Fun Taiwan 台湾好好玩! | Chapter 1

This Chapter 1 : Taipei 台北 - Shihlin 士林 - Jiufen 九份 - Keelung 基隆 - Taichung 台中

9 days of travelling is quite a long trip, hence there are loads of photos. It's tiring at time but still we want to capture all the best that we could of this beautiful country.

This is the first of two chapters of my Taiwan travelogue. A trip of 4 people, Chee Heng, Rabbito, Angelina and I. We travelled round the island, starting from Taipei 台北 to Taichung 台中, then Hualien 花莲, Kenting 垦丁 and ended our trip back north in Taipei. Lots of travelling and walking but looking back at the photos, it's worth every moment and sweat.

First contact of Taiwanese beverages in the airport! Found these well-designed boxes of drinks in 7-11. Convenient store is quite a haven as they were packed with all sorts of food and drinks!

First of many rides in the MRT. Here are some details and railway map of Taiwan subway system.

This is Shihlin 士林, our first stop in Taipei. Shihlin night market is famous for its all variety delicious food and shopping goods.

Angry Birds has invaded practically every corner of the world.

Uncle and Hello Kitty.

Lots of people in Shihlin.

My favourite! I had Taiwan sausage almost everyday... almost!

Dumplings ala pan fried style.

Imagine the smell of freshly baked pastry with the aroma of sesame and spring onions! Delicious!

Rabbito enjoying a piece of the pastry... yummy!

We took the subway to XiMenDing. Subway in Taipei is the most convenient way to travel around.

Starbucks at XiMenDing. XiMenDing is one of the most happening spot in Taipei. But it was too late for us, and most of the shops and stalls were closed at midnight.

Nice wall in XiMending.

Mailbox in Shihlin, Taipei. I love to shoot mail box.

Early morning in Shihlin.

Breakfast in Shihlin. Heard from the locals that this stall is quite famous.

Breakfast is served!

You tiao, soya bean, lobak gou(turnip cake), pork chop and egg crepe. Yummylicious breakfast!

Underground passage in Shihlin, Taipei.

Where do you want to go? Make sure you know Chinese in Taiwan, else bring friends who does like me because almost everything is in Chinese language.

Some fun and shoot in the underground passage.

On the train again.

Local Taiwanese travels in scooters or motorbikes like this.

Jinguashi 金瓜石 located neaby Jiufen. We were on our way to Jiufen 九份 but made a small detour to this place. Jinguashi is famous for its goldmine, and some Japanese World War II quarters and shrines.

Tea cups!

Lovely cafe, the Golden Impression Cafe at Jinguashi 金瓜石 .

Angeline having a melancholic moment in the cafe.

Cute bento set. Really like this but it's a little bit too expensive for my liking.

Jiufen 九份, packed with lots of people, lots of alleys and lots of stalls!

Food stalls galore in Jiufen. Food food food... dessert dessert dessert!

Candies store.

Looks delicious but didn't get to try this candy.

All of these are so delicious... delicious Taiwanese sausages.

This stall is quite famous, long queues.

Don't know what's this but looks like some kind of meat with dough.

Address plaque ala Taiwanese style.

Chee Heng and Rabbito.

Teahouse. Time for a tea break.

Tea break and camera cleaning.

A great view overlooking the magnificent landscape of the hills and sea. It would have been perfect if not for the thick fog and we would have an unobtrusive view of the sea.

The road leading to Jiufen with terraces of buildings on the hill slopes makes a very interesting landscape.

There are many tea houses and cafes in Jiufen. Our servings of teas.

Tanglung... aka lantern.

A restaurant in Jiufen.

The ascending and descending stairs in Jiufen.

Chee Heng, Rabbito and Angeline at the barber shop.

One of the many narrow alleys with stalls on both sides. We spend almost half a day here in Jiufen as there were lots to explore and shop (mostly food and souvenirs)!

Taro balls dessert at Jiufen. My first in Taiwan!

Jiufen at dusk.

This is Keelung 基隆 night market. Took a long ride from Jiufen to Keelung. Keelung is also known as Jilong or Chilung.

All the nightmarkets in Taiwan is packed with people. Keelung is no exceptions.

Fresh and delicious fruits.

Huge octopus tentacles!

Time for breakkie at Shihlin again.

Egg crepe with ham.

Turnip cake. Turnip cakes and egg crepe are about the common breakfast found in Taiwan.

Waiting for a 2 hours train ride to Taichung 台中.

We killed some time snapping around.

Drinks vending machine.

Illustrated how-to-use hydrant system.

Taichung 台中 railway station.

Tomer hostel, our stay in Taichung.

The room layout in Tomer hostel. Cost us about NT$1440 per night.

In the evening, we passed by The National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts.

Now & Forever... in Taichung.

For the first night in Taichung, we tried a very local shop for dinner. This is Egg omelette with oysters and basil! Delicious!

My dinner, braised beef noodle soup. This is so so only.

Clamp in clear soup. This one also so so only.

Sun Moon Lake 日月潭, the largest lake in Taiwan. We heard it's very a very beautiful place but it failed to impress us. Maybe it's due to the fact that it was a dry season and the water level dropped to a critical level. Either that or it's not the best of season to visit the lake in early May.

Place your wish at the shrine.

One of the few group photos we have. (from left) Angeline, Rabbito, Chee Heng and Me.

Lots of owls related art and crafts in this part of the lake settlement.

More owl sculptures in Sun Moon Lake.

QingJing Sheep Farm 清境農場 in Nantou.

More sheep everywhere, even the rubbish bin.

The view in the Qingjing sheep farm 清境農場 is magnificient.

The sky was so blue when we reach the top of the hill!

Warning, danger!

Rabbito at the top of the hill in 清境農場.

Chee Heng on top of the hill at 清境農場

Jump... jump... jump... at 清境農場.

Finally, a sheep...

Carton King 紙箱王, a wonderland where everything is made of paper. There was a park filled with paper architecture such as Eiffel Towel but we didn't go in.

The tables, chairs and decorations in this restaurant are all made of paper.

Colorful looking popsicles.

Flowers in Taiwan are very beautiful and they are found everywhere in spring.

The Old England boutique hotel. It's a very beautiful place but no outsiders allowed.

Some very European architectures in the heart of Taiwan.

We can't get it, so we just snapped photos from the outside.

The Old England was almost the finale of the day. After that, we went to get some free chocolates and have some free coffee! Sorry, no photos of the chocolate shop cos I was too tired.

The next morning, we went to GaoMeiShiDi 高美湿地. Windmills, cool breeze, greeneries and seasides awaits us here!

On the left is the sea and the right is a long road with some buildings and temple.

The windmills at GaoMeiShiDi 高美湿地.

Vast greeneries.

A rest stop.

Low tide.

"Rabbito the flasher!"

Angeline very happy to see the windmills.

There are egrets here by the seaside. If you look closely at the center of this photo you will see it.

And with that it's the end of the first part of my Taiwan trip! Next up is Hualien 花莲 and Kenting 垦丁.