Taiwan Trip: 10- 18 Sep 2018 Part 3: Taipei

Day 5 continue:

Depart from Taichung to Taipei using Ubus. Then we took a taxi to our airbnb host at Banqiao.

While I am feeling so lucky for the trip thus far (there was a typhoon warning getting nearer and nearer), I found myself unable to open the door leave by the airbnb host.

We climb the 5-floors building and try to open the door but failed. The host is not reachable by phone nor LINE (I purposely install that after he failed to answer my call).

Sue Anne got mad because of we have been stuck so long. Perhaps the working holiday experience that I had have been more up and down, I was trying to stay calm but there is no solution.

So I suggested that we go for dinner while waiting for the reply. Then we walk a bit further to the　stinky pot (三妈臭臭锅 ).

Unfortunately, even after we finished eating there is still no reply.

We walk back to the building and try again to open the door and still failed.

Then Sue Anne started to suggest to find a new accommodation.

I was a bit hesitate because the host was quite responsive in the morning while I check with him for the check in.

But we have waited for hours and there is no reply so I cant seem to stop her anyway.

Luckily, while chatting with Huei and Nisha, Huei told me that she will be in Taipei for the few days and able to let us stay at her place.

So, we leave the place and go to her house instead. (p/s: The host finally reply us after we left, telling us that he was in the class teaching from afternoon until 8 pm. But we have left, so I only asking if he can give us a full refund)

塞翁失马焉知非福, we are blessed with the good view of Taipei 101 at Huei house. Hehehe


Day 6: Yehliu Geopark, JiuFen Old Street, Raohe Night Market

It was the day typhoon estimate to arrive, luckily it just pass by however, it heading to HongKong and really hit it badly.

Went to witness the famous Queens head an Princess head. Did not queue up at the original ones, here are the 3D model where no queue is needed.

 

Wind too strong and luckily we are also strong enough to stand not blown away.

Revisit JiuFen however it was not as exciting as the first time visit. This time i learn to ask before go try out the famous Taro. But still ordered the wrong cake and I ordered too much! (supposed to order the 'grass cake' but i bought the taro cake. >.<)

Sue Anne bought a few souvenirs at JiuFen which reminds me of my first time excitements when I first found this shop too! Haha, managed to stop myself from buying all these.  

On the way back, my initial plan was to go back KeeLung Night Market, however the bus to KeeLung Train station was too slow, there has been a few bus pass by back to Taipei, so we decided to follow the bus back to Taipei since the weather was also not so good due to the typhoon.

Stop by at the Songshan station and we visited Raohe Night Market and Wufenpu.

This is quite a fresh try for the oyster mee sua at Raohe Night Market, the soup is clear one. 

Finally we have a day break from the stinky toufu. 

Day 7: ShiFen Water Fall, ShiFen Old Street, Ximending

We take the train and haoxing bus to ShiFen. 

Waterfalls are beautiful, but the lantern is one thing that I cannot really accept as it is so not environment friendly and it became just a trend to do so.

 Witness a few lanterns got burn up before it fly.

Wonder if the wishes will really come true.

After that, we went to Ximending to shopping again. 

While waiting for Huei to go home, we go to Taipei 101, there is a guy singing with a guitar, we just sit down there and chilling. 

Then, Bing See contacted me. So I fish her to go hiking with me at Xiangshan Park to see the Taipei 101 Night View. (actually i can see it from Huei house too.)

So she came all the way to go hiking with me. XD. Reunion after 5 years. 

Day 8: Tamsui Old Street, Tamsui Fort San Domingo, Shilin Night Market

Went to Tamsui and tried the a-gei, there are three shops in a row selling the same thing and so we tried two of them. Prefer the one with three sisters as the soup is more clear and tastier for me.

Went to the historical buildings around Tamsui, as it was almost the end of our trip and finally Sue Anne surrender to the long walks. Haha. 

Went to Shilin Night Market and try another stinky tofu.  Today, we tried two but still not satisfied with the stinky level, and i failed to find the non-fried stinky tofu.

Back to Huei house today and then start playing with Kuri, Huei's dog. She is the first dog I dare to touch after so many years too. (Because she almost day day come and wake you up in the morning)

Last day: National Palace Museum

Finally Huei got a day off and can bring me around. Leave Sue Anne to have own time explore the city, I went to the National Palace Museum with Huei. 

Visited the most famous cabbage in the museum, the roasted pork look yummy too. 

We found ourselves hungry soon after we enter the museum, so we have a quick tour then heading to take our late lunch near her home. 

After that, take a nap while waiting for Sue Anne to get back. 

Then we depart to the airport and have our dinner before on board. 

Goodbye Huei and Kuri, hope to see you guys soon. =D

Finally ended my update on the trip. Yippee!!!

Taiwan Trip: 10-18 Sep 2018 Part 2 : Taichung

Day 3 continue:
From the Rainbow Village, we take local bus back to the city to get the bus to Taichung.

Arrived Taichung and we were too early for the check in (wrong choice as it only can check in after 5 pm!). Found locker in the bus station so we leave our bag there (after come back we realized it is not lock properly!)

Walk to the Miyahara Ice Cream shop that I missed out last time.

 Then go to the Stock 20 Art Gallery. 

Finally drag until check in time. We walk back to the bus terminal to get our luggage and take bus to the YiZhong street to check in hostel. We stay at Loft Hostel at YiZhong area. This hostel has no reception area. We are informed to meet them at the lockers area and wait for the people to lead us to the hostel. 

Leave our luggage at the hostel, then we go to Fengjia Night Market to start eating again. Then start a bit of shopping at the night market. Ate sweet potato balls, pepper meat biscuit, pork blood cake, stinky toufu and guava.

Day 4: Formosan Aboriginal Cultural Village and Sun Moon Lake

Walk to the Gancheng bus station to get the Taiwan Haoxing (台湾好行）Tour Package. Then we get an extra icard with TWD$200 credit in it.

Think that this one here look familiar like NZ maori culture. 

 This time I decided to go to the cultural village first before Sun Moon Lake. We walk around the village, skipped the theme park, stop for some shows. 

Took a transparent cable car and I regret. Afraid of the height and I hardly move any step in it. 

Around afternoon, get the cable car to the Sun Moon Lake then go back to Taichung city.

This time finally I get to visit properly at the cultural village. Before go back to Taichung, saw there selling the rice wine milkshake, ordered one and never expect they put in a whole shot of wine and luckily did not vomit while taking the ferry at Sun Moon Lake.

Visited again the Chinese Cupid Temple (月下老人）. Last time visited here because we get lost while walk around the Sun Moon Lake. This time come here again because we want to collect the stamp to exchange for souvenir. 

Both time no pray to him for a good faith in relationship. Hopefully he not angry at me and really dont want to give me good partner. Hahaha. 

After a short walk to the temple to get the stamp, we walk back to the bus station to go back to Taichung.

Walk to the Taichung park and snap a few photo before heading back to YiZhong Night market.

Taichung Park is also one of the historical building that is significant in Taiwan. 

End the day at YiZhong Night Market which is around our hostel. Again, there is stinky toufu on the menu. Didnt managed to get a really stinky smelly toufu in Taiwan this time. However this shop did satisfied me with its special sauce and garlic paste.

Day 5:

Get to drink the milk tea at the original shop at Chun Sui Tang.

Check out at Loft Hostel and bring our luggage to the Rainbow Village. Due to the luggage, I am kinda lazy to take photo there. So after a few shoots then we ready to depart to Taipei.

Taiwan Trip: 10-18 Sep 2018 Part 1 Tainan

Itinerary:

Day1:
Kuala Lumpur - Taoyuan















Take Ubus from Taoyuan to Tainan, thought it will be a long journey, however, Taiwan is really a small country, it took about 4.5 hours from Taoyuan International Airport to Tainan City via bus.

Overnight at TT Homestay 旅人时光. We arrived at after the check-in hour and the reception came and welcome us. The first two days, only two of us stay in the place which make us own the whole homestay! There is free snacks in the common area (fruit drinks, biscuits, ice cream, tea bags etc) and we are given breakfast voucher (worth TWD$50) for each day.






After put down our stuffs, we went out to get our dinner. Tainan really quiet during the night. We simply walk to the nearest street to see any food around and ended up eating the Window Toast (窗口土司）. Had a short conversation with the waitress while ordering, she was quite surprise that Malaysian can speak Chinese. Is that so little Malaysian visit Tainan?

It is my first time here too. My first trip back in 2013 I only managed to visit Taipei and Taichung.

After get our dinner/ supper, we went back to homestay with some beers and snacks.

Day 2:
Breakfast at 凉咪咪早餐店, we came here simply because of the breakfast voucher, after visiting the shop only realized that it is also a local shop that has been opened for 40 years. Ordered the black pepper pork hot bread (黑胡椒猪肉蛋饼) as recommended by the homestay.

After that we walk around and towards the train station to meet up with my ex-housemate, Francis. Totally a tourist day with a good local tour guide. Hehe.

Visited the historical buildings : Chihkan Tower, Hayashi Department Store, then to Anping Old Street to have lunch. Then continue to the Anping Old Fort and Anping Treehouse. Then to the beach side (观夕平台）to see the sunset.

Finish the day at the night market at Datung. Had duck blood soup, pork blood soup, stinky toufu, oyster egg, oyster mee sua, and traditional BBQ wild boar meat.

Thanks to Francis, this day in Tainan, I have a free guided tour, and able to try more food in the night market. It was also after almost four years since we last met each other.

Day 3:
Breakfast again at the 凉咪咪早餐店 and this time tried their hamburger patty + toast with egg and soya milk. Saw that there is a giant gashapon market (巨型扭蛋市集）nearby and the classic handmade canvas bag shop.

Too early to the market so there is no one else there. 

Back to hostel to pack our stuff and then go out for lunch at the milkfish fishballs soup 永记虱目鱼丸.

After that, walk back to hostel and check out.