Taiwan Day 6: JiuFen & ShiFen

Both of us had been here on our previous trip to Taipei.

This time, we tried a different routes. We came by public transport.

Actually it was not difficult. From Taipei, board a bus at Shong shan station. The bus will take you directly to Jiu Fen.

It's very cold up here.

With the drizzle.

Warm up ourselves with the famous QQ drink.

After walking the whole streets of Jiu Fen, we stop by a shop to reward ourselves with lunch.

Braised pork rice, braised noodle, braised eggs and fish balls.

We then catch the bus to Rui Fang train station to take a train to Shi Fen.

To catch the bus, when you come out from the Jiu Fen entrance, turn to your right side and walk up. The bus station heading to train station will stop there. If unsure, can ask the people in 7-11. Lol. That's what we did :)

This is Shi Fen, made famous by a movie.

The tourist attraction was this street beside the railway lane.

Lanterns are sell throughout the street.

Many people bought the lantern, put up their wishes and release it to the atmosphere.

We didn't do that, as I'm concerned on where will the lantern falls and will it trap the birds. And is it pollution-free? Well.. I'm not sure, so I'd choose not to.

To head back to Taipei, we board the train from Shi Fen, stop at Rui Fang and change train to Taipei.

Taiwan Day 5: 四哥の店 @ Maokong

Upon arriving in Taipei and left our luggage at the hostel, we head to Maokong for a gondola ride.

We choose the transparent glass gondola.

The price is same, however the queue is different. You've to wait longer for this gondola.

Arriving at the last station - Maokong, we hike a little up the hill and reach a street of shops.

We chosen 四哥の店 as introduced by hubby's friend from Taiwan.

Tea fried rice. NTD120.

Fried tea tofu. NTD180. This is nice!

And a pot of tea for NTD200.

Tea time with a view.

Minimum spending NTD200/ pax and only can be seated for 3 hours max.

A good experience and relaxing evening.

Taiwan Day 4: Feng Jia Night Market

Typical activity to do in Taiwan - night market hopping.

Our plan was actually to visit the Gao Mei Wetlands for sun set before going to Feng Jia night market. Too bad that the train interval to reach Gao Mei Wetlands was not that frequent. So, we missed the earlier train and if we still proceed, we won't be able to arrive there before sunset though. So we skipped and head straight to FJ night market by bus. Bus fare was free.

We stop by a few stalls.

Porky box.

Hubby said yummy. Not for me.

Papaya milk. Too big cup. We only able to finish half of it.

Pancake.

Take your number and wait for your turn.

This is something like "roti telur gulung". Lol. Not nice.

Takoyaki. Long queue.

Mass production. NTD60 for a box.

Bye!~

We took the foods back to our room for supper.

One thing to note is that the prices of shoes/ clothes/ bags that we saw in FJ night market is cheaper than those in Taipei. If you stop by Tai Chung before Taipei, just buy what you want here.

Taiwan Day 4: Tai Chung

How to get to Tai Chung from Cing Jing?

Walk to Cing Jing Guesthouse and wait for the Nantou Bus to Puli Station. The bus stop is located at road side. 

At Puli, change bus which will take you directly to Tai Chung. For our case, we hop on the bus that bring us to Tai Chung train station, as our hotel (Mi Casa) was walking distance to Tai Chung train station.

Arriving at Tai Chung at 12pm, we are not allowed to check in yet. Thus, we walk around looking for lunch. We stop by a chain restaurant.

Plum juice NTD15. This was surprisingly cheap!

Gyoza. This is good.

Bean paste noodle.

Beef soup noodle. Without beef. Lol.

Total cost for the 3 items was NTD123.

It's yet 3pm after our lunch and there is nothing interesting nearby.

So we decided to hang out at the cafe beside our hotel - Mi Cafe.

Cafe rules - one drink per person. Zzz..

Coffee ice.

Coffee ice cream which I though was affogato.

Both cost NTD 240.

Disappointing coffee.

The cafe.

Finally it's 3pm and we allowed to check in.

The room was small but it's clean and comfortable.

This is the view from the hotel roof top.

I'll recommend it for it's location which is very near to train station and the clean room.

Taiwan Day 3 & 4: Carton King & Little Swiss Garden

After had some rest, we walk down the hill to Carton King.

Everything here is made from carton.

Even the steamboat set.

BTW, the steamboat was so-so only. The meats given was too frozen.

Hubby ordered grill chicken. This was nice.

Total cost for this 2 set meal was NTD924. Expensive!

For spending more than NTD300/pax are entitled to the entrance ticket to Little Swiss Garden (cost NTD90 if bought from hotel lobby/ NTD120 from the counter.)

Luckily we asked the counter. For entrance after 7pm, the ticket can be use to re-enter the next day.

So we get to enjoy both night and day scene.

At night, the garden are lit up with lights. It was quite nice under the cooling weather.

After walking the whole garden (which was quite small) and watch the water show, we head back to hotel and call it a day.

Breakfast provided by hotel.

After breakfast, we walk to Little Swiss Garden for the morning scene.

This is how it looks like in morning.

Basically for day time, it is for visitors to enjoy the flowers.

There's a mini cafe inside.

The coffee and foods was not cheap though.

We had fire polo bun which cost NTD80.

Disappointing. Hahaha..

After finishing the bun, ,we walk back uphill to our hotel, check out and hop on bus to Tai Chung.