Taiwan2014之梅雨的季节-Ximenting/ Long Shan Temple/ Huaxi Street Market (西门町/龙山寺/华西街夜市）

Last day in Taipei and we sleep in a bit  late, coming down for breakfast only at 9am, this is a first in our trips since usually I wan wake hubs up latest by 7am. Haha.

Didn't have much plan today except for going to Long Shan Temple to pray. Am still a bit scared to travel there since the senseless killing happens here only 2 days ago.

We checked out at 11am and went to XMD for the famous Ah Zhong Mee Sua that Mr Love is craving so much for. Also arranged to meet Good friend there since her boyfriend and her are going back home today but on an earlier flight.

New Japanese food outlet

 We didn't eat too much of the mee sua cause I wanna go eat at my favourite finger food stall but to our dismay the shop is closed and another Japanese finger food stall had taken over. Though disappointed but we still order from them since am still hungry.

Fried chicken outlet

But the food at this new store is very disappointing. The yaki udon is especially tasteless and not cheap as compare to other street food. There isn't much ingredients in it also.

Fried chicken bites are not nice either, overall it's an disappointing experience.

Yaki Udon

We then walked around XMD aimlessly, but I managed to buy earrings here again with the left over monies though it is a bit on the expensive side.

Came across a hand phone shop and Mr Love got excited and we spent quite some time inside for Mr Love to explore the phones available in Taiwan. It makes him a happy man.

Playing with the various phones

The plan is to visit Long Shan Temple today but I am still a bit scared since the senseless killing happen when the train start leaving this station, not sure whether there would be  any copy cat killers around.

Long Shan Temple

Still, we decide to make our way here and pray. Didn't stay long though.

While walking back to the train station, we saw a street with some food vendors and decide to venture into the street and see what's that to offer.

Guess what, we came across Huaxi Street Night Market. We have not been here though its our 4th time in Taipei. Mostly because I read somewhere that its a night market famous with snake delicacy which is not exactly our idea of food and therefore I usually skipped this night market.

Huaxi Street Nigh market

Since it was really early (2-3pm) there wasn't much activity going on in this night market when we took a walk through it. Huaxi Street Night market is actually made up of 2 long sections separated by a traffic junction. We walked through the whole night market, occasionally stopping to check out shops that display their snakes.

There isn't any food here to buy from too. I spotted quite a few shops offering pedicure and manicure services at reasonable prices but I don't think Mr Love would be happy to wait for me to get my nails done.

We went back to the start of the street where we came from but didn't buy any food here too. Actually I made an observation here, it seems that there are women plying on the flesh trade here along the shops adjacent to Huaxi Street Night market. You can see scanty dressed women standing at the entrance of stairways which I supposed leads to their workplace upstairs.

They are careful not to disturb men with groups or in our case partners. I did see 1 of them approaching a single man walking along the passage way.

There was nothing here to see and we decided to explore the night market near our hotel before going to airport.

Maiden Batam Trip-Harris Hotel Batam Center

 The Hotel we booked for this trip is Harris Hotel Batam Center. Apparently there is another Harris hotel in Batam but this is the one besides the ferry terminal, opposite a shopping center.

There isn't any non smoking double room left during check in so we settled for a non smoking twin room and pushed the beds together.

Was allocated to the 5th level overlooking a big field and the words "Welcome To Batam". Haha I would actually prefer the other side of the corridoor where the rooms will get "sea view" since it is overlooking the jetty.

The beds

 Room is pretty clean when we walked in and it reminds me of the non frills hotel we stayed in Taiwan. Nothing fancy but comfortable enough for a night's stay.

TV & Writing table

 There's a long writing table along the wall with a couch at the end of it. Didn't make use of the couch but it was good enough for us to place our back packs and clothing on it.

Couch

 Toiletries were provided along with towels and also hair dryer which is essential for people with long hair like me.

Shower area

Sink area

Toilet bowl hehe

Toiletries

 There's a partition which serves as wardrobe besides the door. We didn't use it though since is staying for one night only. Rooms here allows inter connection. All you have to do is to open the door beside the wardrobe.

Simple wardrobe

 A small counter where complimentary drinks and the kettle are is right in front of the simple wardrobe. There is also a mini fridge below which we used to store the drinks we brought to cool it for tomorrow's drink. Hehe

There is a small safe in the middle compartment though I didn't dare to leave my things inside while we are out. 

The thing I love most about this room is the bed which is soft and comfortable. Its like hugging you while you lay sleeping on it. Comforter is also thick to keep warm during the night. Don't know whether is because I am too tired or the bed is really that comfortable but we had a undisturbed 8hours sleep straight.

Group photo after check out

We paid around SGD 65 bucks for each room without breakfast and it comes with free wifi which works quite well to my surprise. To us, the price is really a steal since we only need a room for sleeping and it's cleanliness is up to my expectation too.

Staff were polite and helpful when we make enquiries at the counter. There is also a shutter service in which the the hotel staff will send you to the ferry terminal an hour before boarding.

While we were here, they helped us to book our return ferry tickets and collected them and therefore giving us more time to shop before boarding. We just need to be there half an hour before departure time to check in as compare to an hour before departure if our tickets are not collected.

All in all, I am happy with the short stay here and would stay here again should we come back to Batam :)