A trip to Yingge 鶯歌

Day 4: Sunday 17 Nov 2013

Yingge 鶯歌 is a charming old town.

Direction: There are many ways to Yingge. Although it is not under HSR route, we decided to take the High Speed Rail (HSR) to Banqiao 板橋 and from there take the local train to Yingge. 

This is our route:

Take HSR to Banqiao Railway Station板橋車站*-> Yingge Railway Station-> Yingge Old Street-> Yingge Railway Station-> Take local train to Banqiao Railway Station板橋車站-> Take MRT to Taipei Main Station

*(We transfer to normal train in Banqiao. On the way back, you can take MRT from Banqiao to Taipei Main Station)

We bought a reserved seat ticket.

It was the kids' first bullet train experience.

The HSR took only 6 minutes to Banqiao.

As usual, posing for camera is one of their duties.

Banqiao station is quite big but not as busy as Taipei Main Station.

Waiting for the local train.

We did not realise that our youyou/easy card could be used for the local train (a commuter train).

Walking from the train station to Yingge old street.

Yingge, a quick MRT ride out of Taipei, transports visitors to a world that does not seem to be, at first glance, to resemble Taiwan. Following the brown tourists signs to the old street, sometimes known as Pottery Street, visitors will find cobbled, palm tree lined streets encouraging afternoon filled with casual strolling. This could be any street in Europe, with notes of street violinist drifting in the air and valuable, handcrafted pottery lining shop windows. It was a lovely time wandering the charming Yingge old street on a beautiful sunny day.

Taking a break after walking for 10 minutes.

Finally we arrived at the old street.

It was a nice day to walk on a charming old street.

Even the puppies were taking a stroll with their loved ones.

Posing in front of the Shu's pottery studio.

The studio offers pottery making classes for beginners. A lot of kids were there with their parents. Kay wanted to join but we did not have enough time.

A small thing like this cost a lot of money but it is cheaper here as compared to the same item we found at Taoyuan International Airport.

Joe took this photo, he was as captivated by the tea set as his father.  The tea cups are shape as mooncake.

I wonder what is this robot doing in the middle of a pottery bazaar market.

Joe could not resist posing in front of the robot.

The kids resting their aching legs. Their tummy were grumbling..it was time to look for lunch.

You can never get lost, there is a map to guide tourist....if you could read chinese character, that is.

Chicken claw. It was surprisingly delicious!

This is chicken meat floss with rice, NT$30.

Delicious fried rice, the photo is blur, maybe it was mirroring the photographer's feeling. The lady proprietor of this shop was very rude. I did not mince my words when I told the son that although their food was nice, his mother was very rude. We left the shop with the proprietor apologizing profusely for his wife rudeness and his son was heard arguing with his mother. What a day it was!

This is a nameless fruit..we do not know what the people in Taipei call it but it taste like durian. It has seeds.

The sights and sounds of Yong Kang Street(永康街).

Direction: Dongmen MRT station 東門站 Exit 5

We went to Yong Kang street to look for Kao Chi 高記, but we found Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐 instead. We walk up from the MRT exit looking for Kao Chi but we could not find it, my husband was commenting that there are a number of people waiting at a particular restaurant. I told him that it was the famous Din Tai Fung, I was reluctant to go there, I heard so much about the infamous queue. But hubby dear, seems to be attracted to the restaurant so I told him to ask the waitress at the main entrance. Voila, we were told that we don't have to wait long for a table, there is a table ready in 5 minutes time. I quickly proceeded to make our orders and we waited for them to call our number.

We reached Yong Kang Street about 5.00 p.m., it was quite early for dinner. We walk a bit and sat down on the bench to admire the street and Taipei 101 yonder.

Taipei 101.

Din Tai Fung is very visible the moment we step out of Dongmen MRT station Exit 5.

Waiting for our number to be called.

It was just a five minutes wait. We came at the right time.

Our table.

So happy to be seated.

The little red card.

Fried brown rice. Very delicious!

Sinfully indulging Crab Roe Steamed Xiao-long Baos (5/basket) (蟹黃小籠包). We wanted the 10 in a basket but were advised to take the smaller portion and we could order more if we wanted to. Their customer service was first class!

Pork chop fried rice (white rice).  Very nice.

Simple and refreshing, a stir fried spinach with bean curd, a wonderful detox after eating all those starch fix.

Contented and satisfied!

There it is, the hidden gem, it is in the same block as Din Tai Fung. It is at the first corner of the block as we walk out of Dong Men MRT Station Exit 5, facing the inner alley.

Checking out this lively alley.

The kids wanted ice cream for dessert, IOU cafe with love was the one they chose. Maybe because of that cute pink post box!

Very lively crowd, walking along the street.

The staff of IOU cafe offered to take our family photo.

We went back to the bench to admire Yong Kang street and Taipei 101.

City of lights?

Everywhere is busy.

Sitting and admiring the sights and sounds of Yong Kang Street.

Enjoying our ice cream.

He could not resist to pose with the countless motorbikes.

We went back to the hotel after our dinner. It was a fitting end to a beautiful day. Fortunately, Dongmen station is just a few stations away from our hotel and we did not have to transfer to a different line. The next day was free and easy, exploring the old Dihua Street and moving to a different accomodation.