We reached airport at around 10.30pm for our flight at 01.50am. Guess what we discovered… Our flight was delayed to 3.10am :(
China Airlines and its timeliness.
What to do? I planned to sleep till the time for the flight, but the rest were so excited that we stayed awake until the time of our flight.
Christmas @ Changi Airport
Sunday, 27 Dec 2009
We boarded at 3.10am and reached Taipei in the morning 7.30am. After some greetings to our local tour guide, we proceed to have our first buffet breakfast. The weather was alright at Taipei, just like the weather at Genting.
We continued with the tour to Shilin Official Residence, a beautiful garden full of flowers. Everyone was so into camwhoring for the next hour.
We boarded at 3.10am and reached Taipei in the morning 7.30am. After some greetings to our local tour guide, we proceed to have our first buffet breakfast. The weather was alright at Taipei, just like the weather at Genting.
We continued with the tour to Shilin Official Residence, a beautiful garden full of flowers. Everyone was so into camwhoring for the next hour.
Next location was Chuifen, which is famous for the food. We have at least 5 different foods in an hour time. That marked the end of our day in Taipei. We took train for the next 3 hours to Hua Lien and proceed for dinner and fireworks fun before going to Hotel.
Chiu Fen and the food
Chiu Fen and the food
As the night was still young, we went out after a shower, to the night life in Hua Lien. We had the best food bargain of the day, 40 dumplings for TWD 160. That is less than SGD 8. The taste is comparable to the much more expensive dumplings here, tasty and juicy :D
4 baskets of tummy-warming food for TWD 160
Monday, 28 Dec 2009
First thing in the morning after breakfast is the Hua Lien’s most famous attraction: Tarako Gorge. The scenery made the 3 hours train ride worthwhile. We had the starbucks-comparable price coffee at the area too, which was supposed to be better than the normal coffee because it was made from the mountain fresh water. I can’t make out the difference… but it’s good enough to warm us up.
4 baskets of tummy-warming food for TWD 160
Monday, 28 Dec 2009
First thing in the morning after breakfast is the Hua Lien’s most famous attraction: Tarako Gorge. The scenery made the 3 hours train ride worthwhile. We had the starbucks-comparable price coffee at the area too, which was supposed to be better than the normal coffee because it was made from the mountain fresh water. I can’t make out the difference… but it’s good enough to warm us up.
Wonderful scenary @ Taroko Gorge
After lunch, we left Hua Lien and go to Taitung, where we were placed at the 5 stars hotel and served a really nice dinner where we finished almost everything except the rice. We spent the rest of the day in the hotel playing pools, enjoying hot spring, and participating in the cultural performance.
Wait, that wasn’t the end. At around 12, we were hungry and hence wandered in the road looking for supper. We ended up having instant noodle in the 7 eleven.
Mid night Supper @ 7 Eleven
Tuesday, 29 Dec 2009
Next morning, we went to a beach which was famous because of the filming of Cape No 7. the sun was burning and we can survive only around 15 minutes there before carrying on to Maobitou Rocky Seashore park. Nothing much special there, except the local delicacy of flying fish. We didn’t eat much as it was after a huge lunch.
@ Cape No 7
Next morning, we went to a beach which was famous because of the filming of Cape No 7. the sun was burning and we can survive only around 15 minutes there before carrying on to Maobitou Rocky Seashore park. Nothing much special there, except the local delicacy of flying fish. We didn’t eat much as it was after a huge lunch.
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Ok, to be honest, I can’t really remember all the places we have been through. There are lots of sightseeing places, lots of temples, lots of night markets. Not knowing Chinese language was really a hindrance there. Not only you’re not able to understand what the tour guide said, you can’t order the food you want properly because they understand but Chinese. Thanks to Ryoma, our best translator, we can still order the well-known food around that area.
Ok, to be honest, I can’t really remember all the places we have been through. There are lots of sightseeing places, lots of temples, lots of night markets. Not knowing Chinese language was really a hindrance there. Not only you’re not able to understand what the tour guide said, you can’t order the food you want properly because they understand but Chinese. Thanks to Ryoma, our best translator, we can still order the well-known food around that area.
Between Dragon and Tiger, there are Rabbits =D
Buddhist Holly Land, Fo Guang Shan
Night markets are really famous in Taiwan. They are always so crowded that we can barely stop walking without being pushed around. In contradiction, the malls are almost empty. All the food courts and restaurants have almost zero customers when we visited the malls on Saturday. Unbelievable.
Leo Ho Night Market
The food there are awesome. Out from 1800 pics I took, I am sure that at least 800 of them are photos of foods. You can guess how much we have eaten there. I didn't post it here as I can't pick which to post. And God, my worries came true. I gained at least 5kg from Taiwan. My daily activities was sleeping, taking pics, and eating. I will not be surprised if I can’t wear my office outfit tomorrow T_T
If I get the chance of visiting Taiwan one more time, I will book a 2 weeks holiday, plan my own itinerary, and go around spring / autumn :) Before that, I will have to polish some of my Chinese.
For now, I need to cure my flu and cough T_T
Night markets are really famous in Taiwan. They are always so crowded that we can barely stop walking without being pushed around. In contradiction, the malls are almost empty. All the food courts and restaurants have almost zero customers when we visited the malls on Saturday. Unbelievable.
Leo Ho Night Market
The food there are awesome. Out from 1800 pics I took, I am sure that at least 800 of them are photos of foods. You can guess how much we have eaten there. I didn't post it here as I can't pick which to post. And God, my worries came true. I gained at least 5kg from Taiwan. My daily activities was sleeping, taking pics, and eating. I will not be surprised if I can’t wear my office outfit tomorrow T_T
On the New Year Eve itself, we're so overloaded that we just spent our night at Royal Hsinchu hotel playing poker and watching fireworks from TV. We decided to sleep after few players KO-ed and slept while playing.
Anyway, few points to be noted. Taiwan is fun. What lacking for me was the time to really appreciate all the places as we’re bounded to the itinerary. Plus some of the places are not reachable due to the weather condition (Alishan!) Plus it was raining and foggy most of the time which affect the scenery (Taipei 101!)
The bonus I got from Taiwan was the chance to meet my hometown friend – Pin, my witchy relative – Chin, and Taiwan’s President – Mr. Mao!! Hahaha..
Thanks Guys for spending all the time to find me among Ximending's crowd
Anyway, few points to be noted. Taiwan is fun. What lacking for me was the time to really appreciate all the places as we’re bounded to the itinerary. Plus some of the places are not reachable due to the weather condition (Alishan!) Plus it was raining and foggy most of the time which affect the scenery (Taipei 101!)
The bonus I got from Taiwan was the chance to meet my hometown friend – Pin, my witchy relative – Chin, and Taiwan’s President – Mr. Mao!! Hahaha..
Thanks Guys for spending all the time to find me among Ximending's crowd
If I get the chance of visiting Taiwan one more time, I will book a 2 weeks holiday, plan my own itinerary, and go around spring / autumn :) Before that, I will have to polish some of my Chinese.
For now, I need to cure my flu and cough T_T
ED
