hostel – Bekpackr.com

Hi there! I’m in Taipei, Taiwan for the 2019 Taiwan Pride March! It’s a grand celebration this year because, in May, Taiwan became the first country in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage. This is the first of several blog posts about my first trip to the “heart of Asia”.

I’m on Instagram! Follow me at @bekpackr.sg

***

XIMEN WOW HOSTEL was the choice accommodation that my friend Colin and I agreed on. We wanted to save on accommodation during the peak pink period. Colin found the hostel and I went ahead to book it.

I didn’t want to expect much! But I was pleasantly surprised by Ximen WOW Hostel. Its location, price point, and comfort were more than enough. I liked the feeling that if I was hungry past midnight, you’d find good street food two minutes away.

hostel01 — Entrance to Ximen WOW Hostel on Level 8.

Location. Perhaps the number 1 highlight of Ximen WOW Hostel is the location. It virtually sits above Ximen Pedestrian Street. Take the lift down and you’re right where the action is. Street food, bargain shopping, arcades, tiny restaurants, bubble milk tea… it’s all right there! Just a few seconds walk away.

hostel02 — Common area at Ximen WOW Hostel.

Room. We booked beds in a mixed dorm type of room which says it had 17 beds. I wasn’t counting though. I was expecting IKEA-style bunk beds. But the beds resembled more of a capsule type of hostel with curtains providing a comfortable amount of privacy. It was Pride Weekend in Taipei so the hostel was quite lively!

Amenities. Ximen WOW Hostel covers the basics of any hostel you’d expect. Common showers and bathroom facilities. A common area to sit and read a book or do some socialising. A fridge has water, soda, and beer (pay at counter or drop money into a box). Toast and jam are served in the morning. A balcony outside (my favourite spot) is a nice place to enjoy the Taiwanese evening air. Towels are not provided but are available for purchase. The hostel can connect you with free walking tours and also provide you with tourism help.

hostel05 — My favourite spot, outside! Balcony overlooking the Ximen pedestrian street.

Price. It was about SGD 24.00 (USD 18.00) per night to get a bed in a mixed dorm. Given the PRIME location, it’s totally worth it FOR THE BACKPACKER. Great for backpacking friends or adult family members.

Verdict. I’ll stay here again if travelling with my boyfriend or with friends.

Ximen WOW Hostel is located at 108, Taiwan, Taipei City, Wanhua District, Hanzhong Street, 42號. I made my booking through Hostelworld.com. Closest Metro Station: Ximen (Blue/Green Interchange Station)

Have you stayed at Ximen WOW Hostel or other hostels in Taipei? Let me know your thoughts! ICYMI, I’m on Instagram! Follow me at @bekpackr.sg

Every Flashback Friday I'll share photos that were taken at some point in the past two years during my blogging hiatus.

In today’s edition I’ll share photos from our first week in Singapore which was in March 2012. Grabe, parang last month lang kami dumating sa Singapore ang feeling. Time flies!

Some of my friends already had job offers in Singapore. So for them it was more like just taking a plane to the Lion City and worrying about what to wear on their first day. It was a different case for me, my boyfriend, and two of our friends. We flew to Singapore within the same week with nothing but hopes, dreams… and CVs. lol

Exciting times! I remember Singapore feeling so massive then. Like, when you would mention places like “Woodlands” or “Jurong” I would imagine forests like those in Twilight or windmills over scenic valleys. Okay, exaggerating. But seriously, my eyes were wide-open. I was excited to be in Singapore. It was a concept or an idea that was materializing. The thrill of not knowing what was next. Questions in my mind lingered… was I going to use that return ticket to Manila? Was I going to get a call back from my desired employer? Will I have enough cash to enjoy a decent burger at Wendy’s?

We stayed at a nice backpackers’ hostel along historic Joo Chiat Road during our first week in Singapore. The name of the hostel is Betel Box and it was a great place to stay. Free wi-fi, free breakfast, and lots of interesting travellers sitting around.

Other photos in this set include some taken from our first visit to Sentosa.