They said
"Taiwan has the most helpful, friendliest people in the world.” I have to
agree. You'll find out numerous examples throughout my trip to Taiwan. Yes I'm
Taiwanese, but I feel like an 11 year old in Taiwan. With 3 typhoons in the
forecast, expected heat with humid weather in Taiwan, I started my journey of
self-realization, picking up Mandarin at high-speed level. Somehow I can still
remember and understand the language, but had forgetting how to speak
fluently.... Throughout the journey, we slept at no more than 2 days in once location. I learned not to be afraid to be on my
own.
Taiwan
Vacation Diary 2015
Day 1.
Traveling to
Taiwan alone on United.
Arriving at the
airport on time, Flora and her brother picked me up, and then pick up Tobi. I
had 蚵仔麵線 (aka
oyster vermicelli) as my first meal in Taiwan.
Day 2.
Woke up in Yongmei. Drop off
Joanne and Tobi at TPE airport. Then Flora's brother took us to train station.
We took train to Daxi station to visit Lisa Buice.
She shares
with us her stories in Taiwan. Her husband had recently passed away of
motorcycle accident, so she's by herself in this small town. Right outside
of her church is a school and then honeymoon bay beach. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeymoon_Bay,Yilan It's
a beautiful location, but I am really amazed at how strong she is as a person
to be a foreigner living in Taiwan all by herself. She kind of reminded me of
cast away, except there are Taiwanese around her.
We then took the train to
Yilan. We book airbnb here.
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/6007870
It's located
in the middle of rice fields,
the surrounding is beautiful
except that we got LOST
:(. Us two with two luggages in the humid heat and mosquitos around us, we
walked 30 min to the destination. Luckily there were people we ask directions.
When we
arrived at the house, it's beautiful decorated. The host arrived later and gave
us a nice overview of yilan area.
That night we
visited Luodong Night Market- it's one of the busiest night market in Taiwan. I
tried papaya milk, and lamb noodles, satay stir-fry, wait in line for more
foods... We ended up buying too much food.
Day 3.
Woke up in Yilan.
We ate our
leftover for breakfast. Dale took us to train station. We took the train and
bus to Wufengchi waterfall.
There were 3
levels of the fall, 3rd level being the lowest level. We got a free pedicure by
the fishes next to the waterfall. Then we went to 2nd waterfall where Flora got
wet and had picture with cute boys. Oh, I want to mention that Taiwanese people don't read signs... Clearly there were signs indicate do not cross, yet people still go to the other side.
Then we took a challenge hike to level 1.
It had a steep climb that reminded me of mission peaks, but we made it.
Beautiful waterfall. Came down, saw a big spider....
had tea, ice cream sandwich, honey drink,
and 蓮霧 (aka wax
apple) and Taiwanese sausage.
Then we went back to Jiaxi station. Walk to
Jiaoxi hot springs. Had coffee and enjoying soaking our feet in the water. Then
we went to Japanese style hot springs. Meet many friendly Taiwanese offer us to
take us to places. Then we went to hot spring fish.
Then it poured. Rain
come and goes in this area. We were not prepared. Again, a lady offered us to
borrow her umbrella and bring it back when we are done. Again, another example of Taiwanese are
the nicest people in the world. Dinner we had hot and sour soup and XLB and finish
off the snow ice and head back to airbnb.
Day 4.
We begin our
journey today to Taipei, we try to take the train, but arrive late and miss the
train, so we waited for bus. We miss the bus as well. Finally got the freshest
coconut juice and call taxi. Finally took the bus to Taipei. Flora had college
reunion, so I ate with them and one of her classmate took me to MRT and showed
me when to get off. Then I meet up with Lansing. Russell and Lansing treated me
to dinner and we were going to climb the elephant mountain trail, but it poured
unexpectedly.... so we went with plan B to Songshan Cultural and Creative Park.
Then we ate at Chun Shui Tang www. chunshuitang.com.tw
And shopped at the bookstore in the mall.
Day 5.
Luckily the
rain stopped this morning. Russel and Lansing took me to climb Elephant
Mountain this morning.
This mountain has walls that look like a person's face!
6th aunt came over and we had a nice lunch. Then she
dropped me off at train station head toward Yangmei.
So I didn't
get the international SIM card since I thought I would be traveling with Flora.
Flora had to meet with more friends, so she sent her brother to pick me up...
I only had met him few days before from the airport. I was a little jet
lagged plus he was the driver so I didn't really pay attention to what he looks
like. Everyone passing by train station look like Flora's brother so I smile at
everyone and no one seem to be looking for a person. So I started to worry, one
of the girls saw me and said she will watch my luggage while I go make a call.
Another person helped me dial the public phone. Unfortunately no one picked up
the phone on the other end.
1/2 hour later
I was getting hopeless, then I remember while in Yilan, I was able to connect Wi-Fi
using someone else's phone. I ask the teenager sitting next to me. He was nice
enough to share his tethering plan with me so I was able to call Flora and
figure out I should have been downstairs instead of at 4th floor. Flora's
brother was waiting for me all this time. Whew!!! We went to have dinner at
sleep.
Day 6.
Woke up in
Yongmei, head toward Kaoshiung today to meet Lee mama. Flora got off at TaiNan
to meet with more friends.
Lee mama had a
sign to make sure I recognize her. Luckily I had become FB friend with her the
day before and knew what she looked like.
She greets me
with much happiness. She's 70's but acted like she is still in her 40's.
She took me to National Sun-Yet-sun University to drop off my luggage. Then we
went to mall and ate Japanese. I had KaoHsiung papaya milk, which reminded me
of my childhood.
On top of dream mall is this little play ground that has ferris wheel.
Stop by
Cinema, check out library. Then went to Artco Art District to have dessert and
tea. Took the boat across to chichin island http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g297908-d556522-Reviews-Chichin_Island-Kaohsiung.html to
eat fresh seafood.
Day 7.
Woke up in
National Sun-Yet-sun University. http://www.nsysu.edu.tw/bin/home.php?Lang=en This
is a place where scholar stayed, it's a university next to the ocean. It's
raining today due to Typhoon.
There were stray dogs everywhere in Taiwan. I was kind of sad to see that, but some people said that they are more well off on the street than in the shelter.
Flora had another date with friends, so Lee mama
came over and took me to love river. It's beautiful in the rain.
228 Park. Ate
at Din Tai Fung for lunch. Then we had dessert and coffee at Charlie Brown
cafe.
She took me to see Dome of light.
And the library.
and then on top of the library where I saw KaoHsiung overview.
Then we went to exhibition center,
then we saw the incredible sunset.
and finally, she
did something she's never done before. Climb up many stairs to the British
embassy in the rain to have afternoon tea (or late afternoon 7pm) at Rose House
with me.
It was an
incredible experience with her sharing her word of wisdom along the way and
riding public transportation all the way.
Day 8.
Leaving
KaoHsiung this morning. We got breakfast at Family mart, and then Lee mama came
and ordered taxi to take us to train station.
We arrive at
Tianzhong to meet up with Flora's aunt.
We had lunch there, simple yet so good.
We had her cousin's egg roll plus some homemade food. Yum! Then Flora's cousin took
us to see the STMer's as an unexpected stop! I saw Monica and see that she's
doing well but tired.
Then we took
the train to TaiChung to meet up with another Flora's school reunion. Meet up
with Peggy. She took me to Fengchia Night market and Tunhai University, and we saw
the amazing Luce Chapel.
Day 9.
Woke up in
TaiChung 16th floor.
Chia-chi was our host this day. She let me sleep in her son's room. There is a pet turtle that also reminded me of my childhood. so adorable!
We had breakfast! Then they took me to the bus top and I head toward Nantou on my own.
Meet up with
7th aunt. She took me to sunny hill farms,
Nantou winery, and ate dinner. Then
she dropped me off at school to see STMer's final performance.
Afterwards we
drove to Shueili night market
and meet up with more of Flora's classmates and
slept at Flora's relative house.
Day 10.
This morning I
woke up in Shueili.
Gembi was our host this day.
Flora told me where to go to take a train to the last stop.
She says there is a tourist area and I might enjoy it, so I took the train all
by myself the last stop. There I saw Cristina and Ryan....dad and aunt. What a
small world!
The place is beautiful!
I think I just find the hidden gem in Taiwan.
Came back, had
lunch, then we head to Sun moon Lake. We check in at teacher's hostel, walk
around the lake,
and had black tea and more Taiwanese sausage.
Tried to see
the peacock, but because of the rain, they were inside the cage. We took the
boat across the lake to see more stores and had tea egg.
We had dinner
at hotel and went to the rooftop and call it the night.
Day 11.
Woke up at Sun
moon Lake teacher's hostel. Ate breakfast, hike hanbi trail.
A beautiful
trail... except it poured while we were hiking, we hide in the hotel walkway until rain dies down. I think sun moon lake is beautiful in the rain.
Then Flora's
sister and brother in law dropped me off at 3rd aunt's house.
This is the place I was born. The streets look like this...
There I had lunch
and rested. Then my cousin took to Carrfour to buy durian. It tasted good, but
smells nasty. Afterwards she took me on a moped to have pastry and milk tea. We
also walked around the outdoor track and field. Then we had dinner and went to
sleep.
Day 12.
Woke up at 3rd
aunts house. 7th aunt pick me up at 7:30am to take HRT to Taiyuan. Meet up with
cousin and 6th aunt.
We meet with
1st aunt and her family. What a big family she has, and they all live close
together. We had lunch together and I meet many new relatives :)
Afterwards 6
aunt took me to Taipei where she lives, Then she got ready for work, dropped me
off at a haircut place, I had dinner with her son and daughter whom I haven't
officially meet until this trip (more relatives :) I also meet her daughter's
son, so cute. She then took me back to 6 aunt's house.
Day 13.
Woke up at 6th
aunt's house. We had breakfast and she drove me to the airport
and said goodbye
:(... That's the end of my journey.
