For me, no trip to Taipei is complete without seeing Taipei 101 up close.  Since it's my last night in Taipei, I headed to the area.  I took the MRT and got off at Taipei City Hall Station.

When I got out of the station, I walked towards the direction of Taipei 101, passing by Eslite Bookstore, Shinkong Mitsukoshi, ATT 4 Fun (New York New York) and Warner Village.  I have planned to eat some ice cream at Cold Stone but wasn't able to find it at the place where I knew it would be.  As I round the building, I saw it and had a fill of ice cream.

After I had my ice cream, I went back to the MRT station and back to the hotel.

Taipei City Hall Bus Station

Shinkong Mitsukoshi

Taipei 101

ATT 4 Fun (New York New York)

Across the street from here is Taipei 101

My Mint Mint Chocolate Chip from Cold Stone at ATT 4 Fun

A bench I saw on the way back to the MRT station

A visit to NTU

National Taiwan University (NTU) is generally considered the top-ranked university in Taiwan.  It is a national co-educational research university in Taipei whose main campus is located in Daan District. (Source: Wikipedia)

To get there, get off at Gongguan MRT station and take the National Taiwan University exit.  Upon exiting the station, I saw these 2-level bike parking along the road.  Wow! This only shows that bikes are really popular here in Taiwan, especially with students.

Gate of NTU

The Royal Palm Boulevard is the main road when you enter NTU Gate from Gongguan Station.

 

The Royal Palm Boulevard

More bicycles inside the campus.  They even have a service station.

It was a good timing going out of the campus, as it was already sunset and I was able to see the sunset from here.

Xinbeitou Trip

Xinbeitou (New Beitou) is a place to go for hot springs near the city center. To get there, take the Red MRT line to Beitou Station then transfer to the train going to Xinbeitou.

Beitou MRT Station

Themed train to Xinbeitou

Xinbeitou Station

Upon exiting the station, just go straight and cross the street.  You could start your walking tour at the Public Library.  I just followed the path as indicated in the map.  I started on the left path.

Xinbeitou Guide Map

Taipei Public Library - Beitou Branch

 

I wasn't even halfway of the path when I saw this.  Hmmm... I could burn 49.7 kcal doing the full route.  Why not?!

Beitou Hot Spring Museum

Millenium Hot Spring

I think Beitou Thermal Valley is closed every Monday.  However, I haven't seen any sign outside of the operating hours of the the so-called "Hell Valley".

Beitou Thermal Valley

Beitou Thermal Valley

Beitou Stream

On the way back, I went on the other path.  This one has a row of hot spring hotels.

Hot spring hotels

I ended my walking tour on the other side of the public library.

Taipei Public Library - Beitou Branch

Yangmingshan Park Revisited

Yesterday was tiring so I started late today.  I took the MRT to Jiantan Station and hopped on the R5 bus to Yangmingshan.  From the Tourist Center Stop (the last stop of R5), you could ride Bus 108 to go on the areas within Yangmingshan National Park.  Although, this is my second time here, I'm still not sure where to go so I got off at the Visitor Center.  Please note that it's closed every last Monday of the month, as it is today, so I just need to figure out what to do.

Visitor Center

Yangmingshan Trail and Transportation Map

Around the Visitor Center

I saw a sign that has a clock on it and hoped that it would lead me to the Flower Clock.  I crossed the street going into the garden I've been to before.

Map of Yangming Park

Just passed by this garden (Azalea and Camellia Garden) as I've already explored this area before.

Azalea Garden

Good thing that the trail from the Visitor Center to the Flower Clock is mostly downhill, otherwise I might give up going there.

Signs to the Flower Clock

Path to the Flower Clock

Path to the Flower Clock

After about 20 minutes walk just following the signs to the Flower Clock, I finally reached it.

Flower Clock

Flower Clock

A Floral Expo/Festival at Yangmingshan

A Floral Expo/Festival at Yangmingshan

Bronze Statue of Chiang-Kai Shek

Cherry Blossoms

Cherry Blossoms

Fountain surrounded by Cherry Blossoms

Transportation:

• Bus R5 from Jiantan MRT Station
• Bus 260 from Taipei Main Station (outside exit M1)

Since I'm planning to go to Xinbeitou from here, I waited for this bus (Bus 129 to Beitou MRT Station).  However, after an hour of waiting, there's not a sign of this bus yet.  I've seen the locals waiting with me go back to the bus stops inside the park.  I followed their lead and just went for Bus 260 to Shilin MRT Station.

Bus 129 Route

Bus 260 Route