i think you can use your own phone as long as it's a 3G phone? unless u are using iphone then cannot loh.

National Palace Museum is not at Danshui lo..It's closer to Shihlin station and from there take a connecting bus to National Palace museu.

For me, it is just a meseum showcasing the gift, & belongings of China past emperor since thousand years ago. Haha From Beijing Forbidden city now stucked in Taipei

For me, I rather skip National Museum.. Abit boring actually bcos not really a history museum but showcasing of Forbidden city collections.

Chiang Kai Shek memorial is a MUST lah..so scenic and Sun yat Sen memorial is actually not far. From Sun Yat sen can walk to Taipei 101

bopiliao old street? it's in wanhua district, address No. 101, Guangzhou St., Wanhua District, Taipei City. opens on sun-thu 10am-5pm, fri/sat opens until 7pm. take MRT to longshan temple station.

http://guidepal.com/taipei/see--do/bopiliao-historic-distric

May i know that can i hand carry my tripod? i heard is unable?

I'll answer based on my experience..

1) If wan say better exchange rate, not so sure coz dun have time to compare there.. but one thing for sure, hard to find money changer in taipei unless u go to their malls.. in my case, i change in the airport..

2) i also took HSR from Taoyuan - Zuoying, Zuoying - Taichung then Taichung to Taipei. all also buy on the spot.. and there are 2 type of seats, reserved or non reserved. non reserved is cheaper. based on my experience, during my HSR trips, the train were quite vacant.. not full house or hard to find place to seat...

3) is newyork2 still around? i heard it's closing down d.. u can shop at 台北地下街 (Taiwan Underground Mall) also. but IMHO, i still feel their night market is the best to shop

4) up to ur own preference. even when i was there during fall, i also skip the hot spring eventhough i have reach xin bei tou. jz walked around only.

5) If u like historical museum kinda thing can go lo.. CKS must go, Taiwan landmark so must go take picture.. SYS nothing much, quite like CKS also have guard changing ceremony

6) u stay in min shu or hotel? maybe can ask them if they have any weighing scale or not.

3k++?

Im going on pretty similar trip round Taiwan on 30th August. Compared to my itenary, yours is a bit on the luxury side. I heard many friends telling me rounding Taiwan is like hell with long bus trip. Each day 3-5 hours in bus when traveling south and back to north. I wonder what kind of nightmare awaits me as my <2 years old son will tag along.

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Added on July 3, 2011, 2:16 pm

I think you will reach at 3pm. Please update on the exchange rate. I'm thinking whether should exchange here or there.