Taiwan Trip 19th Sept 12 to 26th Sept 12; Day 7: Chiate, Gao Ji >>> Changi Airport

Last day in Taiwan!

Woke up around 8am to buy our pineapple tarts and  sun cookies(?)太陽餅. Car researched online and found that Chiate is the popular in Taipei. So off we went to queue.

Chiate Pineapple Tarts (佳德糕餅有限公司)

So we took Bus no 5502 from Sun Yet Sen Memorial Hall.

When we reached at around 9 plus in the morning, on a weekday, the queue was already long enough! 5 shops away from the main shop! It is that crazy.

Eventually, Car got what she wanted. Cranberry pineapple tarts and the others. I went to buy some Taiwan cookies from the nearby cake shop.

After that, it was time for our lunch.

Gao Ji (高記)

We didn't manage to eat the famous 小籠包 (meat dumplings) from Din Tai Fung as it was out of the way. So Car did her research and found this place. The meat dumplings are cheaper and it tasted just as good according to research by Car. Found the food there to be pretty decent.

Car bought this 紅燒雞! i think..

this is my tom yum noodles or 炸醬麵. spicy enough. i love.

car's tofu noodles

the toilet haha

Think we also saw 小S's 經紀人. They were discussing about her progress and when my eyes shifted to look at hers, she returned my stare. Haha. Why didn't I see any stars during my time there? Hope I can catch some celebrities when I go over in March! :D

We went back to the hotel and packed up and then it was time for the airport.

Finally bought Koi only during the last day! 

Taoyuan Airport

So, we took public transport to the airport! Went to the bus terminal where we took our bus to Yehliu again. You can look at the directions to the bus terminal in this post. 

Forgot which bus number we took. We took the 國光 bus. Luggage tags are provided and checked against before we remove any luggages from the compartment in the bus at each terminal.

Went to the convenience store in the airport and spent the last of my money on cup noodles!

I eventually forgot to bring home my backpack from Changi Airport hahaha.

End of my Taiwan trip!

This March 2012, I will be going to Hualien and Taipei! More updates soon!

Signing off..

Taiwan Trip 19th Sept 12 to 26th Sept 12; Day 6: Yehliu, ChiuFen, WuFen Pu

Day 6: Our second last day in Taiwan!

had mac breakfast again. Pork burger!

Yehliu Geological Park (野柳)

To get to Yehliu, go to Taipei Main Station. Exit from K12. You will reach the bus terminal. Take Kuo Kuang bus 1815 to Yehliu (according to my itinerary) cant really remember which bus we took anymore. Bus fare should be around NT$50.

Taiwan's buses are really better! Maybe there are more features because journeys are longer. The TV freezes occasionally also hehe.

And finally!

It's a long walk in if you take public transport. But the journey along the way is nice enough also. Bought one extra big bubble tea there as well.

Along the way, there are also many restaurants with lots of breeds of crabs I have not seen before!

Finally. Admission ticket is NT$50.

 We persevered and walked all the way up. Scenery is amazing. I love the sound of waves against the rocks.

We had a list of plans lining up. So we quickly went to Section 3 and left the place.

Walked all the way out to that bus stop again.

ChiuFen (九份)

We asked the Yehliu Visitor Centre and they provided us with very clear instructions on how to get that. I think these are the typical questions that are always posed to them. 

I remember they told us we need to get off at Bo Ai Hospital (博愛醫院) at Keelung (基隆), and then we have to cross the overhead bridge and take another bus into ChiuFen. 

The bus to Keelung is the most run down one I have seen so far there. Bus to ChiuFen was more on par with those in Taipei. After I think around 1 hour plus, we finally reached our destination! Love the chilling weather! It was rested on a higher altitude.

ChiuFen really reminds me of Lijiang's Old Street (老街). Like the items they sell also.

the famous taro balls!

the famous fish ball soup!

陶笛!

Then, we decided to cancel our trip to the bar my friend recommended. Decided to go back to wu fen pu (wfp)! Too nice to shop already!

Waited damn long for that freaking bus and there was a long queue! I was stupid enough to think that an uncle in uniform was the staff there and I went up to ask him which is the shortest way to wfp. He then kept persuading us to take his cab. Haha. Until he finally got a customer.

Wufen pu (五分)
Just when we decided that perhaps we should consider the cab option since more people are streaming into the bus stop, the bus came. We were able to get on to the bus fortunately. Many were left stranded but were told to wait for the next train. There were 2 tourists who were quite annoying. Their 4 other friends were unable to get on to the bus and they told the bus driver to see if they could be granted entry, even if it means standing. The driver refused to budge. Then they beckoned for their 2 friends who were seated to get off. They refused to move. So the bus drove off. Then afterwards, the 2 moved forward and demanded to move. -.- Due to their actions, two people down the hill were able to get on to the bus and it drove on.

I like the bus driver's accent. So typical taiwanese. Not the dialect accent but the celebrities' accent hehe. We initially thought we could get back at Taipei Main Station and then take a train to wfp. Fortunately, Lady Luck was on our side! Car saw landscapes near wfp and we asked the bus driver. He directed us and we happily walked to our destination.

As it was a Monday, wfp was not as nice to shop. The shop keepers were busy bringing in orders. Very rarely they attended to us.

Ximending (西門町)

Went back and shopped a little in our hotel's district :)

That concludes our last night in Taiwan!

Continuing the last day in Taiwan tomorrow!

Signing off!