Taiwan 4-19/10/11
My first blog in my whole life. Firstly, tribute goes to n_rider, if not due to his blog, I won't even dare to visit Taiwan on my own. Thanks Dan Han & TaiwanFan and other forummers in tripadvisor.com forum, for the help, advice, motivation, guide etc that you rendered to me. Really appreciated it.
A very big THANK YOU goes to Ronald who helped arranged & recommended the private guide/driver, planned the itinerary, suggested places to visit, hotel and duration to stay, even the places to do the laundry, follow up with phone calls and emails, etc. Thanks alot brother, without your help, I won't be in Taiwan.
As suggested by yhfoo, I will list down day and area for easy reference.
Day 01 - Singapore to Taoyuan
Day 02 - Taoyuan to Miaoli
Day 03 - Miaoli to Taichung, Hehuanshan, SML
Day 04 - SML
Day 05 - SML to Alishan
Day 06 - Alishan to Tainan, Kaoshiung
Day 07 - Kaoshiung
Day 08 - Kaoshiung to Kenting
Day 09 - Kenting
Day 10 - Kenting to Taitung, Hualien
Day 11 - Hualien to Taroko, Yilan
Day 12 - Yilan to Jinguashi, Jiufen, Taipei
Day 13 - Taipei
Day 14 - Taipei
Day 15 - Taipei
Day 16 - Taoyuan to Singapore
Day 1 - 4/10 To those flying with Jetstar, pay attention to their hand carry luggage regulation. They're very strict for the 10kgs limit and the size. Endup I need to pay S$60 for two bags due to weight and size.
Due to midnight hungry and no choice, forced to paid S$11 for this 'nice taste' food.
Flight landed at Taoyuan Airport around 2345hrs. I need to wait till tomorrow morning before meet with private driver/guide. Terminal 1 really run down, not even comfortable sitting places, so I took free second last shuttle bus to Terminal 2. Skytrain service between terminals ended at midnight.
Day 2 - 5/10
Enjoy the comfortable of Terminal 2 waiting area. 7-11 open 24 hrs. Thanks to Ronald for this wonderful idea.
If you need to buy prepaid SIM card, the earliest open counter at 0700hrs at level 3 opposite departure hall. I bought Chunghwa SIM card at NT300. Be prepare to let them copy your passport and another ID card.
Private guide Mr Lu Tzu Shen fetched me at 0720hrs to start our whole Taiwan journey. Further info about him, take a look at the end of day 13.
Rest over at Guanxi highway stop after two hours journey from Taoyuan airport.
By afternoon, reached this place 'train minsu' Baishatun, Miaoli. I'm not very sure about the place name, someone can help? It's train coach converted became rooms. I came to know this place through Ch8 Mediacorp reality show about the hosts travelling around Taiwan by train. Thanks also goes to this blog:
http://blog.udn.com/vincent1070/3264098
NTD2500 per room per night for two paxs included breakfast & dinner.
Since that I'm going out for dinner outside later, they replaced it with below lunch set. Taste not bad.
The very nice and friendly owner, Mr Luo
After lunch, went to Flying Cow Ranch.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g616038-d1986864-Reviews-Miaoli_Flying_Cow_Ranch-Miaoli.html
Dinner at the restaurant, the vegetable steamboat cost NTD280. Taste good and considered big portion for small eather.
Day 3 - 6/10
Sight seeing at beach outside 'train minsu' and Miaoli small town before check out. A very sleepy town beside the beach. Thanks Mr Luo for free used of your bike.
On the way to Taichung to visit train station, to view the 'toilet seat at waiting area' as in the Ch8 show but can't find it. Even the staffs at train station didn't know about that. Wrong info or am I at the wrong station? Anyone can help?
Lunch at Bolly Wood Indian Restaurant, 166-73, Sec 3 Xi Tun Rd, Taichung. Halal restaurant. The nasi beriani cost NTD400, naan between NTD50-120 depending on the flavour, juice NTD120. For three paxs, the bill came out NTD1200. Perfect taste for me.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g297910-d2375192-Reviews-Bolly_wood_indian_restaurant-Taichung.html
Continue the journey heading to Hehuanshan
You need a very experience driver to navigate this type of driving road condition.
The top of the Taiwan, 3275M above sea level, temperature roughly 14 degree and definately you need a wind breaker or at least jacket.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g304160-d490846-Reviews-Hehuan_Mountain_Hehuanshan-Nantou.html
On the way down from mountain top, came across wedding photo taking session.
Reached Cingjing area around 1800hrs, too late and dark to visit any places.
Xiu Shni Holiday Inn (www.sunflog1.com.tw) located roughly 10 minutes drive to SunMoonLake area. NTD2200.
Day 4 - 7/10
Breakfast at hotel
Hotel view
After breakfast at hotel, travelled to Sun Moon Lake for whole day tour.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g304160-d490844-Reviews-or20-Sun_Moon_Lake-Nantou.html#REVIEWS
Boat ride cost NTD300 for return ride.
After 15 minutes boat ride, reached the first pier, Ita Thao
It's around 1000hrs, too early for the shops to start their business for the day, so just walked around for photos shooting.
Second pier Syuanguang
Bought three cd sold by those aborigine singer at NTD500. Last picture for the day, those eggs selling at NTD10 each. Very nice.
Board the boat back to mainland.
Peacock Garden, free entrance.
Cable car ride entrance fee NTD250.
Short distance away, went back to first pier Ita Thao that visited in the morning.
Bought few T shirts, priced between NTD250-300.
Before going back to hotel, dinner at this place. The chicken soup quite bad to the extend my tour guide rejected it, the chicken too hard. Left with two type of vegetables and small portion of fried chilies prawn and white rice, total cost NTD400.
Day 5 - 8/10
Travel from Sun Moon Lake to Alishan.
At this roadside, they're selling grapes from nearby farm. They measured in 'kati' instead of 'kg'. Roughly RM15 per kg and the taste difference compared to those I bought from Carrefour/Giant at around RM9 per kg.
Further up, this place selling souveniers and candies those sour plum type. Sorry, no pictures inside the shop, they don't allowed it.
Continue our journey. Look at the road condition, then you should know and understood the reason why travelling from one place to another place will take longer time.
After 70 minutes drive, reached this place, the 'husband & wife tree'.
Toilet break.
Came across this helicopter parked at the roadside, look like for construction use.
6 minutes drive further, at the roadside, saw lot of monkeys. Very brave and never afraid of human. Tour guide warned not to wind down window, otherwise the monkeys will jump inside and ransack your belonging.
After 30 minutes drive, the 'big tree'. Sorry, can't produce perfect picture due to cheap point & shoot camera. Planning to upgrade but due to lack of skill, maybe just wait first. Any sponsorship for DSLR please PM for detail, hahaha.
Check in at Alishan minsu (http://szl.emmm.tw). Price NTD2800 due to weekend and Taiwan national day holiday. Can't remember what is their normal rate for this 'cute' room. No aircond provided but you don't need it when temperature at day time around 18 degree and at night around 13 degree. I joked with tour guide, is there any shop selling aircondition unit here? He laughed at me and said, you better open shop selling heater will be better.
Lunch at the shop same row with the minsu. Three persons cost NTD800. Taste good.
Around 1500hrs, start our walking tour for the mountain. It need roughly three hours and due to bad weather and getting dark, some pictures didn't turn out quite good.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1433864-d578643-Reviews-or20-Ali_Mountain_Alishan-Chiayi_County.html#REVIEWS
Dinner nearby at the minsu. A bowl of noddle cost NTD80. Big portion and taste not bad.
Guess how much this keychain cost? NTD1000. I bought same pattern in Bangkok for six packs of this at THB1000.
Day 6 - 9/10
Sight seeing at suspended service Alishan railway station in the morning
Breakfast
Continue our journey, with same road condition again
After one and half hour drive, reached Chukou, with a ceremony at the temple and the bridge nearby.
After an hour drive, welcome to Tainan city. Visited few places in town.
Late simple lunch around 1430hrs before continue our journey, cost NTD200. Fair taste.
45 minutes drive, enjoy the seaview stop.
After 15 minutes drive, visited this place, nearby fisherman whaft market. I don't fancy market food, so it's just walk and see only.
Nearby, Lovers Whaft Jiading. Big place but nothing interesting.
Reached Kindness Hotel, No.30 Tongai Street, Kaohsiung. NTD2200. Highly recommended. NTD2200. Check my review:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g297908-d2313485-Reviews-Kindness_Hotel_Qixian-Kaohsiung.html
Day 7 - 10/10 - Happy National Day Taiwan, after breakfast, tour Kaoshiung
Kaoshiung town centre
Chingjing Lake, you need at least three hours to cover whole area.
Warung Sate Muslim, 13 Jianjun Rd, Lingya District, Kaohsiung City. Recommended in tour book about Taiwan halal food. Managed by Muslim Indonesian selling sate. Sadly, they don't sell satay that day. Reason, they haven't order from supplier. Endup ordered white rice with few dishes. Taste, I can't even give one out of five stars.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g297908-d2375193-Reviews-Warung_Sate_Muslim-Kaohsiung.html
Is this the Kaoshiung Love Wharf?
Temples on the lake.
Finally, Liouhe night market in Kaoshiung town. As usual, just walk and see only.
Day 8 - 11/10
Breakfast
Goodbye Kindness Hotel, hopefully we can meet again.
On the way to Kenting, raining.
Pitstop after one and half hour drive, this time to test drive '4 wheels beach bike'. Cost of the ride, NTD350 for 20 minutes. Worth it, give it a try. Price depend on size and riding time.
Another half an hour drive, reached Aquarium. Entrance fee NTD450. Suitable for family trip and need at least four hours tour.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g297909-d663695-r119995853-National_Museum_of_Marine_Biology_and_Aquarium-Pingtung.html
20 minutes drive from Aquarium, another beachside stop for sight seeing.
Nearby, the famous Maobitou
Check in at Kenting Xingji Hotel. NTD2200.
Kenting night market at main road side.
Dinner at Thai restaurant. A plate of seafood fried rice and two plates of seafood 'char kuey teow' cost NTD580. Too oily maybe due to Thai style. Not bad and worth to give it another try.
Day 9 - 12/10
Maps pasted outside the room at the minsu.
A very simple vegetarian breakfast.
15 minutes drive from Kenting small town, reached this place, East Gate.
Chuhuo Scenic Area, you can see the fire coming out from the soil. Not even the heavy rain can make the fire died.
Anyone can help me with the name of this bridge? Thanks. It's 15 minutes drive from Chuhuo. Entrance fee NTD10.
20 minutes drive from the 'bridge' reach this place. Entrance fee NTD80 included small bus ride.
This souvenier cost around NTD200-350 each depending on the size. After half hour bargain, tour guide managed to slow talk with that auntie, endup I bought eight of them at the price of NTD1550 with three mineral bottles free gift.
Lunch outside the main entrance. The meal cost NTD1200. Perfect taste and I can give four out of five stars rating. Tour guide said, seafood pricing here cheaper compare to Kenting town.
Sight seeing at beach side after lunch. First stop, Fongchuisha. Meaning 'the wind blow the sand'? Please correct me if I'm wrong with the translation. Thanks.
Longpan Park & Sker Sker Sker Sker. My mind totally blank when I saw the name.
Eluanbi
Shadao
Back to Kenting town, took bicycle to continue our nearby sight seeing.
Dinner cost NTD900.
Day 10 - 13/10
Breakfast at McDonald.
After one and half hour drive, pitstop for toilet break. Those souvenier selling at NTD100 for three pieces. Took twelve of them and paid NTD300.
Enjoy the mountain and seaside view.
Just to test the TRA service, stop at this small station, planning to take train from here to Taitung, but unfortunately, the schedule can't match with our journey. So, continue our drive.
Reached Fugang. Is this the place that we can take ferry to Green Island?
Lunch nearby Fuqang Fishery Port. Very friendly and cheerful lady owner. Cost NTD1500. Taste very good.
Continue our journey and reached Xiaoyeliu. Weather too hot so just walk and see around garden area only.
奇观-水往上流 in Taitung, 位於花東海岸公路舊道路，都蘭村的漁橋附近，由都蘭南行1.8公里，於公路右側即可望見。
Unusual sight - Water flow upstream. Located in Taitung, along Hua-Dong Coastal Road Old Road, nearby fishing bridge in Dou-Lan village. Can be reached via left side of the public road by walking 1.8 km from Dou-Lan village.
(Thanks to 'TaiwanFan' for above info)
Sansiantai 8 bridges.
Shihyusan for seaside sight seeing.
Bashian Cave
Welcome to Hualien County.
Pink Bridge?
Finally, reached Bayview Hotel, Hualien. The room cost NTD2900. Thanks again to Juan Lin who allowed me to change the booking date roughly 29 hours before checkin date due to bad weather. Highly recommended. Check my review:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g297907-d1599486-Reviews-Hotel_Bayview-Hualien.html
Day 11 - 14/10
Chisingtan beach outside Bayview Hotel, they providing free bicycle for riding around hotel and beach area.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g297907-d550448-Reviews-or10-Chishingtan_Beach-Hualien.html#REVIEWS
Guess who is he?
Breakfast at Bayview Hotel
Goodbye Bayview Hotel, wish we will meet again next time.
Welcome to famous Taroko Gorge.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g297907-d1380021-Reviews-or60-Taroko_Gorge-Hualien.html#REVIEWS
Salute to this young lady, riding 50cc small bike travelling across Taiwan, currently on her 22nd days
The end of Taroko Gorge sight seeing around 1430hrs, rain started then continue journey to Yilan took around three hours, the most non-comfortable road condition. Dinner at Toucheng town. Two bowl of noddles and one plate of fried rice and some vegetable cost NTD290. Not bad taste, maybe due to hungry because we skipped lunch at Taroko Gorge earlier.
Checked in at 'mountain & sea', NTD1800. http://www.ete.com.tw/ms/
Day 12 - 15/10
Toucheng beach in the early morning.
This uncle came all the way from Taipei by train just for fishing trip.
Breakfast, a very big portion.
Goodbye 'mountain & sea'.
Turtle Island, my next destination for Taiwan Island, maybe next year in April.
Fulong
Bitou Cape & Longdong
Nanya Rock fantasy area.
You can't be a real chinese if you don't gamble, no matter where you're. A group of tourists at the rest area playing game. Any idea what game is this?
Golden Waterfall.
Jinguashi, too bad due to raining, didn't fully enjoy this sight seeing.
The famous Jiufen, the most uncomfortable places to walk around due to too crowded maybe due to Saturday, and with raining, NTD100 per hour for parking, said goodbye to this place after less than an hour, bought four cute keychains for NTD100.
Lunch at this small town. Cost NTD720. Taste fair.
Reached Wufenfu shopping in Taipei.
Check in Yo Mi Hotel and very bad experience with them. Booked 3 weeks in advance, checked in earlier one day, at first they tried to charge NTD700 extra for weekend rate but finally they allowed reduced rate. They gave different room and changed the room again after complaint. Both rooms totally different compared to those on their website. After heated argument, they swiped back my credit card to void the earlier transaction.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g293913-d1372927-r119571668-Yo_Mi_Hotel-Taipei.html
Check in Shin Shih Hotel nearby. Very good services provided by them. They even allowed me to view the room first before check in. Room rate first night NTD2080, second & third night NTD2180.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293913-d582018-Reviews-Shin_Shih_Hotel-Taipei.html
Day 13 - 16/10
A very limited choice of breakfast.
On the way to Yehliu
Yehliu Geopark. Entrance fee NTD50.
Price between NTD350-500. Almost double from what I paid at Kenting.
Lunch. Tour guide almost turn the table upside down this time. Reason? They used 'died' prawn. Normally, prawn will be fried with skin but this is not the case. Rejected and the restaurant owner showed sour face.
Marine park entrance.
Stop by at few places on the way back to Taipei town
Baisha Bay
Boatride cost NTD250 with special offer at late evening NTD100, with sunset view.
Dinner at Ali Baba's Indian Kitchen, 2F 56, Nanjing East Rd, Taipei City. NTD1216 but I prefer the Bolly Wood Restaurant at Taichung.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293913-d2375191-Reviews-Ali_baba_s_indian_kitchen-Taipei.html
The end of 12 days private tour guide/driver with Mr Lu Tzu Shen. If you need someone that you can depend on your holiday,
Taipei 101 Entrance fee NTD400. You won't considered visited Taiwan if you didn't visit this place.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g293913-d552573-r119891274-Taipei_101-Taipei.html
Last day before fly home, purposely going to Taipei Main Station to take a ride in their 'bullet train' HSR to Taoyuan and come back for short trip. Came across this place to keep your luggage. Beware of the size and timing limit.
Trip from Taipei Main Station to Taoyuan will cost NTD160 for 19 minutes ride.
To those flying from terminal 1 after 2300hrs, if you're hungry then so sorry, all shops closed. Be prepare.
Hey!! Nice Blog
ReplyDelete1)You come all the way to Taiwan and ate "Indian" Food??We normally eat Indian food on a Sunday where most Indian joints here have a Buffet about NTD399/- plus soft drink.
2)Good to know that overnighting is okay at the Airport Terminal 2 with the 7/11 open 24hrs.
Thanks Nuttyazn
ReplyDeletenot purposely but just give it a try. don't know about the buffet, should give it a try next time. NTD399 is a fair price based to the two shops menu in Taipei and Taichung. definately airport terminal 2 alot better.
Hi Daniel,
ReplyDeleteCan you advice how much did Mr Lu charge for the whole trip?
thanks
Angie
Hi Angie,
ReplyDeleteit's not proper for me to disclose about the pricing in here. based to what i understood, pricing will depend on tour area, nos of paxs, duration etc. if you're interested to hire Mr Lu for your trip, kindly email him (in mandarin pls) and discuss privately. it's more proper in that way. thanks and regards, daniel
Wonderful memories of your 16 days trip in Taiwan, Daniel.
ReplyDeleteAnd great photography too!
I'll be glad to feature your 16-day Taiwan tour in my Taiwan travel website.
Shall we exchange links?
Thanks. :-)
Hi TAlive,
ReplyDeletethanks. sure. email me at prelude66xx@yahoo.com
regards, daniel
What is the luggage size limit at the Taipei Main Station? Overnight service? How much is it?
ReplyDeleteIs the bag deposit located here?
ReplyDeletehttp://crazy_azn1.tripod.com/taiwan/id32.html
Hon Chun Loh,
ReplyDeletethe photo i posted about the luggage is located at taipei main station and not at the place that you posted the link. sorry, i didn't read thru the signage detail about the timing limit and charges.
regards,
Hi, may i know how did you contact the train minsu owner to book the room? is by email or call?
ReplyDeletei gave the below link to Mr Lu and he booked the room for me.
Deletehttp://blog.udn.com/vincent1070/3264098
Hi Daniel!
ReplyDeleteU hv a nice blog! Can you roughly remember how long is the car journey from train minsu to flying cow? Is flying cow farm worth a visit?
roughly 30-40 mins leisure drive. worth or not, it will depend on your liking. for kids, definately they will enjoy it, feeding the cows and goats etc.
DeleteHi Daniel,
DeleteIt's me again! Just wanna check if there's any night market or anywhere to walk around at night during your stay at the train minsu?
Hi Nana,
Deletesorry for late reply, just came back from bali. i didn't visit any night market at miaoli. the train minsu located at the beachside and very quiet place. the owner of minsu let me used his bike on the day time to visit nearby places. i think it's not really walkable to the nearby town. sorry can't help you much about this.
hi can u send me ur itinerary and share with me mr lu driver contact and his email?
ReplyDeletethank you! shumei89@yahoo.com.sg
hi shumei. i don't have any fixed itinerary. take a look at my blog, the beginning of it, it's my unofficial(lol) itinerary and detail about mr lu, you can find it at end of day 13. hopefully it will help you. regards.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Daniel,
ReplyDeleteIt is a good and enjoyable itinerary in Taiwan.Awesome!!
In the end of the day, how much you have spent for the trip each person?Just roughly expenses excluded flight ticket and souvenirs. I also noted that you are from Malaysia, therefore would you kindly state in RM.However, if you forget already, is ok.^^
The Minshu you stayed not bad especially the train room.Love it so much and I will try to find it out~^^
Thank you for your sharing~
Hi Chris,
Deletethanks also must goes to other members in tripadvisor taiwan forum that helped me alot with info, guide, advice, motivation etc for the taiwan trip. thanks to personal friend ronald whose arranged private tour guide/driver for our trip. without them, definately i won't be there last year. if you want detail breakdown expenses, kindly email me at prelude66xx@yahoo.com
regards,
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Daniel,
ReplyDeleteI am planning to go to taiwan for a free and easy trip with my friend this march/apr. Am really interested in staying at the train-motel. Will you be so kind to advise me as to its rates and directions to the place?? We do not have a car so will it be v tough to reach it?? Thank you so much for your help!!(:
hi can i have the taiwan driver and private tour guide phone number?
ReplyDeleteMay I know the info regarding the driver you hired and how much is per day?
ReplyDelete