Traveling to Taiwan with public transportation, airbnb, friends, and relatives

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.