My 2013 Year End Trip: Taiwan 台湾 (Sneak Peek)

I'd been to Taiwan before back in year 2010 but nothing beat the feelings of travel by our own or so-called DIY travel compare to travel with tour agency. Plus, another reason I choose to back Taiwan was because this is my birthday treat for my very best friend aka my Boyfie since he never been to Taiwan before. Besides both of us, Boyfie's best friend also tagged along for this trip and many unexpected surprised and shocking adventures happened along the way but for sure by the end of this trip, three of us indeed had a great time in Taiwan. "Whatever happened in Taiwan, stay in Taiwan!"

#1: 你好 Taiwan! I'm back again to this sweet potato shaped country and also the homeland of Asus & HTC after three years. 

#2: We started off our trip by taking high speed train to Taichung and the train resembles exactly like the Japan's bullet train - fast, quiet and comfort. Taiwan makes me miss Japan so much!

So far, I know there are three options to go Taichung from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport but we choose the fastest option which was taking the high speed train cause like Hilda Milda said, every minute is valuable.

#3: A visit to Taiwan is incomplete without visiting their night market and one of my favourite markets would be Fengjia Night Market in Taichung. We spend two nights in this market alone where for the first night, we spend more than 6 hours and by the second night, we wandered until midnight. Sounds so crazy, right?


#4: Sun Moon Lake for the second time and this time, took the ropeway to enjoy the whole scenic view.


#5: Went Shifen 十分 for the very first time just for this waterfall. Really worth it eventhough we walked more than 30 minutes just for the sake of this.

#6: Besides the waterfall, done the things I wanna do in Shifen 十分 - like walking on the railway as well as write wishes and release the lantern. Another mission accomplished!


#7: Been Jiufen 九份 but still love to return there just to search for this tea house which used as a model for Ghibli's Spirited Away animated film. No surprised to see so many Japanese tourists there for the same reason.


#8: The Red House Theater in Xi Men Ding - where you can find creative and fashionable ideas and products by the young and talented artists. My favourite place to hunt for vintage items and I went twice throughout my trip there.


#9: One of the recommended places to go in Taipei would be Beitou which is well-known to be one of the largest concentrations of hot springs and spas in the world. Apart for that, Beitou Public Library
is also notable as being constructed to be an eco-friendly green building.


#10: Damnshui, a port town to the northwest of Taipei for its mesmerising golden sunset view. 

#11: And for the final day, the birthday boy said wanna go up to this world famous skyscraper which also to be known as Taipei's well-known landmark, Taipei 101.

So, basically you can see that we skipped most of those historical places like museums, memorial halls, temples and so on cause we can spend roughly more than 5 hours in one particular place. Plus, I went most of them before during my maiden visit and thus, no point for me to do another visit, right?

#12: Last but not least, as for our accommodation, we stayed in guesthouse or hostel, which commonly known as minsu in Taiwan. Minsu is very popular in Taiwan and you must try to stay there at least once. It's cheaper, clean, convenient and even the room space is much more bigger if compare to the hotel - My Blog on: Minsu I Stayed in Taiwan

And with this, Taiwan wrapped up as my 10th and final trip for this year alone, unless out of of expectation, I have another trip to come...

"Travel to the places you really wanna go and see, not to follow other people footsteps. It's your trips anyway, you're travel for yourself, not for other people!"

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Taiwan Day 6

Date of Visited: 25th December 2010

My never ending Taiwan tales almost comes to the end on the 6th day because on the 7th day, we gonna depart back to Kota Kinabalu in the early morning. Now, let's recap my 6th day itinerary in the big city of Taiwan, Taipei.

Kicking our day by visiting the most recommended and famous of the 3 historical and cultural heritage in Taipei; National CKS Memorial Hall, Martyr Shrine Taipei and National Palace Museum. Shouldn't miss out these places if you plan your trip to Taiwan.

By the time we're in Taiwan, the biggest internationally garden festival were still going on and here we are visiting the Taipei International Flora Exposition 2010. My first ever experience to visit the world's international exposition and you know what, its definitely an eye-opening adventure.

While waiting for the other before move on to the next destination, we spotted small Japanese shop but packed with variety of sushi. Most of it cost NT$100 (approximately RM10), how could you won't resist this?

This will be the last and final night market before going back home - Ximending, Taipei. One of the most famous night market and bustling shopping district situated in the heart of Taipei and from what I observed, most those visitors around this area are teenagers. However, based on my own experience and also from my friends too, we agreed to most of the items sold here are quite expensive and not affordable to buy. Recommended you to shop other place before come here for shopping.

End the final night in Taiwan by having supper, SUSHI! My favourite sushi - Inari and Maki, which bought from the shop located outside of the Taipei Flora Expo. Cheap, fresh and taste good! Yummy yummy~

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Floral World at Taipei Flora Explo 2010

Date of Visited: 25th December 2010

I think among all the places that I went around Taiwan (Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung), I guess this is the main highlighted on the trip - Taipei International Flora Expo 2010.

It opened for almost half year, start onwards from 6th November 2010 and run until 25th April 2011. Besides served as the garden festival, the purpose of Taipei International Flora Expo being held is for horticulture exposition. It is Taiwan's first time experience to held this internationally recognised exposition.

We started to venture around the Global Garden Area. Seriously, this exhibition is so massive and need to take a ride on their shuttle bus to visit the other area. So sad that we won't able to cover all the other area within 2 hours.

Now, shall us let the photo do the talking (some I able to identify their country):

#1: Malaysia

Come from Malaysia and visited the Malaysia area. End up with disappointment. They didn't contribute much in order to promote Malaysia's flora.

#2

#3

#4: Palau, not Pulau

#5 Hong Kong

#6 Hawaii

#7

#8

#9 Thailand

#10 Indonesia

#11

#12 Netherlands - I thought they famous with tulip but they use board to display their flowers. Unable to import to Taiwan because the location is too far??

What an unique exhibitions around the world.
So among all the photo above, which you prefer the most?

Without realising, for just 1 area of the exhibition it can consume 1 hour plus. So, my family and I are kinda in hurry in order to cover the most that we can.

The Flower Landscape - They will feature different type of flora in once a month and this time around (December), this area featuring the poinsettias.

Gosh! Don't you think it's awesome and fascinating with all these colourful flowers?

Although I am those type that not really into flowers much except for lily, but this exhibition really impressed me. It was fairly interesting and worth seeing with lot of flowers on display over the vast area of Taipei that the Flora Expo covers. Unfortunate for me was visit this exhibition for less than 2 hours is totally not-so-awesome as there are many things to see and worst case ever was crowded all over the area.

Really wish that I get the chance to visit the other kind of Expo in the nearest time.

P/S - I even missed out the Shanghai Expo which eventually my dad purposely went for that and he told me that it was awesome too.

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3 Historical & Cultural Heritage of Taipei City

Date of Visited: 25th December 2010

If you plan or decide to visit Taiwan, here is my recommendation these 3 most famous and interesting spots you shouldn't miss out around Taipei city.


The National CKS Memorial Hall - is Taiwan famous monument and it was built for remembrance the memory of their former great president, Chiang Kai-Shek. Located at the heart of the Taipei city, CKS Memorial Hall has become the landmark of Taipei City.

Entrance of the memorial hall

Memorial Hall consists of four sides which were made from white marbles while the octagonal roof is made out of blue glazed tiles.
And if you happen to have a sharp eyes, you will notice that...


The photo above was taken using the maximum optical zoom of my camera because

See, the memorial hall is extremely far from where I was standing. We were given only 10 minutes to strolling around this place or I can said being given 10 minutes to have a pee...

There are even locations for international art performances. Situated right in front of the entrance, those are the National Theater and National Concert Hall.

The National Concert Hall

The National Theater

We were given no extra minutes and even a few seconds to sight what's located inside the memorial hall because our local tour guide was seems to be in the hurry to the next destination. Maybe we were almost out of schedule on that day due to the heavy traffic jam and you know what - it was Christmas day when we arrived Taipei city. Guess have to use to it when it comes to public holiday.


Move on the next destination was the Martyr Shrine Taipei. It is a shrine built to to commemorate soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country during the Sino-Japanese war and the Chinese Civil war.

Mistake #1: Please forgive me, I don't mean to pose in this way.

Mistake #2: I really never realise until recently when editing the photo.

One of the main highlight you shouldn't miss out when visiting this scenic spot be the performance of the changing guards.

You got to salute these guards. They are being trained well and they can eventually stand still like expressionless statues. Do respect them too by don't get too close or even touching them. Similar to the guard at the Buckingham Palace, London.


Then, we're heading to a museum this time around and I seems to quite fancy this kind of museum, not like the one in my previous post (here).

National Palace Museum

Apparently it sounds to be exhibition of the palace but it is actually an art museum where exhibits a fine collection of priceless Chinese art treasures.. Unfortunately, phototaking is prohibited within the exhibition hall. Too bad!!!

So, this is one and only photo I can take. Damn! I hate my chubby looks :(

Although I don't have any knowledge regarding the Chinese history, I do enjoy watching every collection in this museum. It is a place you must go if you want an exploration on cultural heritage and cilization of the ancient Chinese.

[Credit to: wikipedia, National Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall homepage, Welcome to Taiwan

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