Here's the next post during the next weekend as promised!
29th March 2017, Wednesday (清境):
Woke up super early (3.30am), got prepared and the van was punctual at our doorsteps (4.30am) to send us for sunrise. Yknow you can't be late for such things - once missed you gotta wait for the next day.
FYI, there are many different attractions and must-do around 清境, it's only up to you to do your necessary research and find something you are keen for! I knew i was only keen on 2 things, the sunrise and sunset. But a pity we couldn't catch the sunset on the 1st day.
This sunrise is called the 合歡山觀日出, which we paid NT$400 (SGD$18.60) each for. And apparently it is quite a famous thing to do when people stayed a night or two over at the mountains. But i remember reading one particular review saying it was quite disappointing and indeed it somehow was. Explanation later.
Reached the peak at about 5.15am, just in time for the sunrise (about 5.40am). It was FREEZING cold at 0 degrees and we were hopping around whining non-stop. But at this point in time everyone ran to the car to seek shelter and i was just there alone embracing the cold just to not miss my sunrise. I really have a huge huge fetish for sunrises and sunsets.
^ Reasons why i said it was somehow disappointing. It was kinda blocked by the mountains so all you can see was the orange rays that perhaps still was good compared to nothing at all. But i remembered the one i saw at Jeju was much much prettier and i was in awe back then when the sun and sea just touch each other nicely.
^ #throwbackinJeju the difference, you get what i mean now!!!
^ SO COLD FOR REAL
But overall all's still good with the view, weather, and company :')
^ The drive down!!
Reached back our minsu at about 7.30am, and slept till checkout time at 10.30am.
I mentioned in my previous post that i will provide pictures proof as a testament to how pretty our minsu (Starry Minsu) is located at, so here's them!!!
^ The sky cleared this day and the view was so pretty! It's as if we are so near the clouds!!
Really worth the price and its not that pricey either given the wonderful experience!! (SGD$43 per person)
After a reluctant parting, the minsu people provided us with free transport to 清境農場, where the sheeps and cows are located at!! Nothing much here cos we are not fans of sheeps but just a morning spent feeding on them and having our terrible lunch right beside the farm.
After our lunch, the same driver that drove us to our minsu on the 1st day, drove us straight to our hotel in Taichung!! He charged us a total of NT$2500 (SGD116.50) and the drive took about 2 hours! It definitely wasn't cheap but since this was the most convenient way (other method - take a bus down to the foot of the mountain, another bus to Taichung HSR, and then cab to our hotel from there) and we were quite tired, we decided to pay SGD$30 each to have a rest......why not?
^ On our drive down, the driver took us to Old England to let us take some more pretty pictures!!
^ Adrian with his lj face again HAHA
^ Didn't manage to take a picture of our hotel room, but i was quite satisfied with this booking!!! Located within 3 minutes walk from Fengjia night market and it only cost SGD57.40 a night for 2 people! WORTH IT!!!
Our hotel room is call Green Hotel and i booked it via booking.com!!
^ Weather was hot compared to in 清境 , but of course still better than SG's!
^ Walked about 1.6km for Chun Shui Tang's bubble tea since we were still early for the opening of the night market. Chun Shui Tang is known to be the founder of bubble tea!
I ought to say this - Fengjia night market is really one the best and biggest in the whole of Taiwan!!
I'm not quite sure if the shops outside the main roads are still considered part of Fengjia night market, but all i have to say is when you reach that area, you'll find so much to do, eat, and shop!!! I came out from the night market sign with more main roads' of shopping and eating!! I swear i love this night market so much and the others i went to when i was young and now was nothing compared to Fengjia!! Wouldn't mind just flying there solely for this :')
We spent a good 5 hours around the whole Fengjia vicinity and walked back to our hotel thereafter!
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30th March 2017, Thursday (Taipei):
Hailed a cab to Taichung HSR (only NT$280 = SGD$13) and caught our 12pm HSR train to Taipei!
After touching down at Taipei Main Station, we took the metro to Ximen station and walked over to our airbnb. Spent the whole afternoon shopping at Ximending, and honestly i was quite disappointed because i remember Ximending was like my favourite memory of the trip when i was 12. But now the shopping there was just mehhh, and eating was mehhh as well, perhaps because i had a good deal at Fengjia the previous night.
Took the metro from Ximen to Jiantan station for Shilin Night Market!!!
Shilin Night Market was good as well, quite big with the streets leading to more streets/alleys. Comparable to Fengjia night market but things here are slightly more expensive probably because it is the city area. But i'm always in awe how Jon and I can slither into small alleys and streets and discovering good food and buys that most don't know! hahaha
^ Paid NT$100 (SGD$4.70) for one game and ended up winning a toy for Winnie!! :')
^ Saw this queue for fried milk and Jon was saying that a youtuber commented this is a must-try. So we got one stick and ohhhhh it was heavenly good. I mean it's sweet and crispy and i love it so much!!! Really recommend everyone to try it if you are going to Shilin! It's located at the "start" of the market, where you enter from Jiantan station!
^ In this alley, I saw a queue for 大腸包小腸. Decided to try it since i haven't had it for the time i'm in Taiwan. The guy asked what toppings i would like, and there was about 10 toppings to choose from. I didn't know what would taste good with the sausage so i just asked the guy if he had any recommendations. And he said "I'll make you a house speciality" and damnnn, i didn't regret letting him decide for me. It was SOOO good and spicy, anything spicy is a plus point from me!!!!
^ I'm not a fan of cheese, but Jon loveees this!!!
This concludes Day 2 and 3 :')
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This long weekend feels so good. Heading back to work tomorrow but not dreading it because work's been really fun and good for me :)
Seeing you guys during the next weekend, but this time no guarantees because the upcoming weekends seem busy for me. xx
