Taiwan Plan Day 6

Taiwan Plan Day 6

What else have we not explore in Taichung?

We can explore Puli and Sun Moon Lake. There is a theme park at the top of Sun Moon Lake and we can spend an entire day there.

At Puli, there are waterfall - Guanyin Waterfall (

觀音瀑布) and Rainbow waterfall (彩蝶瀑布).

There is a paper Church, woodworks factory and chocolate factory at Puli.

Alternatively, we can visit Gaomei or the Port of Taichung.

The last choice is a visit to Chiayi and maybe visit Alishan.

To the coast of Chiayi, there is a salt factory at Budai Township if we choose not to go up the mountain.

Taiwan Trip Day 5

Taiwan Trip Plan Day 5

Today will be another long day. The intention is to go north to Jiufen and Shifen. The last time when Rach and I was in Taiwan we did not go there. To get there from Taipei, you need to take a local TRA train to Ruifang (20NT), then take a bus to Jiufen (21NT). But to reach Shifen you need to go back to Ruifang (21NT) and take the Pingxi line (train) to Shifen (52NT).

When we relocate to Taipei, we will not have the car. That means the family to journey to Jiufen and Shifen we will need to incurred the transport. The cost is not expensive about 130NT per person for a 2 way journey, but the time taken is more than an hour excluding waiting for the bus.

Yes we will drive 2.5 hours from Taichung to reach there and we will visit more places such as Jingua and Keelung. as such we will set off at 7am with breakfast along the way and target to reach Jingua then Jiufen for lunch.

We will spend the afternoon at Pingxi, Shifen. At Shifen we will release the sky lantern before heading to Keelung for dinner. What to do can be found at this link.

Taiwan Trip Plan Day 4

Taiwan Trip Plan Day 4

After an early trip the day before, we should take it slow.

The first place to visit is the Earthquake Museum.  It open at nine, so hope to reach there at nine.

We will then be heading south to 天梯梯子吊橋 in Nantou County. It is a suspension bridge, a very long one!

Next we will proceed to Sun Moon Lake. Well most tourist visit this area and since we are in Taichung, least we see the lake. Because it is very commercial, we may not like it. There are 2 things that we can do there - take a boat ride across and back without disembarking, second - take a cable car ride up the cultural center (九族文化村)to view the lake.

I have read about inconsistency in boat tickets pricing. The objectives is then to cruise and not to disembark- because I have a car and can drive around the lake. A one way ticket should be 100NT and 2 way should be 200NT instead of the usual 300NT.

We should end the day in Puli for dinner before heading back. 

Taiwan Plan Day 3

Taiwan Plan Day 3

Everyone should get enough rest for the first 2 days. Toady we may began early and our target is Cingjing grassland. It is a 3 hours drive from accommodation. If time permit I will love to drive up Hehuan Shan and higher to view the sea of clouds. A stretch target is a drive to Toroko Gorge.

We will stop at Puli for breakfast, but of course the night before we will store up food and water for the journey. We will not explore Puli, but just for breakfast.

Along the way to Cingjing, we can always take a stroll along the area to view 雲海 or stop by little Swiss




There are also trails such as Guanshan trail (50min 1 way) where you can view the windmill.

Depending on how tired the family is, we may proceed to Hehuan Shan or simple turn home. I will love to take a trail up Hehuan Shan. There are a few trails, the easy one will take 1 hour to and fro, that is Shimen. The main Hehuan Shan trail is 2 hours.

Taiwan Plan Day 2

Taiwan Plan Day 2

This will be our second day in Taichung. We will not be going far but will travel around Taichung.

We will make a trip to Rollin Farm and will pass by Dakeng area, then Dongshi district. We should have our morning breakfast before heading out.

We may stop by Dakeng area for some photos or a fresh morning air hike. There is a trail twisted by an earthquake. There are a number of trails in that area.



Next we will proceed up the mountain, hopefully to see some snow cap mountain to Rollin Farm. We may have some light snacks  there and enjoy the view with the clouds floating by.


Proceeding back we have 2 alternatives. One is to head back to Dongshi and 新社區, the other is to go for some grape plucking at Xinfeng Farm and horse riding at Houli. At 新社區, we can visit 新社莊園, mushroom farm, Princess Annie house and lavender farm. 新社莊園 is where you can take pics of castle.

A picture on Shinshe and Princess Annie

    


Coming back from the mountain is to head back to Taichung, we will pass by Dakeng again. By then Carton King should have opened. We can take a look at the art pieces made of paper.

There are a few destination in Taichung to visit: 921 Earthquake museum, Taichung HSR station, Rainbow village (彩虹眷村) and lastly Port of Taichung (梧棲漁港). Below is a pic of the rainbow Village.


Earthquake museum is closed on Monday but otherwise it is a place to see the destruction forces had on the building and the ground.

Many has taken the HSR from Taoyuan to Taichung, so it is good to see the station, but not sure if we can see the train zoom pass. Of course we can always take a HSR to Chiayi or Tainan for a day trip. An adult ticket is 410NT  and a child/senior is 205NT

Port of Taichung is a place where we can fresh sashimi and maybe view some strange seafood on sale. The harbour is also a nice place to see boats and maybe feed some seabirds. We can also drive nearby to Taichung airport to view planes taking off.

The dinner place will also be a shopping place at 一中商圈. But mine problem is a place to park. Maybe we can park at National Taichung University of Science ( 國立臺中 科技大學 ) and walk to Yizhong shopping area and night market.

Other places to visit will be 勤美術館, National Museum of Natural Science,宫原眼科, 林家宅園, Asia University

Taiwan Day 1 Plan

Taiwan Day 1

This is day 1. Our accommodation will be in Taichung and we are flying into Taiwan, landing in Taoyuan airport. It will be early in the morning 5:30 to 6am.

We got a car from a company Ching Bing at the airport that provides services that I can get hold of the car at 6am! The car will provides the convenient of changing shuttle from the airport and taking a HSR to Taichung and at Taichung, a cab or public transport to our accommodation. Imagine a family with luggage. A hired driver with car will cost 500NT per person per day for 8 hours. The car provides the flexibility the whole day including the evening!

After clearing immigration, the first thing is to get the car. Accordingly, they provide free GPS and a free portable Wifi router (but not sure if it comes with free data). My accommodation provides free Wifi, so not sure if data plan is needed. But I know that my teen will love to have wifi connectivity. I too and may need to call the host if I cannot find the accommodation or get lost. Well, I do not have to plan for that first and can easily get a data and call plan for 10 days package.

The first destination will be Daxi (大溪). It will be a breakfast and a driving stop. It is a small tourist town with old walls. Besides exploring the streets, what is worth is the market at Heping Old Street. A short drive away from the busting morning streets is the Chung Cheng Park (Zhongzheng Park). Link1 details and Link2 details.

Further south, is Ta Shee Blooming Oasis , 大黑松小倆口愛情故事館 or Cihu CKS Memorial Sculpture Park 慈湖紀念 雕塑公園, and 慈湖. All these are just nice scenery places for the adults.

The next place that is worth seeing is the dam at Shimen (石門水庫). Better pictures place - water, cool breeze and pics.

Well consider the kids for some activities, the next is cow ranch and fruit plucking. It can be both or either one, depending on how tired everybody is by now.

As for the kids, I have shortlisted 3 cow ranches. Going south from Daxi, the first one is 四方鮮乳牧場 in 新竹. The second is 罗爷爷牧场 at 苗栗市 and the third is 飛牛牧場 at 通霄鎮.

Which is better? See link for pics. It seems that the first and third has larger pasture and the first has an additional grass slide. Of course, the considerations is entrance fee as well as the amount of time we intent to spend feeding the cows.

Next before heading to Taichung accommodation is to pick some fresh strawberries at Dahu.

Our accommodation is a private apartment (terrace house) in the out skirt of Taichung. We will have a wash up before going somewhere nearby for our lunch. There should be some eateries nearby.

The activities for the day will commence after an afternoon nap. We will then head towards Gaomei Wetlands (高美海水浴場).  Here will will see wind farm, something not seen in Singapore. It is also a marsh land with sea creatures like crabs and sea birds.

Just after sunset for some pictures at Gaomei, we should be heading to Fengjia night market. Fengjia is the most famous night market in Taichung. This will be the first time my kids taste open air Taiwan food.

We will proceed home for a hot bath!

Pre Taiwan Trip 2015

Pre Taiwan Trip 2015
It's the end of the year vacation period again. This year my family will be travelling to Taiwan. I first step foot on Taiwan during my NS days. It was the recent visit with a good friend of mine and later with my wife and younger son early this year, that we decided to explore Taiwan.

We consider the budget as we have a family of six travelling together. Secondly, it must be a place for the old and the kids. Thirdly, the weather - not too cold and not too hot.

Tickets were booked. Accommodation were booked. I booked a car too. Passport updated and all ready to go. Of course a few more preparation include going down to Taiwan Visitors Association at Chevron House to get some freebies. The last time we have a free bus ticket from Taoyuan Airport to Taipei.

Weather
The temperature is around 15-20 degree C. But of course if we drive up the mountains such as Hehuan Shan 合歡山 and Wuling 武嶺, we are above the cloud and may expect snow. So what to pack - wind breaker and jacket, scarf and many layers of T-shirt. Shoes. We are not staying on top of the mountain, so there is no need for winter cloths which will fill up the luggage.

Accommodation
We are staying basically in 2 places. The first in Taichung and the second in Danshui in Taipei. The last time with my wife we have explored Taipei and Hualien, so this time we will spend more time south. Of course with a car, Taipei is 1.5 hour drive and we have the convenient of travelling and visiting places.

Driving
It was a choice of taking public transport, versus hiring a driver. I decided to drive. The last time we drove in Taiwan, we had the freedom to stop by a river bank and spent the time there. Mat was with us and he enjoyed the little adventure of crossing the river. We will have the car and can decide when the day activities will start and how late it should end. Of course, I am the driver and expect on some day to drive up to 5-6hours. Rach may help.

To drive in Taiwan you need a International Driving Permit (IDP). The car I rent was from Ching Bing http://www.chingbing.com.tw. There is a promotion when I booked with them and for more than a week, the car cost me NT1400 a day. You cannot get this price by hiring a driver who will charge you NT500 per person per day for 8 hours. I have a family of six. Even taking a high speed train from Taoyuan to Taichung will cost NT540 per adult.

For the convenience, with all your belongings behind you, we can choose to stop at the less tourist place, as well as stay where we want as long as we want.

Travel Itinerary
I have 2 adults, 1 elder, 1 teenage and 2 kids. What will be the combination of tour and places to visit and what activities to engage?

Each day should have activities to engage the kids, scenery, some shopping and of course food. But most important I want to give my family an experience that they will not be able to do so easily in Singapore.

Some of them are:
Fruit Plucking
Farm animal feeding and interaction, milking or wool shearing
Free roaming sheep in the vastness of a pasture
Have the cloud below your feet
Light and fire your own fire works
Fly a sky lantern
Cook your own egg in a hot spring
Walk along a old rail
Eat freshly cut sashimi

Planning for Taiwan Dec 2015

Planning for Taiwan Dec 2015

The family planned a year end vacation to Taiwan.

I went there in March as a getaway with Rach. Now the whole family is going, together with my mom-in-law.

The weather will be cool and hope it will not be cold. It should be dry and not wet like March.

We intend to rent a car and that will help to cover more interesting area (to see and to do) at more flexibility. The group has kids, a teenager and an elderly lady. I have to cater to 4 age groups.

The trip has been confirmed with the air tickets and the accommodation booked. Basically, we will be in the west and north of Taiwan. Last March we went east to Hualien and Ruisui.

It will be a time of family activities and bonding time.

Sheffield 22-23 June

Sheffield 22-23 June

22nd evening, the team went to play Laser Tag. Well to be factual I do not want to spend the money on the game. Somewhat out of obligation I had to follow the group who went. The other group went Meadowhall to shop. I will have went to shop because I have not bought any present for my children and for Ms Nancy, who sent me for this trip.

Nevertheless, I played with them. Likewise, these are the activities the youth like. I have Jo, I should go down to his level to play with him what he like. I remembered the game we played with Issac and Deb. It is a boring 4 man game, but all enjoyed it. This time, 16 of us played, all youth and the ground is bigger. PH stop looking at the money - how often do you get this experience and bond with these youth. Well I hope through and which I can make deposit in their lives.

I encourage my youth in the comments of their blog. I should give the same or even more encouragement to Jo. I should see him positive and groom him to the potential.

Anyway I managed to get gifts for Jo and Deb. Bought a thank you gift for Ms Nancy.

Sheffield 21 June

Sheffield 21 June

It is Sunday. I rested well till 0800 hrs instead of the usual 0530. I did run. I used the morning to read my bible and spend my time on the words. I also read Ps Edmund book "Growing Deep in God". The chapter I read is on the God are you not, have you not and will you not.

In the afternoon, we went archery and abseiling. I choose archery because I do not want to hurt my back, but because more students choose archery, the 2 staffs landed in abseiling. What worse is in order to abseil down, you have to climb. Well I managed to climb up. But I do that I am not that agile and do admit that age has indeed caught up with me. Nevertheless, I still managed to abseil down in good style.

It is a simple activities done in a scout camp. It reminds me of the days as a scout where I learnt so many skills. It reminds me of the opportunities the children have in such activities. Many have indeed tried rock climbing, abseiling and archery. How bless are this generation. Let them not forget to give thanks for the government and God who watches over this small nation.

Sheffield 20 Jun 2015

Sheffield 20 Jun 2015

It was a day of outing to Castleton. We visited a mining cave and a chocolate factory.

The mine produce something the world do not have - Blue John. What is that? In terms of chemical properties and physical properties - nothing unique. That is why it has no commercial and industrial value. It looks blue and mainly use to make gems.

We may be unique, but we need to stand out. The gem has no value accept as a ornament. We are who we are in God, in the system that made us to be. But we have to offer more, so that our value does not depends on a single demand but our offering changes the demand.

The walk to the chocolate factory was long. There was a little girl of 3 who followed us. Of course with her pregnant other, She was behind. I cannot carry her as I have back ache. The rest of the students proceed ahead. We do not live in isolation, it is the little actions that draws people to us, unfortunately, I want to made the first move, but I have physical limitation. I wonder as age is catching up, even if I am to go to China, the terrain will wear me out. In fact, after yesterday walk, my back ache more than my everyday run. Lord I need you to carry me through and if there is such a need, I need my back to be healed.

At the chocolate factory, we were showed how chocolates came from and how chocolates were made. We have fun. I ate too much, that I do not wish to da bao any more. The owner enjoyed his work. His kids has no intention to continue to run the business. He also mentioned that making bread probable make a better living. It is quality of life versus quantity of material wealth.

Sheffield 18-19 June 2015

Sheffield 18-19 June 2015

18th Thursday
We had a presentation by Enactus Sheffield. It was a presentation by the members who present their project. They actually use storyboard style to deliver. Wonderful presentation.

The project they embark is not just go, serve and bless. They had a considerations for sustainability. They identify a problem, work with the community, find a solution, engage the community and implement the solution in such a manner that their is continuity. The solution has a self sustainable profit, employ the community and involvement to allow self run. It allow and encourage me to see that the projects in China or mission to have a possible sustainable ways. Continuation.

19th Friday
I am trying to set a routine in my own daily routine. Today I managed wake up at 0530, go for a run and back at 0620. Taking the time to cool down, I read spend my time alone with God, reading the bible and mediate on the words. If I start blogging at seven, I will have no time to bath. In Singapore, 0700, I have to start preparing for work. As such, I will continue to take the words throughout the day and pray. So the time alone with God blogging can be done using the tablet or during the day and transfer to digital form in the evening.

I followed a student group to the factory visit. Frankly, I feel that is is not fruitful. But when the facilitator asked about the visit, a positive was given. I may not sure if the feedback is honest or being polite.  But nevertheless, I will made my report judgement, so that improvement can be made in the future trip. The students may have answer in a diplomatic manner, which is commendable.

During the activities, I can also do these with my kids:
1. Spaghetti Tower
2. Lego Animal, the features are on cards

Sheffield 17 June 2015

Sheffield 17 June 2015

It is 3rd day of workshop. But today is is done at an innovation center. The students are taught innovation skills and techniques for generative ideas. Kind of what Ngee Ann offer for IBIL, but done in a day workshop. Not long long and not too short.

The techniques are there, but that is at the knowledge and comprehension level. How can a person than take innovation as part and parcel of their life? I internalize innovation by and through experience that matter most to me. Why innovate? For the world, and green peace? For fun?

For some reasons, there are many things around that can be observed. Areas to inprove. But more important what matters to us. I have too, if the changes through innovation benefits the problem owner and I have a shared concern for the problem owner. For example my father. the other is that I see that it can brings benefits to my pocket. What motivation is better than monetary rewards for doing innovation and taking the solution to the next prototype?

So like when we were shopping at Meadowhall, a large shopping complex, I fix my eyes on a shop that has "half scooter seat" only the second half of the scooter with seat is around to serve as seat. A theme. Another, is a pub with live singing, not in a hotel lounge but a mall. What can the idea be use for? I am not sure yet, but when an opportunities arise, I have examples. I therefore seat on a future opportunities based on a possible monetary rewards.

I finally bought a pair of jogging shoes, which I wore and ran and it was so different from the old. So comfortable. I also bought a new working shoes and Rach was surprise that I bought from Clakes! Well again I need a comfortable shoe for my work and maybe, standing on a good shoe with cushion help my back too.

I have not get anything for my kids.

Sheffield 16 June

Sheffield 16 June

I ran yesterday, trying to get to Sheffield town hall, which I had been there the day before. But lost my way. I cannot even locate the building that I had been there everyday for workshop. I am not the leader for the trip. I had basically brain dead and not thinking. Normally I will be quick OK with direction. I had been following. Most of the time in my life I had been taking charge. My working style has been I need to be in control. The Mr strong type and a little of the Mr perfect. Well it is OK to get lost. It is OK not to know the way and just follow. I need to learn how to let go. 

Reflecting on the workshop on six thinking hats, it help me realized that there are hats that I am not very comfortable  wearing. The hat am not comfortable is the yellow hat that is saying positive.  
 

The evening ends with a walk to town hall. I did not went into the town hall,which I realized that you can do so. It is a paradigm shift that not all buildings are so restricted. Just walk in and ask. But anyway, my sole has been sore and just did not want to walk.

Sheffield 13-16 June

Sheffield 13-16 June

I don't really sleep on the plane. I traveled with a back ache and a stomach ache. But thank God, that I went through the 17 hours ok. I need to go to the toilet twice. I did not read, but watch movie till I fell asleep. No special reflection of the movies I watch - Hunger Games (3 esp), Hancock.

We reached Manchester on Sunday (14th) and travel by bus to Sheffield. Along the way, we past fields- cattle fields, sheep gazing in the wet weather. It is really a country side dotted with old English House. Too common a sight for the local, but I have to fly my kids to such place as activity to be with the animals in their farm. The cool weather made it perfect.

I started my daily routine at 0530am on Monday. In the morning I had squirrels and rabbits running across my windows! A sight that I marvel for the little things that my God had created - like a fairy tale land.

I ran, but past a 1876 Cathedral. In the front lodge of the Cathedral, it was obvious that people sat there and smoke and litter the place. In another event, when we were doing treasure hunt in the morning around campus, the St George Cathedral had been converted to a lecture hall. Where then can God be found in places of worship?  The world has taken over us, there is no place for God! A reminder that the creation of God (the fields, the hills, the rabbits) which present the existence of God has been forgotten. The place of worship, where God wants to meet man, had been taken by activities that man had more things to worship besides God.

The afternoon workshop on Monday was interesting. The facilitator uses a real life NASA challenger disaster for an role place activity masked in a F1 racing. The students were supposed to use the data given and decide to run the race that may risk a disaster or risk the name of the company. Too much too lose - do I have too much to lose. Not to run, I lose the contact and downsize the company, and to run the race, I risk having a disaster. In life, I am faced with a no win situation, then what is my decision made on? what is logical, what is morally right (the life of the driver is important). I based on what is the underlying biblical principle. And in this case, the pride of man versus the risk of the livelihood of the employees. Can God gave a miracle? No body prayed. The logical data analysis showed that running the race risk a disaster will cause the company the reputation, and a man life. The go will cause the company down size. Is one man life more important than the livelihood of hundreds of employee livelihood. I have no answer, but has to weigh the cost of the decision. Of course if it is a risk on the company's name and downfall because of the race, then it is against pride. And I know that what God build against is the pride of man. I will pray for the race to go on, not for the pride of glory, but that no disaster befall for the driver and at the same time the livelihood of the employees can be kept.