Sunday, 14 May 2017

Taiwan Trip Day 2 - Keelung & Danshui

The bridal shop arranged for us to stay at K Hotel which is just a 5 minutes walk from the bridal shop. We did not have too much expectations since it is just a 3-4 star hotel, and we are glad that the hotel is clean and the bed is firm.

K Hotel KeeLung

K Hotel KeeLung

K Hotel KeeLung

Since we do not have much things to do before our gown fitting at 5pm, I wanted to go to Danshui to top up my supply of ginger tea. After our breakfast at the hotel, we walked to Keelung Railway station.

Keelung

Keelung

According to the Guide to Taipei website, there is a North Coast Shuttle Bus that set off from Keelung Railway station every half and hour to Danshui on weekends. However, after checking with the staffs from the Visitor Information Center, we were told that the bus will only go to Yehliu, and we've to take a public bus from Yehliu to Danshui. On top of that, the next bus will set off only 1.5 hours later. The staff recommended us to either take the train to Taipei Main Station, then take MRT to Danshui, or take public bus 862 directly to Danshui, but this will take us at least 2.5 hours. We decided to take bus 862 since we have some time to kill and to see the scenic Northern Coast Line along the way. After a 3.5 hours bus ride, we finally reach Danshui. Unless you really have a lot of time to kill, this route is not recommended.

We had our lunch at Dark Palace Taiwanese Gourmet (黑殿饭店) which is famous among locals for its pork ribs rice (猪排饭).

Dark Palace Taiwanese Gourmet

Dark Palace Taiwanese Gourmet

Dark Palace Taiwanese Gourmet

After lunch, we roam around Danshui Old Street to look around, and more importantly, to buy ginger tea (黑金传奇姜母茶). I'll always make it a point to visit Danshui whenever I travel to Taiwan to buy this brand of ginger tea, which was recommended by a colleague years ago. You just need to pour hot water to dissolve the solid and drink the mixture. Drinking ginger tea has various health benefits, and I drink it to prevent cold and relieve menstruation cramps.

Danshui Old Street Ginger Tea

Danshui Old Street Ginger Tea

Danshui is also famous for its A-Gei (阿給 - fried toufu stuffed with glass noodles and mushrooms), Ah Po iron egg (阿婆铁 - small egg which has been repeatedly stewed), Xu Yi Yu Shu (许義鱼酥 - fish cracker), and not forgetting the famous Lover's Bridge at Fisherman Wharf (渔人码头情人桥). 

Danshui Old Street

Danshui Old Street

Danshui Old Street

Danshui Old Street

Danshui Old Street

This time, we did not go to Fisherman Wharf since my aim is to buy the ginger tea, so I attached an old photo I took to show you this famous bridge. 

Lover's Bridge at Fisherman Wharf

We took a cab back to Keelung, and went for our gown fitting. After the gown fitting, we wanted to have our dinner at Miaokou Night Market, but there was an over-whelming crowd at the night market. In the end, we took away the glutinous oil rice (油饭) from Store 10, corn from a random store, Yan Su Ji  (盐酥鸡 - Fried Chicken seasoned in salt and pepper) from Store 35 and MacDonald's pork burger and had our dinner in our hotel room to stay away from the crowds.

Miaokou Night Market

Miaokou Night Market

Up Next: Taiwan Trip Day 3 - PWS with Cannes Wedding Studio
Previously: Taiwan Trip Day 1 - Keelung

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