Taiwan Day 8

Finally it's home sweet home. Took the mrt to xi men stop before going back - that's where the shopping belt for the young is - equivalent to our orchard road.

Interesting:-

Cartoons seen in the mrt trains

Mail boxes at the houses in Taichong

Taiwan Day 7

Morning - WP bought some computer items, bought a portable DVD for mum and then went to a departmental store - the prices there are quite reasonable. It's called Da Lun Fa.
Saw a dog taking a ride on a scooter - so dangerous.
Night - went to Taipei 101 with M and wife for countdown. The fireworks were fantastic!
Even though there's a huge crowd - more than 100,000 it's well organised no pushing or shoving and 'cos the weather is cold we don't perspire so that makes a difference from our crowd in singapore. After the fireworks, we took a walk back instead of taking the mrt - it took 1 hour 15 mins to reach our place - that's a long walk since i can't remember when.

Taiwan Day 6

Morning visited the Taiwan Imperial Museum. The litter bin looks like an antique.
Afternoon went to Taipei 101. It has 89 floors and took 37 secs to reach the top!
The weather was misty so cant see anything - wat a waste of money!
Night - went to Shidah night market - was raining so not much fun.

Taiwan Day 5

Today we drove back to Taichong. Dropped by a temple on the way - Chung Tai Chan Monastery. This temple took in orphans and gave them education. The kids are pampered because they are orphans. But when they grow up it's not compulsory for them to be monks - saw this in a documentary recently. Left Taichong in the afternoon and took the highspeed rail back to Taipei in the evening, stayed at Howard International House - the service staff is a world of difference from that in Taichong - city and town life!

Taiwan Day 4

Morning visited a sheep farm. Noon WP drove us down from the mountain to a lake called Sun Moon Lake which is a popular resort too. Difficult to get room by the lake without any booking. But due to pure luck we managed to get a room (again for four person) with a beautiful view of the lake - it's so relaxing. Not thinking of family or work - super relaxing these two days with mountain and water views.

Taiwan Day 3

Morning M brought us to have breakfast at a coffeshop - it's like our dim sum but they call it zhao dian. Had soya milk with eggs added - delicious!

Afternoon WP drove us to the mountain resort - Florence Resort Villa. The view there was lovely and weather was cool (10 - 15 degrees). But too bad it was a little misty. the resort had only one room left as it was a saturday and it's a suite - 4 to a room upstairs and downstairs - so cheap just slightly more than S$300

Taiwan Day 2

Martin treat us to lunch again - at a fine dining restaurant. The food is deliciously and very filling. I had steak. The picture with the image reflection is at an artificially created pond by the restaurant owner who is also an architect.
Afternoon M drove us to a grape farm. Night went shopping at one of the night markets there.

Taiwan Trip

Spent X'mas and NY in Taiwan. It's a lovely trip - not travelling with tour group. Just mum, bro and sis. WP drove us from tai chong to a place called qing jing (a mountainous resort. Luckily he has such nice friend, loaned a car (Mercedes) to him.He is also a fantastic driver! We completed the trip save and sound even though the mountain resort road is narrow and curvy.

DAY ONE

Arrive Taipei at 5pm. Took a bus to Taiwan High Speed Railway Station.Taoyuan is the station at Taipei. Speed - 300km/hr, reach Tai Chong in half an hour. Stay at WP's friend's appt at Art Street
(long jin xiang. His friend give us a dinner treat at a buffet steamboat restaurant.