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