Last Day In Amazing Taiwan~

The second and last day my family and I were in Taiwan, we spent it free and easy. As Mr and Mrs Huang had recommended us to, we rented bicycles from a nearby shop and cycled around Hua Lien leisurely, experiencing local life and tasting local food.

It drizzled slightly while we were cycling, so we stopped at a restaurant to have lunch. As always, the food was great, just like the other meals had been. This shop was called Wen Zhou Da Hun Tun, and its specialty was their dumplings, which were generously stuffed with pork and different kinds of vegetables.

After the meal, the rain had stopped and the four of us --my parents, my brother and I -- cycled back to the family home to pack up. We quickly packed, and we checked-out of Mei Li Chen Xi family home. Mr Huang even personally sent us off to the railway station! We took the four o'clock train back to Taipei. We then took our flight back to Singapore~

Apparently we ate quite well throughout our trip in Taiwan, eating our fill each meal and being served delicious food each time. Transport-wise was also rather efficient, though we could not really figure out how to take the public bus and always ended up taking a taxi. The MRT was very efficient though, and so was the train to Hua Lien.

On the whole, I really enjoyed my trip to Taiwan and would want to come back here. Our trip here was rather short, so we did not get to see many attractions that Taipei and Hua Lien has, such as the Taipei 101. I heard that the view from the top is really breathtaking, and I would really want to see it for myself one day!

Taroko Gorge

Taroko Gorge, also known as Tai Ru Ge in Chinese, like Yang Ming Shan, it is one of the national parks in Taiwan. The word "taroko" means magnificent and beautiful in Truku, the language of the local tribe in the past. The leader of the tribe cried out "taroko" when he saw the Taroko Gorge and thus the name was given to this magnificent landmark.

There are many sights in Taroko Gorge, like the Swallo Grotto and Bu Lou Wan, Swallow Grotto being the most famous among all of the sights. Each sights has spectacular views of the hills and rocky cliffs of Taroko Gorge.

               My brother standing at the bank of the Shakadang River 

There are also trails which visitors can take, walking on a narrow path built above the Shakadang River and Liwu River. Mr Li dropped us off the the start of the trail, from which we could see the Liwu River. We walked for about half an hour before turning back, for the trail was an estimated 3 hour long walk.

                                  The Liwu River 

                 My mother and I stanting on the suspension footbridge over the Liwu River 
Mr Li then took us to the Swallow Grotto, where we could also see Shakadang River from a much greater height. We walked along the pathway, stopping once in a while to enjoy the beautiful scenery, which we cannot get to enjoy in Singapore, unfortunately. Our camera chose to fail on us of all times, and we did not get to take many pictures of Taroko Gorge.

Qi Xing Tan

My family and I stayed at Mei Li Chen Xi family home during our short three-day stay in  Hua Lien. Traditionally, family homes came about when the owner of the house had and extra room, he would rent it out to tourists to stay in them, and he would charge the tourists a fee. Unlike most other family homes, Mei Li Chen Xi family home was different. The whole building was meant for the guests, and the owners of the home, Mr and Mrs Huang, lived in a separate place. Although they did not live here, Mr and Mrs Huang came over quite a times to check and ensure that we are comfortable. Also, unlike other family homes, Mei Li Chen Xi family home included breakfast and they also had a driver cum tour guide to bring us around, Mr Li.

                              Mei Li Chen Xi family home

                                   Our room! 

Mr Li is really nice and kind, took the effort to plan the route we were going to go to. First, he brought us to Qi Xing Tan. It is actually Hua Lien's beach!

Located about 20 minutes drive away from the county's center, Qi Xing Tan is a quiet strip of pebbles where one can experience peaceful bliss, away from any man-made noise, surrounded by nothing but nature.  The seemingly endless sea looked calm and serene, and thin strips of fluffy white clouds were driven by a slight zephyr. I felt wholesomely relaxed as I watched the waves crash onto the shore. A totally white pebble caught my eye. Warmed by the sun's rays, it felt warm in my hand when I picked it up. A group of children jumped around in the shallow water a distance away. There was a tangy smell of salt in the air and a lone seagull circled in the air, high above our heads. The water was cool against my skin as I dipped my toes into the bluish green waters.

Unfortunately, my family and I had to leave Qi Xing Tan after about an hour or so as we were going to have dinner at a restaurant that Mr Li had recommended us. Reluctant to leave, I put on my shoes real slow, hoping that my father would let me stay longer, but nonetheless. The five of us, including Mr Li piled into the car once again and this time we were off to lunch! 

                                             Lu Rou Fan 

Lunch was sumptuous. The restaurant's specialty as Lu Rou Fan, basically rice with delicately cooked mince meat and gravy, and a few slices of Japanese radish to go with it. Though this was a simple dish, it was really delicious and I ate every grain of rice in my bowl. We also had Taiwanese sausages, baby kailan cooked with dried shrimps and a pot of fish and egg tofu soup. 

Next stop -- Tai Ru Ge! 

Day Three - Hua Lien

In a cruel irony, on Day Three, I had to wake up earlier than I was prepared to. All I wanted was a few more hours of sleep but I did not have the luxury of time -- we were going to take a two hour train ride to Hua Lien, the biggest county in Taiwan, located in the mountainous eastern part of Taiwan.

My brother and I crammed all our clothing into our suitcases, but this time it was harder because of the knick-knacks that we bought the day before. After successfully containing everything into our suitcases, my brother and I met our parents in the lobby.We left our luggage with the hotel staff after we had checked-out and walked along the early morning streets of Taipei in search of a place to have breakfast.

                       Pork heart that we had for breakfast
Today's Menu:
Rice noodle soup and organ meat. I intentionally told my mother not to tell me what we were served, but later I learnt that we had pork, pig's heart, small intestines and lungs. It grosses me out that I eat those stuff, but it was good so I guess I'll forget about this incident. My family and I were given a bowl of rice each to eat the meat with, which apparently was cooked with lots and lots of garlic. I suppose that many vampires died at our first breath!

                                     Taipei Railway Station

Unfortunately, my family and I were more than an hour early for our train ride, and we had to wait on the platform. The platform had no seats, and we had to stand for the whole time we were there. There was also the unpleasantly loud shrill from the trains departing, with each train coming in and going out of the station every 10 to 15 minutes.

After the extremely long wait, finally it was our turn to board the train. Of course, my family and I grabbed our luggage and stepped onto the train to rest our tired feet. My brother and I were quite excited when we got onto the train, because it was the first time we sat on a actual train, not a MRT train. Everything looked different and somewhat special, the seat were not the plastic kind, they were cushioned and blankets were provided at a counter should the passengers need them. This were things we do not get when we take the MRT in Singapore and also in Taiwan!

After a while the effect of getting onto a train for the first time wore off and we settled down to sleep, just to kill the two hours with nothing to do. However, throughout the train ride to Hua Lien, I woke up quite a few times and looked out of the window, taking a look at the countryside as the train rushed past. There were many single-leveled houses made of natural materials like wood and coconut tree leaves. Those houses looked like the beach villas you get when you stay in a beach resort, just minus the coconut trees and the waves crashing onto the sea shore.I would then look out of the window for a while before getting comfortable in my seat and falling back asleep.

Two hours passed by relatively slowly, with me waking and falling back asleep many times, but finally the train came to a stop at Hua Lien Railway Station. Not wanting to miss our stop, my family and I hopped off the train quickly and made our way to the exit of the railway station. Many people have also got off at Hua Lien and we got into an extremely long, snake-like queue, waiting for our turn to have our passports stamped. While waiting, I examine the unfamiliar faces of the people also in the queue. Most of them were chatting away, cheeks rosy from the low temperature. It was about 15 degree Celsius then, and everyone wore a puffy parka or at least a few layers of clothing and a jacket.

About half an hour later, a stoic immigration officer stamps my passport and I am in Hua Lien!

Xi Men Ding

My family and I decided to get a taste of the local lifestyle, and check out how the local people spend their free time. We decided to go down to Xi Men Ding and grab bites of the local food there.

 

We took the MRT to Xi Men Ding. It was thronged with people and brightly lit with many neon signs and overhanging strings of lightbulbs. We practically had to squeeze our way through crowds of people, somehow making me feel like part of a train wreck, trying to navigate my way through the mass of people.

My mother and I practically went wild, stopping at every single shop to check out the great deals on clothing, shoes and accessories. Clothing were sold at unbelievable prices, with a huge range of different colours and designs. Thanks to the lower cost of living of living in Taiwan, the same items were sold at much lower prices in Taiwan and I was able to buy many clothing and shoes!

                  Delicious piping hot bowl of Ah Zong Mian Xian 
After shopping for a few hours, my mother and I were getting hungry. We headed towards Ah Zong Mian Xian (阿宗面线) and each of us ordered a small bowl of handmade noodles to fill our empty stomachs. Ah Zong Mian Xian has over thirty years of history, and has been serving customers piping hot handmade noodles. The special part of this shop is that the noodles are made on the spot and sold there. Due to much space being required to make these noodles, this shop does not have any chairs or tables for the customers! Nevertheless, people still surge forward to buy a bowl of noodles. A hot bowl of noodles during the chilly days of winter in Taiwan definitely makes the noodles taste even more tasty!

First Outing - Yang Ming Shan

Before this trip began, my father had already planned what we would do each day, filling each day we were overseas with something new for my family and I to experience. Today, my father had planned for us to take a walk at Yao Ming Shan, one of the eight National Parks in Taiwan.

Orginally called Grass Mountains because only grass could be seen on the mountain, this national park is famours for its cherry blossoms, hot springs and sulfur desposits. It also houses Taiwan's tallest extinct volcano, Seven Star Mountain, at 1,120m tall. This national park was renamed Yang Ming Shan to commemorate a Ming Dyanasty scholar Wang Yang Ming. 

                   

Beautiful blossoms I saw on the way up to the rest station.

The walk up to one of the resting stations was very enjoyable, with many beautiful and unique flora to appreciate. My whole body was relaxed, just walking and walking, taking in the sights of the forest. There was an earthy smell about the whole place, as the calls from the cicadas rang in my ears. 

                                            

The cherry blossoms which Yang Ming Shan is famous for. 

                                      The Magnificent view of Taipei 

Soon, we took a left turn, walked a few more meters and reached a rest station, Lin Yutang House.  Leaning against the wooden railings, what I saw totally took my breath away. Beyond me, the view of Taipei stood before me. The top of  Taipei 101, currently the tallest building in the world, looked like it was at the same height as where I was standing. Cars which look so huge at ground level were so tiny that they were not even visible at this height. My family and I took a 15 minute break here and took a drink of water. The cool wind played with our hair as we sat under the pavilion, enjoying the breeze and the serenity of the place, taking our minds away from all worries that we have; at the same time taking a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. 

Arrival at Taoyuan Airport~

After sitting in a Economy Class seat for 5 hours with a slight cold parceled in, I was in much discomfort  during my flight to Taoyuan Airport, Taiwan. Despite these negatives, I pitied the other passengers who were trapped near me on this flight, with a sniffling, coughing pink-eyed Singaporean infecting their flight.

My family of four and I took a SQ flight to Taiwan, and fortunately the seats were comfortable enough, and the food served was good, probably even better compared to the food served on other airlines I have taken. The crew was professional and efficient, making my flight a little more bearable. 

                                         
There were lots of countryside and low-rised buildings -- something I did not expect -- as we descended into Taoyuan Airport. The terminal was aging, but still clearly serviceable. A immigration officer says nothing as he stamps my passport and I am officially in Taiwan!

Tiny soupy Xiao Long Bao

Fried rice we ordered at Ding Tai Feng

My father brought my family and I to have a meal at Ding Tai Feng for dinner, before we took a taxi to our hotel. Xiao Long Bao ("tiny buns"), is what Ding Tai Feng is famous for. Although back in Singapore, we have Ding Tai Feng restaurants, my parents thought that the food served here would be better as it is made by true Chinese! We ordered many dishes, including Xiao Long Bao, fried rice, Dan Dan Mian (spicy noodles), spicy dumplings and fish dumplings. The Xiao Long Bao was certainly tiny, but the restaurant served quite a few of them in one serving. 

After the delicious meal, my father flagged down a taxi and it took my family and I to Just Sleep hotel, where we spent two nights there.

The room my brother and I shared 

My parent's room

We were given a warm reception when we arrived at Just Sleep, and we were given the keys to the hotel rooms. The hotel staff even accompanied us to our hotel rooms and helped us with our luggage. The rooms even though there was excellent service, there was a downside to this hotel. The rooms were tiny and in the room that I shared with my brother, there were two single beds. This left little walking space in the room, and my brother and I had to put our suitcases on our beds in order to have enough space to get to the bathroom and back. Other than this, my family and I had a fitful night's sleep in Just Sleep hotel.