This will be a very long post because of the duration of travel - 12 days trip, my longest travel so far. And we went to a round-Taiwan trip that spanned so many areas, shops, spots and ming su (inns, motels etc). Even now, things are kinda fuzzy at certain parts because I am not familiar with the geography of Taiwan, with respect to the areas. But after getting a map of Taiwan, I got some idea of where we went.
I think, instead of me trying to account for everything, everywhere we did and went, I shall focus on the most memorable things, places and experiences. Warning though, at some parts, it includes some superstition stuff so be forewarned. Some parts also kinda gross too. I shall try to keep it as sanitary as possible. There are many new and positive experiences and also some life-threatening ones. We all came back in one piece safe and sound, that's what matters.
The backstory to this trip was that it was a promise made by the sinseh (my sister's husband) to my Mom, before my father passed away. So after things are more or less settled, they decided to keep the promise. I was asked if I wanted to go, make a round number, easier hotel wise etc. I was okay with it cos I needed a breather from everything. A chance to step away from it all and just breathe. To me, I wanted to drop everything. I changed only S$800 to twd, remembering that Taiwan is a much cheaper place food-wise and I dont intend to buy huge amount of stuff. Mainly foodstuff. Also limiting myself a bit due to my unemployed status. No harm being a bit thrifty. By the end of the trip, I had twd 550 left (S$23). This excludes of course air tix, accommodation and transport. Paid an extra $52 for travel insurance, almost $2.6k all-in, including the taxis and misc costs.
It would be my first time to travel out of Taipei. This being my 4th time to Taiwan but I had only stayed in Taipei the past three times. Getting around Taipei is easy but travelling out of it requires either knowing the local transport or having your own driver. We had hired a local guide with his 7-seater van and he would drive us from destination to destination and we would visit, eat and shop at the local area specialities and sights. And as we travel along, he would stop along the way to do so until we reach the hotel we would be staying in the evening. He also brought us to food places that he himself had tried and found to be cheap and good to eat. He knows the speciality food in the regions we are travelling to and asks us which we wanted to eat there. Thanks to him, we ate really good food, with lots of variety, hitting what each of us wanted to eat, ex my sister wanted smelly tofu, fen yuan. My only request for this trip is to see Sakura. It was still the season then when we flew over. The weather had turned a bit warmer, a nice 18-23 degrees.
The trip started with 3days in Taipei -> 1day Yilan -> 1day Hua Lian -> 1day Cing Jing -> 1day Sun Moon lake -> 2days Feng Jia -> 1day Tai Nan -> 1day Kaosiung then fly back.
After Taipei, it was my first time shifting luggages every day, with the exception at Feng Jia. I had underestimated how hectic it can be. Felt the fatique after a few days of shifting about. Mainly some of the ming shu didnt have any lift so it meant lugging the heavy luggages up flights of stairs. My mom's one was super heavy, just with her own stuff and in the first shifting, I felt the strain of it. The ultimate one was at the ming shu in Hua Lian, up 3 floors and got so many stairs and I had a tough time lugging hers. My sister helped me as we lugged our luggages down on check out. Luckily check-in, got a guy to help out.
Mine was manageable but I shouldnt have brought any books along, all day in the van, meant no chance to read at all. My luggage before was 11kg and came back 21kg. By the time we reached the hotels, tired and no mood to read. So I learn something about reading. Just 1 small and thin book will do next time for such an arrangement. I also need to further reduce my clothes brought though I already reduced. I came with 1/3 luggage full but think I can do better with 1/4 or 1/5 next time and pack a foldable bag just in case. I didnt need one this time.
The first few days in Taipei, we went to places I had gone to before, Freedom Square, Confuscious temple, Long Shan temple, 101 etc. These places I had been to before but it is okay to revisit. Just accompany them and when the elder ones are tired, I follow my sister as she explored them. Everywhere is walking, flat ground, up and down slopes, up and down stairs. By the last few days of the trip, I felt tired from walking about. Keep an eye on my sister who wanders off, also another eye on Mom and the sinseh who are elderly.
Alas I fell sick on merely the 3rd day. I had very interrupted sleep as my mom woke up several times to use the toilet at night, and she drags her slippers nosily. Then she woke up super-early in the morning 6am and made enough noise, enough packing noises, on enough lights to wake me. Luckily got the sinseh give me meds and kept an eye on me. So I recovered with a combination of meds and also some divine medical help the next day mostly and back to normal in two. I hadnt had a high fever in such a long time. Didnt know how and why exactly I fell ill but I felt tired and fatigued one morning, then as the day progressed I asked to lie down at the back row seats, felt myself burning up and a bit dizzy. The journey was mainly in the van to JiuFen and ShiFen which I felt were really commercialized. There were many repeated stalls selling similar things, throngs of people and slopes. My the time we went to the GeoPark, it had become full-blown. I didnt go in, went to hide at the stalls area and ate something warm. Then the sinseh came and told me to go back to the van. I laid there dizzily. Ate little that whole day and didnt have the energy to explore the areas that day, not too much a pity cos I did come down but some sights were hardly worth the journey.
Then the sinseh told me later on, he told my Mom to not disturb my sleep with her antics as he was familiar with hers as he had brought her to China and other countries travelling before. The reason was cos we wake up early, travel whole day then sleep at midnight, already bad enough, but if keep interrupting the sleep, body cannot take the strain. So she toned down a lot and both of us slept better. From the 6th night, I started being able to sleep deeply and more restfully.
Unfortunately also experienced nausea and puked up breakfast at Hua Lian, during the dophin/whale seeker ferry ride. The ferry veered sharply several times when it encountered schools of dolphins to let the visitors see but all I felt was my stomach starting to become unstable after several jerks. Mid-way through I puked up my breakfast, tied it and then decided I had enough and just closed my eyes and sat down, keeping my head lowered forward. I didnt know who else puked but when we finally reached land, I saw a guy slumped over a seat, looking very sickly. Even the sinseh felt nauseated from the already bumpy and all those sharp veerings. My nausea subsided after I puked but his nausea persisted the whole day. His turn to become sickly. Never again, I tell myself. I rather see them in full glory on TV. My mom had anti-nausea pills earlier and survived. My sister is a super woman.
We saw Sakura a few times, firstly just 1-2 trees in Taipei. Then later in the outskirt, we went to a private residential hill side and there were a few more. We took pics, that through angling, looked very good. At the flower park in Yang Ming Shan, there were 2-3 very full and beautiful ones. Then just like that, the bloom ended. Cherry blossom trees in Sun Moon Lake and AliShan were bare and no more. Still very glad to see them though still not like those in Japan where you can stand on flat nice ground and stare. With exception of the one in the Flower park, the rest were on uneven ground but still a sight to behold. At least I can say, I had seen sakura now.
On the road from Hua Lian to Cing Jing, there is only one way and it is up an old road, aka Death road cos of the hazard. Little did we know how dangerous it was. It wasnt the guide's fault but cos we were headed to Cing Jing from Hua Lian, there is the only way. The guide charged the highest fee for that day and it was really a dangerous road. Every left turn is followed by an immediate right turn then a left turn and right turn for hours. Worst still, a thick fog descended upon us and you cant see beyond the windscreen at times. It was a scary one hour then the dark fog lifted but still the winding journey continued for another two hours. We were all relieved when we reached Cing Jing safely. Never again, rather go to Cing Jing from PuLi instead, a much much safer route. The sinseh was sickly but he was chanting something when the heavy fog descended and also helping the driver to look out on the windey and bendy road.
At Cing Jing, we were told not to flush our toilet paper down, a practice some of the older establishments have cos of the narrow sewage piping. I was urgent then and had two choices - (1) do what they all do which is wipe but throw in the garbage bin provided beside and stink up the whole toilet or (2) as the sinseh said, wash the butt with water. I was super reluctant but super urgent and had chose to wash my butt with water. Yes... for the first time, and in this twenty-first century, modern day and age, on the high high mountains of Cing Jing, I still had to resort to washing my butt. I kept thinking how lucky Geoky didnt come along or she would eeeeeek at this. It didnt turn out as bad as I thought but still, I rather not have to do it at all in the first place. With the exception of this, everything at the place was wonderful. Very nice theme room, fresh air but thin, very nice wooden dining hall and delicious food and splendid mountain view during the day.
We also at this part of the journey encountered a lot of poop. Yes, at the grassland Mo Tian Gan, saw a Corgi pet dog poop. Then at the grassland, as you walked nearer to the cows grazing, smelt poop and had to avoid cow poop. At the Cing Jing grassland, as you see the sheep, you see and smell the sheep poop. Some poor horses were made to stand all-day at one of the stands for tourist to do a short ride and as I walked closer, smelt and saw horse poop. Then the night before I had to settle my human poop. A very very poop-ey trip.
Had the most enjoyable at the Ita Shao area in Sun Moon Lake. Several reasons, firstly we ended up with a room with a huge ass balcony. One that you can sit outside and look upon part of the water. We dabao food from the stalls and ate dinner at the huge balcony, so windy cool and nice. Next the room was super luxurious and spacious and the toilet was big too. I was so happy, I could say goodbye to the butt-washing day. Flushing toilets. Then we discovered a wine seller nearby that sells very original Xiao Mi Jiu. The lady let us each have a generous shot to sample. Then she explained how they made their own xmj, and taught us how to look out for genuine ones. When the sinseh and mom tasted it, they remarked it reminds them of the taste from their childhood. Then she showed us how just adding a drop of vodka to it elevates the taste and it magically did. We were all so surprised. She also sold xmj slushie which we bought to try. But cos we had tonnes of food and just finished buying dinner, we asked for their closing time and said we'll go back after dinner. It was just a 1min walk from our min shu. After dinner, I walked back with my sister and bought just 2 bottles. It was affordable, 500twd. I was tempted to buy more but I know my luggage (being the smaller capacity one) couldnt handle 5 bottles. If you buy 4, you get 1 more free. After the trip, I decided to give one bottle to the sinseh for all his help this trip and he was very happy with it. The Ita Shao village area doesnt resemble a village (just concrete buildings) but it had a stretch of food stalls manned by the Ita Shao people, a few chose to wear traditional clothes. The next day we headed to the cable car ride to visit the 9 Tribe Cultural Village. The cable ride had a much more beautiful view than Mao Kong, newer carriages too. We made it in time to watch a performance at the display area. Then walked more a bit. Less than the mid-way mark, the elderly couldnt walk further and I helped enquire about the use of the tram for those in need. At the first place I asked, got some dirty look and accusing tone from the aunty, like implying me being fit and young, so lazy want to ride that tram. Man, what did I do to you? We walked a little further and ate some food at a stall then at the next village, I enquired about the use of the tram, and the lady was super helpful. She said even my sister and I could board it - our initial plan was the elderly ride it and meet us at the entrance. My sis and I would trek back, upslope. In the end we all got on and reached the cable car station down slope below. There is an amusement theme adventure park (extra admission) there. We took a cable car up to the entrance. Then took another cable car down the village.
The only other stay that was longer than overnight was at FengJia. There had another supernatural encounter. Basically the sinseh is a medium for more powerful deities and one came the first night we were there. I knew of it but didnt encounter nor participate in these. My sisters and mom were often attending these sessions on special occasions. The deity wanted to see me so I had to comply. After greeting him, with the help of mom and sis translating from Cantonese, he said some things about me. Those ask me in person, the most worrying one was that there were problems with my knees and my future would be wheel-chair bound. But the deity then proceeded to give me a temporary treatment, pending 'operation'. This all happened close to midnight. The next night, I felt the same warm sensation all over my body (similar to the time I was sick and had some divine medical help by another deity). Could feel a small slight something but not pain exactly at my right knee cap. Also had an overwhelming sleep come over me.
The next day, I had some slight pain in my right knee. I mentioned it later on, before we reached Ali Shan. So there were 2 rope bridges in Ali Shan, Tian Chang - the one on ground level but spanned over a long and wide channel and Di Jiu- one that spanned above ground level but only accessible by stairs and stairs from the ground level. I mentioned that my right knee cap is hurting a bit so I dont want to climb. Then the sinseh went to check up with the deities and concluded that I had one replacement operation done on my right knee. There is a Ji-Gong temple called Long Ying Si just at the main area of Ali Shan. We all went in to pray. I had to do more. Give proper thanks for helping me with my knees. Then later got a Qian lot which is a very good one. Gave thanks further and left a donation. While we were doing the Taiwanese thingy of 'changing coins' for wealth luck, a bunch of firecrackers were lit and we saw the temple people, bring in 3 small deities statues, bringing them, passing over the incense stand. Later the sinseh found out that we had visited on the same auspicious day of Ji Gong, so my knees would be fixed. Pending recovery of the right one before another operation for the left one. But I was told there wont be anymore after and so must take care. Hence dieting and losing the extra weight is definitely high on my agenda. Also have to stop any strenuous exercise for 1 month which now later extended to 3 months. No more KM... but Taiji Yang style can. But it meant dieting and some workout that is upper body and core until my knees recover fully. During the last couple of days, I was hobbling with an umbrella then walking stick. Really understood exactly how the elderly felt especially those with leg problems. And I have to go back to give thanks unless my job doesnt permit then my mom go on my behalf in Sept, before winter.
At Tai Nan, we stayed in a drive-in motel. It had a garage that an entire vehicle drives in and closes behind after. Definitely for hanky-panky but surprisingly the rooms were very cosy and comfy. It got a jacuzzi, a steam bath. Verdict: Jacuzzi shiok. Steamer is hard to breathe in and after 1min, I had enough and came out dripping with sweat. My sis's room had a massage chair that we went over to try. Yes and while flipping through the 100+ channels encountered porn on 5-6 channels but I flipped away. Well all porn are based on guy's POV so as a woman, I am not interested to see another woman's genitals super close-up, opened up, flipped all over... seriously grossed out at times. I was searching for the PiLi series, the Taiwanese made dolls that fights with powers in pugilistic settings. Was happily following the series whenever had a chance to find it. My mom also enjoyed it though my sister scoffed at it. Incidentally, my sister and the sinseh guessed differently. One thought I would be watching porn, one didnt. I didnt. Too bad they didnt make a bet. My mom's the witness though she fell asleep when I came out from the steamer. I slept around midnight. The good thing about this trip is that it helped me adjust my sleeping time back to normal.
We went into a pet shop in Tai Nan, and it was sad to see the puppies. Most of the puppies were listless looking and I saw a Corgi. It is selling for S$2k vs S$4k in SG. It had a sad look. My sister was telling me how we should pity the puppies' mom. Cos unscrupulous breeders keep making the female dog get pregnant and without feeding it well or letting it recover, repeat and let it get pregnant again and again. This breaks the female dogs' bodies and they are in very very pitiful condition. So dont buy puppies but choose to adopt. I was telling my sis how Quet told me the plight of unsold puppies too. How they were killed if not sold by a certain age. All are pitiful. Cos while we were in Taipei, there were so so many pet owners especially dogs. So many breeds of dogs too, even Ciao Ciao. I dont ever recall seeing so so many pet owners on street before, was asking the guide if it was a trend cos many youngsters have dogs. I still like the Sheltie, smaller sausage dog and Corgi. My sister bought a leash harness and dog treat for her own dog.
We headed to a Swiss private garden, which used to belong to someone privately but now become open but with admission. Upon reaching, the sinseh and mom didnt feel like walking about. I went with my sister. They left us a phone to contact when we were done. So both of us headed inside. It was really a surprisingly big private garden. There were some structures that resembled Swiss buildings, converted to dining and drinking area, and a huge pond with a pair of swans and 3 mandarin ducks. I saw a vending machine that dispenses a small pack of feed that fish or swans can eat. Sure enough once the feed was thrown into the pond, the swans and fishes came. The carps and other fish were monstrous in size. Larger than my forearm. The swans didnt manage to eat much cos there were numerous numerous fishes that congregated once they detect food. As we walked around the lake/pond, my sister spotted a nice area near a pile of rocks that we assumed the swans could come on land and hence we can feed it more. So we bought more boxes of feed and started feeding when the swans got in place. But they didnt come up to land, but just stayed right at the edge. When we threw in the feed, the swans could eat a lot more of it. In Nature, there is no being gentlemanly, the male swan ate more and snatched the female swan's share so both of us threw the feed, one for the male and one for the female. Then the monstrous school of fishes came and actually squeezed the swans away, some even beached themselves just for a small morsel. The male swan was aggressive, it bit the fishes to nudge them away to keep its spot secured. The female swan was more passive until it got nudged too much then it nipped the fishes. The smaller mandarin ducks came but were nudged and kept away by the fishes. But after a short while, the ducks came onto the rocks and even onto the bridge level where we were at. So since they came out, we fed them generously, one and a half box of the feed. The ducks waddled around then later headed off to the water, full. Smart! They didnt come back a second time when we went back to feed after we came out from a cafe for a short break. I had a refreshing and delicious Yuzu soda that revived me from the surprisingly sunny 23 degree day. They also sold a very thick looking wine but I didnt buy, considering my luggage space. My sis and I had another round of feeding the swans, this time the female one first then the male one swam quickly from the far end of the lake over. We actually fed 14 boxes of feed, each 10twd or 20cents. That is enough to eat quite a full meal in Taiwan. Some mains just cost 50twd. Drinks are 25twd. We had a very good and fulfilling time just feeding the swans, ducks and fishes.
The later couple of days I was told to walk less so I didnt accompany my sister to some of the last few sights. I stayed outside or dont walk up the slope or stairs. Actually it is another different type of enjoyment to be able to see things more relaxedly just by observing the shops, signs and even people. Was hobbling with umbrella and a walking stick. A lesson on how elderly feel. I should have more empathy and patience for them than before, having gone through how they feel.
Food was definitely a highlight for everybody and there is no lack of it in Taiwan. Every area has its speciality. For example, in Kaoshiung, we ate the super fresh milk fish, cheap too. And near a Guan Gong temple, we ate the sweetest freshest best pineapple. We instructed the guide that we wanted to eat the local speciality as we travel along. Not always in restaurants but what is good, can be cheap and must be nice. In Hua Lian, we ate the Manpo (sun fish) and its bone was pure collagen and chewy jelly-like. There were so many many good food, all different varieties and not always expensive. In fact some of them were super cheap yet so delicious. Its really a gem and we miss the flavours after passing the area to move on to another area. Man, I miss almost all the food we had. The 7-11 is a treasure trove of delicious food too. Imagine Hokkaido milk ice cream, at just a dollar plus. And so so so light and fresh and delicious! Also their pasta and bentos are very good. I should have eaten more but again in Taiwan, it is not that you will go hungry, it is how much stomach you have to eat all the food. Ate so many flavours and deliciousness that I dont know where to start. I did post up some in Instagram but there were others that looked normal but were delicious, some that were simple and plain looking but delicious. Some looked unassuming but delicious. Those didnt reach Instagram. So in Taiwan, be open-minded about trying and one can definitely discovered so many varieties and deliciousness in every corner.
And of course I came back with a much flabbier and bigger tummy. A whopping 4kg in 12 days. Luckily as of writing, I had just lost 3kg and my tummy has shrunk a bit. So it proves my diet and exercise is working so far. I am motivated by health reasons - my knees, to lose the weight. My goal is to reach 62kg. I have 15kg more to go. I think even if I cant go for KM but if I keep up with my exercise and diet, I can do it. With so much Taiwan goodies in the house, it meant I can only eat 1 item a day, a portion. But I found that I had so so so much variety, much food, much tastes that I am contented to stick to plainer and simpler food for a while. It's like all the taste and cravings are satiated and I am good for now. Will keep this up.
