Taoyuan To Taipei 101 Via MRT

Let's continue my story from the previous post. While checking-in at Novotel, I got a call for a meetup in Taipei this evening. I could not say no. This was a friend I haven't seen in a long time. So I said GO!

I also needed to pass by the airport for some important arrangements, so I went there first.

That is just a hallway from the MRT to the airport lobby, but I seem forever fascinated by how it looks.

It's just a glass wall (made of mirrors) but the "live" clocks, the names of cities they represent and the world map are all "in there". The entire wall is like a 3D artistic and hi-tech mural always worth a look! The names of those 120 cities in 24 time zones constantly change from English to Chinese. Interesting!

This airport is full of artistic renditions, many of which are not too obvious to the common traveler.

Did you notice that panoramic aerial picture of Taipei up on the wall at right? It looks simple, but look at how it is mounted. It's on a "scroll" - parang mahabang tarpaulin banner na naka-rolyo! Nice di ba? How about the black tiles on the floor, did you notice it's etched with a rose garland design? Amazing!

Various interesting things that portray the artistic prowess of the Taiwanese people. Like this one:

It's a wood carving, 12x3.5 meters, titled Sons of the Sun, mounted on one of the public area hallways.

Anyway, after doing what I had to do at Terminal 2, I walked to Taoyuan Airport MRT Station (A13) for a less-than-an-hour ride to Taipei Main Station (A1), transfer to Red Line (R10), to reach Taipei 101 (R03).

That is a bit far, maybe total 40 kilometers, with no direct train line. So total, about an hour or even 2.

Oh, let us clarify the names Taipei, Taoyuan and New Taipei, because I heard it confuses some people. They are three separate cities. Let's use this map we had in the previous story, to help illustrate them.

Taoyuan is a city on the northwest tip of Taiwan, while Taipei is in the middle noth. And, New Taipei is a newer city in between Taoyuan and Taipei - aw actually napapalibutan pa nga nya ang buong Taipei.

Having said that, I guess what confuses some people is the use of "Taipei" when talking about flights. Because when international operations was transferred from the old (Songshan Airport) in Taipei city, to Chiang Kai-shek International Airport in Taoyuan (1979), the name "Taipei" went with that transfer!

That proved even more confusing when in 2006 Chiang Kai-shek International Airport was renamed to Taoyuan International Airport, yet Songshan stayed operational (until now) with international flights!

So when you say I'm flying to Taipei, that is IATA Code: TPE, it lands in Taoyuan!

Magulo pa rin? Ganito... parang sa atin din yan. Ang Cagayan De Oro Airport (Lumbia), inilipat sa bayan ng Laguindingan, pero ang tawag sa kanya Cagayan De Oro Airport pa rin (IATA Code: CGY) Ganun yun!

In fact, madami nyan sa atin: ang MNL nasa (at pinag-aagawan pa nga ng) Pasay at Parañaque; ang ILO adto to sa Cabatuan kag Sta. Barbara; ang BCD ara man sa Silay; ang CEB pud kay tua ra sa Lapu-lapu!

Anyway, as the MRT entered New Taipei, I noted the sheer increase in the number of streets, highways and buildings compared to 2 decades ago. Of course there was no MRT or HSR during those times too.

This hospital must be really big if this one in the picture is just their Rehabilitation Building. Wow!

Well, I heard on the news sometime ago, that Taiwan ranks high in healthcare systems of the world.

Not far from that hospital complex is this, the back of a very old temple not known to many tourists.

Well, back-roof to be specific heheh, since I was speeding on the MRT above ground. But I have known from sometime ago, that is what they call the Mercy Temple (Buddhist), since 1850s. It's worth a visit.

Look to the upper left edge of that picture above, there is a building...

They call it a museum, but it's a columbarium, the (Xinzhuang) Life Memorial Hall, and it is this:

There are many of that in Taiwan. But that one is public and just to share with you that's the first such columbarium I have seen (1990), when it was new - Taiwan was starting to make cemeteries 'park-like'.

Yes sementeryo, camposanto, himlayan whatever! During those times, manghang-mangha ako, na ang mga patay nila (urns of ashes) nasa tiny cabinets (parang library card index cabinet) sa isang building na, yun nga, ang tawag nila "museum"! I never thought that years later, magiging ganun din pala tayo!

Anyway, it's really an advantage for tourists riding elevated trains. Many things to see - tulad nyan!

Okay, still cruising along New Taipei, I saw this place with (at least) 6 volleyball plus other courts!

I'm not sure if that was in the area of that big Catholic University because the train was running fast. I am not even sure what these roofs on foreground are for. Maybe a row of greenhouses or something?

There really is a uniquely interesting vantage when on the elevated MRT, than riding cars or buses.

We easily get to identify which areas are industrial, residential (condominiums), old towns with old or very old structures, etc., especially at suburbs and towns that are rapidly developing, like New Taipei.

Honestly, in my mind as the train cruised along, I kept on saying "wow", because New Taipei is getting to be more like Taipei - very urban. Not that I'm so enamored with too much urbanity, but I was just a little surprised at how fast this area has developed into another jungle of highrises the past 20 years.

Well, that's twenty years as in dalawang dekada hehehe. Many things can change in that span of time!

By the way, in case you are wondering about Taipei and New Taipei, they are two different cities. New Taipei is composed of the many suburbs around Taipei and Keelung. It was designated (promoted) to such a city status only in 2010. Urbanization has therefore been happening in New Taipei, long before.

Hey look, this is how they make buildings in Taiwan: hindi basta-basta ang gamit na scaffoldings!

I suppose those materials and the way they're constructed are better than ours, or at "mainland" 'no?

The MRT was at this time already in the area of New Taipei City Industrial Park.

This industrial park is now like the heart and brain center of Taiwan, where light and heavy industries are based at - significantly contributing to the country's economy. How big? Oh, if we'll just talk about area it occupies, this industrial park is probably as wide as all of Makati and Mandaluyong combined.

Bakit, malaki ba ang New Taipei City? Hmm, mga kasinglaki lang naman ng buong Pampanga province! Samantala ang Taipei City, I would guess, doblehin mo ang buong Quezon City. Ganun sila ka-lalapad!

Sige sige... talking about how vast this city is, next that the MRT passed-by is this Riverside Park.

It looks small since I wasn't able to click the camera while still at the edge. But I would think that part of the river that's part of the park is about 300 meters long and probably 50 meters wide. To its left is:

This grassy field. Ilang football field yan, tatlo lang 'no? Well banda doon sa malayo is a baseball field.

After that baseball field are 8 basketball courts and another basball field - before the elevated roads.

All around, especially the edges of this park are bike lanes - there are many bike rental stations. After another street (Shuhong 12th Road) is another set of 12 basketball courts and 2 baseball fields. As in!

Now, as if those were not enough, look at the upper right corner of the photo above. Ito actually yun!

Imagine that, 11 as in onse na basketball court magkakatabi, aside from the other 20 I just mentioned!

The beauty of all this is that, the MRTs skirt along the sides of most of this very long public park!

Until the park greens reaches the Tamsui River - a boundary between Taipei City and New Taipei City - where we see the big name New Taipei Metropolitan Park! It's a long park, probably 8 kilometers long!

Of course it is not all basketball, baseball, bicycle or football field. There are many things in that park, one day is probably never enough if you want to see and experience all that it has to offer the visitor!

So many things for adults or children alike. FYI, there is a mini zoo whatever, there are so many picnic grounds, there are flowers etc., and there are so many slides of all kinds, you can even slide your way from the MRT down to the park! Yes, many of the slides are unique, good for both adults and children!

This view is just before the MRT turned left to approach it's own crossing (tunnel) into Taipei City.

After the train's left turn, we were still in New Taipei, but that is already Taipei City across the river!

And I could already even see my final destination on this connecting ride - the Taipei 101 tower.

In no time, I reached Taipei Main Station and went to find the Red Line to connect to Taipei 101.

You will notice that their stations use plants, even small and medium trees to spruce up the interiors. Real plants and trees, hindi peke. Sa "mainland" lang naman kasi yata uso ang mga 'eschapeyk' di ba?

Well Taiwan isn't unique in having real plants and trees inside train stations. I also see some in Japan, Korea and even some Southeast Asian countries, except sa atin. Meron nga buong wall, sa Melbourne!

Pero eto na! As you would probably know, Taipei Main Station is so vast with multitudes of tracks and platforms at several floor levels, right? Parang Japan. We need to concentrate when finding our rides.

Especially at 'island platforms' - pagkababa sa escalator, kung first-timer ka, di ka sure kung sa kanan ba o kaliwa sasakay? Me ganyan tayo: Shaw Blvd Station. Pagkababa, saan ang pa-Ayala or pa-Cubao!

Clearly, you have to read the signages if you're not very well-versed with the station yet. At this time, I was not doing so. Why? Because my "ka-eyeball" called to ask where I already was, nagkukuwento na.

Honestly, I intended to ignore that call but I could not. Di ko kasi alam mag-silent mode sa fb msgr. Eh ang ingay-ingay ng talepono nakakabulahaw sa mga otaws! So I answered, while finding the Red Line.

Masaya naman, alaskahan tawanan and planning on what to do in the next few days. All that as I kept walking inside Taipei Main Station and trying to find my ride (R10), to Taipei 101 (R03) on the Red Line.

I already know the Red Line: Tamsui–Xinyi Line, and I was heading towards Xinyi, but getting off at the Taipei 101 / World Trade Center Station (R03). I easily found it (R10), there was a train, so, I hopped in.

I was still talking on the phone when I felt like it has been a bit long and I still have not arrived at the Taipei 101 Station. So I got off at the next station and found I was already at R23 - Fuxinggang Station.

Jusko! I took the wrong platform! Instead of R10 to R03, I went the other way, R23 na when I checked!

OMG but what else can I do hahaha! Nagkunwari na lang picture-picture as I waited for a ride pabalik!

The whole going and coming back took 56 minutes - halos isang oras ang ginugol ng katangahan ko!

So I went to this mall where I was to meet my friend - nakabili na sya ng talepono kaka-antay sa akin!

Oh well, katulad ng nakasanayan na natin, I said "sorry natrapik sa EDSA"!