Taiwan Day 2 - Yilan

15 April 2008

After breakfast, we started our journey to National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall and Liberty Square. Previously it is named as Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. Last year May 15, it has been renamed to National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall by Chen Shui-bian.

Liberty Square( 自由广场)


National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall (台灣民主紀念館)

Matyr's Shrine, 宗烈祠.



Ceremony of changing guards


Salute to them who guard the entrance of the shrine
under the hot sun and let people take a photo with them. =P

We headed to National Palace Museum, 国立故宫博物院. We are not allowed to take any photos here.

Next, we had our lunch in a restaurant named 'Queen'. Definitely we ate like a Queen here. ^_^



Abalone + lobster dishes



We headed to Yehliu Geopark (野柳地质公园) after lunch. It is situated at the north coast of Taiwan and famous of curious shapes carved by sea erosion.


Chiufen(九份), 昔日金矿产区. Why this place named as Chiufen? According to what Elephant storied to us, the village here housed nine families last time. Thus the village would request 9 portions of shipments from town everytime. Later Chiufen would become its name.

芋仔冰 and 草仔粿 which are very famous in Chiufen.

Tonight we would stay a night at Shangrila Leisure Farm Resort(香格里拉休闲农场). The room is great. I felt easy and relax stayed here.


Our dinner.


At night, there was a lot of activities prepared by Shangrila Leisure Farming.

放天燈、打陀螺、搓湯圓，民俗活動. My mum wons the first prize in 打陀螺.=)

More info about Shangrila Leisure Farming: http://www.shangrilas.com.tw/

Taiwan Day 1 - Taipei

14 April 2008

Thanks Sora for sending my mum and I to Penang Airport at 130pm. We were taking China Airlines to Taiwan. We flied off at 325pm sharp. There is no time different between Taiwan and Malaysia.

Our lunch set, curry chicken rice, with salad, fruit and pudding.


This is my mum's first time taking flight overseas.


We reached TaoYuan Airport around 735pm. Our tour guide, Chen, welcomed us at the main exit of airport. We used to call him 'Elephant'. He is humour and friendly guy. He will introduces those attraction places and history throughout the journey.

We took another 50 minutes from TaoYuan to Xi Men Ting for dinner.

XiMending night market

We put our luggage to our room before heading to Xi Men Ting. Elephant highly recommended Oyster Mee Suan which is famous at Xi Men Ting (阿宗面线). My mum loves Oyster Mee Suan very much and she can't stop herself from eating it.


Next we tried stinky Tofu,臭豆腐 . Wow! it's damn smelly! Really smell like sh*t! My mum refused to try it. Luckily one of group member bought the tofu but they couldn't finish it. Therefore 4 of us (OSK, Me, OSK's autie and my mum) separated a piece of tofu into 4 pieces and tasted it immediately. Again, Yucks! It's not only smell like sh*t but also tastes like sh*t. And now my mouth like full of sh*t. =P

even the seller also wear cover. ;P

I bought 'Ku Gua' juice and OSK bought 鱿鱼梗. I tried a spoon of it. It tastes good.


On our way back to hotel, we noticed that there is a lot of motorbikes along the road.


And at the same time I discovered that I couldn't find any trash containers along the road. Then how I suppose to throw the rubbish? Hmm.. I brought the rubbish back to hotel. -_-'''

Tonight we stayed at Paradise Hotel(乐园酒店) which is very near Xi Men Ting.

I'm back from Taiwan!

Just back from Taiwan. It was a great trip. It was fun when traveled together with my lovely mom and my 'Da Jie' OSK as well as her auntie.

I will blog more about Taiwan trip in the next blog, but now let me try to recall back how many I have achieved as what I have listed in Taiwan To-do list.

Food/Drink I have tried:
Oyster Mee Suan (蚵仔麵線 )


Stinky Tofu (臭豆腐)

Its smell is too strong until I forgot to snap its photo. ><

Coffin Bread (棺材板)

Tastes delicious. Not as bad as what I think.

Small sausage in large sausage (大腸包小腸)


愛玉冰


Shaved ice


Ku Gua juice


魷魚羹


芋仔冰


草仔粿


Taiwan Tomato


Juicy Pineapple


Mua Chi (made of milk)


Bamboo rice


三杯雞


Fried Osyter (蚵仔煎)



Clothes in Taiwan are not as cheap as what I think. However I have grabbed some. ;p


The most difficult to achieve is to meet stars during the trip and take a picture with them. It is nearly zero possibility for me to meet them. Ya, I could not meet S.H.E or Jacky Wu on the street. But I have met 2 young guys whom was recording their TV show at Sun Moon Lake. I have no idea who are they. I think Taiwanese would know them. Again another special experience to see people acting and introducing at Sun Moon Lake.


Last but not least, another thing I have achieved during the trip and proud to say it out: I HAVE GAINED WEIGHT! T_T

Taiwan To-do List

Hmmm... TS told me that it's very hot during day time in Taiwan recently... Damn! Again I need to travel under the hot sun for the whole trip. Why I have no chance to enjoy spring / Autumn overseas? T_T

I have to do something before I go to Taiwan.... which is write down my to-do list... let's see how many I can achieve after come back from taiwan. =P

• Must-eat: Oyster Mee Suan, Crispy chicken, 大腸包小腸(small sausage in large sausage), stinky tofu (regret to list it down >_<), Scallion pancake, Taiwanese sausage. Should I try 棺材板(coffin bread)? It's enough to scare me due to its name. Well, I put this under 'tentative' category food. ;P

• Must-drink: Taiwan bubble-tea, 愛玉冰, Shaved ice, Tang Yuan, 芋仔冰,青蛙撞奶(TS recommended),鲜奶仙草冻(TS recommended)

• Must-buy: Shoes (based on TS's research, high heel shoes is roughly NT 390/MYR39/SGD19.50), Clothes (NT250/MYR25/SGD12.50 onwards), souvenirs (magnets/keychain), accessories, bags, etc....

• Last but not least, I wish I can meet artists in Taiwan and take a picture with them. ^O^ I have low demand only. I will satisfy if I meet Jacky Wu/Jay Chou/SHE. =P I don't mind if I can meet HKG artists in Taiwan like Raymond Lam/Jacky Cheong/Faye Wong/etc... ^_^

Any other things I should do in Taiwan?