TAIWAN 🇹🇼 My First Day In Taipei (Blown Away)

I'm in Taipei the incredible capital city of  Taiwan so join me today for my first impressions   where we have a look at some of the best things  to do in Taipei and of course try some of the   local food let's do [Music] it welcome to a  new destination welcome to the city of Taipei   in Taiwan I just arrived in last night late last  night after a long travel day they always seem to   take longer than you expect but I'm here now  going to got a week here in Taipei so I want   to make the most of it so I've come out on this  beautiful day first time not raining when I arrive   somewhere beautiful beautiful day in Taipei and  we've just come out to see what we can find have   a little look at the sites maybe try our first  bit of Taiwanese food and yeah just get some   first impressions of this city let's do it now  this place caught my eye because it's early and   there's already a queue of people outside so maybe  that's where we'll get some food let's see what it is looks like dumplings yes dumplings and soup  what do we reckon let's do it let's try it why   not I'm hungry it's busy so it must be good sorry  now I'm getting in people's way let's try it can   I have five of the original and five of the the  algae I'll have them to go please okay thank you   thank you just thanks so they're s $7 each so  the original is $7 each and the uh scollop one   is $9 each and the minimum order is five you  can also get the Fishbowl soup as well but I   think we're just going to try The Dumping today  as a light snack at my first food in Taiwan I'm   doing a bit sneaky and shoving the camera in  you can see YouTube ah this is this is natural   so this is the original look at this so I thought  they were too busy to show me but now that i' got   them all out I just wanted to be a bit sneaky  and have a little look ah okay so look at this   you have the raw dumplings here and then this  is the one with the algae on the outside with   the algae on the outside and the scollop these  are the two that we've ordered and then behind   you've got them steaming or boiling should I say  not steaming you've got them boiling in the pan   and they'll be pulled out how good do they look  you can tell homemade you know the quality is   going to be good I cannot wait to eat them I found  myself a little place inside so we're going to eat   here and get the atmosphere of the restaurant and  they've just come out back and they've showed me   the little secret area out back where the people  are making them how cool is this got a big pile   of the filling on a huge plate look at the size  of that filling me just taking it off one by one   putting it into that wrapper and then filling it  effortless and here you've got different different   filling here ah this is the scollop with the  green wrapper of the algae a closer look of   of the final product but it takes them seconds  look one two 3 four five 5 seconds it's probably   going to take me 5 minutes it's arrived on the  table and I've been trying to only film on the   GoPro more frequently now just so it's easier  for me but to be honest when things look this   good never showing me I've just had to pull out  the main camera so I can show you just look at   the color of those green scallop ones as I say  made that color with the algae and then these   the original she did tell me that we have some  sources and some dips over here so we're going to   go and get some of that no idea what I should be  putting on these see now I'm getting in people's   way again do you know what they are you know what  these are ah this is like a chilli oil chilli   yeah chilli oil more chilli but maybe a fresh  chilli so this is maybe a roasted chilli with   a chilli oil this is probably fresh chilli yeah  this garlic gar yeah maybe some ginger in there   as well and the I don't know by the way I'm I'm  guessing they're looking at me like I know what   I'm saying have no idea this is probably soy sauce  chilli and maybe a touch of sugar so maybe sweet   salty fresh spicy hot yeah and then garlic and  ginger maybe yeah and then sesame oil soy sauce vinegar I've learned if you say things with  confidence people believe you I'm going to   take a little bit of this what I presume is  the sweet and salty one get some of that and   then of course you know me guys we're going to  go for the crispy chilli oil it looks insanely   good look at the color of that and what I  would like maybe this is the wrong place to   put it but just a few drops of the sesame oil  right I'll see you guys at the table I think   I'm going to start with one of The Originals  that makes sense right so I'm going to take   that and actually maybe we'll try it without  anything first we've got five of them so let's   just get the flavour I am going to switch  back to the GoPro though so I can put it   on the tripod and you guys can see so what I'm  going to do is just take a bite of one of these dumplings you can see on the inside little bit of  juice came out that's very moist in there little   bit of pork little bit of cabbage which is just  blun so there's a crunch to it sweet this from   the cabbage and then a very very thin dumpling  wrapper very thin very very fun just melts away   in the mouth and you're left with the filling in  your mouth so this time with the second half I'm   going to give it a dip so I'm going to give it  a dip in that what I presume is the soy sauce one yeah salty slightly spicy takes it to the  next level because dumpling is Rich but it's not   super seasoned let's say it's not very salty so I  actually think it does need one of those dipping   sources and with that salty soy sauce one really  complements that one well that's a pretty good   dump let's try the green ones right again I'm just  going to try this one plain first just to get the flavor that one is like eating the ocean  you have the scallop on the inside I think   dried scallops so a nice Seafood flavour  very soft on the inside but I think it's   chopped finally as we saw when when they were  making it it's chopped finally so you get the   texture but the algae wrapper is giving  so much flavour so makes it sound weird   let's just call it seaweed it's giving  so much flavour that one might even be   better than the original let's give it  a dip in the soy sauce and see how it is again although Seafood flavor it's  not overly seasoned so to dip in the   soy sauce definitely makes it better  there's only one way to improve that   dumpling and that's give it a little  dip in the soy sauce for that saltiness   like I said and then take it over to  the crispy chilli oil and dip it in that caught me at the back of the throat it's  spicy if you haven't tried crispy chilli oil   before you must try crispy chilli oil it's  like a flavour bomb of savouriness in your   mouth and the dip in that soy sauce the dip  in the crispy chilli oil that's the move all   right let's do it soy sauce first and then into  that vinegar Cuts rid of richness but those few   drops of sesame oil even though I only had a  few drops of sesame oil it really does shine   through even through all of those flavors  it comes through anyway guys I'm going to   finish up and we'll carry on exploring but do  not miss this place what to find thank you how   much do I owe you do you take any sage no uh  just the sauce just the sauce oh no sauce is   free guess that thank you thank you is a change  thank you thank you thanks thank you $80 $80 so   about2 pretty good value nice little snack  let's get exploring I must say from my first   impression this place gives me Vibes of a cross  between China I've only been to Beijing but China   and South Korea I would say Japan because  there are some places which definitely give   a little Japan Vibe but actually Japan to  be honest is just on another level so I'm   going to say a cross between China and South  Korea which I must say isn't a bad place to be I'm just arriving at the Chang Kai-Shek  Memorial and first and foremost it is   absolutely stunning with its White Walls and  dark or royal blue let's say royal blue tiles   on top Chinese style of architecture you can see  immediately it's right in the center of the city   a very large Memorial grounds don't really know  what to expect to be honest but I can tell you   it looks pretty big it looks pretty outstanding  but I think already I can tell just from walking   through this stunning gate that the time to come  here is early morning or late afternoon because   it is absolutely baking at midday anyway stop  looking at this this and check this out isn't   that a little beauty or a big Beauty maybe you  can't see the size of it from the camera but it   is absolutely huge anyway this area is surrounded  by Gardens beautiful gardens it looks like very   very well-kept as you'd imagine and then you  have these large monuments around the area as   well this is just one of them we will have a walk  around I will show you already just walking in I   can feel I feel a calming atmosphere come over me  it's not busy I expected to see more tourists or   maybe this is just the entrance Point wow that  is absolutely huge look at this actually the   size from one end to the other is massive but  look at I mean perspective I'll try and give   you some perspective of this building here but  all the way to the other side you have another   huge gate and it is absolutely massive but it  looks teeny tiny all all the way over there   let's start off by walking up here I think if  you want to get a perspective for scale just   look how small these people are they're only  about 10 m away from me but look how small   they are compared to the building ridiculous  I found the tourists they're all hidden inside   inside this building but this space is so big I  think you can be pretty busy with tourist and you   wouldn't really feel it but look at that well let  me let's centralize ourselves look at that for a view isn't that insane I can't get  over the size of it let's go see what   everyone's looking at it's the changing  of the guards that's why everyone's here well that was interesting to see always  like watching Changing of the Guard it   always blows my mind at how perfect they look  they act and how much effort goes into it I   mean they could literally just walk in and  out but it's this performance which always   happens with it wherever you are in the world  that was pretty interesting to see but the the   building itself in on the inside you have this  big statue of Chan Kai-Shek himself next to two   Taiwanese flags and then on the roof you have  this very intricate wooden decoration with the   sun which is also one the Taiwanese flag yeah  it's clearly a must see when you're in Taipei   if not just to see the or inspiring buildings  and this breathtaking view across the skyline   I imagine at sunset or late afternoon it's  going to be even better because the Sun is   going to come down and set just around here  you're going to get an amazing sky but we're   here at midday and if you wanted to know the  Changing of the Guard happens on the hour every hour now if that doesn't give you perspective of  the size of it I don't know what will I was just   thinking as I was walking down the steps it looks  like the people are little ants running around   seeing what's what I mean not these people  obviously they're closer but the little tiny   dots of people over here look like little ants  whenever you have a beautiful sight you always   have someone trying to take the perfect shot no  matter where you are in the world no matter what   the site is you always have the instagramers  and who can blame them because right here you   have the YouTuber so I can't complain at all  as you walk away from it doesn't seem to get   any smaller what a sight what a sight as you  actually do get further away from it it opens   up as a panoramic view you have Longshan Temple  which was built in 1738 very nice entrance area   and we're very lucky that the tourist group has  come here so this is where the tourists are but   wow look at this I mean first of all let's go to  the man-made structure look how stunning that is   so intricate and this is what I love about these  about these temples the temple building itself is   so intricate with its carvings and its design  painted or decorated in Gold beautiful flowers   and trees potted around it you got the Chinese  lantern and then gold Chinese writing all over   it and then the Red Gate just pops but look at  this you have a gorgeous waterfall coming from   I don't even know where to be honest obviously  it's been made just for this look at that and   the sound of the water is so peaceful wow  look at the size can you see the size of   some of these CS look at that it's huge it's  like a whale you got carp in the bottom must   be loving it in that water and then you've got  the waterfall coming down those moss lined rocks   with everyone taking photos of course but  let's head inside and find out a little bit   more about this Temple wow there's pretty  on the outside but look at it once you get inside stunning a look at the pillars lined  with vines with birds decorated on them as well how beautiful is this got music playing  in the background let me tell you this Temple   was destroyed during World War II it was  bombed by us allies in 1945 and completely   destroyed so what we're seeing now has been a  rebuild but spectacularly the only thing that   survived was the Buddha statue which I presume  is in this building over here so we'll go have   a look but as ever in these things the Buddha  statue survived and obviously that sent it into   a greater reverence than what it already was and  this was rebuilt around it let's go take a look I   was just approached by bye-bye by a nice lady  who was trying to speak to me Mandarin had no   idea what she was saying Time After Time After  Time I wish I wish I could converse with these   people but sadly not anyway up we go to have  a look not actually allowed inside which makes sense I'll try and keep my voice down because   people are praying as you  can see there there is the Buddha Gold Everywhere yeah I really don't  want to get in a way because I'm just having   a look but people are genuinely praying  so I don't want to get in the way of that   I'll come back maybe when it quietens down a  little bit but even around the corner look at this obviously it's not my religion but  I appreciate the culture surrounding it got more shrines more temples  or Temple buildings let's say   those lanterns very look at that with a  dragon on it more donations and blessings again I'm in the way of people praying whenever I'm in a temple yes I love  the beauty of the temple but it's always that   peaceful atmosphere inside these places that I  just love the most right let's go get one more   thing to eat I've just come into Huaxi Street  Night Market and yeah it's not it's not night   right now but it is still open so maybe this is  a place where we're going to get some food or a   final snack before we end this video not totally  hungry so maybe we'll keep it snack based rather   than full meal that will come in another video  or more videos we'll explore properly the food   of highest but look at this place how cool is it  lined with restaurants on either side as I said   it's a night market so some of them are still  still opening but there are people here things   do look pretty good I always like watching people  eat and seeing what they have getting inspiration   that looks pretty good looks like stewed pork  rice Guabao YungFang Guabao okay maybe this   could be the snack that we try so Guabao is  like a Taiwanese Burger normally comes with   pork belly on the inside and I love it well  I haven't had Taiwanese Burger but I have had   a Chinese style burger uh I can't remember what  it's called but I had that in in Thailand weirdly   so maybe this is the one to try and someone  else is filming here so clearly and it says   it's Michelin Michelin 2020 Michelin 2021 and  Michelin 2022 looks like it might be the place   to try go it's been on my list so let's try it  got jealous of the uh the main camera didn't I   so uh the GoPro is gone and the main camera is  out so fickle I am anyway let's order can I have   one gal with pork belly take away yeah pleas well  maybe I eat here here yeah please so okay this is   it now you can see if I can reach over you can  see the steam bun the bow she tears open fills   it with what is that uh this this is Peanut ah  peanut ground peanut some steamed greens go in   and then that pork belly I was telling you the  smell coming off it look how juicy look at that   and then freshness with some herbs it's like  coriander going in the little bit more peanut powder and ready to go how much 16 okay thank you  look at that thing of beauty soft pillowy light   bowel which is like a rice flow bun which has  been steamed you can just see how pillowy that   is look look at that just bounces back there is so  much light fluffiness in there I knew it wouldn't   last the wind has picked up and it started to  get a bit Breezy and the air has gone a bit   cooler so definitely a little storm is coming in  obviously with my arrival it's probably been Sunny   for weeks and weeks and weeks and today is the  day anyway I just can't believe how appetizing   that looks in the street as you can tell by  the street noise but let's get tucked into that bowel wow what a contrast and flavors in  there first of all you get the the richness   the porkiness very very Porky as a hurricane rips  through very very Porky from that pork belly it's   soft as you would expect it's fatty it's been  cooked in definitely in soy sauce definitely   there's a sweetness coming through it so there  probably some sugar the wind is really picking   up you can just see if I get that to focus  you can just see the fattiness in there so   you get those spices the cinnamon the star  anise and then you get the bitterness from   the Cabbage or the steamed greens should  I say and then the peanut flavor comes through the bow is what brings it all together  of course it's light it's soft it's fluffy as we   could tell by touching it but the taste it just  disappears in your mouth slightly sweet not too   sweet sometimes they're very sweet and I don't  really get on with them but this one is perfect   for the filling and then right at the very end you  get the saltiness from the soy sauce and because   that bow is light and fluffy it sucks up all of  those juices that come out of the out of the pork belly what a snack Taiwanese Burger make  sure you eat it in Taiwan right guys before   the storm comes thanks for watching I'll  catch you guys in the next video from Taipei

Channel: Joe Parrilla - Hungry To Explore

Views: 44,140

Keywords: taipei, taipei 2023, taiwan taipei, taiwan, taiwan 2023, travel taiwan, taiwan travel, taipei taiwan, taiwan capital, travel taipei, things to do in taiwan, things to do in taipei, taiwan food, chiang kai shek, taiwan china, places to visit in taipei, taipei travel guide, first day in taiwan, first time in taipei, taiwan travel guide, first time in taiwan, taipei food, food in taiwan, first impressions taiwan, taipei first impressions, first impressions of taipei

Id: bHlXU7ury5Q

Length: 24min 1sec (1441 seconds)

Published: Sat Nov 25 2023