When I heard early this year that a brand new luxury Airline was launching a direct flight from Taipei to Cebu, I got excited and wished to experience such five-star hospitality above the sky. Taipei-based STARLUX Airlines is true to its motto  "Luxury Beyond Horizons" as we finally indulged in deluxe accommodation in the sky beyond an unending horizon full of white"cotton candies" kind of clouds in the morning and shining, shimmering stars at night - indeed a LUXurious STAR above the sky, STARLUX!

Starlux has three flight destinations in the Philippines namely Cebu, Manila, and Clark.

The daily Taoyuan-Cebu flight departs at 10:10 a.m., with the returning flight departing at 2:05 p.m. A single-aisle Airbus A321neo will serve the said route with 180 economy-class seats and eight business-class seats.

---

PROMOTION ALERT!!!!

---

Ready to jet set to your next adventure? ✈️ STARLUX Airlines is here to make it even more exciting with our exclusive promo codes!

📣 Here's how you can score these amazing deals: 🔹 For flights departing from Clark (CRK), use the code FLYJXCRK2023. 🔹 For flights departing from Manila (MNL) or Cebu (CEB), use the code FLYJXPH2023.

Hurry, the clock is ticking! ⏰ This amazing offer is valid until October 25, 2023! 📅 ✈️ Travel Period: October 16, 2023 - April 30, 2024

This promo is valid for both roundtrip and one-way tickets exiting the Philippines. Book your tickets now and let STARLUX Airlines be your gateway to amazing experiences. See you on board!​ 🌟

---

MY EXPERIENCE

---

Slightly edited for Cover photo purposes. Editor: Picasa

That Taipei Travel was one for the books! It's special because again I traveled with my office mates and friends. And this time, I got a great tool for photo shots, the Huawei P9 Smartphone. Recently, Huawei Phone garnered 4 awards from Yugatech Choice Awards 2016 namely Editors' Choice Product of theYear,  Smartphone of the Year, Best Designed Smartphone and Best Smartphone Camera! To add proof of these amazing awards, I will give you a list of raw photos of Taipei 101 taken from before sunset until evening by the award-winning Huawei P9.

Panorama View : When we reached the first observatory stop, I got the chance of taking panorama view of Taipei 101

First Observatory Stop : Took a bokeh shot with my Timex Watch

First Observatory Stop : Took a bokeh shot with my Taipei 101 with blurred Timex Watch

Early afternoon shots of Taipei 101

Early afternoon shots of Taipei 101

Waiting for Sunset shot of Taipei 101

Waiting for Sunset shot of Taipei 101

Sunset is almost there.... Taipei 101 is waiting!

Sunset is almost there.... Taipei 101 is waiting!

The golden moment is here, look at the lights reflecting the Taipei 101

Bokeh Shots again... love this feature!

Golden Moments my dear! Oh Huawei P9, your a gift!

Boke Shots again... hahaah

The Sky is getting color ....

Bokeh shots again.. please bare with me.. this feature is unique and useful!

It's getting darker...look at this shot!

It's getting darker...look at this shot!

It's getting darker...look at this shot!

Bokeh Feature!!!!

City Lights were coming out.... Love Taipei 101 here..

City Lights were coming out.... Love Taipei 101 here..

City Lights were coming out.... Love Taipei 101 here..

Tried zooming in and here it is.. amazing shot!

Night time baby... Taipei 101 is still amazing!

City lights... omg!

Tried zooming in during night and still amazing!

Night shot of Taipei 101

Night shot of Taipei 101

Night shot of Taipei 101

Night shot of Taipei 101

Night shot of Taipei 101

It's me and this is a night shot... huawei p9!

Night Shot of Taipei 101 with trees surrounding it..

Still clear shot at night...taipei 101

Still clear shot at night...taipei 101

Still clear shot at night...taipei 101

That giant candle is love! Thanks Huawei P9 for a good shot!

At the end, this amazing skyscraper deserved our groufie!

When in Taipei, I strongly recommend to get accommodation at Taipei Sunny Hostel, here are the details:
Address: No. 92-2, Huaining Street, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100
Phone: +886 2 2331 9391
PRO: This Hostel is situated in the center of the city, just near the 228 Peace Park and other City destinations.

As we keep our goal of life-work balance in Timex Philippines, together with our IT office mates, I always make sure to travel outside our daily environment.This year, we decided to go international - to the heart of Asia! For me, Taiwan is one of the most understated countries in the Asia. From its tall buildings, amazing skyscrapers, old temples, busy streets and well-mannered people - Taipei is a must-visit city!

Visit Taipei, a #FaceCebuTravels Special article!

A groufie with the team at the amazing Taipei 101!

It was a cold night of the fifteenth when everybody gathered at Mactan Cebu International Airport for a very late schedule of flight. We arrived safely early in the morning at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport via Cebu Pacific Air. We were welcomed by our hospitable driver and guided us to our hostel, the most recommended accommodation in Taipei - Taipei Sunny Hostel. Note that Taipei is a "no-english" language country. It is best to install some translator application or maybe use Google Translator for easy communication with the locals. We then found a cheap breakfast stall which is a stone-throw from our place. Then the five-day Taipei explorations began! Here is the list of Taipei's top tourist destinations even Locals love to visit!

Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport
Attractions: I included this place as I was amazed on the interiors of the ceilings - so instagrammable!

FaceCebu Author, Mark Monta in Taipei International Airport

FaceCebu Author, Mark Monta in Taipei International Airport

228 Peace Memorial Park
Address: 3 Ketagalan Boulevard, Zhongzheng District, Taipei, Taiwan


Lungshan Temple of Manka (Long Shan)
Address: No. 211, Guangzhou St, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10853
Phone: +886 2 2302 5162
Attractions: Man-made waterfalls and the culture/traditions of worships

Lungshan Temple of Manka

Waterfalls inside Lungshan Temple of Manka

Taipei Main Station ( Taipei Railway Station)
Address: 100, Taiwan, Taipei City, Zhongzheng District, Beiping W Rd
Phone: +886 2 2371 3558
Attractions: Huge mall with different stores which are useful for Tourists

Taipei Main Station (Outside view)

Giant Christmas Tree inside Taipei Main Station

 Presidential Office Building
Address: No. 122, Section 1, Chongqing S Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100
Attractions: Just an amazing facade of the building

A view from mains street of Presidential Palace Building

A view from the green garden of Presidential Palace Building

FaceCebu Author with a great view of Presidential Building

Bopiliao History Museum
Address: Bopiliao Ancient Street, Taipei
Attractions: More on old houses and red bricks which are appropriate for OOTD shots and other portrait shots

Walling OOTD Shot

Address: No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10617
Total enrollment: 32,168 (2013)
Phone: +886 2 3366 3366
Attractions: A lot! Picturesque building good for OOTD plus some lakes and bridges for portrait shots.

Mark Monta for his OOTD Shot in the campus

A jumpshot for this instagrammable view of National Taiwan University

"Waiting for you" Shot

OOTD Shot again!

Hey, this is Taiwan not US State! :)

Taipei Confucius Temple
Address: No. 275, Dalong St, Datong District, Taipei City, Taiwan 103
Phone: +886 2 2592 3934
Attractions: Worships and culture of people

A bridge infront of the temple.

FaceCebu Author posing at the temple

OOTD Pose infront of the temple

Yeh Liu Geo Park
Address: Xinbei, Taiwan
Attractions: A natural spots that is unique among other tourists spots (buildings and temples)

Mark Monta swag pose!

Mark Monta in flex pose!

Mark Monta in OOTD Pose!

The signature pose, Topless shot!

The signature pose, Topless shot!

Golden Falls (Waterfalls)
Address: Jiaoxi Township, Yilan County, Taiwan
Attractions: Waterfalls that has golden soils.

Mark Monta posing infront Golden Falls

A Bokeh shot by Huawei

Here's the Golden Falls!

Yin Yang Sea
Address: Xinbie, Taiwan
Attractions: When the minerals are in good shape, the Yin Yan symbol will flow/show.

An aerial view of the Yin Yang Sea ( not yet formed during that moment)

An aerial view of the Yin Yang Sea ( not yet formed during that moment)

An aerial view of the Yin Yang Sea ( not yet formed during that moment)

PLUS! Just a underground passage to the other side

Jiufen Old Street
Address: Jishan St, Ruifang District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 224
Phone: +886 2 2960 3456
Attractions: Old houses and amazing foods

Boke shot by Huawei P9

A mandatory shot at the street of Jiufen

So chinese!

Another Chinese-que photo!

On our way to the top!

Floating some sky lanterns in Shifen Old Street
Address: 226, Taiwan, New Taipei City, Pingxi District
Attractions: We need to put our wishes in the lantern before lighting it and tossing it to the air

Mark Monta during Sky Lantern lighting and Floating....

Photo op before tossing the lantern into the air!

Oh! look at those lanterns in the sky..

Our wishes were written in the lantern before we tossed up to the sky

Goodbye Sky lantern!

Sky lantern!

Thousand Island Lake View (千島湖  or Shihting Lake )
Address: North Shiyan District Yongan Village, Taiwan
Attractions: Aerial view of amazing thousand island lake. There is Tea 8 cafe that offers tea and coffee while chilling and enjoying the ambiance.

Bokeh shot by Huawei P9

Thousand Island Lake aerial view

FaceCebu Author with his pose in Thousand Island Lake observatory

FaceCebu Author with jumpshot pose in Thousand Island Lake observatory

What a view!

Tea 8 offers Tea and Coffee plus a great view of the lake

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Address: No. 21, Zhongshan S Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100
Attractions: Amazing facade and building structures where Chiang Kai-shek statue is built.

Chiang Kai Shek Building

Panorama shot of Chiang Kai Shek Building by Huawei P9

FaceCebu Author with his jumpshot at Chiang Kai Shek Building

Taipei 101
Address : No.7, Sec. 5, Xinyi Rd., Xinyi Dist., Taipei City 110, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Telephone : (02) 8101-8800　
Note: More on arial observatory of the whole taipei city in just 600 Taiwan Dollars. Ticket can be purchased in the 5th floor. The fee includes entrance and some discounts in the observatory area at the 89 floor. PLUS! You can get a chance of visiting the 91 floor for an outdoor experience observatory.

A view from the Mall entrance

A floor mirror selfie is a must!

Aerial view of the city from the top!

The author was amazed!

Another night shot from Huawei P9 from the top!

Coz this angle deserved a selfie shot!

Ximending Shopping District
Address: Wanhua District of Taipei
PRO: It has everything in one place which is recommended to be visited at the last night of Taipei's vacation. CON: Very expensive.

Center of everything - that's Ximending District!

Sunyoung building is instragrammable!

Hello Taipei!

Commune A7
Address: 110, Taiwan, Taipei City, Xinyi District, Songshou Rd
Attractions:: Visit this district for a nice view of Taipei 101 and best done during Christmas season.

Commune A7 gives a great view of taipei 101

Commune A7 gives a great view of taipei 101

Commune A7 gives a great view of taipei 101

Riding a Cable Car at Maokong Gondola
Address: No.8, Sec. 2, Xinguang Rd., Wenshan Dist., Taipei City 116, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Telephone: 886-2-218-12345, For callers of Taipei City, please dial 886-2-27208889
Attractions:: You can visit Taipei Zoo, Zhinan Temple Station and Maokong Station

A street view of MRT in Maokong Gondola

Our card as pass to enter the cable car

Aerial view from our cable car, amazing!

Aerial view from our cable car, amazing!

Mark Monta from his cable car

Temple as tourist spot in the next stop of Cable Car rides

Aerial view from our Cable Car!

Aerial view from our Cable Car!

Thermal Valley
Address: 112, Taiwan, Taipei City, Beitou District
Phone: +886 2 2883 2130
Attractions: Just a hot valley of water with amazing landscape

Look at me! The place is approved!

Panorama view of Thermal Valley!

Perfect Thermal View!

Aha, on our way to another tourist spot!

Elephant Mountain
Address: Xiangshan Station, Taipei
Attractions:: To get a best view of Taipei 101, you need to climb Elephant Mountain before 4-5 PM for a sunset and night view of Taipei City. Elephan Mountain is known as Nangang District Hiking Trail and Xiangshan, the hiking trail is located close to the Xinyi Shopping District and Taipei 101.
Preparations:
1. Wear some safety and comfy shoes
2. Jeans and sweat pants are recommended for bottom wear.
3. Wear t-shirts and prepare a coat of jacket (in case of a cold night at the top)
4. Bring a bottle of water and some snacks as there is no stores available

artistic shot? Hello taipei 101!

Timex Wristwatch with Taipei 101

Me and taipei 101 is almost the same in height

Breathtaking shots of Taipei 101

Recommended Accommodation in Taipei:
Taipei Sunny Hostel
Address: No. 92-2, Huaining Street, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100
Phone: +886 2 2331 9391
PRO: This Hostel is situated in the center of the city, just near the 228 Peace Park and other City destinations.

*** All photos are taken by Huawei P9 which are unedited ones.