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Thanks for visiting my blog! My name is Nova Walsh and I'm a freelance writer. This blog is about the stories I uncover, food I love, places I travel, and my life in Austin, Texas.

House Hunters International

 At long last - our apartment hunt!  The task spanned two days, four Taipei districts, and about 18 apartments.  Some were pretty bad, most were fantastic.  In the end we suffered from too many choices.  There was a lot to consider of course - proximity to the MRT subway was very important (it's usually really hot here and walking isn't all that pleasant - it'll be especially bad the days my husband has to wear a suit).  Another important consideration was noise.  You can't imagine how important it is to have a quiet place to escape from the insanity of this city; the constant traffic, people, and animals wear you down after a while.  Neighborhood was a factor as well.  We wanted to be close enough to shopping and restaurants that we could walk easily.

So here are the top three choices!  A lot of the other places we saw were beautiful, or funky, or both.  But in the end it came down to these three.

Choice Number One: Quiet Luxury

 The amazing view of Taipei 101 from the bedroom and living room was a definite plus

This apartment was much smaller than most that we saw.  It had one small bedroom and an even smaller study.  The decor was beautiful however, and the apartment was very new with a lot of great amenities.  It was almost more like a hotel than an apartment, from a legitimate consierge that would have your dry-cleaning taken care of to a beautiful indoor pool, sauna, and gym.  The drawbacks included the obvious lack of space but also the area.  It was the farthest away from an MRT station (15 minutes walking on a good day) and it was at the end of a fairly nondescript street, not very close to any shopping, dining, or nightlife. 

The tiny living room

The study - I could definitely write in here!

Very nice luxury bath - almost like being at home!

Choice Number Two - Funky Japanese

 
Living room.  Step up into the "Japanese room"  Behind the t.v. is the "kitchen"

This one seemed like it could have easily been in downtown Tokyo.  Even smaller than the first apartment, it included some outrageously strange perks that made it hard to resist.  The most amazing thing was the "Japanese room" which had a raised wooden floor.  In the middle of the floor there was a square that came up out of the ground and became a small table when a button was pushed.  It was like sitting at a fancy sushi restaurant, legs hanging below the table as you sit on the floor.  Other funkiness included a Japanese automatic toilet with bedet, and just about the smallest kitchen I've ever seen.  The apartment was almost on top of the MRT station but also on a very busy and loud road.  A lot to do and see in the area though as you can imagine.
Floor of the "Japanese room" - the middle square is the table that raises up out of the floor

Tiny kitchen - no Thanksgiving feast in this place!

Funky auto-toilet.  I'm a little afraid of this thing.  Who knows what it might do?

Choice Number Three - Plenty of Space

 The large master bedroom made this one appealing

The last choice was much larger than the first two.  It had three rooms, one being another "Japanese room" with raised floors (although this one was covered in built-in tatami mats instead of having an automatic table).  The rooms were nice and large and the kitchen was airy.  The location was quite different than the other two however.  It was in a much older part of town, down a narrow street of roadside food stalls, scooter repair stores, and other small apartment buildings.  Right in the thick of things I guess you could say.  This one was very close to an MRT station as well. 

Japanese room with tatami mat floors

Very spacious kitchen

Large living room with not so amazing views

So which apartment would you choose?  I posted a poll at the right side of the blog - take it and tell me which was your favorite!  I'll be revealing our choice on Friday when we move in.  Make sure to check back to find out which apartment we decided on!
Read More 3 comments |

3 comments

  1. a walsh on May 26, 2010 at 2:13 PM

    It's a no brainer...a Dan and Nova without a big kitchen???Is there snow in Phoenix in July??

     
  2. Anonymous on May 26, 2010 at 8:21 PM

    I agree. The japanese apartment looked cool until I saw the kitchen. Go for the spacious one in the great location. -Bri

     
  3. Anonymous on May 26, 2010 at 9:35 PM

    Wow what a tough decision, I like the fancy hotel looking one, the first one, and the 15 minute walk twice a day could be "thinning". However, I really hope that you chose the 3rd one with lots of space for me and Derrick to come visit!!

     


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Nova is a chef, author, and traveler, who is on a mission to find adventure, friends, and the secrets to a happy life.
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