Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Best of Taiwan

Day 1: SINGAPORE-TAIPEI

Dinner at Shihlin Night Market after we landed.


Day 2: TAIPEI-JIUFEN-HUALIEN (Breakfast/Dinner)

We began our tour at Yeliu Stone park where there are unique and beautiful rock formations sculptured by nature.

We continued our tour to Jiu Fen, the village with famous local delicacies, as featured on Wu Zhong Xian's "Shi Zhi Lu Kou". The most unforgetable dish that I tried - Ru Rou Fan. Simple but utterly yumilicious! The Ru Rou (Braised minced pork) simply melts in your mouth! Urgh...! Talking about it makes me drool...

So delicious, I forgot to take a picture of the Ru Rou Fan..

We took a train which travels along the East Coast Highway to HuaLien.

Waiting for the train...




Day 3: HUALIEN-TAROKO-TAITUNG (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

In the morning, we went to Taroko Gorge. Another marvellous work's of nature. A pity we couldn't trek through the Nine Turn Grotto for safety reasons.


A scenic drive along the East Coast Highway to Taitung, stopping breifly at the Caves of the Eight Immortals.



Day 4: TAITUNG-KAOSHIUNG (Breakfast/Vegetarian Lunch/Tung Po Zuiyuelou Chinese Buffet Dinner)

After a vegetarian lunch, we took a leisurely stroll to Fo Kuang Shan, "Light of Buddha" Mountain. The must-see: a 120metre Golden Budhha Amitabha statue, with 480 standing Buddha flanking both sides, and surrounded by lush foliages.



Thereafter, we visited Spring and Autumn Pavilion.

Dusk at Summer Pavilion

A visit to the Freshwater Pearl Culture Centre >>> Please be very wary of the scheming and unscouth sales at the Paerl Centre where they would potentially forced you to purchase huge quantity of pearl powder which you might not need.

After dinner, we headed towards New Jyuejiang Shopping Area and LiuHo Night Market for some quick shopping.

Day 5: KAOHSIUNG- ALISAN (Breakfast/Taiwanese Cuisines Lunch/Five Cent Driftwood Dinner)

We head toward Alishan in the morning to enjoy the scenic and enchanting natural sights, such as Sister's Pond, Three Generations Tree..



The Mystical Forest...please follow closely
and do not get lost.



Unique formations in the nature:

"Yong Jie Tong Xin"~

Simple but Delicious Dinner at "五角船板"
Interiors are furnished with furnitures and Decors made from unfinished driftwoods, rocks, seashells and hand-made wares.


After dinner, we visited Feng Jia Night Market (逢甲夜市) for some shopping.



Day 6: TAICHUNG-SUN MOON LAKE-TAIPEI (Breakfast/Aboriginal Cuisine Lunch)
Morning cruise at Sun Moon Lake (日月潭).

The lake derives its name from its shape whereby the suthern side looks like the Sun, while the nothern side looks like the Moon. How true is it, I wouldn't know, unless we could see it atop a mountain.




Thereafter, we visit the nearby Wenwu Temple (文武庙)

We continued our trip to Formosa Aboriginal Culture Village (九族文化村) featuring traditional songs and dance performances, and houses some thrilling rides.


At night, we continued our journey back to Taipei.

Day 7: TAIPEI (Breakfast/Hai Ba Wang Taiwanese Cuisine Lunch/Korean BBQ Dinner)

In the morning, we visited Martyrs Shrine (忠烈词) to observe the changng of guards's pocession ceremony.


And continued towards National Palace Museum (故宫博物馆)。After a sumptutous lunch at 海霸王, we proceeded to National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall (台湾民主纪念馆) for a tour.

Therafter, we drove past TamShu Old Street and stopped at Fisherman's Warf (渔人码头)for a leisurely stroll. Fisherman's Warf is the famous filming site of the popular TV drama serial "Meteor Garden".

The evening was spent at Taipei 101 Shopping Mall. Currently, Taipei 101 is the tallest building in the world. Sunset from the Observatory tower

After dinner was another round of shopping at Ximenting (西门町).

Day 8: TAIPEI-SINGAPORE

Morning breakfast at the Original Ding Tai Fung. Well, though it really taste better than the ones in Singapore.

Thereafter, more shopping and back to Singapore...

~Home Sweet Home~