Covid-19 is the worst thing happened for the past two years. The whole world seems stop rotating for two years, and this even continues. However, thanks to the Covid-19, our planet got a good long-time rest. Less flights, less tourists, less pollution. It is not so proper to say that, but the Covid has taken away so many lives, for releasing overwhelming popularity on our planet.

Covid-19 changed many things: change the way of living, like people do more takeaway or work from home (I still mistake WFH as What the Fxxk many times haha), or more people wearing masks so even the rate of fluid has decreased. However, it changes the frequency of people meeting their loved ones, including me and my family. And of course, I ended a relationship. Well, it is sad to say that, but probably the Covid is a good excuse to end that. After all, having a relationship without any future -> for him, is not healthy, and ending it is just a matter of time.

Okay, STOP TALKING ABOUT ALL THE NEGATIVE AND SERIOUS THINGS!!! The disease also brought some benefits, well, for me, haha. First, many gastronomy restaurants start to do takeaway or delivery or set-meal, which is impossible for normal time. So I got so many chances to taste the good food while I can relaxing at home watching TV. Second, which is the main topic of this article (FINALLY!), nearly all 5-star or 4 star hotels release a good price or discounted package in order to maintain enough number of customers. I nearly went to all luxurious hotels around Taipei for the past two years. It means, I barely stepped into the apartment in Taipei haha.

Let’s start with this hotel.

MGH Mitsui Garden Hotel Taipei Zhongxiao (和苑三井花園飯店 台北忠孝)

I need to say it first, the most attracting point for me about this hotel is, it is super close to the metro! Although I use bike a lot instead of taking metro, when my hands are full of luggage, I appreciate its fantastic location!

Mitsui hotel is a chain hotel and it is pretty new. When traveling to a new city, I always recommend booking chain hotels, since they always have a certain level of quality. I had a really bad experience in Hokkaido for booking a non-chain hotel, which was old and dirty, looked very different from the photos.

This hotel is right next to the metro station, like a commercial building. Well, this hotel can’t be called as luxurious hotel, since it looks normal and nothing fancy, like a business hotel. But the reason why I still keep this hotel in the list is when walking into the room, I can feel every detail is perfectly set up and arranged for a cozy and comfortable stay.

For one example, the tea set and drink selection in the room is very different from other business hotels, which always provides Litpon tea or 3 in 1 coffee. They offer good tea and coffee selection, the brands are expensive, and the taste is indeed good. The teapot and tea cups are very delicate and elegant. Especially the mug, I almost stole it away. It is a side button for hanging drip coffee bag -> I am not so sure if the button is for decoration or really for the coffee haha. But anyway, it solves the problem of my drip coffee bag easily fell into the water haha.

I didn’t take photos but there is a set of sofa and small table next to the window, which I love it so much. I like to stay next to the bright window and do my work. The toilet and the shower room are separate, and the sink is outside the two spaces, which makes washing hands very easy, especially for this time. The interior design style makes people feel like home, very warm and relaxing. These are the reason why I think this hotel is very great. I can tell they make efforts on making every detail perfect for customers.

OKAY! FOOD TIME!!!

I spent two days in this hotel, because the price is pretty good. Of course I have to mention about what food I have during the stay. Can’t believe I took away so many food back to the hotel and even delivery! After I dropped off my luggage, I went on biking to get my medicine and lunch. On the way, I got latte and small box of taro cream sandwich from POWDER WORKSHOP, and esclair from dessert shop 1789. The hummus and the salad are from Toasteria, a Mediterranean style restaurant I want to try for a long time. And the matcha Souffle is from the Flippers, delivered to the hotel.

THAT’S WAY TOO MUCH FOOD, I JUST REALIZED. Of course I was not able to finish all. But I got to try all of them!!! The esclair was normal, and the taro bun too. But I love the hummus and the souffle:) The souffle was still fluffy when it arrived at the hotel. It was light and not so sweet. The hummus and the salad went well together. There are still so many different options in Toasteria’s menu, I want to try them all!! But I only have 1 stomach haha.

After having a good lunch, I went back to the apartment (–>finally) to get my stuff. It was such a good weather and I went by bike, passing through so many beautiful decoration. I enjoyed it. The photos look very bright and beautiful, but at that moment, it was really hot outside haha. I got all wet when I stepped into the apartment. I had to change clothes before going out again, because tonight I will meet Yuna for dinner~

Because I didn’t tell her in advance, it was hard to look for a restaurant especially on Friday night. She found a Japanese izakaya, so many home-cook style dishes, which gave me so many different ideas after I got back to my own kitchen!

It was a lovely night, because I haven’t seen Yuna for such a long time. And I also got to meet her boyfriend, who was also an engineer. We talked a lot, and she told me she moved. I found out Yuna has changed, becoming more like me. She loves to stay at home more often, because her living area is quiet and convenient. She loves home-cooking now, rarely goes out for eating. On weekends, she also stops always going to the city. The next meet-up after this time I visited her in her living area. It looks like fujimino, but closer to ikebukuro, because across 1 street there is the busy main road. I told her, I wouldn’t mind becoming her neighbor haha. I also love the living environment! There are so many cafe, grocery stores, the river bank and the park are right next to the residential area, the metro is close too. It is exactly the paradise for me. I am very happy to see Yuna settle down, and becoming a homy person.

I have to say, there is no exact type of good or bad living way. What matter the most is if we love our living way or not. Yuna changed, but it doesn’t mean her living way before was not good, she just found another way of living she likes. One of the reason Henry and I broke up is he loves city and I love residential area. According to him, being alone and being in long distance relationship make him want to live in the city, closer to people and the hustle and bustle life. After he has a family, he loves being in the residential area, quiet and comfortable. But for me, I always like being in residential area, having a comfortable wide space, but not losing the convenience of life at the same time. He said he is afraid of being alone, he wants a girlfriend who can be with him. He doesn’t want going home everyday seeing no one at home. But now, he doesn’t meet his girlfriend often, he said his girlfriend is too busy at work. He spent most of his time at home. So I don’t know what he wants exactly. Does he just want to enjoy that “freedom at hand” while he wouldn’t really use it? I am not so sure.

OKAY!! BACK TO FOOD!

Later on, I went on biking again, to visit the coffee shop with good oatmilk latte and cinnamon roll under my sister’s recommendation. It is a coffee shop as well as a bakery. Unfortunately the original cinnamon roll is sold out. I ordered the oreo one instead. The oatmilk latte is really good! The balance between the oat milk and the coffee is good. The only point is that this coffee shop is so far from the city and the metro, and even far from the bike station, very hard to reach it.

Biking for the whole afternoon, I decided to try Michelin star restaurant. Molino de Urdániz 渥達尼斯磨坊, located inside Hotel MVSA. Because of the Covid, they release a set menu for takeaway. It was a set menu, and the portion is pretty big for one person. Every dish tastes very rich and heavy, so actually in the end I was not able to finish it. I think I need a glass of sparking water to remove makes the meal lighter. But I would really want to try their Spanish style breakfast. They now offer it not just for their customers, but for people who don’t stay there.

Finally, I got to the end of the trip. This is the time when I feel staying close to the metro helps a lot. I bought way too many takeaway and frozen food. I got some dishes from famous restaurants in Taipei, I got frozen wanton, I got taro desserts. And I got all groceries I bought for the two days. And I have my luggage. That was a lot of stuff. Thanks God the metro is a few steps away.

My cozy home is welcoming me after I got back. After exercising, I had the food I took away from Taipei. I had a good rest. And get ready for more hotel hopping next time!