TAIWAN FINALLY

About this blog

Our regular year end break. This time we were off to Taiwan! Land of Snacks and Snacks!!!

In 'short', following was my itinerary and comments after the trip.

Tainan City (3 nights) - Arrived in Taoyuan and transfer to the high speed railway (HSR) to Tainan, you must try this, the trip was worth it especially travelling on the VIP/most expensive cabin! Stressless, easy and peaceful. No major sightseeing in Tainan. Just checkout local life and sights. Go to the night market for snacks though. IMPT* - checkout lodging, some of them have special packages that comes with free coupons to sights and snacks, its fun finding your way there. We stayed at La Plaza Hotel and gotten so much free snacks at end of day.

Chiayi City (1 night) - Took a taxi here from Tainan, can't remember fares but save trouble from train transfer as it was not far (above an hour). Night market is fun and different from others, stalls lined along the roadsides (easy walking) and not in a squeezy close-up compound. Stayed at Masion de Chine, good location to shopping and night market.

Alishan Town (2 nights) - Book Little Swiss with Charlies and all will be taken care of! Feichihu Town (2 nights) - This layback little town is still within Alishan; considered as the entrance to the National Park. Worthwhile to stay for 1-2 nights. Explored the 'ancient' shopping lanes just outside our hotel: Feichihu Hotel. (Stay is just ok) Town is of Kampong style settling. Must visit Old Train Station & Museum and Rueili Historic Trail Sq. Bamboo Forest. Peaceful and wonderful locals.

Taizhong City (3 nights) - Took HSR from Chiayi. A modern city like others; big shopping centre and night markets. Stayed at Han Kou Hotel (closed to night market and food) Visited Art Museums, wife's prayer organization and shop & shop.

Taipei City (5 nights) - Arrived by HSR and transferred to the MRT in the city to reach hotel in Ximenting. Visited the following:

Ximenting Shopping - Must visit and shop. There are plentiful of local food stall in the evening time. Walking street closed to traffic; big area.

Taipei International Flora Exposition 2010 - Quite a letdown; the only impressive flower display area are right after the entrance. After that just a normal garden; plenty of walking though. The Singapore Pavilion was the worst among all!!!

You can travel around easily on the MRT; just like Singapore. But the people here are more organized and disciplined. Nice and orderly queued for train at the platform; no rush and easy and no blockage at doors! Visit all the major sights like 101 and major shopping centre (wife insisted..)

3 places I strongly recommended to visit and experience: a) Dansui - Get there by MRT. Great street shopping, food and beautiful/romantic sunset in the evening. Very localize and not like a night market. There's a unique small museum of weird stuff that you should visit. Great fun by just strolling in the streets; day and night.

b) Pingxi Rail travel- This is the gateway to the 'Kwong Ming' Lantern flying. The entire journey there was fun and 'romantic' for couple. Get there by train from Taipei train station, these train are short distance and sitting just like MRT. Pingxi is considered an out-of-town sight. There are about 5-6 villages along this part of railway; you can purchase a cheap unlimited day trips ticket from the station. This enable you to hop up and down anytime though there are only 3 main villages that you will have sufficient time to enjoy in a day! Plenty to see, taste, experience and play - preparing, writing, lighting up and flying off a giant 'Kwong Ming' Lantern with your wishes!!

c) Keeluang Harbour/SI-Fen - This is another layback town with popular night markets like in movies. You can access to Si-Fen Village in the hills from here; though you can also visit Si-Fen from Taipei by train directly in a day. Si-Fen is another layback village on a hill side facing the sea. Heard numerous famous movies were filmed here. Shopping and tasting local delights are the major drawn here.

Just as I have highlighted in my earlier review, the characteristics and nature of the Taiwanese people is a major factor that will infuse this holidays. Adding this factor to the environments and weather, it's non other than a stressless, peaceful, fun and memorable holidays!