Day 15 : Taipei 101, Shilin NM and more

went to the majestic Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (國立中正紀念堂) in the morning, just in time to see the change of guards ceremony...it was really formal, but their creative drill patterns are definitely worth looking out for...there is also a museum dedicated to Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) where you get to learn about his life and how he became the 1st president of Taiwan...the whole compound is actually very big and includes the National Theatre (國家戲劇院) and National Concert Hall (國家音樂廳) with a gigantic square in the middle of the 3 buildings...there were many students and teenagers around the complex too...some practising their dance routines while others perfecting their Chinese calligraphy...then headed to the awesome Taipei 101...standing at incredible height of 509m, it is the tallest building in the world then and was built to resemble a stalk of bamboo...walked around, some window shopping and had a light breakfast there...mainly branded stuffs there...so not for a poor man like me =/...stopped by at the Sun-Yet-Sen Memorial Hall (國立國父紀念館) and a art gallery that was on-going there before going to SOGO to help my friend buy some stuffs...but it was closed due to a fire that broke out the day before...zzzzzzzz...how unlucky i can get!...went to Shilin Night Market in the late evening and spent almost like 4 hrs there lol...shopping and eating...bought lots of clothings =p...tried 考香雞排...tasted just as nice as 炸香雞排 or maybe even better...check out lots of pet shops there too...and the American Shorthair cats really caught my eyes...they are really cute and active haha...really wish i could have one at home...went back to the hostel and chatted with the owner whom we call Xu 小姐...she told me there was actually a 6.1 scale earthquake early morning that day...strangely i didn't felt it...damn...maybe i was in the MRT or something...we also talked about traveling around the world and stuffs...and she really has good knowledge about the different countries since she probably had met countless foreigners from all over the world...really a wonderful woman she is!

Gate of Great Centrality and Perfect Uprightness (大中至正), front entrance to the big square compound of C.K.S. Memorial

outside of the majestic C.K.S. Memorial Hall

there is a total of 89 steps, which symbolises the age of Chiang Kai-shek when he died

inside of C.K.S. Memorial Hall where you can see a big bronze sculpture of the man himself
the 3 main themes of the Chinese characters at the back are Ethics, Democracy and Science

view of the big compound from the top

here come the smartly-dressed guards

changing of guards ceremony

performing some fancy stunts with their rifles

Taipei 101, the tallest building in the world then

Taipei 101 as seen from Sun-Yat-Sen Memorial

Sun-Yat-Sen, the father of modern China

cute American Shorthair!!!

~~~~~ Next~~~~~
Day 16
Wulai and Danshui

Day 14 : Wuling Farm and back to Taipei...

went out for a early morning stroll in the forest and farms...before i realise it, i was going to be late for my bus to Yilan (宜蘭) from where i will take train back to Taipei...quickly pack up and then begin to walk that damn 5 km to the bus stop...walked about 1km and saw a lorry driving down the same direction...thinking that i might be able to hitchhike, i stopped the lorry and they were kind enough to let me mount the back of the lorry for a free ride...phew...no more walking with my heavy backpack haha...the back of the lorry was filled with cabbages...lots of them...probably freshly harvested from their farm...reached the bus stop and thanked them for their wonderful help...met a old couple at the bus stop and chatted with them...realise they are from China and has bought a piece of farm land and build a house here to prepare for their retirement...how i wish i could be like them when i am old to be able to retire in such a wonderful environment...bus came and took around 2 hrs odd to reach Yilan...another wonderful bus ride thru magnificient mountains sceneries...from there i took the latest train back to Taipei...went back to Taiwanmex Guest House again since i really like it there...got back the same room i lived before i left Taipei that time...but this time, i have the whole 4 person dorm to myself wahahaha...chatted with a Canadian guy in the living room...he is actually my age and has came here to teach english for a year...in fact, many foreigners do come Taiwan to teach english and they do get quite a good salary for just working few hours a day...went to window shop at Taipei and Zhongshan underground mall before hitting Wufenpu and Raohe Night Market again haha...this time i manage to walk till the end of Raohe NM and stuffed myself with lots and lots of foods lol...once again someone asked me if i wanna work at her shop...wtf lol...went back to Taipei Station and exited thru the south entrance...there is actually this little square compound there and there are numerous pillars that glow in different light color...kinda nice...and there are also a few caucasians skateboarding there...so i just sat and watch them perform various stunts while enjoying the mini lightshow...wented back to hostel...a group of people crowded around the living room...it was ladies night and they were going clubbing and ask me along...but i kindly reject since i was really tired and my legs were already hurting from the trekking and walking haha...finally bought my return flight to singapore on 31st July since i needed to do my module bidding then...else i will have stayed longer! =/

strange maple tree whose leaves were still red now...something wrong with its biological clock maybe haha
Wuling bus stop

farmers working hard

Next >>> Day 15 : Taipei 101, Shilin NM and More

Day 13 : Lishan and Wuling Farm

woke up early in the morning and headed to a bus stop near the train station to wait for the bus to Lishan (梨山), where from there u can continue to Wuling Farm (武陵農場) since i decided to skip Hehuan Recreation Area...a guy approach me saying that they do transport to Lishan too using van for those local villagers there...and the price is just abit more but u will get there faster and can stop anytime u want too...so i agreed since i was lazy to wait for the bus haha...views along the way was stunning as you have to travel up and thru the central mountain ranges to reach there...u can really see the effect of the typhoon on the Nantou area...landslides and rocks as large as a car on the road sometimes...it was really misty too due to the high attitude and sometimes i think visibility is only like 50m or even less...the van has to horn constantly along narrow hill roads to alert other drivers...we stopped over for a break at Hehuan Villa (合歡山莊), which i supposely wanted to stay for the night...was really freezing there, probably around 3300m above sea level there i think...and the surroundings was really nice...then we continued to Lishan and reached there around noon...still very cold over there lol...walk around and saw farms where they grow peaches, apple and pear...transfer to bus to go to Wuling Farm...reach there late afternoon...and wtf...i needed to walk like 5km further into the forest with my backpack to check into my Wuling Villa (武陵山莊) since the local tour bus was not running due to typhoon yesterday...and taxis are super rare up here...curse and swear, but luckily it was cooling at around 20 degree and so took my time to enjoy the surroundings too while i trek up the narrow road...finally found my accommodation...check in into a 6 people dormitory which once again there is only me hehe...in fact, i am probably the only visitor up here now! lol...went trekking up the forest to see a waterfall...the whole area was really deserted probably because it is just after the typhoon and the deafening silence was strange at times...but i really enjoy the time i had to myself in the nature...very relaxing!...headed back before night falls...dinner was provided and i ate together with the forest ranger and his father who was the one who prepared the food...wonderful local taste, and eating and chatting with them really give me a homely feeling in a foreign land...in the night pretty much nothing u can do...so slack in the room, watch TV and slept like 12 hrs haha...

Hehuan Villa
and its surroundings

view just outside Hehuan Villa, that is how high we are!

Lishan's surroundings, with the many different colorful flowers decorating the area



little puppy that disturbed me while i was waiting for bus haha

Wuling Farm surroundings



another close up of a butterfly

peaches!

and pears!

Wuling hanging bridge

the tall and slender Wuling Waterfall


and me in front of the Wuling waterfall

the forest trails

forest spa is good for health!

a meter or something they use to warn about forest fires

Next >>> Day 14 : Wuling Farm and back to Taipei...

Day 12 : Typhoon Day....

it was already raining heavily in the morning...so couldn't really go out to explore...slack in the room while watching more news of the typhoon and the Middle East crisis...went out in the late afternoon for lunch after the rain stopped...went to a bookstore to take a look at some books...then when i was walking past a shop...someone actually approach me to ask me if i wanna work as a sale personal there lol...but told her i wasn't a local...called to check the transportation status to Nantou (南投) area since i planned to stay 1 night at Hehuan (合歡) recreational area and 1 night at Wuling farm (武陵農場)...and needed to check if buses are still running after the typhoon in case roads might be blocked due to landslides and stuffs...bought some tibits before heading back to the hostel in the evening, luckily just before it started to rain heavily again lol...yeah in Taiwan, they are actually really environment friendly...almost everywhere rubbish bins are classified as both recyclable and normal trash...what more, u actually need to pay a small fee of 1NT to get a plastic carrier at convenient shops!...i also remembered Kevin telling me that people will get fine if they do not separate their household wastes into recyclable and normal thrash...also got myself a jacket to prepare for the cold temperature when i head up to Hehuan mountain and Wuling farm...of cos, more slacking inside the room...=p

me slacking in my room and my messy bed =/
too bored lol...took a picture of myself posing in my new sweater

Next >>> Day 13 : Lishan and Wuling Farm

Day 11 : Lukang and Taichung

woke up early in the morning and had my free breakfast provided by the youth hostel...the uncle at the restaurant was really friendly...chatted with him while i eat...he was rather surprised that i could actually speak such good chinese as he had always thought that Singaporeans only speak English haha...anyway i took an hour bus to Lukang (鹿港) at Zhanghua (彰化), just south of Taichung...walking around and can sense that big wind has already starting to blow, first sign of typhoon!...could see that some of the roadside tentages starting to fly alittle lol...some shop keepers in fact have already starting to pack up even thou it is still so early in the day...ate 麵線糊 for lunch at this little shop...wow really delicious...end up eating 2 bowls of it...walk around again and i probably dun even know where i am heading to thou...kinda lost in the so many alleys intertwining with each others...but those alleys are rather unique and interesting, u know like in those 武俠小說 that kind haha...finally manage to find my way around after some asking around...went to Tienhou Temple (天后宮)...lots of people praying there since the Ghost Festival is starting tomolo...ate more foods from the roadside stalls...tried out those small fried prawns and crabs...really tasty haha...headed back to Taitung in the evening...rested a while before going for dinner at Zhonghua Night Market (中華夜市) and Yucai Night Market (育才夜市)...there isn't alot at Zhonghua NM, but Yucai NM was really crowded with university students and teenagers...somewat like Ximending of Taipei...things there are of cos really cheap too as they mostly cater to the students...eat and eat and eat again!...went back to the hostel and that night, i had the whole room to just myself =p

the shop i went to eat my 麵線糊...note the "無餓不坐" lol
alleys of Lukang



entrance to the Lukang market place

天后宮





fried prawns and crabs

nice hand made wooden musical boxes

this home belongs to one of the richest man there

Next >>> Day 12 : Typhoon Day....

Day 10 : Sun Moon Lake

drove up to Sun Moon Lake (日月潭) in the morning...quite a distance actually from Taichung...was quite nice, but not very impressive i will say...maybe different seasons have a different feeling...walked around before we took a small ride around the lake...then we went to the Snake Kiln Ceramics Cultural Park (蛇窯) at 水里...it is a nice place to go for pottery lover...got to learn how pottery is done, lots of pottery arts...quite interesting...wanted to make one myself, but didn't do it since i dun wanna to make a mess lol...went back to Taichung and check in my youth hostel...finally farewell to Kevin while he made his way back to 高雄...it was really nice of him to take leaves to accompany me for the few days...we talk about lots of stuff, from politics to game to almost everything...got to more about each other country's culture and living lifestyle...once again, lots and lots of thanks to Kevin for his time and effort!...hope he enjoyed himself too =) ...i went down Zhongxiao Night Market (忠孝夜市) for dinner...i am really addicted to red tea lol...at least drank like 3 of them everyday haha...in the night, a army officer joined me in the 3 room dorm...his name was Jackie...he told me the various interesting places to go in Taichung and Taipei...also gained some insights into the army life of Taiwanese...all Taiwanese guy must serve the military for a certain period, pretty much like what is happening in Singapore...saw the news on TV...another typhoon coming towards Taiwan, reaching on Tuesday perhaps...damn...need to reschedule my plan again haha...

muachi making
posing at Sun Moon Lake

view of the lake







nice flowers

higher view of the lake

lucky it didn't fall haha

wood used for burning at the furnace

the front view of the furnace

old tools used for pottery

lol...jap soldiers actually fought in those!!!

front entrance to the furnace

me!

some pottery pieces



side view

i am the 店小二!!!

at the side entrance

it is pretty dark inside

freshly made pottery

a pottery master hard at work

at the garden





honey bees...........eeeeeeeee

my 3 beds room, not bad for a really cheap price

lots of stuff to choose from and cheap too haha

Next >>> Day 11 : Lukang and Taichung