Friday, March 02, 2007
2nd February 2007 - Post Holiday & CNY Updates..
wow wow wow... been like 2 months since i last blog... the past 2 months have been like so short and sweet as time really flies...........
january was like busy adjusting myself to the new 2007... den soon it's february...
feb was fenmei's 21st birthday... den soon my taiwan trip... and right after i came back.. it's chinese new year! indeed as the older u grow... u dun get excited over chinese new year.. but yet im glad that there's new year for all the gathering with familys n friends... and thanks to the short month...
now it's the start of march again!!
short recap of my taiwan trip and chinese new year....
Day 1: Singapore, Tao Yuan - Zhong Li, Gao Xiong (新加坡，桃园 - 中壢, 高雄)
Check in 1 hour before the plane took off.. and my luggage weighs 16kg before i leave for taiwan... with an additional 9kg hand carrier where it contains all the food stuff for my taiwan relative (pack by my aunt.. thanks man.. so heavy..) and my backpack which weighs another few kg.. as the airline only give a limit of 20kg for check in luggage thus i have to hand carry 2 baggage onto the plane... but thanks god.. when i pass thru the boarding gate... the staff there ask me to surrender 1 more to check in instead.. so there goes the 9kg.. thanks goodness! The plane took off at 1pm.. and it arrives at Tao Yuan International Airport @ 5.25pm.. reached 15 mins earlier..
there's a rather cute air steward on the plane... but unfortunately right now at this point of time i cant remember the name at all... i had write down the name somewhere.. need to go back n check... but think is Eric or something 1.. air stewardess on the other hand was ok only... as i had a big backpack with me which i carry onto the plane.. (ok i admit it was heavy..) den once the plane went on pilot mode i took the bag now to retrieve my mp3 player.... when the plane is landing... the stewardess came forward to remind me to keep my backpack back into the overhead cabin but i clearly heard that there's announcement saying that we can keep our baggage under the seat.. but she insist that i should place it in the overhead cabin.. ok fine.. i then pull my bag over for her to keep for me instead.. and dear reader.. guess what did the stewardess say? 'you will have to help me with this as your bag is heavy...'.... damn it.. lousy i would say.. so boo!
Shu-Gong came to the airport to pick me up to go back to Zhong Li to board the train down to Gao Xiong... the journey was about 45mins... to be honest im hungry by the time i reach Zhong Li.. but i guess the flight make me lost my appetite but still i had my dinner which consist of the famous 'Lu Rou Rice', fried prawn fritter, You cai, cabbage soup, some kind of preserve vegetable, bean curd n so on.. just for only 2 person... piangz... didnt even manage to finish half of it... simply too much.. after the dinner hang around in the relative shop before Shu-Gong send me to the train station again... shu-gong wife is so thoughtful to get her staff to get me a huge cup of pearl milk tea to last me thru the 4hours train ride to gao xiong... lucky my uncle has make arrangement with my shu-gong to book the train ticket beforehand else if i were to buy the ticket on the spot i might have to stand thru the 4 hours with my 29" luggage and big backpack.... towards the 2nd half of the train ride.. it was plain torturing as my nose is dying on me.. think my body has yet to adjust to the sudden drop of temperature... and thus i became the noise n air pollutant in the cabin.
reach gao xiong at 12am.. and aaris jie was already at the train station waiting for me... she had setoff 8 days earlier to go for the short term Chu-Jia... to experience the life of nuns n monks... so brave of her.. *salute* and luckily aaris jie had a cup of ginger tea with her thus there's at least something to warm my body in the midnight after i alight from the 4hr train ride.... we walk back to the hotel which she had check in earlier.. b4 i change into a smaller bag.. and we walk to the nearby 'Liu He Ye Shi' 六合夜市 (some famous night market in Gao Xiong) to eat again... before we went back to the hotel to get some rest....
Day 2: Gao Xiong, Ken Ding (高雄,垦丁)
woke up at 8am or maybe earlier.. had breakfast in the hotel.. after which we check out the room den we took a coach which last for an hour to Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 (it's not a mountain.. it's a very very very big temple).. FGS is 1 of the 4 major temple in taiwan... not the typical kind of taoist temple.. but buddhist temple where no joss stick and joss paper.. just huge grand buddhist statue everyone.. they even have their own media studio n tv channel in taiwan!! very beautiful place.. i spend about half a day there.. and yet im only able to cover a small portion of FGS... see u again soon FGS...!!
the bus ride back to the hotel is yet another 1+ hour... as there's still abit of time left by the time we reach the City before the mini van comes to pick us to go ken ding thus we shop around the neighbourhood... went to this place call 'Guang Nan Pi Fa' 光南批发.. they had at least 1 outlet in each city.. and each store is minimum 4 storey high... and they sell different product at each level.. it's almost a 1-stop store for u to get all the daily necessities that you might need... the stuffs sells there range from electrical appliances to IT products to electronic to food, books (comics, novels, etc) , toiletries, assessories, CD album, stationery, etc... we came across this handcraft shops and sad to say i've spent about SGD $50 in that shop buying the charms and chain... and the worst thing was... i'm a member after that purchase! hee hee... after the short shoparound.. we went back to our hotel to collect our baggage and soon the van is here...
the ride to Ken ding is about 2 hours.. and by the time we reach there it's about 7+pm.. but the sky looks like it's 10pm .. check into the 'hotel', paid... settle down.. den we went out to the Ken Ding night market again... the weather is really good there despite beach is everywhere.. it's breezy yet not too windy... actually all the night market are somehow similiar to one another (as in the food n stuffs they have there)... but yet in different 1.. it brings out the different feeling... rather crap.. but anyway... this night market is more enjoyable than the previous 1 we had in gao xiong.. as this time round i had aaris jie friends, Yuyun, Karen n Ciyuan.. so there's pple to 'enjoy' all the meat together (aaris-jie is a vegetarian now)... came across this stall where they sell small little wooden postcard... on 1 side it's engrave with the taiwan tourism logo and messages about travelling and as for the other design it's the beach outline of ken ding... spend quite abit of time here buying.. then stamping the logo.. basically just crapping around... further down... we had our cariculture done.. damn ex!! due to miscommunication it's about SGD$20 per person where we tot it's SGD$20 for 5 person.. but stilll it's only after we had all our face drawn den we realise the mistake... further down the street is sunglass stall.. super cheap... about SGD $7.50 for 2 pair... most importantly the boss is so cool... will post up his pic soon... we had the hot 'Chin-Chow' before we return to our very very very pretty room... Karen n Ciyuan came down to aaris jie and my room after a short rest to write the post card, craps, etc...
Day 3: Ken Ding, Fang Liao, Hua Lian （垦丁，坊撩，花莲）
woke up in the morning... had the typical Toast with soyamilk breakfast.. walk around again den went to the post office to mail our postcard... after which we went back to the hotel to change den we slowly stroll to the beach for our water games!!
we play the motor boat as well as the banana boat.. but before that really bargain for quite some time with the ah pek... and Ciyuan mentioned that he's impressed with my bargaining skills! wahhaha...but anyway we settle for NT1500 (SGD $75) for both games for 3 persons.. the more costly 1 will be the motor boat as we requested to drive the boat ourselve instead of having someone to drive us.. they urge me to try driving it.. but ok i admit im timid.. i didnt dare to try.. afraid that i might just drown in the middle of the sea despite im wearing the life vest.. ok.. im timid! the banana boat is damn thrilling as you never know when you're going to fall into the water... i remember in the middle of the sea.. the driver ask us if we want the banana boat to capsize and i shouted very loud.. 'NO..slow ride please!'.. and the next thing we're aware of is.. we're in the water! damn it! but anyway.. it's nice lar... after the game.. we paid NT20 (SGD $1) into the toilet to rinse ourselve..
took a stroll back to where we stay.. and it's like 'Shi Zhi Lu Kou' as we eat as the way we stroll back.. we literally just hopped into every single convenience store... and we had many kinds of their street foods, ice cream, etc before we settle down in a 'coffeeshop' to have a proper lunch... we went back to our hotel after lunch to wash up and packed up before we leave for Hua Lian.. and this time we have the Pek-Pek to drive us to Fangliao to fetch the train to Hua Lian... and singapore has got a army base in ken ding as well.. think that's explains for the 'overwhelming with singaporean' at ken ding from what aaris jie says... singapore army boys all around... we did passby the base.. Ciyuan had wanted to went in.. but we're in a rush of time.. so too bad.. next time perhaps... had a 'Bian Dang' 便当 on the train.. and btw.. taiwan have got realllly nice bian dang..
we arrived at Hua Lian at around 10pm.. and we only managed to check into the hotel after 1.5 hours (long tales) after which we went to the nearby food street to have our dinner before we call the day off...
Day 4: Hua Lian, Taipei （花莲， 台北）
had our breakfast after we check out from the hotel.. yet another 'local breakfast'... after which we visited the Taroko Gorge 太鲁阁.. think it's 2nd biggest national park in taiwan... they had a temple within the big mountain/park as well.. had a simple lunch there which include the bamboo rice which it's famous for.. after which we visit 'Ci Ji' 慈济..
Ci Ji is a buddhist charity organisation that doea outreach and so on.. and they have many many office around the world.. and it includes japan, singapore, china, US and so on... it's big in taiwan as well.. and they do have their own media studio as well as tv channel.. they have their own university as well as hospital and so on.. it's really big... after all the visiting we stopby to buy the 'Tu Chan' there which is the 'Magi' (muah-chee) before we went back to the hotel to pick our luggage and rush to catch our train to Taipei...
to sidetrack.. we've actually book 2 cab to drive us around Taroko as well as Ci Ji... aaris jie and me in 1 cab and the other 3 in the other 1.. i really really have to compliment on our driver as he had really really done a very good job.. apart from just driving us around... he took over the role as the tour guide as well as he clearly explain how everythings comes about and stuffs.. and we later check with the rest if the othe driver did the same thing.. their answer was a plain no.. hee he.. so lucky of us.. as without the introduction of taroko.. i doubt i enjoy the visit there...
my mood instantly brightened up upon reaching taipei.. hee hee.. and after checking into our 'hotel'... we went out again to Xi Men Ding 西门町.. walk around.. settle down for some food after which we took the 'Jie Yun' 捷运 (equivalent to our mrt) down to Shi Lin Night Market 士林夜市.. not as fantastic as what i had expect it to be.. but overall it was ok... we stayed around till 1am.. after which aaris jie n i took a cab down to Taipei Hospital to visit her taiwanese friends... we stayed around till 4am den we left for home...
Day 5: Taipei, Fengyuan - Tai Zhong （台北，丰原 - 台中)
had breakfast somewhere near the hotel.. den we went to Ci Ji taipei branch to seek help for aaris jie friend... and soon it was time for us to go back n pick our luggage... thus the other 3 took a cab back to the hotel whereas aaris jie and i went to the taipei train station instead to fetch Jean (aaris jie paternal cousin)... her flight was in the morning.. thus it's only around 2pm den she reach taipei...
we quickly make our way back to the hotel to meet up with the rest and they quickly make their way to another place to keep Yuyun, Karen and Ciyuan luggage before they catch the train down to YiLan... i stayed in taipei as their purpose to Yilan is to visit some holy place there and i feel that it's too boring for me.. so i opt to stay behind in taipei for half a day after which will meet up with aaris jie taiwan friend, Bao Juan to go Tai Zhong(Feng Yuan).. after they had left.. i make my way back to Xi Men ding.. and this time i was indulging myself with retail therapy.. intensive therapy.. Xiao Qing was already at Feng Yuan to pick me by the time i arrive.. and she drove me back to her house on her bike... had a bath and we went to sleep...
Day 6: Fengyuan, Tai Zhong （丰原 - 台中）
Toast breakfast again.. had milktea this time.. double the size of those we had in singapore coffeeshop... but i enjoy..
we shopped around the market.. den we went to this chinese medical store where Xiao Qing intro me to this friend of her who visit singapore almost every year.. the friend of her is actually the little boss of the store.. he's not exactly young.. mid 30s.. and before he comes back to work in the family business.. he's actually the 'Jin Ji Ren' of Xiao Zhu, Luo Zhi Xiang.. we hit it off lar.. coz we were talking about singapore.. he's so bloody interested with singapore.. and xiao qing claim that his mum likes me.. whatever it is... we went back to Xiao Qing place.. where she cooked lunch for her parent.. then we went out again.. and this time she brought me to the more happening place in Feng Yuan.. and i had my manicure done there...and it only cost me NT250 (SGD $12.50).. CHEAP... we da-bao this "Bak-Kut Mee' back to her place as lunch.. and Xiao Qing claim that everyone will look for this if they're visiting Feng Yuan esp artiste.. she personally feels that there's nothing special with that.. and after i tried it.. confirm nothing special...
took a short nap after lunch before we went to Tai Zhong City, 'Feng Jia Night Market' 逢甲夜市... SUPER crowded.. rather the most crowded night market i've came across in taiwan.. went back at 12+ where we bath and waiting for aaris jie arrival.. estimated to reach Feng Yuan at 2am... i fell asleep while waiting.. only manage to wake up to talk for 10min after she arrives before i knocked off again..
Day 7: Fengyuan, San Li, Miao Li, Taipei （丰原 ，三立，苗栗，台北）
we woke up later as everyone was tired.. during my stay in taiwan.. everyday we woke up at about 8am.. and we only get to sleep after 1am..
Xiao Qing drove us to Miao Li.. where we tried their local specilities there.. which is the 'Hakka Lei Cha' 客家擂茶.. on the first few taste it taste really good... but the more you eat the more 'ni' it gets.. they did manage to finish off that.. unfortunately i didnt...
think this place is famous for wooden carving.. everywhere u see wooden statue... almost in every shop... walk around... had some coffee den we drove down to the strawberry farm where we pick strawberry before we went back to Feng Yuan...
bought our coach tickets on the way back.. den we quickly rushed to the pastry shop to buy the 'Tai Yang Biscuit' 太阳饼 before we went back and pick our baggage to catch the coach.. think we're bad at time management.. coz almost everyday we're either rushing to catch the train else the coach... damn jialat... the worst thing was.. everyone is so panick... to the extend Xiao Qing car kanna lang-gar.. piangz.. we quite paisei lor.. and i later learn that.. that soft knock cost her abour SGD $500+...
think the journey back to taipei is about another 2hours... we rest for awhile den Jean and i set off to Dan shui 淡水 and aaris jie went to Xi Men Ding to meet the other taiwan friends instead.. she had wanted to go with us.. but last minute plan.. so so we went.. and meet up with Yuyun, Karen and Ciyuan..
had some street food with Jean.. we had massage done at the Dan Shui Old street 淡水老街.. den quickly get the 'Tie Dan' (Iron Egg) 铁蛋.. den we quickly board a bus to the Fisherman Wharf (Yu Ren Ma Tou) 渔人码头.. Yuyun and Karen had decided not to go.. thus that leaves me with Jean and Ciyuan only.. the lover bridge is pretty... the scenary is good.. took quite abit of stupid pictures there.. we're simply indulging in our photo taking session.. then ate the 'Hao Da Chicken Chop'豪大大鸡排... den we quickly board the last bus back to Dan Shui MRT station.. as we wanted to go.......... CLUBBING...
when we arrived at the station it's already close to 12.30am.. thus we get a cab back to our hotel to keep our stuffs before we go out again.. the most expensive cab i've got in taiwan.. SGD$20++.. for most of my cab ride don't exceed SGD$6.. but anyway we changed our mind again after we went back to the hotel.. we decided to go KTV instead.. and so we went.. SGD$20+ with room double the size we have in singapore for 4 persons.. toilet in every room.. and freeflow of drinks and buffet.. all provided.. damn wu hua.. but it's a pity.. as i Ko-ed halfway thru... having a damn bad FLU.. spoiler.. 3 boos to flu.. the session ended at 5am.. den aaris jie, Jean and i took a cab back.. and Ciyuan went back to his hotel to pack up to go to the airport.. we took turn to wash up... den dried our hair and quickly turn in.. as it's close to 6am in the morning...
Day 8: Taipei, Zhongli （台北，中壢）
woke up.. packed up... den we had our breakfast nearby liao... jean and i make our way down to 'Wu Fen Pu' 五分埔 (apparel wholesale place) to shop.. whereas aaris jie go dunno which temple to find her friend... didnt really buy alot of clothes here as all quite small size.. but manage to get a smart casual jacket for kat... got myself a knitted top as well.. think got wool content.. as later when i wore it.. it's farking hot...
after Wu Fen Pu.. we went back to Xi Men Ding to meet up with aaris jie.. den as Jean and i was walking toward the meeting point.. we saw that that's many pple on the street... den got reporter, beta camera, big boards and so on.. so we went forward to KPO.. den we realise that.. this this guy there doing the free hugs campaign.. so basically he just hug anyone who's willing to on the street... and this guy was invited to the 'Guess Guess Guess' show on the 'Zhen De Jia Bu Liao' segment.. coz he make a record by travelling around taiwan for 9 days w/o spending a single cent.. but anyway... Jean and i hug him as well lar.. coz he quite nice looking mah.. den we quite spontaneous 1 also... hahahha
we did our very last shopping over at xi men ding... had lunch at 'Yu Wo' 鱼窝( a swing concept cafe)... den we pass by a stall where they sell firework.. and we decide to buy and bring over to Zhong Li to play with the friends there... as never play b4... it's quite expensive... close to SGD$50 for everything... after all the buyings.. we quickly make our way back to our 'hotel'... den we called up the cabby uncle whom jean and i met earlier on our way to Wu Fen Pu... we settle the cab fare @ NT$900 or NT$1000.. cant really rmb...
the journey to Zhong Li was about 1.5 hrs... uncle dunno how to go lar.. keep referring to the map... reached @ Zhong Li, our relative place... many thanks to the staffs there coz the guys help us carry our very heavy luggage up to level 3.. their house there is shophouses.. so level 1 is the store.. level 2 is store.. and level 3 is house...
we had a short rest already.. den we went out again to Aunt Mei Mei place (our relatives friend.. very nice auntie)... after which we went out again to the nearby Night Market with Aunt Mei Mei daughter, Pei Jun and our relative daughter, Han Han (whom im suppose to call her Ah Yi or Gugu.. but she's so young.. think 17 or 18 years old only...)... tried all the nice thing they recommend us there.. such as fried octopus (the kind with gigantic legs)... fried smelly tofu... ginger juice tao huay.. slice duck with crepes, ou-ah-jian(fried oyster), shave ice, etc etc... there's so many nice food in taiwan....... even play on their street game.. whereby a machine den u can shoot the metal 'dan-zhu'弹珠 to earn more dan-zhu... after all the eating.. we went back to Aunt Mei Mei.. as she had repeatly called Pei Jun to bring us back for fruits...
we went back.. and it was a FRUIT FEAST... 3 big place of fruits after so many food... ok... but anyway... we quickly eat the fruits liao den eat our dessert.. den we went out of the shop to play the firework.. it was fun... as singapore we dun get to play... halfway thru.. kanna scolding from the neighbours say wanna call police... and so Pei Jun brought us to another stretch to play.... after all the playing.. we den went back to bath and sleep...
Day 9: Zhongli, Singapore （桃园- 中壢，新加坡）
slept in later today... as it's the last day already... den we went to nearby neighbourhood to shop again... Pei Jun brought us to a nearby japanese cafe to have our breakfast.. as her mum strongly recommend the salad there.. ok we went.. and the salad is really nice... ok.. im missing it at the moment... after breakfast... we went to the 'Guang-Nan' store.. to buy buy buy buy buy buy.. everything there is cheap.. and they sell everything..except apparel.. even electronics, CDs, comics, stationary, food also sell... almost everything...
by the time we finished shopping here.. the time should be 1+pm already.. den Aunt Mei Mei called Pei Jun as she wanna come pick us.. scare that we cant make it to airport.. and so... she picked us liao.. we went to the very big bookstore(3 storeys)... as Aaris jie need to get a buddha book for some Shi Fu... den we went to Watson to buy a very cute Pooh luggage (aim that luggage since day 2 of our trip @ Ken Ding).. den we went for lunch... had the Fat Pig Trotter Leg with rice for lunch.. had a hard time picking out the meat only.. lucky had veggies.... but it was nice though... after the lunch..
we quickly went back to relative house to repack our stuffs... den with the helps of the shop staffs again.. they help us carry down.. this time it's really exaggerating.. whole shop was activate to carry our stuffs.. but actually there's 3-4 staffs only lar.. but i dun deny we had ALOT of luggages...
Aunt Mei Mei speed to the airport in 40 mins time.. den we first went over to T2 for Jean to check in first.. as she's sitting SQ.. den to T1 to check in for aaris jie and me.. piangz eh... gotta pay SGD$300+ lor.. coz exceed baggage limit... SHIT!... but anyway.. we LL lar.. we paid.. check in liao.. den slowly walk to the entry gate.. coz our backpack super heavy also.... den soon... gotta board the plane.. and WOOOOOOOOOOOO... reached singapore close to 12am... and immediately... when i alight the plane.. i can feel the humidity here in singapore..
bought all the stuffs @ DFS liao.. den we went out.. and Gaz Kor kor (aaris jie elder bro) was already there... he fetch us back to aaris jie home as we wanted to sort thing out... den aaris jie send me home... i hala awhile already den bath and went to sleep...
i MISSED taiwan!!
Toast
(this entry was completed on 19 Aug 2007)
wow wow wow... been like 2 months since i last blog... the past 2 months have been like so short and sweet as time really flies...........
january was like busy adjusting myself to the new 2007... den soon it's february...
feb was fenmei's 21st birthday... den soon my taiwan trip... and right after i came back.. it's chinese new year! indeed as the older u grow... u dun get excited over chinese new year.. but yet im glad that there's new year for all the gathering with familys n friends... and thanks to the short month...
now it's the start of march again!!
short recap of my taiwan trip and chinese new year....
Day 1: Singapore, Tao Yuan - Zhong Li, Gao Xiong (新加坡，桃园 - 中壢, 高雄)
Check in 1 hour before the plane took off.. and my luggage weighs 16kg before i leave for taiwan... with an additional 9kg hand carrier where it contains all the food stuff for my taiwan relative (pack by my aunt.. thanks man.. so heavy..) and my backpack which weighs another few kg.. as the airline only give a limit of 20kg for check in luggage thus i have to hand carry 2 baggage onto the plane... but thanks god.. when i pass thru the boarding gate... the staff there ask me to surrender 1 more to check in instead.. so there goes the 9kg.. thanks goodness! The plane took off at 1pm.. and it arrives at Tao Yuan International Airport @ 5.25pm.. reached 15 mins earlier..
there's a rather cute air steward on the plane... but unfortunately right now at this point of time i cant remember the name at all... i had write down the name somewhere.. need to go back n check... but think is Eric or something 1.. air stewardess on the other hand was ok only... as i had a big backpack with me which i carry onto the plane.. (ok i admit it was heavy..) den once the plane went on pilot mode i took the bag now to retrieve my mp3 player.... when the plane is landing... the stewardess came forward to remind me to keep my backpack back into the overhead cabin but i clearly heard that there's announcement saying that we can keep our baggage under the seat.. but she insist that i should place it in the overhead cabin.. ok fine.. i then pull my bag over for her to keep for me instead.. and dear reader.. guess what did the stewardess say? 'you will have to help me with this as your bag is heavy...'.... damn it.. lousy i would say.. so boo!
Shu-Gong came to the airport to pick me up to go back to Zhong Li to board the train down to Gao Xiong... the journey was about 45mins... to be honest im hungry by the time i reach Zhong Li.. but i guess the flight make me lost my appetite but still i had my dinner which consist of the famous 'Lu Rou Rice', fried prawn fritter, You cai, cabbage soup, some kind of preserve vegetable, bean curd n so on.. just for only 2 person... piangz... didnt even manage to finish half of it... simply too much.. after the dinner hang around in the relative shop before Shu-Gong send me to the train station again... shu-gong wife is so thoughtful to get her staff to get me a huge cup of pearl milk tea to last me thru the 4hours train ride to gao xiong... lucky my uncle has make arrangement with my shu-gong to book the train ticket beforehand else if i were to buy the ticket on the spot i might have to stand thru the 4 hours with my 29" luggage and big backpack.... towards the 2nd half of the train ride.. it was plain torturing as my nose is dying on me.. think my body has yet to adjust to the sudden drop of temperature... and thus i became the noise n air pollutant in the cabin.
reach gao xiong at 12am.. and aaris jie was already at the train station waiting for me... she had setoff 8 days earlier to go for the short term Chu-Jia... to experience the life of nuns n monks... so brave of her.. *salute* and luckily aaris jie had a cup of ginger tea with her thus there's at least something to warm my body in the midnight after i alight from the 4hr train ride.... we walk back to the hotel which she had check in earlier.. b4 i change into a smaller bag.. and we walk to the nearby 'Liu He Ye Shi' 六合夜市 (some famous night market in Gao Xiong) to eat again... before we went back to the hotel to get some rest....
Day 2: Gao Xiong, Ken Ding (高雄,垦丁)
woke up at 8am or maybe earlier.. had breakfast in the hotel.. after which we check out the room den we took a coach which last for an hour to Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 (it's not a mountain.. it's a very very very big temple).. FGS is 1 of the 4 major temple in taiwan... not the typical kind of taoist temple.. but buddhist temple where no joss stick and joss paper.. just huge grand buddhist statue everyone.. they even have their own media studio n tv channel in taiwan!! very beautiful place.. i spend about half a day there.. and yet im only able to cover a small portion of FGS... see u again soon FGS...!!
the bus ride back to the hotel is yet another 1+ hour... as there's still abit of time left by the time we reach the City before the mini van comes to pick us to go ken ding thus we shop around the neighbourhood... went to this place call 'Guang Nan Pi Fa' 光南批发.. they had at least 1 outlet in each city.. and each store is minimum 4 storey high... and they sell different product at each level.. it's almost a 1-stop store for u to get all the daily necessities that you might need... the stuffs sells there range from electrical appliances to IT products to electronic to food, books (comics, novels, etc) , toiletries, assessories, CD album, stationery, etc... we came across this handcraft shops and sad to say i've spent about SGD $50 in that shop buying the charms and chain... and the worst thing was... i'm a member after that purchase! hee hee... after the short shoparound.. we went back to our hotel to collect our baggage and soon the van is here...
the ride to Ken ding is about 2 hours.. and by the time we reach there it's about 7+pm.. but the sky looks like it's 10pm .. check into the 'hotel', paid... settle down.. den we went out to the Ken Ding night market again... the weather is really good there despite beach is everywhere.. it's breezy yet not too windy... actually all the night market are somehow similiar to one another (as in the food n stuffs they have there)... but yet in different 1.. it brings out the different feeling... rather crap.. but anyway... this night market is more enjoyable than the previous 1 we had in gao xiong.. as this time round i had aaris jie friends, Yuyun, Karen n Ciyuan.. so there's pple to 'enjoy' all the meat together (aaris-jie is a vegetarian now)... came across this stall where they sell small little wooden postcard... on 1 side it's engrave with the taiwan tourism logo and messages about travelling and as for the other design it's the beach outline of ken ding... spend quite abit of time here buying.. then stamping the logo.. basically just crapping around... further down... we had our cariculture done.. damn ex!! due to miscommunication it's about SGD$20 per person where we tot it's SGD$20 for 5 person.. but stilll it's only after we had all our face drawn den we realise the mistake... further down the street is sunglass stall.. super cheap... about SGD $7.50 for 2 pair... most importantly the boss is so cool... will post up his pic soon... we had the hot 'Chin-Chow' before we return to our very very very pretty room... Karen n Ciyuan came down to aaris jie and my room after a short rest to write the post card, craps, etc...
Day 3: Ken Ding, Fang Liao, Hua Lian （垦丁，坊撩，花莲）
woke up in the morning... had the typical Toast with soyamilk breakfast.. walk around again den went to the post office to mail our postcard... after which we went back to the hotel to change den we slowly stroll to the beach for our water games!!
we play the motor boat as well as the banana boat.. but before that really bargain for quite some time with the ah pek... and Ciyuan mentioned that he's impressed with my bargaining skills! wahhaha...but anyway we settle for NT1500 (SGD $75) for both games for 3 persons.. the more costly 1 will be the motor boat as we requested to drive the boat ourselve instead of having someone to drive us.. they urge me to try driving it.. but ok i admit im timid.. i didnt dare to try.. afraid that i might just drown in the middle of the sea despite im wearing the life vest.. ok.. im timid! the banana boat is damn thrilling as you never know when you're going to fall into the water... i remember in the middle of the sea.. the driver ask us if we want the banana boat to capsize and i shouted very loud.. 'NO..slow ride please!'.. and the next thing we're aware of is.. we're in the water! damn it! but anyway.. it's nice lar... after the game.. we paid NT20 (SGD $1) into the toilet to rinse ourselve..
took a stroll back to where we stay.. and it's like 'Shi Zhi Lu Kou' as we eat as the way we stroll back.. we literally just hopped into every single convenience store... and we had many kinds of their street foods, ice cream, etc before we settle down in a 'coffeeshop' to have a proper lunch... we went back to our hotel after lunch to wash up and packed up before we leave for Hua Lian.. and this time we have the Pek-Pek to drive us to Fangliao to fetch the train to Hua Lian... and singapore has got a army base in ken ding as well.. think that's explains for the 'overwhelming with singaporean' at ken ding from what aaris jie says... singapore army boys all around... we did passby the base.. Ciyuan had wanted to went in.. but we're in a rush of time.. so too bad.. next time perhaps... had a 'Bian Dang' 便当 on the train.. and btw.. taiwan have got realllly nice bian dang..
we arrived at Hua Lian at around 10pm.. and we only managed to check into the hotel after 1.5 hours (long tales) after which we went to the nearby food street to have our dinner before we call the day off...
Day 4: Hua Lian, Taipei （花莲， 台北）
had our breakfast after we check out from the hotel.. yet another 'local breakfast'... after which we visited the Taroko Gorge 太鲁阁.. think it's 2nd biggest national park in taiwan... they had a temple within the big mountain/park as well.. had a simple lunch there which include the bamboo rice which it's famous for.. after which we visit 'Ci Ji' 慈济..
Ci Ji is a buddhist charity organisation that doea outreach and so on.. and they have many many office around the world.. and it includes japan, singapore, china, US and so on... it's big in taiwan as well.. and they do have their own media studio as well as tv channel.. they have their own university as well as hospital and so on.. it's really big... after all the visiting we stopby to buy the 'Tu Chan' there which is the 'Magi' (muah-chee) before we went back to the hotel to pick our luggage and rush to catch our train to Taipei...
to sidetrack.. we've actually book 2 cab to drive us around Taroko as well as Ci Ji... aaris jie and me in 1 cab and the other 3 in the other 1.. i really really have to compliment on our driver as he had really really done a very good job.. apart from just driving us around... he took over the role as the tour guide as well as he clearly explain how everythings comes about and stuffs.. and we later check with the rest if the othe driver did the same thing.. their answer was a plain no.. hee he.. so lucky of us.. as without the introduction of taroko.. i doubt i enjoy the visit there...
my mood instantly brightened up upon reaching taipei.. hee hee.. and after checking into our 'hotel'... we went out again to Xi Men Ding 西门町.. walk around.. settle down for some food after which we took the 'Jie Yun' 捷运 (equivalent to our mrt) down to Shi Lin Night Market 士林夜市.. not as fantastic as what i had expect it to be.. but overall it was ok... we stayed around till 1am.. after which aaris jie n i took a cab down to Taipei Hospital to visit her taiwanese friends... we stayed around till 4am den we left for home...
Day 5: Taipei, Fengyuan - Tai Zhong （台北，丰原 - 台中)
had breakfast somewhere near the hotel.. den we went to Ci Ji taipei branch to seek help for aaris jie friend... and soon it was time for us to go back n pick our luggage... thus the other 3 took a cab back to the hotel whereas aaris jie and i went to the taipei train station instead to fetch Jean (aaris jie paternal cousin)... her flight was in the morning.. thus it's only around 2pm den she reach taipei...
we quickly make our way back to the hotel to meet up with the rest and they quickly make their way to another place to keep Yuyun, Karen and Ciyuan luggage before they catch the train down to YiLan... i stayed in taipei as their purpose to Yilan is to visit some holy place there and i feel that it's too boring for me.. so i opt to stay behind in taipei for half a day after which will meet up with aaris jie taiwan friend, Bao Juan to go Tai Zhong(Feng Yuan).. after they had left.. i make my way back to Xi Men ding.. and this time i was indulging myself with retail therapy.. intensive therapy.. Xiao Qing was already at Feng Yuan to pick me by the time i arrive.. and she drove me back to her house on her bike... had a bath and we went to sleep...
Day 6: Fengyuan, Tai Zhong （丰原 - 台中）
Toast breakfast again.. had milktea this time.. double the size of those we had in singapore coffeeshop... but i enjoy..
we shopped around the market.. den we went to this chinese medical store where Xiao Qing intro me to this friend of her who visit singapore almost every year.. the friend of her is actually the little boss of the store.. he's not exactly young.. mid 30s.. and before he comes back to work in the family business.. he's actually the 'Jin Ji Ren' of Xiao Zhu, Luo Zhi Xiang.. we hit it off lar.. coz we were talking about singapore.. he's so bloody interested with singapore.. and xiao qing claim that his mum likes me.. whatever it is... we went back to Xiao Qing place.. where she cooked lunch for her parent.. then we went out again.. and this time she brought me to the more happening place in Feng Yuan.. and i had my manicure done there...and it only cost me NT250 (SGD $12.50).. CHEAP... we da-bao this "Bak-Kut Mee' back to her place as lunch.. and Xiao Qing claim that everyone will look for this if they're visiting Feng Yuan esp artiste.. she personally feels that there's nothing special with that.. and after i tried it.. confirm nothing special...
took a short nap after lunch before we went to Tai Zhong City, 'Feng Jia Night Market' 逢甲夜市... SUPER crowded.. rather the most crowded night market i've came across in taiwan.. went back at 12+ where we bath and waiting for aaris jie arrival.. estimated to reach Feng Yuan at 2am... i fell asleep while waiting.. only manage to wake up to talk for 10min after she arrives before i knocked off again..
Day 7: Fengyuan, San Li, Miao Li, Taipei （丰原 ，三立，苗栗，台北）
we woke up later as everyone was tired.. during my stay in taiwan.. everyday we woke up at about 8am.. and we only get to sleep after 1am..
Xiao Qing drove us to Miao Li.. where we tried their local specilities there.. which is the 'Hakka Lei Cha' 客家擂茶.. on the first few taste it taste really good... but the more you eat the more 'ni' it gets.. they did manage to finish off that.. unfortunately i didnt...
think this place is famous for wooden carving.. everywhere u see wooden statue... almost in every shop... walk around... had some coffee den we drove down to the strawberry farm where we pick strawberry before we went back to Feng Yuan...
bought our coach tickets on the way back.. den we quickly rushed to the pastry shop to buy the 'Tai Yang Biscuit' 太阳饼 before we went back and pick our baggage to catch the coach.. think we're bad at time management.. coz almost everyday we're either rushing to catch the train else the coach... damn jialat... the worst thing was.. everyone is so panick... to the extend Xiao Qing car kanna lang-gar.. piangz.. we quite paisei lor.. and i later learn that.. that soft knock cost her abour SGD $500+...
think the journey back to taipei is about another 2hours... we rest for awhile den Jean and i set off to Dan shui 淡水 and aaris jie went to Xi Men Ding to meet the other taiwan friends instead.. she had wanted to go with us.. but last minute plan.. so so we went.. and meet up with Yuyun, Karen and Ciyuan..
had some street food with Jean.. we had massage done at the Dan Shui Old street 淡水老街.. den quickly get the 'Tie Dan' (Iron Egg) 铁蛋.. den we quickly board a bus to the Fisherman Wharf (Yu Ren Ma Tou) 渔人码头.. Yuyun and Karen had decided not to go.. thus that leaves me with Jean and Ciyuan only.. the lover bridge is pretty... the scenary is good.. took quite abit of stupid pictures there.. we're simply indulging in our photo taking session.. then ate the 'Hao Da Chicken Chop'豪大大鸡排... den we quickly board the last bus back to Dan Shui MRT station.. as we wanted to go.......... CLUBBING...
when we arrived at the station it's already close to 12.30am.. thus we get a cab back to our hotel to keep our stuffs before we go out again.. the most expensive cab i've got in taiwan.. SGD$20++.. for most of my cab ride don't exceed SGD$6.. but anyway we changed our mind again after we went back to the hotel.. we decided to go KTV instead.. and so we went.. SGD$20+ with room double the size we have in singapore for 4 persons.. toilet in every room.. and freeflow of drinks and buffet.. all provided.. damn wu hua.. but it's a pity.. as i Ko-ed halfway thru... having a damn bad FLU.. spoiler.. 3 boos to flu.. the session ended at 5am.. den aaris jie, Jean and i took a cab back.. and Ciyuan went back to his hotel to pack up to go to the airport.. we took turn to wash up... den dried our hair and quickly turn in.. as it's close to 6am in the morning...
Day 8: Taipei, Zhongli （台北，中壢）
woke up.. packed up... den we had our breakfast nearby liao... jean and i make our way down to 'Wu Fen Pu' 五分埔 (apparel wholesale place) to shop.. whereas aaris jie go dunno which temple to find her friend... didnt really buy alot of clothes here as all quite small size.. but manage to get a smart casual jacket for kat... got myself a knitted top as well.. think got wool content.. as later when i wore it.. it's farking hot...
after Wu Fen Pu.. we went back to Xi Men Ding to meet up with aaris jie.. den as Jean and i was walking toward the meeting point.. we saw that that's many pple on the street... den got reporter, beta camera, big boards and so on.. so we went forward to KPO.. den we realise that.. this this guy there doing the free hugs campaign.. so basically he just hug anyone who's willing to on the street... and this guy was invited to the 'Guess Guess Guess' show on the 'Zhen De Jia Bu Liao' segment.. coz he make a record by travelling around taiwan for 9 days w/o spending a single cent.. but anyway... Jean and i hug him as well lar.. coz he quite nice looking mah.. den we quite spontaneous 1 also... hahahha
we did our very last shopping over at xi men ding... had lunch at 'Yu Wo' 鱼窝( a swing concept cafe)... den we pass by a stall where they sell firework.. and we decide to buy and bring over to Zhong Li to play with the friends there... as never play b4... it's quite expensive... close to SGD$50 for everything... after all the buyings.. we quickly make our way back to our 'hotel'... den we called up the cabby uncle whom jean and i met earlier on our way to Wu Fen Pu... we settle the cab fare @ NT$900 or NT$1000.. cant really rmb...
the journey to Zhong Li was about 1.5 hrs... uncle dunno how to go lar.. keep referring to the map... reached @ Zhong Li, our relative place... many thanks to the staffs there coz the guys help us carry our very heavy luggage up to level 3.. their house there is shophouses.. so level 1 is the store.. level 2 is store.. and level 3 is house...
we had a short rest already.. den we went out again to Aunt Mei Mei place (our relatives friend.. very nice auntie)... after which we went out again to the nearby Night Market with Aunt Mei Mei daughter, Pei Jun and our relative daughter, Han Han (whom im suppose to call her Ah Yi or Gugu.. but she's so young.. think 17 or 18 years old only...)... tried all the nice thing they recommend us there.. such as fried octopus (the kind with gigantic legs)... fried smelly tofu... ginger juice tao huay.. slice duck with crepes, ou-ah-jian(fried oyster), shave ice, etc etc... there's so many nice food in taiwan....... even play on their street game.. whereby a machine den u can shoot the metal 'dan-zhu'弹珠 to earn more dan-zhu... after all the eating.. we went back to Aunt Mei Mei.. as she had repeatly called Pei Jun to bring us back for fruits...
we went back.. and it was a FRUIT FEAST... 3 big place of fruits after so many food... ok... but anyway... we quickly eat the fruits liao den eat our dessert.. den we went out of the shop to play the firework.. it was fun... as singapore we dun get to play... halfway thru.. kanna scolding from the neighbours say wanna call police... and so Pei Jun brought us to another stretch to play.... after all the playing.. we den went back to bath and sleep...
Day 9: Zhongli, Singapore （桃园- 中壢，新加坡）
slept in later today... as it's the last day already... den we went to nearby neighbourhood to shop again... Pei Jun brought us to a nearby japanese cafe to have our breakfast.. as her mum strongly recommend the salad there.. ok we went.. and the salad is really nice... ok.. im missing it at the moment... after breakfast... we went to the 'Guang-Nan' store.. to buy buy buy buy buy buy.. everything there is cheap.. and they sell everything..except apparel.. even electronics, CDs, comics, stationary, food also sell... almost everything...
by the time we finished shopping here.. the time should be 1+pm already.. den Aunt Mei Mei called Pei Jun as she wanna come pick us.. scare that we cant make it to airport.. and so... she picked us liao.. we went to the very big bookstore(3 storeys)... as Aaris jie need to get a buddha book for some Shi Fu... den we went to Watson to buy a very cute Pooh luggage (aim that luggage since day 2 of our trip @ Ken Ding).. den we went for lunch... had the Fat Pig Trotter Leg with rice for lunch.. had a hard time picking out the meat only.. lucky had veggies.... but it was nice though... after the lunch..
we quickly went back to relative house to repack our stuffs... den with the helps of the shop staffs again.. they help us carry down.. this time it's really exaggerating.. whole shop was activate to carry our stuffs.. but actually there's 3-4 staffs only lar.. but i dun deny we had ALOT of luggages...
Aunt Mei Mei speed to the airport in 40 mins time.. den we first went over to T2 for Jean to check in first.. as she's sitting SQ.. den to T1 to check in for aaris jie and me.. piangz eh... gotta pay SGD$300+ lor.. coz exceed baggage limit... SHIT!... but anyway.. we LL lar.. we paid.. check in liao.. den slowly walk to the entry gate.. coz our backpack super heavy also.... den soon... gotta board the plane.. and WOOOOOOOOOOOO... reached singapore close to 12am... and immediately... when i alight the plane.. i can feel the humidity here in singapore..
bought all the stuffs @ DFS liao.. den we went out.. and Gaz Kor kor (aaris jie elder bro) was already there... he fetch us back to aaris jie home as we wanted to sort thing out... den aaris jie send me home... i hala awhile already den bath and went to sleep...
i MISSED taiwan!!
Toast
(this entry was completed on 19 Aug 2007)