Taiwan - Day 3 - 23/01/2011 - Road to Allishan

Leave Taipei (THSR Taipei Main Station – No 3 BeiPing W Rd Taipei City)

Board a HSR train from Taipei HSR Station (Taipei Main Station) to Chiayi 嘉义HSR Station. Travel Time: About 1.5hours and cost NT970.

Reach THSR Chiayi Station and take the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) bus to TRA Chiayi Station (in downtown Chiayi). From Chiayi HSR Station > Chiayi TRA Station (In Downtown Chiayi) - Shuttle buses link Chiayi HSR Station (In Taibao City太保 市 ) to Chiayi TRA Station in downtown Chiayi. Fare: NT45: Travel Time: 30mins.

Note

The Chiayi Bus Station is located right next to the Chiayi Railway Station. A taxi ride from Chiayi Railway Station to Alishan Recreation Park Area costs about TWD1800-2000.

Reach Chiayi TRA Station (bus station is next to it!)

Uphill By Bus: Buses depart Chiayi Bus Station (Right side of Chiayi Railway Station) at 0610, 0810, 1210 & 1410hrs for Alishan. Fare: NT214. Travel Time: about 2.5hrs. There is an extra bus at 1010hrs on Sat, Sun & Public Holidays and makes a stop at Fenchihu 奋起湖 before proceeding to Alishan. But we cant make it to Fenchihu this time because the van will only go to this place when return from Allishan to Chiayi.

Along the way, we still able to see that the government still recover the road to Allishan.

When we almost reach the mountain top level, we manage to watch sakura flowers welcoming us to Allishan.

Taiwan - Taipei Day 2 - 22/01/2011 (YehLiu)

(Copy from the internet) Yeliu is a cape of about 1,700 meters long formed by Datun Mountain reaching into the sea. When overlooked from above, the place is like a giant turtle submerging into the sea. Thus, it is also called "Yeliu Turtle". Because the rock layer of seashore contains sandstone of limestone texture and it is subject to sea erosion, weathering and earth movements, there is particular scenery consisting of sea trenches/holes, candle shaped rocks, and pot shaped rocks.

The place is divided into three sections. The first section has rocks like Queen's Head, Fairy's Shoe and Candle. The second section has rocks like Bean Curd, Dragon Head. The third section has sea-eroded caves, seal shaped rock, etc. The place is suitable for geological study and field research. In addition, there is a statue of Lin Tien Jane in commemoration of the person's bravery of scarifying own live for saving others. The monument describes in details the touching story. There is a marine world in Yeliu. The marine world is the first marine center in the country for exhibition of ocean evolution. It has the best sightseeing tunnel under sea, showing about 200 rare fish species and marine lives.

The area of marine live specimen demonstrates many specimens of precious marine mammals and fish. It is very educational. There are excellent shows of whales, dolphins and seals, such as diving, ballet on water and other talent shows. There is a stadium with 3,500 seats. On holidays, the place attracts many visitors for the show. When you visit Yeliu, don't forget to visit sea world and feel the marine wanders.

Taiwan - Taipei Day 2 - 22/01/2011 (Xi Men Din)

The must try foods in Xi Men Di is Ah Zhong Mee Suan;-

It is he best mee suan even though the ingredient is simple but the process of making it is difficult and they use japanese fish flakes in making it.

Definitely will try it many more if have the chance to be there again.

Also, I have tried all the taiwanese sausage for all seven days here and this is the best one i even have... its located in small alley of Xi Men Ding, original wild pork sausage....

The duck shop, try the duck mat and mee.

Another temple near by Xi Mending (i think so la). This temple Tian Hou Gong has history back dated 350 years ago during the reign of Ching Long Emperor of Ching Dynasty.

Taiwan - Taipei Day 2 - 22/01/2011

Our plan for today should be as following location;-

Taipei– Yehliu – Keelung – Chiufen – Nanya (finish by 600pm)

We have agreed to use van service to fetch us for the whole day. It was much easier way to travel between each places. From Taipei to Yehliu, takes around 1 hours drive and from Yehliu to Chiufen also takes around 1 hours.

So, we depart from our hotel around 830am, after breakfast at soya place (nearby our hotel also).

The photo for Yehliu will be posted on next blog.

we took quite a long time to tor Yehliu from 1000am till noon 1pm, plus tour the rocky stone, shop local product like tea, sea products like seaweed, squid octopus etc.

Then, we reached Chiufen around 230pm and walk along the old street until 330pm. We have to leave the place on 330pm in order to reach Taipei before 400pm. (main reason because our driver "8-hours drive" will be end on 4pm and each extra hour will be charged NT400 or RM45 hourly).

Chiufen is famous with its yam ball sweet deserts, example;-

One more food that i sure miss is poppiah roll with ice-cream and peanut;-

The, we go back to hotel and have a quick refresh and head to XiMenDing

To reach here, take MRT to Ximen Station西门捷运站 > Exit 3 Ximenting whic will be Close around 1100pm. Few local or street foods not to be miss is;-

-Yang’s corn ice NT45

-Ah Zhong mee suan

- Braised pork NT10 onward

- ZhenDu star fruit ice NT40

- Hong Sao Beef Noodle (Taoyuan Jieh Niu Ro Mian)红烧牛肉面

Other recommended places are follows, but we are unable to locate the place. So, whoever managed to find this then good la...

- Modern Toilet便所餐厅(Close @ 2200hrs) Ximen Station西门捷运站 > Exit 6 -> There is a lane with lots of Tattoo shops near the Neoprint building (3 storeys with colorful Neon lights in the heart of XMD)> Walk through the lane > Cross the road at the end to a 7-11 store opposite a multi-storey car park > The restaurant is just in front of the two

- Jacky Wu's Desert Shop (The Sweet Dynasty)吴宗宪的店(糖潮) Zhongxiao Dunhua Station中孝敦化捷运站 > Exit 4 OR Zhongxiao Fuxing Station忠孝复兴捷运站 > Exit 5

StayReal旗舰店 Mayday – Ashin 阿信的店Zhongxiao Dunhua Station中孝敦化捷运站 > Exit 2 > 1st street turn left- Food St美食街or Zhongxiao Dunhua Station中孝敦化捷运站 > Exit 2 > Walk To 2nd Traffic Light > Cross The Road >Turn Left On Yanji St延吉街

Taiwan - Taipei Day 1 - 21/01/2011

We reached Taipei at 240pm (local time) and 3.30pm check in to our hostel. The hostel was located beside of the Taipei Main Station. So, it is very convenient to go any way in or our of Taipei. There are central bus terminal, connection of MRTs, High Speed Train and Taiwan Rail Train just in one place.

Since there was not much time and we have waste more than 1 hour just to wait our rooms, then we head to Raohe St Night Market for our quick dinner. Here are some famous foods in this night market;-

Some other must try foods in this market including Chen Medical Ribs/Lamb (NT60), Fuzhou pepper biscuit, crab leg's meat NT120 (for 350gm), Dongfai oyster mee NT50. Other in chinse words as follows;-

(in chinese 甘泉豆花, 东发蚵仔面线, 基隆庙口天妇罗, 台南东山鸭头, 十全药炖排骨,麻辣臭豆腐,河粉煎, 程班长牛肉面, 福州世祖胡椒饼, 陈董药炖排骨,古早豆花, 黄阿妈猪血糕)

After walk along the night market, we went to nearby market, more to whole sale market, Wu Fen Pu. Main item in this place is clothes, where you can find from top to bottom from outside to inside clothes for your body. However, there was nothing mush that we can buy because all clothes here is winter clothes and we are unable to use it in Malaysia. Thus, if you want to buy summer clothes, then come before, during or after summer time.

Before the day end, we managed to get to know this little cafe, Sparta Coffee. the best coffee does not need cost a fortune, just NT40 for the daily brewed coffee. The taste just like normal coffee but its simply than that, just coffee. Its location along the road back to Houpishan MRT station.

Dinner at Cafe-Cafe 31-12-2010

It was the last day of the year 2010 and we have decided to have the last dinner of the year at some place classic and chic restaurant. So we tried out this French cuisine at Cafe Cafe, located near to junction of Jalan Maharajalela, but it can not be seen from the road side as there are trees in front of the restaurant. It just at the corner of the building, beside of BSN Bank, same block with the famous Hokkien Mee.

The pricing over here can be considered middle to high price and some time (if in luck), you might meet some of local celebrities. The atmosphere here was very romantic, classic and is a good restaurant to have dinner with your loved one, for anniversary, for proposal (hehe J), special occasions and etc. Well, it is also good to be here with family and friends for dinner or lunch. I have the set menu, Gourmet 1, which cost RM79, two of my friend have this Gourmet 2 (RM99) (mainly because the Escargot, which I do not like to eat), and another have salad, penne and duck confit. So, we were give the bread & butter to start off our meal....

Wild mushroom soup

Special chef of the day

Lamb shank cooked in red wine with coriander seeds and orange

Cheese (with set menu)

Lemon tart/Chocolate tart

Baked escargot with butter and parsley

Baked Portobello with ricotta cheese

Duck confit with sauté potato served with du puy lentils and onion confit

Penne with bacon and mushroom in cream sauce

Wild rocket with parmigiano, pine nuts, pear and foie gras reduction

Beautiful letter written by a father to his son! This applies to daughters too. Use this in your teachings to your children.

The father wrote this to his son;-

I am writing this to you because of 3 reasons

1.Life, fortune and mishaps are unpredictable, nobody knows how long he lives. Some words are better said early.

2. I am your father, and if I don't tell you these, no one else will.

3. What is written is my own personal bitter experiences that perhaps could save you a lot of unnecessary heartaches.

Remember the following as you go through life;-

1. Do not bear grudge towards those who are not good to you. No one has the responsibility of treating you well, except your mother and I. To those who are good to you, you have to treasure it and be thankful, and ALSO you have to be cautious, because, everyone has a motive for every move. When a person is good to you, it does not mean he really likes you. You have to be careful, don't hastily regard him as a real friend.

2. No one is indispensable, nothing in the world that you must possess. Once you understand this idea, it would be easier for you to go through life when people around you don't want you anymore, or when you lose what/who you love most.

3. Life is short. When you waste your life today, tomorrow you would find that life is leaving you. The earlier you treasure your life, the better you enjoy life.

4. Love is but a transient feeling, and this feeling would fade with time and with one's mood. If your so called loved one leaves you, be patient, time will wash away your aches and sadness. Don't over exaggerate the beauty and sweetness of love, and don't over exaggerate the sadness of falling out of love.

5. A lot of successful people did not receive a good education, that does not mean that you can be successful by not studying hard! Whatever knowledge you gain is your weapon in life. One can go from rags to riches, but one has to start from some rags!

6. I do not expect you to financially support me when I am old, either would I financially support your whole life. My responsibility as a supporter ends when you are grown up. After that, you decide whether you want to travel in a public transport or in your limousine, whether rich or poor.

7. You honour your words, but don't expect others to be so. You can be good to people, but don't expect people to be good to you. If you don't understand this, you would end up with unnecessary troubles.

8. I have bought lotteries for umpteen years, but I never strike any prize. That shows if you want to be rich, you have to work hard! There is no free lunch!

9. No matter how much time I have with you, let's treasure the time we have together. We do not know if we would meet again in our next life.

Your Ever loving Dad.