Day 2

We were quite exhausted the previous night, reached hotel about 8pm, went down the underground mall for our dinner. Bought some drinks and snack from their 7-11, basically we didn't have time to tour around on the 1st day.

2nd day was bright and sunny so we decided to go somewhere further (our initial plan was to visit Window of China but my girl think it's too kiddy for her now, we've visited Leofoo village the previous year).

The Train station was just right across where we stayed, had breakfast at our hotel (we get sick of the breakfast on the 2nd day already :-) before starting our journey for the day.

The station itself is a large building which houses multiple rail services (THSR, TRA, Taipei metro & Bus station). Railway ticketing is on the first floor while the 2nd storey contains mostly eatery. If you get lost just ask around.

Decided to pick up my THSR tickets since we are here, THSR counters are located in B1. I've booked my THSR tickets to Taichung online a few weeks back (tickets are available for sale 28 days prior to departure date), note there is a early bird discount of up to 30% if you book your tickets early. Do read up the Ticketing Information on www.thsrc.com.tw

When collecting tickets, you need to present your passport used for the booking with the reservation number. Tickets with good timing are sold out very quickly.

I've also booked my train tickets from Hualien to Taichung online two weeks before our departure date. In order to secure tickets I have booked the tickets 2 weeks in advance so as to give me a piece of mind. For instance if you need to book a train on 15th April, you are only able to book on 1st April, they will release exactly 14 days prior the departure date.  Here's the link to book your train tickets : http://twtraffic.tra.gov.tw/twrail/English/e_index.aspx

 I tumbled into a few blogs while doing up my pre-trip research - Sky lantern. This is something that we will not be able to experience in Singapore.

Bought our tickets from the ticketing counters, tickets are relatively cheap cost less than S$3 for an hour journey. Collected my tickets from Hualien to Taipei  at the same time.

Need to transfer at Ruifang to the PingXi branch line (free seating for both trains). To avoid the crowd try not to travel on weekends or their national holidays.

We'll be traveling to Taichung on a Monday, Tue to Sun Moon Lake, Wed to CingJing and Thu to Hualien and back to TPE on Fri. We have left with no other choice but to travel on a weekend.

The PingXi line train somehow reminds me of the HK Disneyland MTR.

 

There are 3 mains towns attraction along the Ping Xi line, namely Jing Tong, Ping Xi and Shi Fen. At Ruifang station we transferred to the Ping Xi line.

 Our first stop was Jing Tong, the last stop along the PingXi line. Jing Tong originally is a coal mining town, today it is known mostly for tourism with souvenirs stores and exhibits on the history of the area and the coal mining industry. We skipped the coal mining museum as we have visited something similar last year at JinGuaShi.

Saw the bamboo hanging up there?? you can buy them from the shop behind for less than S$3, write your name & wishes on it and hang them up.

Walk along the shop houses and had our simple lunch along the street. It was noon, we decided to move on to our next stop - PingXi.

In my memory there isn't much to see at PingXi except some rivers, residental houses and shop houses selling some famous local snacks. The Q was too long didn't bother to buy/try.

Not to mention the annual lantern festival will be held here. The festival was first held in 1999, the sky lantern festival in Pingxi was named by Discovery Channel as the world's second largest carnival in year 1998. In 2002, it was designated as one of the three largest lantern festivals in Taiwan by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.

You will be able to watch your lantern slowly drift toward the sky carrying your wishes & blessings then disappear like a dot in the sky............ People can choose to release their sky lanterns at PingXi or Shifen. We decide to have ours at our last stop - Shifen.

Here's the story behind the Jingan Suspension Bridge:

Jingan Suspension Bridge is 128 meters long; it’s the longest bridge in the town of Pingsi. Shihfen Mining Company built Jingan Suspension Bridge in 1974; it was used for coal transporting purpose. Since 1962 the mine closed down, Jianan Suspension Bridge has still been using by local residences for communicating purposes. Jingan Suspension Bridge had two major refurbishments in 1993 and 1998. It has been a popular place for visitors, just by standing on the bridge; you can clearly see the Ping-Shi Old Street and Jilong River.

Trip to Taiwan 2011

Came back from Taiwan almost 4 months ago, wanted to start a blog on traveling and beauty long time back but was too slack to get it started.

Anyhow this is my first post, am gg to touch on my Taiwan Trip in December 2011. I have been to Taiwan for consecutively 3 years since 2009.

Every trip is a different experience for me and my family.

My first trip to Taiwan was in year 2009, was there with a girlfriend of mine but was kinda of disappointed coz i fell sick the 2nd day i was there. Was disappointed with myself not Taiwan! I missed those shopping & eating, spend most of my time in the hotel ................

In my opinion I would avoid traveling to Taipei in the month of September to November. I was there in September for 6 days and it rain everyday!!! It will be difficult to walk down the night markets and Wu Fen Pu.

My family and I took Jetstar in 2010, that was a last minute decision to travel to Taipei so we booked our tickets in Nov, off we go in Dec. Each adult pays about $560 and child around $530. Wanted to book SQ but the fare was too steep so e decided to save the extra money for shopping instead so we choose budget airline. Regretted. Felt uncomfortable for the 5 hours or so on the plane. So I swear to myself I'm not going to travel via budget airline (except for short distance trip like HK or BKK) to Taiwan again.

So this time we took China Airline, again was eying at SQ at first but there wasn't any promotion for December month........... The experience on China Airline was quite pleasant except that the plane was late for an hour!! but still it did not ruin our mood, my girl has been expecting this trip for quite a while.

Set off time was supposed to be 10.25am, was delay for an hour. Reached Taoyuan airport around 6pm. The renovation at the airport was almost done, nice :P

There are 2 terminals in Taoyuan so if u are landing in T2, u got to go right after u clear the custom. There is where u catch yr bus to Taipei. I got a bit confused on which direction to go after they renovated but do rest assured as there are many helpful people or staffs around to help. The bus terminal was renovated too, it looks so clean and bright now. If you are going to Taipei Main station like us, do remember to take the GuoGuang bus and alight at the last stop. Also if u're planning to take bus back to the airport, do buy return trip tickets that will save you a few dollars. They don't sell return tickets for child fare.

We are planning to travel out of Taipei this time thus it'll be more convenience to stay close to the Taipei Main Station. The last trip we put up at See You Hotel, it's quite a new hotel (just renovated few years back) by itself. Why do I said a building by itself? If you've been to Taipei u can easily find a budget motel/hotel in a building, the hotel only occupied one of the level. The price was really attractive.

Ok back to See You Hotel, it's a decent hotel with everything u need except that they do not have a restaurant or room service. But it's no big deal to us! If u are hungry u can just walk down the streets and there are plenty of food waiting for you. We were given KFC breakfast coupons, with that we just need to cross 2 streets to eat our breakfast. My girl is getting older so this time we decided to opt for a room for three. See You hotel didn't have that option that's why we ended in Keysman hotel. This is the best price I can fetch so far for hotels around TMS. It is towered close to TMS, just 2 streets away. Got a little disappointed after we entered the room, it was small and furnishing was old. Didn't bother to take much photos of the room.