Charming Taiwan

So it was year end and this time we went on to 9 days 7 nights Charming Taiwan tour by Malaysian Harmony Tour & Travels Sdn Bhd.

Day 1 - 21 December 2013 KL - Taoyuan-Taipei

We had our dinner at home, drove to the KLIA, parked our car at Block A where long term parking first 3 days package at RM129, consecutive day at RM15 per day cheaper than we take airport limo or private van. The 7 of us joining a tour group of 25 people and our fight departing at 1.35 am.

Day 2 - 22 December 2013 Taoyuan

Upon arrival, we went for morning breakfast and then proceeded to Sanxia Old Street approximately 200 metres long where you could see full of old fashioned building and a constant red brick arcade, retained its structure from the early years of the Republic. We also visited the Sanxia Shimizu Temple, well known for its artistic, originally built in 1769. Nearby, there was a shop selling Bull Horn puff similar to croissant, a bit harder or you can say crispy version.

Then we explored the wonderful and magical adventure at Leefoo Village Theme Park in Guanshi.  Lunch was taken here. As today was Chinese Winter Solstice Festival, our local Taiwan guide, Ms Judy a very well experienced guide treated us to Tangyuan, a glutinous rice ball dessert filled with black sesame. It was yum!   

Squid in Action at Shilin

Shillin night market  - a great place for local handicrafts, clothes, tasty local snacks - try their fried chicken, quite a large piece is better to be shared.

By evening we were checked into Taipei Wego Funtel (Dazhi Branch). Its 96 guestrooms are all decorated with a different theme.  Even every floor with different design, a very unique hotel.

This is near the lift area of Wego Hotel

Day 3 - 23 December 2013 Taipei - Hualien

Yehliu

A new day after a good night sleep in a beautiful hotel.  we went to Yehliu, a place where you could see the formation of natural rock with artistic shapes created by erosion and other natural forces. 

Then Jiufen, a place with old fashioned way of life still exists.  We had lunch at Jiufen old street and grabbed some food stuff such as dried longan, ginger tea as souvenir.  The recommended lunch by our guide was beef noodle at Jiufen Old Noodles House. Besides that, try the fish ball noodle and steam chicken (highly recommended) at Yu Wan Bo Zai, a 60 years old shop. We tried the taro (yam) balls for our dessert too.


Stinky Beancurd at Jiufen

We then took public bus to the train station where we took Zhiqiang express train to Hualien.  Once we reached Hualien, our tour bus was already there waiting for us.  Off we went to dinner served with aborigine cuisine, the rice in bamboo.  After dinner, we went for a stroll at their night market before we checked into Hualien Hoya Resort Hotel.

Aborigine cuisine, similar to our Malaysia lemang

Day 4 - 24 December 2013 Hualien - Taitung

Taroko National Park

We travelled to Taroko National Park,named after Taroko Gorge, a place with abundant supply of marble and also Chang Chuen Temple, situated on the valley with beautiful scene.

We stayed at Taitung Luming Hot Spring Hotel tonight, a hotel with hotspring facilities.  You can either soak in its hot spring pools or indulge in one in your room. As today was the Christmas eve, every group of 6 - 8 people was given a langtern writtten with wishes and hopes and let go to the sky at the same time.



Wish Lantern let go to the sky

The colorful florals

Day 5 - 25 December 2013 Taitung - Kaohsiung - Tainan
Visited Fo Guang Shan (Budha Memorial Center) this morning - this is a center of Buddhism in southern Taiwan.  We were lucky to witness the celebration here as it was birthday of all Gods and all representatives from each country were there.  Fireworks were let off substantially.

Celebration in Fo Guang Shan

We went to fruits farm in Koashiung and sampled the sweetness of fruits there. You have to try the fruits in Taiwan, fresh and sweet.

Stayed a Tainan Jianshanpi Jiangnan Resort.  Enjoying the view of the floating lake by palace style boat, unlimited karaoke, watch the fireworks to mark Christmas and also learned to make a DIY souvenir.

December babies from our group, 2 ladies and 2 gentlemen celebrated their birthday during dinner at this resort.

Day 6 - 26 December 2013 Tainan - Nantou- Taichung

Sun M

The magnificent of Sun Moon Lake - enjoy a boat ride to admire the surrounding lush landscape and crystal clear lake water.

We went for a visit at tea plantation in Nantou, bought some green tea powder. The owner of this plantation was such a hilarious person.

Pluck tea leaves

Tonight we stayed at Taichung C U Hotel, visited Wen Wu Temple and Taiwan Times Village, old days of Taiwan.

Taiwan Times Village

Again street food for dinner tonight, we went to Fong Jia night market.

Day 7 - 27 December 2013 Taichung - Taoyuan - Taipei

Once back to Taipei, we had Chiba buffet shabu shabu, loved it!



Taipei 101

We then proceeded to Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, Taipei 101 and checked into Taipei Brother Hotel.  We left for night market on our own tonight, this time to St Roahe.

Day 8 - 28 December 2013

Today was free and easy.  We had our breakfast in hotel and took the metro rail to Ximending shopping and for their famous Ah Chung mien sien (osyter rice flour noodle), highly recommended.  We then took metro rail to Tamsui Fisherman Wharf, cold and windy where you can see the romantic Couple Bridge.  However, we skipped  Marthyrs Shrine.



Fisherman Wharf



Lovers Bridge





Day 9 - Taipei - Kuala Lumpur

Very early morning flight with packed breakfast at the airport, we were sure to return again to Taiwan, so much more to explore and so much to eat!.