After a restful night at Ti Hwa Hotel, on day 2 of our travels in Taipei, we headed over first to meet Cousin M at Caesar Metro Taipei – a 10 minutes walk away…
Checking In at Caesar Metro Taipei and Breakfast at 達人豆漿大王 (Da Ren Dou Jiang Da Wang)
Enroute from Ti Hwa Hotel Taipei to Caesar Metro Taipei, we passed by Bopiliao (剝皮寮) Historical Block – one of the oldest commercial district in Taiwan in the Wanhua area of Taipei. You can easily recognise it by its iconic 2-storey red brick buildings, giving that vintage vibes as you pass by.
At Caesar Metro Taipei, you’ll notice that there are 2 towers that look really similar. One belong to Caesar Metro Taipei while the other belongs to the Taipei Government Office. One way to differentiate them is to find the side where Wanhua TRA train station as well as Family Mart. This will be the side where Caesar Metro Taipei is located.
As we were still early and check-in at Caesar Metro Taipei only starts at 3pm, we were able to drop-off our bags at the concierge and do our pre-registration via the self check-in machines at the hotel lobby. We would then be given a ticket for the bags as well as a QR code which would facilitate our check-in when we returned later in the day.
As M had been here at Caesar Metro Taipei before, we had the recommended breakfast at 達人豆漿大王 (Da Ren Dou Jiang Da Wang) nearby – loosely translated to “King of Soyabean Milk”. This time, we had the spring onion pancake (葱油饼), fried dough sticks (油条）， soyabean milk (豆浆), potstickers (锅贴) and porridge for 145NT (or ~$6 SGD). Kate was happy to have a local breakfast in Taipei while Tom found the porridge to be quite delicious.
Museum of Contemporary Arts (MOCA) Taipei
After a hearty breakfast, we headed to Museum of Contemporary Arts (MOCA) Taipei (台北當代藝術館) to learn about the local arts scene. This time, we took a stop from Longshan Temple Metro Station to Taipei Station, just 2 stops away. From Taipei Main Station, it was just 8 minutes by foot to MOCA…
Upon entry into MOCA Taipei, make a right turn and you’ll come to the souvenir shop. Inside, you can purchase the entry tickets to MOCA Taipei at 100NT per person. The exhibition that was on was called “Beta+”. It examines the state of change and improvement in the digital age, constantly in a sense, in the “Beta testing” stage. A really interesting topic, especially for us all who are living in the digital age…
Beta+ Exhibition Introduction
Against the backdrop of rapidly developing digital technology and new media and the ever-expanding boundaries of contemporary art, Beta+ is an exhibition that explores issues of transience and validity in our quest for information and novelty. Influenced by contemporary visual culture, people are constantly seeking visual stimulation from new technologies and craving new experiences; however, such consumer content often comes in fragmented forms, leaving us eagerly awaiting the next wave of emerging products, such as the next eye-catching article, the next unique scene, or the launch of the next generation digital goods. Real-time has become the core principle of our content consumption model, and capturing the latest trend has become the primary motivation for consumption.
The competitiveness of today’s large corporations lies in the accrual of knowledge and information as well as the ability to quickly and efficiently update and integrate new functionality. This ability enables companies to adapt quickly to market changes and remain competitive. Even though the apps and tools we use today are relatively well-tested, they can still soon become outdated; in face, the rate at which technology is being iterated and updated is accelerating. In a world where media, technologies and materials are constantly being updated, artists have begun to rethink the different aspects of their creative production practices, exhibition methods and forms of expression to adapt to a society with ever-accelerating changes. Therefore, this exhibition seeks to explore how these updates, rearrangements, additions and deletions, exchanges between developers and users, and the evolutionary phenomena are manifested in art.
The exhibition brings together nine artists/groups from Mongolia, France, Singapore and Taiwan. They respond to and present multiple facets and challenges related to contemporary spaces, environments, and visual cultures by exploring dynamic and real-time spatial experiences. Not a static exhibition, Beta+ presents the artists’ “real-time” creative processes, with their works constantly constructed and reassembled in the exhibition space, providing the audience with an unique and transient diachronic experience.
The artworks in the exhibition showcase a variety of transformative approaches, including digital and algorithmic chemical and material, performative and situational. Viewers are invited to actively participate in this evolving exhibition, interact with the artists and their works, and reflect on the impermanence of fixed forms and the transience of information. Beta+ reflects the artists’ keen observations on our current environment and proposes a profound reflection on what the future may hold.
If you’re there, remember to catch the guided tour which really gives you an added perspective on what the artists are trying to convey through their art…
For instance, this first artwork conveys the state of what Beta+ is trying to convey, that the artwork is not yet finish and is still being 3D-printed, right in front of the audience. You can see the three 3D-printers, printing away – with each second and minute, more material and form would be added to the artwork.
This art conveys the various perspectives that you have both from changing your own point of view as well as the reflection of other spherical mirror balls on each other. In a sense, the artwork is constantly changing, depending on where you stand and what light is reflected off which spherical ball.
This interactive artwork by Mongolian artist, Munkhbolor Gunbold, invites the audience to change the landscape of this art by changing the pieces and orientation on it. With each change, the artwork takes on a different form and meaning, unique to the audience.
This artist, according to our guide, likes to collect items that seem to be thrash to others and repurpose them in this exhibit. There is no specific theme or meaning to the artwork and the artist invites the audience to interpret the meaning that is unique to them. The cool part about this artist is that he tries to include turning, spinning and movements through mechanisms that he likes to fiddle with, arguably, another aspect of interaction and interpretation rendered to the audience.
This next artwork, “On a roll of the dice”, invites the audience to roll a dice and depending on what is shown, to find a patch on the wall with the indicated symbol and draw on it. In this way, the artwork continues to evolve as every visitor comes, rolls a dice and draws.
As we headed upstairs, the <
This artwork was a little morbid that it shows people eventually “worshipping” the AI that has overtaken the world. Also, the information shown can be a little abstract. Morbid but could be morbidly real in the future. Hence, we should always look to the real Creator of the World and the one who came to save – Jesus!
Along the way, we also saw other interesting artwork like one where camera and screens capture your movement and superimposes it onto the monitor. And the other artwork that drips chemical unto concrete, changing its colour and dispersal pattern overtime. One of our favourite was a performance artist (shown on video) where he straps himself to an airbed, constantly tightening himself, till the airbed covers him or “consumes” him – typifying the work that continues to wind us up and tighten us till we can barely breathe. Interesting installations this time. Thanks for bringing us here M!
After such an intellectually stimulating visit to MOCA, we decided to take things down a notch by chilling at 50 Lan (50嵐) a famous, local bubble tea brand. This time, we had the 4 Seasons Jasmine Green (四季奶青) for 50 NT (~$2 SGD). Refreshing and fragrant. Somehow, the bubble tea in China and Taiwan are really much better.
Re-energised, we checked out the underground malls of Taipei Main Station, including Y Mall (which was a little older looking), K Mall (which was trendier and dance groups hang out), R Mall (much like our City Link Mall) and then to Zhong Shan where were stopped by Lush inside a shopping mall – the “No Coffee” cafe seemed to be pretty popular here.
For lunch, we stopped by a Japanese stall in a food court. This time, we had the Chirashidon (498NT ~$20 SGD) along with 3 plates of sushi (40 NT each). Cool that it comes with soup and green tea at no additional charges nor tax. M had a quick coffee break as we headed to our next stop at Huashan 1914 Creative Park Taipei…
@2bearbeartravel Museum of Contemporary Art (aka MOCA) is a museum that houses exhibits from modern artists from around the world. Entry is 100NT per person and this time, we were brought a guided tour (strongly recommended!) that brought us through the various art exhibits. There were several that caught our attention, including the performance artist that demonstrated the stresses of time and work on the body overtime by strapping and tightening the straps over an inflatable mattress. The other artistes that expounded on the digital age also caught our attention, on how fake news can be easily proliferated by anyone (shown in a black humour style) as well as how the internet today, is viewed by the artist as a god, collecting information about us. Great visit and also a cool souvenir store as well. The exhibits did get us to think a little more about these ideas. You may also try to find the 2bearbear logo that we drew in one of the interactive exhibits – shown in this video! For more details, visit 2bearbear.com today! #moca #museumofcontemporaryart #museum #performanceart #art #artist #taiwan #taipei #thingstodointaiwan #thingstodointaipei #taipeiattractions #travel #traveling #traveler #traveltheworld #traveltiktok #traveltok #travellife ♬ Read My Lips – Adrian Funk X OLiX Remix – Inna & Farina
Huashan 1914 Creative Park Taipei
M then brought us to Huashan 1914 Creative Park Taipei (華山1914文化創意產業) which is a quaint district transformed from the sake/camphor factory of the 1914 (by the Japanese) to the use of it as a art, cultural and performance venue since 1999. Today, it houses exhibitions, events and have its own restaurants, cafes and shops that would make a nice little afternoon out. Easy to walk and venture about as well.
For instance, we found this drawing by SAGAKI KEITA named “Top of the World” to be really interesting. On the onset, it looks like a construction of a Roman-styled building but if you take a closer look, you will be able to see many cute faces and figures that make up the entire artwork. That is the style of art by Sagaki Keita.
We also came across the exhibition that showcased the works of Jin Yong, the creator of famed works such as The Legend of the Condor Heroes (射鵰英雄傳), The Return of the Condor Heroes (神鵰俠侶), Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (天龍八部), The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber (倚天屠龍記), The Deer and the Cauldron (鹿鼎記). In a sense, he was like Tolkien in the Chinese novel, creating a whole new Wuxia world that fans from all over the world come to know about – inspiring many TV drama series and movies. If someone were to put all of Jin Yong’s work into a Marvel-like cinematic world, how would that look? 🤔
There are also souvenir shops selling wooden toys and cuckoo clocks as well as many cute accessories such as those from the Taiwan Black Bear series.
While we were here at Huashan 1914 Creative Park Taipei (華山1914文化創意產業), we were also able to catch a soccer juggling performance as well as an open-air concert which was actually quite good actually.
@2bearbeartravel HuaShan Creative Park is a great venue to visit for a day out in Taipei. Here you’ll be able to have some instagrammable shots due to the historic premise that it’s located at. There are several exhibits and events that goes on over the weekends as well. There are also restaurants and cafes that you can chill at as well. During our visit, there was an open air concert, an exhibition about Jing Yong (the Tolkien of the East) as well as freestyle soccer juggler. Full of young and modern vibes. Check it out while you’re here in Taipei! For more details, visit 2bearbear.com today! #huashan #huashan1914creativepark #huashancreativepark #taipei #taiwan #thingstodointaiwan #thingstodointaipei #travel #traveler #traveling #traveltheworld #travelblog #traveltiktok #travellife #traveltok #singaporetravelblog ♬ Fly Away(DJ版) – 沐泽
Checking in at Caesar Metro Taipei (凱達大飯店)
After visiting Huashan 1914 Creative Park Taipei (華山1914文化創意產業), we took the metro back to our hotel at Caesar Metro Taipei (凱達大飯店). Although the Wanhua TRA station is the nearest train station, we usually take the metro station at Longshan Temple metro station because metro station train frequencies are higher as compared to the TRA. Also, TRAs can be a little confusing, as to which train can be boarded and at which platform. Metro’s much easier to navigate.
At Caesar Metro Taipei (凱達大飯店)， the check-in was straight forward because of the pre-registration done earlier. After picking up our bags from the concierge, we headed to our room at level 26. Our Superior Double Room at Caesar Metro Taipei (凱達大飯店) was modern, clean and had all the bells and whistles that you’d expect from a 5-stars hotel. Our favourite part of the room? The unobstructed views of the city, all the way to the mountains. Beautiful.
After checking out our room at Caesar Metro Taipei (凱達大飯店)， we moved on to find check out the facilities here. At level 8, you’ll be able to find both the gym and the swimming pool. Unfortunately the swimming pool is not heated but with homeostasis, swimming was possible. The gym had minimum facilities, just a couple of treadmills and cross trainers. The problem for us living at level 26 was that to head to the facilities at level 8, we had to head first to level 5 (where the restaurant and bar are located), change to the lifts opposite, to reach level 8.
At level 5, we saw that there was 1-for-1 beers at Bar 98 on tap from 6pm onwards. Before the rest of the family arrived, we went for the hefeweizen (wheat beer) 2 x 330ml for 180 NT (inclusive of taxes) – that came up to $7.45 SGD. Not too bad for beers on tap. As the beers were going at 150NT individually, the taxes of 30NT was quite high at 20%.
@2bearbeartravel Caesar Metro Taipei Hotel was where we shifted to on our subsequent days of stay in Taipei. Conveniently located at Long Shan Temple MRT / Wan Hua TRA stations, it offers travelers a great base to check out Taipei. Huaxi Night Market is nearby and there’s also 1-for-1 beers by the bar from 6pm onwards. The best part? The views from our room, unblocked, over the mountain ranges nearby. Beautiful! For more details, visit 2bearbear.com today! #taipei #taiwan #caesarmetrotaipei #caesarmetrotaipeihotel #台北凯达大饭店 #hotel #hotels #room #rooms #roomtour #travel #traveler #traveling #traveltheworld #traveltiktok #travellife #singaporetravelblog #travelblog #travelblogger #2bearbear ♬ 去旅行 – 欣雨歌
Visiting Huaxi Street Night Market and Shilin Night Market Taipei
After meeting with the rest of the family, we headed to Huaxi Street Night Market where the family had noodles and we had the freshly made 葱抓饼, oily but delicious! Then there was a suggestion to Shilin Night Market which we tagged along as well. There, we had some street foods such as popiah ice cream and the famous Shilin fried chicken. Although it was raining, we managed to get some great food and photos as well.
@2bearbeartravel Visit to Shilin Night Market. The closest metro station is Jian Tan (not Shilin). Once there, you’ll be able to see signs that point you to the night market – either via the underpass or the multi-directional traffic crossing (ie you can cross diagonally). There are 2 entrances. The one at Jihe road is where you will be able to take a photo with the main entrance to Shilin. This part is a covered stretch with games like darts and air gun. If you walk all the way through, you’ll reach the street food part of Shilin Night Market. Alternatively, you can also enter via Wenlin Road for direct access to the street food part of the night market. Some popular food include 大肠包小肠 (rice sausage over taiwanese sausage), deep fried chicken, spring onion buns/pancakes and grilled octopus. For more details, visit 2bearbear today! #nightmarket #taiwan #taipei #shilin #shilinnightmarket #food #foodie #sgfoodie #大肠包小肠 #travel #traveltiktok #traveling #travellife ♬ suara asli – astrooo🪐
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@2bearbeartravel Checked into Caesar Metro Taipei Hotel with room of the mountain ranges. Thank the Lord for the sunny day today. Visited Museum of Contemporary Art and walked alot at Taipei City Mall! Chilled at the bar of Caesar Metro Taipei before visiting the night markets at Huaxi and Shilin! For more details, visit 2bearbear.com today! #taiwan #trip #taipei #travel #traveler #traveling #traveltheworld #traveltiktok #travellife #traveltok ♬ オリジナル楽曲 – おぬ – 🐈⬛🌙
Stay tuned for day 3 of our Taipei travel itinerary where we’d head over to Yang Ming Shan and Ye Liu!
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