<<回台湾走走2011> - Our Taiwan Itinerary

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<- 9 Days Central & Southern Taiwan

As usual, I would normally share a copy of our itinerary at the end of each trip. Please feel free to drop me a note to exchange travel pointers. I would be most happy to receive your views.

Day 1: Saturday, 14th May 2011 - Taichung

10.25am - Assembled at Singapore Changi International Airport for our China Airlines flight, CI0752 to Taoyuan.

3.10pm - Arrival at Taoyuan International Airport after 4hr 45 mins flight time.

4pm - 2 hours bus Journey to Taichung via the comfortable UBus. (NT 240)

6pm - Arrival at the city of Taichung.

7.30pm - After a quick rest at HQ's house, it was time to hit FengJia Night Market about 15 minutes walk from her house. FengJia is probably one of Taiwan's most famous night market. Certainly, a perfect place to sample Taiwanese street snacks at their very best.

Note: With TransAsia Airways joining in the foray for the busy, lucrative SIN-TPE route from 1st July 2011, commuting between the 2 cities is now more convenient and hopefully, more affordable.

Day 2: Sunday, 15th May 2011 -

Taichung

Day trip to Sun Moon Lake and Cable Car Ride.

Tip: Purchase a combo ticket at NT 599 at Taichung HSR Station which would save travellers the hassle of buying individual tickets.

5pm - Busing back to the city of Taichung via Nantou Bus.

7pm - Dinner at Yi Zhong Street Night Market located opposite Zhongyou Departmental Store. Yi Zhong Street was far more crowded than Feng Jia Night Market even though when it came to food, I would still prefer the latter.

8.30pm - Delicious intestines vermicelli at a small eatery opposite Sogo Taichung.

Day 3: Monday, 16th May 2011 - Cing Jing

Departed Taichung for our journey to Cing Jing, a mountainous resort at roughly 1,750m above sea level.

Enroute, our driver drove us to Mount He Huan. But the weather was simply too cold to continue ascending.

Explored Cing Jing Farm halfway when the rains came. Our minor regret was that we never had a chance to visit the Swiss Garden (because the rain never stopped).

Tip: Check your weather forecast before planning a trip to Cing Jing. And do remember your warm clothings at all times.

6.30pm - Delicious dinner was served at our homestay. After dinner, proceeded to Starbucks @ Misty Plaza for a nice cuppa of coffee. The cool weather made it all the more delicious.

Day 4: Tuesday, 17th May 2011 - Kaohsiung

12pm - Proceeded our long drive to Kaohsiung. En-route stopped by Chihkan Tower and Anping Old Fort in Tainan.

8pm - Check-in hotel and took the Kaohsiung Metro to Liuhe Night Market (MRT: Formosa Boulevard)

Unfortunately, Liu He was over-rated. I wouldn't recommend a visit if your schedule does not allow it.

Day 5: Wednesday, 18th May 2011 - Kaohsiung

Highlights include Central Park (MRT Central Park), Kaohsiung 85 (MRT: Sanduo) Kaohsiung Film Archives, Love River (MRT: Yanchenpu), Cijin Island (MRT: Xiziwan).

Dinner @ Old Szechuan Steamboat Restaurant (MRT: Central Park)

Tip: If you are travelling MRT extensively, be sure to invest in the 2 Day Pass (NT 230) that gives you unlimited rides on the efficient train network. Another option is to purchase the Easy Card which works the same as the ones used in Taipei. It gives a 15%!d(MISSING)iscount on all train rides. But note that the NT 100 card deposit is non-refundable.

Day 6: Thursday, 19th May 2011 - Kaohsiung

Highlights include the Taiwan Sugar Museum (MRT: Ciaotou Refinery), National Stadium (MRT: World Games), Lotus Lake Scenic Area (MRT: Zuoying - that is, if you are prepared to walk 30 minutes like us) and Ruifang Night Market (MRT: Kaohsiung Arena)

Finally found a "decent" night market in Kaohsiung. Ruifang beats Liuhe thumbs down.

Tip: Kaohsiung is by far the most well-planned city in Taiwan in terms of road layout and wide pedestrian walkways. In most places we visited, crowds are normally thin other than the night markets.

Day 7: Friday, 20th May 2011 - Kenting

1pm - Reached the legendary Kenting in the afternoon after more than 2 hours drive from Kaohsiung.

Check-in at our homestay @ 2pm.

In the evening, we visited the beach and the night market along Kenting Street.

Day 8: Saturday, 21st May 2011 - Taichung

A day tour to cover Eluanbi Lighthouse and the Southern Most Point of Taiwan among others. Also, visited the historic town of Heng Chun on our way to Kaohsiung.

4.54pm - Kaohsiung Zuoying High Speed Rail Station to Taichung (42 minutes, NT 790 per ticket)

Shopping at Carrefour Taichung and last chance to mingle around at HQ's place before turning in for the night.

Day 9: Sunday, 22nd May 2011 - Singapore

Home Sweet Home.
China Airlines flight, CI0751 @ 4.05pm (TPE to SIN)

Dollars & Sense

China Airlines Air Tickets: SGD 635
3 nights accomodation @ Mirador Hotel Kaohsiung: SGD 128
1 night accomodation @ Misty Villa Cing Jing: SGD 46
1 night accomodation @ Farm GuestHouse Kenting: SGD 35
3 nights accomdation @ Taichung: FOC (Thanks Ms HQ)
Transportation Expenses: SGD 225
Food & Shopping Expenses: SGD 366

Total Expenses: SGD 1,435


This entry would also mark my final post for our <Campaign. Thank you for your patience.

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Comments

[Carina]

Request for Driver's Contact
Hi, Just wondering if you could let me have the contact number of the driver that you used in Taiwan. Thanks.

[Budokan]

Driver's contact
Hi, the driver's contact is as follows:- Mr Zhou Wenbin (周文彬) Capacity : 7 Seater (飞狗 Group, based in Taichung City) Tel: [phone]