Taiwan Trip 2018 - Accommodation

my first trip to taiwan was with my family. i was very young. sec 1 or sec 2, if i remember correctly. i remembered going to shilin night market. and i am also very sure that we did not go to ximending. 

second trip was with the army. i was a trainee at school of armour, and we went to taiwan to train for 3 weeks. that was really a highlight of my military life. the bunks were dirty and dusty. toilets were smelly. the toilet bowls have very small holes, so we cannot throw toilet paper into the toilet bowl. after wiping our asses we need to throw the soiled toilet paper into a small waste paper basket that is beside the toilet bowl. and god knows how often they empty that waste paper basket. damn disgusting. there were no showers. there is a big barrel of water, and we have to bathe using small pails to scoop the water out. there were good times also. we are very happy when we have nights off. there were quite a few old school eateries and convenience stores outside our camp. and of course the best part of this trip is the R&R, the final part of the trip, and we stayed at rainbow hotel for 2 nights. 
that was when i knew the existence of ximending. and SHE also held a 签唱会 at the open area just outside the hotel. 

in terms of location, rainbow hotel is really the best. it is very near to the mtr station. it is right in the middle of ximending. however there is only one lift. and the rooms are a bit old. 

third time to taiwan was with my jc friends. we also stayed at rainbow hotel. 

fourth time to taiwan was with darling in 2008. we tried this cheapo hostel for 2 nights, and stayed at rainbow hotel for the 3rd night. the hostel was quite an experience. the room was very cold, and the beds were very small. and their common toilet is at the roof top. and we were there during the winter season. so you can imagine after bathing, with the cold wind blowing at us, we have to quickly walk back indoor from the toilet. we were so glad to stay at rainbow for the 3rd night. hahahahahaha.

fifth time to taiwan was with my pe buddies, KC and zhenhong. we stayed at east dragon hotel. 

east dragon hotel was ok. further away from the mrt station. rooms were also a bit old. and the breakfast was mediocre. after trying the breakfast on the first morning, we decided to skip it. hahahahahaha. we had our breakfast at the dou jiang shop that was just opposite the hotel. 

sixth time to taiwan was with brotherhood, minus laval. we also stayed at east dragon. 

seventh time was in 2016, with darling, after we just became parents. really thankful to my family for taking care of yuanze while both of us go for this well needed holiday. we stayed at roader's hotel. i really like roader's hotel. the rooms are nice, and very new. it has a very big lobby, with many big sofas for you to sit there and eat breakfast or eat supper. you can also watch tv and play darts. they even have a photograph machine. the lobby also have coffee, tea, cup noodles, man tou, all for the guests to consume. the only downside is that it is a bit further away from ximending. 

and the eighth time, which is this time, with darling, yuanze and darling's family. we stayed at amba taipei ximending. 

location wise, amba is also very good. the building itself is also very happening. 诚品 is in the same building as the hotel, and so you can shop there, just that the prices are on the high end. there is also a starbucks on the first floor of the building. there is an arcade at the basement. xuanxuan and yuanze were very happy there. the rooms are very new. and their beds are big! they have a super king size bed, big enough for 3 persons to sleep on it. amazing place. if next time stay at ximending, i will definitely come here to stay.