have this urge to start running and rolling. Am kid like that.

Despite the almost daily rain, it did not stop me from venturing into this place. I came prepared, umbrella, cap, raincoat and everything. Yes, kiasu was my name here.

Thinking that Taiwan was like China was the first step to a guilt trip. It was for one, cleaner, friendlier, more polite (that's for sure), helpful and of course, traveler friendly. Directions are both in Chinese and English, tourist guide are stationed at certain main Metro terminal and they can point you to the right direction (as long as you are friendly enough to ask) and of course public transport timing is generally good too. What took me by surprise was the fact that Yangmingshan or Yangming Mountain at above 1000 meters is accessible by public bus (the one like rapid KL, bayar RM3-4 jer) and it takes you about an hour or so to reach the Yangmingshan main bus terminal.

Once on top (YMS bus station I mean), get a NT$60 day pass card that allows you to hop-on and hop-off at a flat rate, cash purchase can be made at YMS station or via Easy card (similar to Touch & Go). Alternatively, you can also pay per trip which will be more costly of course. It is basically like our small school bus and the operating hours is from 7am to 5:30pm (bus #108). The day pass card comes with a map of Yangmingshan bus route, it is pretty convenient.

Everything else is pretty much straight forward, once you reached the stop you have identified earlier, get down and follow the path (normally there are few path options with distance indication). Do take note that they maintained it well, all the path is very clean with no rubbish scattered so please do not litter! 

Macam ni punya senang kalau hike kat sini, if tak tau gak, tak tau apa nak cakap. 

At every point, signages explaning the surrounding are made available, it will educate you about the terrain, the vegetation as well as the mountains in front of you. 

Maybe Malaysia hiking track should follow the same? What do you think.

This is the car park at the first stop I made, my advise (if you dare and came with few friends lah), do a self drive, its more leisure but the downside is that the path leads to another area/car park/bus stop. On second thought, better to take the bus *cheeky smile* if you plan to hike.

I followed the path to get a better view of Hsiaoyukeng; a volcanically-created fumaroles, sulfur crystals, hot springs, and landslides. You will also hear constant sulfur vents noisily spew forth gases, and hot springs discharge endless streams of boiling water. By the way, as you get closer, the smell is yucky!

Since it is a volcanic prone area, obviously there are bound to be hot springs somewhere right *smile*, Lengshuikeng (Cold Water Pit) contains Taiwan's sole bed of precipitated sulfur, there are two hot springs pools and one foot-soaking pool. I tried going in into the enclose female only spring pool but... nude pool lah. Okthanksbye! Hahhahahahhahha.....

I also did not manage to go to the observation platform as it started to drizzle again, apparently there is a milky white lake. It is said that for a better view, you need to take the trail from the Seven-Star Park to Lengshuikeng. Next time maybe (macam akan penat giler ajer).

I chose the easy way out (less embarrassing too), I soaked my foot while waiting for the rain to stop. The great thing is that the water will flow out depending on how or when we (public) wants it. The rule is, once its a bit murky or less warm, you can let it flow out and refill it. Bukan let it go... let it go.... tau (cam lagu Frozen tuh).

There are a few hiking trail here at Lengshuikeng, aside from that, there are so great rest area (similar to other stops) and a big space for team building, but one have to bring own food yah. And better bring water as well.... fenat!

Some stops have wifi access (gempak dak!) and they have apps for you to learn about Yangmingshan flora and fauna. Oh! They don't call it apps, they call it A.P.P. lawak kan? Hahahhahahhahha......

This is why I am here, to check out my grassland (take note the word 'my' di situ). I was alone on this trail but since everyone said it is safe, I tawakal jer lah. And believe you me, it is safe! Excited tak terkira, waima silver feather grass is not in season tapi nak gi jugak-jugak. Tak peduli!!!

Here, I shall start my journey. Worry? I'll cross that bridge when it comes they say... here goes nothing. Bismillah.

Jeng jeng jeng... Seriously, panic gak nak masuk sengsorang dalam tuh, dah lah takde makhluk lain except me. Waima hutan renek, bukannya helicopter boleh nampak kite kot. Dup dap dup dap masa masuk. Kerja giler! Chup, lum cerita that I ni takut pacat, ish ish ish. What was I thinking!?!

I am always looking for this sign as I walk, 1.6km more to go. Not so bad, 45 mins to an hour of hike, I can do this. Piece of cake. NOT. Sesungguhnya Tipah tertipu tetipu terTipah.

Panic moment, errr..... Should I enter that dark place? Ada momok tak was my first thought. Next was, is it safe, will there be anyone walking with me, will it rain heavily; well, basically looking for an excuse to turn back. But with iman yang jitu lagi saksama (#eh), I continued hiking. 

Most of their hiking trail are well paved, no worry for you will not get steered off course, unless you planned it that way lah.

Looks good right, and bright but...

Bad luck Lily, you have to climb this stairs. 

It is harder when the steps are not one step at a time, its those 1.5 steps meaning you kept climbing on only one side of you leg (cam mana na cakap yek?!? Asyik kaki kanan jer memanjat) which is tiring. There's about 145 steps I head one couple talking as they were coming down. Yes! There's human up there. 

The climbing paid off, the first view *all smiling by then*.

The path I took led me to here. Deeper and darker...err... 

Kaler lawa. 

Finally... I've reached my grassland. And it was more than 1.5 hours of hiking (I did stop a couple of times) but it was worth it. 

The strange thing is that when I googled, I saw many people taking pics here, either having a picnic, strolling with babies and strollers, couples doing wedding shoots etc but today, I barely see any human as I climbed here. Low season maybe? Or perhaps because of the rain?

By the way, there are cows too, so do be careful when you roam around. Ala-ala New Zealand.

Mission accomplished. But by now it was around 3ish and I need to take a rest and snap a few photos quickly else I miss the last bus to the main YMS station. 

Can you see people at the far back? Here's the thing, there are another route where you can drive your car / bus stop that takes you right to this place but silly me, decided to hike. Hahhahahhahahah... Oh well, I did enjoy my walk and I kinda proud of it (aside from feeling stupid lah).

The fact is, I think I know there would be a bus taking me here, but since I saw the signage saying 1.6km, I was dead sure that I can hike within 45 mins top. Tettttt! I was wrong. Hahahahahhaha....

An old ranch (Nampak tak tahi lembu? Terbukti disini ada lembu, sekian).

Foggy!

I decided to climb here to get better pictures. 

And I got it! 

I hiked another trail to get to the bus stop. After all, its a piece of cake! No.


#TravelTips 1 : For those planing a trip to Taiwan, do note on season, weather and most importantly, typhoon!

#TravelTips 2 : There are many other parks and trails in the city or withub 1 hour drive from the city, just take your pick. most of them are accessible by public bus.

#TravelTips 3 : Makcik-pakcik kat sana fit-fit belaka, jangan tunjuk lagak. Sekejap je depa potong you and siap buat 2-3 round lagi. Be humble ok. Hehhehehheee....

#TravelTips 4 : Info paling penting. Tak ada pacat. Titik.

#TravelTips | How to stay connected in Taipei, Taiwan

I am truly fascinated with Taiwan advance customer service.
(Apologise in advance for the bad photo quality, was using my phone to snap these photos on the go)

Some of the train station have a really cool (and cute) decor, elaborated decor are mostly in the bigger stations. Their train lines are pretty easy, pretty much like Singapore, I'll be impress if one get confuse or lost. Having said that, due to their naming, you can easily get down at the wrong station of which I did especially if you don't speak Mandarin. I guess you have to be alert or keep looking at the sign, other than that, it should quite easy peasy.

The train station can get be really big, there was a train station so big that I have to ask the security how to go about, and they are more than willing to help. If they fail to help or in this sense, unable to communicate well in English, they will page for their English speaking colleague to assist instead (happened to me). So, not to worry yah! The instruction and direction are in both English and Chinese.

My suggestion is that you get the Taiwan Easy Card or Taipei Pass; similar to our Malaysia Touch & Go. User is entitled to unlimited rides on Taipei Metro and on Taipei City and New Taipei City buses depending on the value they purchased. Click HERE to check it out.

How to stay connected in Taipei?

#TravelTips 1 : Visitor Information Centre is available at most major station or major mall around Taipei City. Not to worry as their customer service officers can speak English and plenty of pamphlet or brochures on tourism around Taipei and Taiwan that you can just take, FOC. Click HERE for more info on the branches.

#TravelTips 2 : All Visitor Information Centre provides FREE WiFi access (kid you not!) and power point to charge your smart phone.

#TravelTips 3 : You can get FREE access of WiFi by registering at the Visitor Information Centre, just make sure you bring your passport. ID and Password will be generated for you to activate your access. Usage? NO time limit *smile*.

#TravelTips 4 : As you can see (above), you can use the WiFi access at these hotspots.

#TravelTips 5 : Aside from brochures, WiFi, phone charging facilities, the Visitor Information Centre also provides FREE postcards for you to use/send. And every stations have different stamps/chop.

#TravelTips 6 : The customer service at the Visitor Information Centre is very helpful, just tell them your hobbies, passion or likes and they will guide you on where to go, see, train ride, cost and etc. I asked them on Hello Kitty Restaurant and they guided me on the where about as well other details.

#TravelTips 7 : Some bigger MRT stations provide WiFi hot spots and smartphone access.

I was truly impressed at the facilities provided for travelers convenience, maybe Malaysia should look into this as well? What do you think? Have you experienced other countries' with better or advance facilities for travelers?