8D,7N Taipei 2009

This is a very delayed posting. I got to wait for Mr Photographer to be done with all the editing before I can get my hands on the pictures. And without them, it's rather hard to imagine on what I got to write.

Another yearly overseas trip with my close friends from college. We decided to head to Taipei for the food and for alot of shopping. Little did we know, Taipei do offer many breathtaking views as well. This was a free and easy DIY package, where we chose our own destinations and the travel agent arranges everything for a quoted price. The entire trip had costs me not more than RM4k with half of it for air fare and accomodation and the other half for my own expenses.

We went in late October, where the weather was sunny but real windy. Autumn season. Just nice to move around comfortably. It got dark around 5.30 in the evening and the sun comes up 12 hours later. There was no need for thick jackets or trench coats, just a normal sweater to keep yourself from the wind will do.

I will be highlighting the activities of each day here. I'm not going to talk about the food that we had cause I would have forgotten what were they called by now or where did we tasted them. I was there for a vacation, not to keep track of everything I ate.

Day 1:
Ours was an evening flight. Approximately 4 hours. We reached Taipei at mid night. No. We didn't go to bed straight. We went to a 7-Eleven for cup noodles. Man, we were hungry. We were arranged to stay at this Taipei Meadow Hotel. Not recommended. Their service were very poor. They misplaced our room reservations. They had no hot showers. They had no proper storage spaces. So so so so not acceptable.

Day 2:

Headed to Yi-Lan Shangri-la farm. It's out of town. We travelled by train for an hour. It's like an orchard, where you get to pick fruits and eat them on the spot. They've got activities lined up for us at night. People there are very friendly. We played tops, made "tong yuen", raised the "hung-ming" lanterns with our wishes written all over it, chased ducklings and fried some peanuts.

It's a very relaxing place. Serene. Surrounded by trees and shrubs. Very refreshing indeed. Not to mention they were located on a hill. So, it got real freezy at night.

Day 3:
We spent the third day in Taipei city. We happened to come across a promotion package to the National Palace Museum, so we took it. Certain original artifacts from China were on display there. I didn't even know which dynasty they were from. All I know is that the place was damn huge and it was full of stuff that I don't read. Paintings, ancient Chinese scrolls, porceleins, official stamps etc etc. We can't wait to get out of the place. I admit. We, youngsters, just don't appreciate history.

By night, we were riding on the Eye of Taiwan. The gigantic ferris wheel. I've not even been on the one in Malaysia. Hah!

Day 4:

This is the day where we planned to enjoy a good hot spring bath. But before we get there, the tour guide took us to few breathtaking places. First stop, the volcanic mountains where the hot springs originated. It stinks. You'd smell sulfur all over. Even after you get out from the hot spring pools, you'd smell of sulfur too. Cause that's what made the water hot. Sulfur. Yellow ones.

Next, we were brought to this open field. On Yang-Ming Shan. Yes. Up on the mountains too. Nothing but green green grasses. People were there to read. To walk their dogs. To fly kites. To feel the breeze. To snap pictures. To jog. To do almost what ever they want. You can't find places like this here. It was one of those moments where you were lying on the grass and feeling the air on your face, without any worries, that there is so much more to life than what we are going through now.

Oh, and you got to see this too. It's a little hut on the foothill. They sell windmills. All over. How adorable. Too bad you can't have a place like this in Malaysia. Even if you successfully turn your garden into one, where would you get all the wind from? The fan?

We finally made it to the hot spring resort in the evening. Tien Lai Hot Spring Resort. There were no more pictures here. We were too busy soaking ourselves in sulfur pools, with temperatures ranging from 18 degrees to 45 degrees. The warning was, you can't soak in one pool for more than 15 minutes. You need to get out and rest. Cause the heat accelerates your heart beat, not many can with stand that. And you can't bathe after each soak. You got to let the sulfur seep into your skin over night. It keeps the skin smooth. That's the benefit of it.

Day 5:

This was an extremely tiring day. We were all slumped on the bed, unable to walk to the bathroom even, when we got back to the hotel at night.

In the morning, the tour guides brought us to Ye-Liu Geological Park. Here's where sun, sea water, wind and rain over the thousands of years have caused the erotion of rocks. With a little imagination, you'd see many many shapes out of these erotions. For example; toes, turtles, the map of Taiwan. This is a very famous one. It's called "The Queen's Head". Which queen? For you to find out.

Then, it's off to shopping! First stop, Jiu Fen. Very unique.  Shops were situated up hill. So, happy walking! The place sells a combination of food, accessories, clothes, souveniers etc etc. They were famous for a few delicacies. It's a must try if you ever go there. I couldn't recall what were they already. Do ask around the locals if you really want to go.

By night, we were back in the city again. And more shopping to be done. We got to Wu Fen Pu. It's more like 'warehouses' for clothes. What ever clothing apparel you want, you can be very sure you'd get them here. Similar to our Sg Wang or Platinum Mall in Bangkok. You know those online fashion blogs? Yea. Here's where those clothes came from. Some things can be a real bargain. Like RM10-RM20. The more you buy, the cheaper it gets.

Day 6:

One whole day dedicated to shopping. This time around, it's off to Xi Men Ding. A more high-classed area compared to Wu Fen Pu. Branded goods could be found; Nike, Levi's, Addidas etc. Not Sg Wang stuffs, more like Mid Valley or 1 Utama that kind.

Here's where everyone left with bags and bags of what ever. Even my guy friends got a few goodies for themselves. Another friend got herself 6 pairs of shoes. 6 pairs! In just an hour. Gosh!

Well, not everything is about shopping. We want to make a mark for ourselves too. We "climbed' the tallest tower in the world. Okay. We didn't climb. We took the elevator. The fastest one in the world as well. Taipei 101. 388 metres. The elevator got us up to the observation deck in 38 seconds. How cool is that. I've been to the tallest tower in the world! Our Petronas Twin Towers comes in at fourth place.

They allowed visitors to this open balcony at the top. It was a very scary feeling. You could feel like you would be blown away any minute. The wind was absolutely strong. And it was dead freezing. If it wasn't for the experience, I wouldn't set foot up there. It was definitely worth it. Although Taipei's night view has not much to boast about, it was still worthwhile. It's the tallest tower in the world man! In the world!

Day 7:

According to this travel book, there's this jetty up north with a spectacular view of the sun setting. Let's see what's so special about the sunset in Taipei. The Fisherman Wharf, Danshui.

It was worth all the trouble getting there. Sunsets are very romantic. Don't you think so?

Day 8:

Our final day. Guess where we went? Shopping again of course! It was back to Xi Men Ding. For those last minute souveniers. Those tops and pants that we still want to get our hands on. Some more shoes and bags. Our luggages were already damn packed with our previous "goods". As if those were not enough, we bought more. We had to get additional luggage bags to bring them back. Hah!

Oh, we had our dinner at this interesting place. In a bathroom. We sat on toilet bowls. Ate on bath tubs. Ate from toilet bowls as well. Drank from, errr...... see it for yourself.

Taipei. You really ought to know Mandarin to communicate there. They don't speak much English. If you really plan to visit Taiwan, do it while your young. They have promotions for youths. Up to 30 years of age. You could get discounts for quite a number things. And you need to walk real a lot. Get better shoes. My friend need to get pain killers for her aching feet. It was that bad.

Truly a place worth visiting. Truly enjoyable. I had so much fun.