We started out bright and early with our flight at 0800 but met with a long queue at the check-in counter of Cathay Pacific. The 30-minute wait was a letdown but nonetheless, the flight to Hong Kong was quite comfy (good airplane food; not substandard although I would say that SIA still tops the charts in this area) and the in-flight entertainment was satisfactory (I'd rather watch movies than sleep...). Upon transiting at Hong Kong, I realised that every country has it's own distinct character: the people, the weather, the way people are dressed, the air even. Everything breathes Hong Kong. 

It was a smooth transit with no hiccups. I also saw how lives crossed paths so very easily. Probably fate that brought everyone on the same flight (I know how ridiculous this sounds), even more so when they transit and end up in Taiwan like us. 

My brother found a photo-bomber in his #ootd.

Call me silly but I found it quite fascinating how they could show us the actual view of what's going on below the plane when we were about to land.

At Taoyuan International Airport.

Our driver, Mr Lu, picking us up and loading our luggages.

My dad excitedly flipping through brochures even before we embarked on our journey.

Touristy shots from inside the car.

And we arrived in Taichung after a couple of hours (sleeping) in the car.

First stop: Beacon Hotel

Wide and spacious with two queen-sized beds and two flat-screens (plus a couch) and ample of power-points.

Our mandatory mirror shot.

I think the dogs there were exceptionally furry because they are adapted to the cold weather.

First night market of the trip: Fengjia @ Taichung: the start of our eating spree.

Best fried sweet potatoes out there really.

I noticed how there are so many female motorcyclists out there so I guess (cute) helmets are an important part of their rides.

My dad found his love: grilled cuttlefish (he never fails to buy this at every single night market we've gone to).

First bowl of tangyuan of the trip (and many, many more to come): I absolutely love their peanut soup.

Just my mom, Han and I shopping while my dad waits and takes pictures of us trying to decide which to buy.

Cutesy pup at a pet store opposite the night market.

So there are a lot of photographs of me (and my family) pigging out on oily, fried, salty street food. It was pure, innocent heaven...

Didn't get to try these delicious-looking egg tarts (they make me hungry right now) and I kind of regret not popping one in my mouth there and then although I was extremely full.

Super yummy meesua (plain, because I don't really like oysters) and ginseng chicken soup yummmmmm.

My parents love buying these dried fruits/nuts and there was this huge array right below our hotel.

So the one we have in Singapore is 黑人 toothpaste I think.

Anyway, my first impression of Mr Lu (our driver) was how solemn he looked. But then he started joking about how I looked like the 妹妹 next to Han and warmed up to us afterward. The drive down to Taichung was a quiet and peaceful one. I appreciated the silence in the car (because we were all so tired from the flight), looking out the window and absorbing the new unfamiliarity in this foreign land. Listening to my new travel playlist gave me comfort in the quietness as well. I love travelling and understanding new places, seeing people and their cultures/traditions. But there's always the lingering little girl in me from the past that fears being away from home despite being with my family. It makes me a little homesick because I always miss the familiarity of home. 

So we (I, to be exact) practically devoured the entire street - fried sweet potato fries, oily chicken chop with salad, fried mushrooms, ice-cream, tangyuans, prawns, meesua, scallops, Belgium waffles, fried banana (soooo much nicer than our goreng pisang I'm sorry to say this).

And that rounded up our first day in the city. Stay tuned for more!