Saturday, January 06, 2007

7 days in Taiwan

This 7 days Taiwan trip wasn't really good actually, partly because I wasn't feeling well the last 2 days of the trip I guess. Another factor might be the long hours on the bus. YES! HOURS! Sit the bus until damn tiring and bored.

Day 1: Singapore to Taipei (30th Dec 2006)
After arriving at the Taipei and meeting up with our tour guide, we were told that we would be going to the hotspring first instead of tomorrow. The tour guide said we had to go in either totally naked or in swimming gears. Oops, we didn't bring ours, so we got to buy towels, trunks for my brother and I, and swimming costume for our mother. Initally we were considering whether to buy or not, coz back home already have the gears already mah. But its worth the money, coz the hot spring spa is fantastic. We had mala streamboat for dinner and visit the shilin night market. Didn't really eat much since we had streamboat not long ago only. This was also a change in the itinerary. Dunno whether is it only for Dynasty travel tours that itinerary keep changing, or izzit if join other tours like Chan Brothers, things would be different. Anyway, this is the first time we try Dynasty. Previously we went on Chan Brother tours when we went to tazmania in Australia. So although we saw the famous Taiwan "ji-pie" (chicken chop), we didnt buy because of the long queue and also because we were still very full.

At the hotspring

Shilin night market

Day 2: Taipei to Hualien (31th Dec 2006)
This Morning, we were brought to CKS memorial, followed by Chuifen (sounds like 9 shit in chinese). Bought and ate stuff that looks and taste like the mua-ji we had in Singapore. After that, we rushed to railway station to catch a train to hualien. The train trip took about 3 to 4 hours. Couldn't remember how long also already. When we reached hualien, its already night time already. We had dinner at a seafood restaurant and check-in to our hotel. That night was the last night of 2006. So stay in the hotel to watch the new year countdown show on tv.
CKS Memorial


Chuifen

Day 3: Hualien to Kaohsiung (1st Jan 2007)
Woke up very early and made our way to one of the natural wonders of the world - the Taroko Gorge. Its a mountain range made up of marble stone. Took some nice pics there. Then we made our way to Kaohsiung. On the way, we stopped by at the marble factory. Long bus trip to Kaohsiung. Free and easy dinner at Leo Ho night market. Tried their famous papaya milk shake, smelly tofu, and some others.


Taroko Gorge

Day 4: Kaohsiung to Taichung (2nd Jan 2007)
Just went to Janfusan Fancy World, a theme park with roller coaster and other rides. The park looks deserted coz its the first day of school. (taiwan got no hari raya). Then visited some temple and the Taichung Night market.

Day 5: Taichung to Taipei (3rd Jan 2007)
Have fun plucking tomatoes, green pepper at the leisure farm in the morning then back to taipei to visit the world tallest building - Taipei 101. Really very tall leh. The top part were covered by clouds so we could bearly see the whole building.

Day 6: Taipei (4th Jan 2007)
Taipei city sight-seeing - National Palace museum and other places. Not really interesting. Then at night we went Xi Men Ding. Ate the famous mee-suan over there. not bad.

Day 7: Taipei to Singapore (5th Jan 2007)
Before going to airport, we visited the pearl farm. Then home sweet home.


Ok thats about all. I kinda of rush thru the last few days of the trip coz its not really interesting, especially when I had a upset stomach. Didn't eat much also. Anyway, just a word of advice, if anyone wants to visit Taiwan. Please join a free and easy tour. Group tour really sucks. Wake up early everyday, on the bus most of the time, no enough time to enjoy each places we were brought to.
So I didn't really enjoy my trip lah. I went on the trip to accompany my mother anyway.

Friday, January 05, 2007

HAPPY 2007!

First of all, I like to wish my family, all relatives and friends a very happy 2007! Just came back from Taiwan not long ago. The trip was so-so only lah, I feel. But I must say Taiwai girls are really cute. Especially their sweet voices haha.

I will blog more about the trip in later posts I guess. Not in the tip-top condition at the moment.