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