Taiwan Trip @ Day 9 (Bon Voyage) - Part 10

Day 9 marked the end of our fantastic tour of Taiwan Island when we boarded CI669 departing from Kaoshiung at 9.15 am for our flight home. We finally reached Singapore Changi Airport at 1.05 pm.

During this trip, the followings observation were made: -

a. Rivers in Taiwan are generally dry. The tour guide clarified that the phenomenon is due to the geographical terrain of the island. Being mountainous at the centre, water flows rather quickly into the sea. Taiwanese erected reservoirs along the rivers to conserve water for consumption purposes as well as for generation of electricity.

b. Scooters are aplenty in Taipei, Kaoshiung, Hualien and other major cities.

c. Despite the lack of natural landscape in Taiwan as compared to China (partly due to the latter’s vast size), Taiwan compensates this limitation with its friendly and courteous people. Cleanliness is well maintained although a substantial part of its cities are dotted with old buildings.

d. Pollution is quite apparent in most of the major cities.

Similar to China, Taiwan is also not spared from signages bearing Engrish which I came across as English is not the preferred language in its education system.

Taiwan Trip @ Day 8 (Taipei-Kaoshiung) - Part 9

Day 8 was supposed to be the final day of our tour but owing to twist of event involving complication of flight ticketing by our Malaysian’s agent, we got an extended day and best of all, it was all paid for. The only setback, the departure airport was in Kaoshiung instead of Taipei. But how can we complain since we got free bullet train ride which cost NT$1,260 for a journey of one and a half hour from Taoyuan station in Taipei to Zuoying station in Kaoshiung. After breakfast and check out from the hotel, we set off for Taiwan Miniature Park. It is a theme park divided into 3 sections.

Mini Taiwan features miniature landmarks of Taiwan ranging from ports, highways, train station to major buildings, some of which we had visited during this tour.

There is the Mini China which displayed major landmarks in mainland China such as the Great Wall of China, the Tiger Hill Pagoda and etc.

The 3rd section featured Mini World displaying major landmarks outside China and Taiwan such as the Pisa Tower, Taj Mahal and etc.

There is also a section allocated for theme park with rides such as roller coaster, bumper car, pirates ship and etc which was really a treat to the kids. There were also performances by clowns, magic show, and cannonball man.

At 3.52 pm, we boarded the high speed train reaching Kaoshiung at 5.30 pm, a journey normally requiring approximately 5 hours by coach. After a quick dinner, we returned back to the hotel for packing.

Taiwan Trip @ Day 7 (DIY at Taipei) - Part 8

Day 7 has been designated for free and easy activities. We took MRT (paying for a full-day ride of NT$150) from the Longshan station to the Taipei City Hall station. We paid a short visit to the Taipei Discovery Centre before proceeding to Taiwan’s most popular landmark, the Taipei 101 tower which is currently regarded as the tallest building in the world.

From Taipei 101, we proceeded by MRT again to the Dansui station where we visited the Tamshui pier. There were plenty of stalls and shops selling a great varieties of products and food here and shopping spirit was hardly dampened by the drizzle.

We paid NT$100 for a short boat ride to the Tamshui Fisherman Wharf from the pier. We were so charmed by the view at the wharf which is very different from the rest in Taipei. Take a stroll on the bridge and you will be mesmerized by its romantic environment, an ideal spot for courting couples.

We finally ended our free and easy day at Ximending, famous for its shopping street which is accessible by MRT at the Ximen station. After dinner at the fast food corner (it never taste so good after so many days of having Chinese food for lunch and dinner), we walked back to the Shilin Hotel which was located just nearby.

Taiwan Trip @ Day 6 (Taichung-Taipei) - Part 7 (Cont'd)

We were subsequently brought to the Dou-Fu Street where we get to sample the various types of bean curd available for sale here.

Just before dinner, we were chauffeured to the Miramar shopping complex where we ascended to the rooftop to ride Taiwan’s tallest ferris wheel. Unaware there was launch of the movie ‘The Warlord’ at the ground floor, we were treated the chance of the life time to view fireworks display from the top of the ferris wheel. After our Mongolian dinner, we adjourned to Shilin Night Market before calling it a day.

Taiwan Trip @ Day 6 (Taichung-Taipei) - Part 7 (Cont'd)

After a short visit to the pearl showroom, we made our way to the 5-Dime restaurant in Taipei for lunch. The restaurant is the largest among a chain operating throughout Taiwan. The restaurant is sited within a building with unparallel design featuring an unusual entrance statement too. The interior is lush with unique decorations amid the many artistry items which are mostly the original work of its lady owner and each floor having its own themes. The plates and bowls are made of clay, heavy and is available for sale to interested collectors.

After lunch, we proceeded to the National Palace Museum which boasted a collection totaling 56,000 artifacts. At the courtyard, we were greeted by a group of the Fa-Lung-Gung practitioners who were protesting against China’s unfair treatment of their believe.

Taiwan Trip @ Day 6 (Taichung-Taipei) - Part 7

From Taichung, we made our way back to Taipei by coach in the morning of day 6. The journey took approximately 4 hours by expressway. Along the way, we visited the Shilin Official Residence which was the former home of the late President Chiang-Kai-Shek.

We then visited the Martyrs Shrine which is the famous destination among tourist where we were treated with the display of guards changing ceremony.

Taiwan Trip @ Day 5 (Kaoshiung-Tainan-Taichung) - Part 6 (Cont'd)

Finally upon reaching Taichung, we were brought to the Formosa Aboriginal Culture Village. This destination is the highlight of our entire trip as it featured a theme park which is the favourite of all the children in our tour group. While the children set off to the theme park for the rides, the adults went for a stroll from the top of the hill after a cable car ride.

Before we had our dinner, our coach stopped by the roadside where our guide introduced us to the ‘Pinang’ seed which a popular past time delicacy among the Taiwanese.

Finally, before our 5th day of the tour came to a close, we visited the Fengjia Night Market to sample the local delicacies.

Taiwan Trip @ Day 5 (Kaoshiung-Tainan-Taichung) - Day 6

On day 5 of our trip in Kaoshiung, we visited the Peacock Park followed by an introduction to the honey product at a showroom nearby.

At Tainan, we visited the Wen-Wu Temple.

The temple was flanked by the Sun-Moon Lake Scenic Area which derived its name because the southern part of the lake is shaped like a new moon while the northern side like a sun.

Taiwan Trip @ Day 4 (Taitung-Kaoshiung) - Part 5 (Cont'd)

Next we visited the Spring and Autumn Pavillions where we were greeted with 2 gigantic statues of Dragon and Tigers Pagodas.

We were then chauffeured to The British Consulate at Takao. It was built in 1865, a building with more than one hundred years of history. It is now the most preserved building with western value in Taiwan.

After dinner and a stroll at the Xinquejiang Night Market, we took a boat ride on the east and west coast to experience the romantic and charming sights of the Love River before returning back to the hotel for a good rest.

Taiwan Trip @ Day 4 (Taitung-Kaoshiung) - Part 5

We set off early in the morning of day 4 for Kaoshiung, Taiwan’s second largest city. We reached the Meinong Hakka Town. The idyllic landscape of Meinong has been the fertile ground for the Hakka culture. It featured Huo-Fang (the traditional Hakka 3-sided houses with a courtyard), tobacco barns, foods, history, delicate handicrafts, oil umbrellas, ceramic arts and flat rice noodles.

We also visited the Fokuoshan also known as the ‘Light of Buddha Mountain’ which is one of Taiwan’s largest temple complex and the island’s centre of Buddhist scholarship. Near the entrance, the tallest Buddha image in Taiwan stood majestically. At 32 metres high, it is surrounded by another 480 life-sized images of its disciples.

Taiwan Trip @ Day 3 (Hualien-Taitung) - Part 4 (Cont'd)

Our next stop was Sansiantai (Terrace of the 3 immortals). After a long walk to the beachfront, we come across a bridge shaped like the body of a dragon which connects the main island to a smaller island.

Finally, we reached our hotel for a well deserved rest but not until we took a good dip into the hotel's hotspring pool.

Taiwan Trip @ Day 3 (Hualien-Taitung) - Part 4

In the morning of 3rd day, we set off by coach for Taitung which is located at the east of the Taiwan Island. Along the way, we stop by for a visit to the Taroko Gorge National Park. Taroko is known for its sheer marble cliffs, deep gorges, winding tunnels and the Liwu River that flows through its craggy landscape.

Before we adjourned for lunch, we visited a showroom where we were given introduction to the nutrition of Ling-Tze.

After lunch, we took a stroll to the nearby factory that produces marble, a product where Hualien is famous for and then, adjourned next door to a jade showroom.

We continued with our coach ride but before reaching Taitung, we stopped at a rest area where we are shown the marker of the Tropic of Cancer which cut across the Taiwan Island.

Taiwan Trip @ Day 2 (Taipei-Hualien) - Part 3 (Cont'd)

The route to Hualien was treacherous. We traveled on coastal road which was hilly and winding with tight corners for several hours before arriving at Hualien. First, we visited the famous temple known as Nan-Tien-Gong which enshrines the Mah-Tsu Goddess.

Then we arrived at the Hualien Ami Culture Village where we were treated to the aboriginal cultural shows. For dinner, we had shuak-
shuak-kuo (also known as shabu-shabu in our context) before returning back to the hotel to have a good rest.