Taiwan 2 April to 13 April 2017
I brought my 2 boys to Taiwan. It was meant for a trip just for my older boy, but to increase the bonding between the brothers and with the 1-1 ticket offered by Scoot, I took the younger one too.
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At Changi Airport
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Day 1
The plan itinerary was:
1. 冷水坑
2. 擎天岗
3. 八煙野溪
4. 野柳
5. Check in at 金山
We flew by night and reached Taoyuan. As we do not have any check bag, we cleared custom relative fast. But we did not leave airport as earlier as we intended.
The reason, we waited for the car at 6:30 and for the telecommunication at 7:00. The main wait is for telecommunication shop to open and get a data plan for unlimited usage for 10 days (cost at 500NT). I have tried to get similar plan else where even in the telecommunications shop in town, but because of passport control or what ever, the last time we cannot get a data plan setup or for the priced offered at the airport. So this time, we waited to get the data plan.
I have the sim card tested with my phtablet (a phone as well as a tablet), then I do wifi tethering to other devices like my laptop, Jo phone and my secondary phone. The phtablet served my route navigation as I am driving. With all the places of interest marked out, driving with Google Navigation was so much easier.
You need a international driving permit (IDP). I ordered the car earlier and paid using my credit card. This was not my first time renting a car in Taiwan. Chingbing is ok and so far has not give me any problem when I return the car.
To orientate my driving I drove shortly to 大園 to have breakfast. Well too earlier, we reached there at around 0800 and there was not many shops that open for breakfast. We just eat at a simple shop not knowing what we were eating.
I drove to 八里渡船頭老街 not on freeway 1, to further orientate myself before driving into Taipei before going up the 陽明山.
We parked the the car park at 冷水坑. You need at YouYou card or easy card. If you do not have, just find some where safe to park for free.
The boys enjoyed the cool air at the mountain. we tracked along the path towards 擎天崗.
If it is windy, it can get quite chill. It is not a tough track, about 20- 30 minutes. But I promised the boys a good soak of their legs at the hot spring at 冷水坑溫泉. A walk to the plains is worth it as you get to see the plains amidst the mountain ridge.
We went there on a Sunday, the first day of Qingming. There was a road diversion and as a result by the time we finished soaking our legs, it was a bit too late to visit the wild hot spring at 八煙野溪. This was a hot spring not open to the public let alone tourist. You must track to reach it and it may take up to 30min one way. I estimated that it may take too long, and we still yet have our lunch.
We went 金山 for lunch and skip 野柳 to check in our accommodation. Our accommodation was need the beach, and it you can surf at the beach, provided you do not find the water too cold. My younger boy played at the beach and you can even watch the night sky. The disadvantage of this place is that meals place is at 金山 and you need to drive.
We rested at the simple accommodation owned by a couple who run a surf shop through Air bnb.
The vastness of 擎天崗 with the plain and mountain back drop, reminds me of God greatness. Jo was name after the mountain and Mat was named after the plain. the picture showed both and let this greatness be the light to the people they met.
