This is a trip the hub and I took in May 15. I know, late post.
Taiwan had been ranked by Lonely Planet as among the top 10 places to travel with its rugged sea cliffs & mountains, food & culture. Never mind that it is among the 20 most densely populated places in the world, that lone leaf-like island was worth a visit with AirAsia's flight ex- Kota Kinabalu.
Taiwan's Taipei Rail Map:
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| Navigating around Taipei was straightforward enough. Use prepaid rail passes for fast access & convenience. Upon trip completion, card refunds can be done at select locations, but not in the airport. Alternately, you can keep the card with leftover balance for an indefinite time before coming back again. |
The Sights:
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| First stop: Tamsui Wharf. Notice the hordes of people on the bridge? Yeah, Taipei is crowded alright. Especially on a holiday or weekend. Hence, best to visit off-peak weekdays. Or get on a kampung trail. Or coastal trail. |
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| There has been a lot of talk about Taipei's Night Markets, & although we do have Pasar Malam (night market) as well, it's still something to observe in this version of their culture. We visited 5 locations. |
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| Um, I guess they were not kidding when they said Taiwan was densely populated |
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| The infamous village of Jiu Fen 九份 (Nine Portions). By dusk, the area would have been mostly vacated. Good place for a retreat, if you desire a certain level of isolation & mistiness. Just make sure you have made prior online booking, or be prepared to be "fleeced" if you walk-in situ. Or stay in, in this case. |
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| The explorers on the misty mountain side. :P |
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View from the Swallows Groto in Taroko Gorge National Park (太鲁阁国家公园). Try wrapping your head around the sheer magnitude & proportions of this place.
Ps: Bus as reference.
Hualien town. We ended up here for a night as our first attempt to visit Taroko was delayed - amateurs didn't know train system (eye roll). But it was not in vain as i got my wish to watch the Avengers in Taiwan. With clothes on our back, we stayed in a very cozy "Big Bear Hostel" for RM80 per person. :D |
Top left: Generally, Taiwan is a great place to explore on a bike. Follow a loop trail to go to this side of Fulong from the village & through a km long cool tunnel. Bottom left/right: Sand art display of talents from around the world on Fulong Beach. To see the annual summer "Toys UN Sand Sculpture Art Festival", go between May-mid July.
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Riding through Fulong village. It was a most serene, multi-sensory experience. A great last day on our 5-day Taipei travel.
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A bygone-days of a home entrance in Fulong Village
A telephone booth inside an old shed in Fulong village.
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The Culture:
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| An outdated photo of Taroko aborigines on display at mini museum at Taroko Gorge. |
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| Porridge, anyone? Morning breakfast at the roadside of Taiwan's 2nd oldest street, Datong. One thing interesting we note was that restaurants & eatery places had a lack of drink varieties & they mostly came to eat. Not eat and drink. Quite possibly for digestion purpose. |
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| True to the saying that a dog is a man's best friend, so, in Taiwan, you can bring your pet dog to most places. We witnessed them on people, in strollers, food stalls, on the beach, everywhere. Coming from a country that represses even the use of a guide dog for the blind, it is indeed a heart warming perspective. |
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Man's best friend, with another best friend.
Tamsui river. |
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| They say friends and family come in different sizes & shapes. And species, too. Apparently. Northern town along Tamsui River. |
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| Public facial, anyone? Face threading has been a Chinese traditional beauty method to remove facial hair. At a night market. |
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| Shilin Night Market: Playing mahjong bingo. Turns out, it's a night of food & fun at Taiwan's pasar malam. |
The Food:
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| Taiwan's trademark stinky tofu, 臭豆腐. Hmm...tried it. Tolerable, but it sure stinks. :P At Jiufen Village Market. |
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| Forget crabby patty. Try the fried crabs. Shilin Night Market. |
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| How about jumbo sausage? Personally, i love the spicy ham rolled over kangkung on stick. Can you see it? |
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| Oyster Pancake. I think ours taste better. |
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| Fruity lollies that are guaranteed to give you a sugar hike. |
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| Taiwan's infamous beef noodle with side dishes. Large bowl go for TWD125. At Hualien town. |
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| Braised pork on rice, 滷肉飯, stir-fried kangkung, kueh tiaw, & the delicious cold dish of seaweed, beansprouts & shark meat. Cost: About RM 34. |
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| Taro balls. My favorite! Somehow, by frying & squeezing the tiny lump of mashed taro + something else, you get these lovely balls popping up. At Keelung Night Market. |
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| Cartoon cookies. At a night market. |
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| Fried vermicelli & other portions of food. Night market. |
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| Vege-pork rice porridge with tofu & fried shark meat for breakfast. Seriously good. |
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| And we stumbled upon this. |
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| And then met the friendly cook who cooked the said porridge & condiments. |
Overall, Taiwan offers an assortment of adventure & pleasure with its nature walks, mountainous landscapes, hot springs, cool breezes, calming views & a shoreline endowed with cultural interests. Great for individuals, & families. Don't miss it!
