Taipei delivered directly

Our first real day in Taipei started with some waiting time, as the bakeries and cafés open quite late. We first got a croissant and cappuccino at Bread & Coffee, took everything to our room, and leisurely got ready there. After that, we walked towards the Taipei 101 Tower. On the way, we quickly thought we needed another coffee. So we spontaneously went to the nearest café and discovered a little gem: Ongu Studio Coffee Roasting.

As soon as you enter, you feel a bit like you are in a spaceship. Everything is minimalist, futuristic, and full of details. A record player with a Dr. Dre vinyl. And then there's the coffee. Truly outstanding.

With coffee in hand, we continued to Taipei 101. The tower was for a long time the tallest building in the world and remains one of the city's landmarks today. Particularly exciting is the huge golden ball inside, a so-called TMD damper. It weighs over 600 tons and ensures that the building remains stable during typhoons and earthquakes. You can even see it from the inside, which is quite impressive.

Upon reaching the top, we were just blown away by the view. Taipei from above has a completely different effect.

After so much height, of course, hunger struck. So we went for ramen. There I discovered a drink that sounded a bit unusual at first: a milky, slightly sweet beverage. This is quite typical in Taiwan. It's often based on milk tea or soy milk and served with tapioca pearls or a slightly caramelized flavor, depending on the variation. Unusual, but somehow really good.

Reenergized, we continued to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. A vast square with monumental architecture, wide stairs, and a large white building with a blue roof. The whole thing was built in honor of Chiang Kai-shek, a former president of the Republic of China. Particularly impressive is the expanse of the square and the tranquility that prevails there, despite its size.

After a short break at the hotel, we went for a beer in the bar next door: 臺虎啜飲室大安 Taihu Daan.

A perfect ending to a quite full but very successful first day in Taipei.