Thought I write a bit  on my recent trip to reciprocate the useful information I got from this thread.

Just came back from a trip to Taiwan from 17 - 24 July.  Malaysia is  cool by comparison! Had expected as much but what to do - this is the only time 'ngam' for the three of us.

It's peak holiday season in Taiwan even though weather was hot (high 30's). The locals are having their summer holidays. Was in Hualien for 3 days. The local tourism office provides free hourly shuttle service to Tarako and a few other places of interest for these 2 months. There are some free concerts in Hualien by local artistes. Hualien is a pleasant change from Taipei, nice and green with the backdrop of hills but just as hot. I find Tarako OK only, not to say spectacular. China has got much better landscape scenery lah.

Missed Yehliu as we spent too much time in Jinguashi and Jiufen. Should have done Yehliu first as it closes quite early.
The variety of food you see at the Miaoko (Keelung) night market is dazzling indeed.

Generally, don't find the food there that great or cheap. The shops and stalls people are really good at display and packaging, which make the things so tempting. RM3.50 for a roti chanai from pasar malam - cheap meh?  The thing  I love is the grilled and fried sotong at Danshui. And a 24-hour stall in Hualien city selling steamed 'siao loong pau' and 'gao'.
Fruits are also expensive and lack variety. The pineapple and mangoes there are sweet and juicy but lack the frangrance.

Those hugely famous stalls always with long queues-
Ah Tzung Mee Suah - didn't know that  it comes with pig intestines, not my cup of tea.
Taiwanese seem to like eating innards (braised).
'Pepper biscuit' at Raohe Night Market at NTD450 - OK ler, similar to the Sitiawan 'kong piang'( http://kookyculinary.com/2007/02/17/food-from-sitiawan ) but I prefer the latter. It's too 'porky' for my liking.

Stayed at Ximending. I recommend Rainbow Hotel which we stayed for 3 nights - great location at the pedestrian mall and a few mins from the metro station. Also stayed at Ground Ground in Ximen, it's OK too.  I think it is not really so important that you stay right next to the Main Station for convenience.

Like the rest, I'm impressed with their customer service generally - the people providing services are generally more polite than Bolehland. And the place is safe, no worries about security.

Stimix - Went to Bopi Liao and I like it. Great place for taking pictures.