disclaimer
you never know whats in store next. accept it, deal with it, live with it. the point is how you make things better for it.
Monday, January 5, 2009
yes... i am back from taiwan. sharmaine's last day at work. so much this at the beginnin of the year, as for what comes next. i dont care since am finally embarking on my studies! still full of hope for work. but play seems to occupy a bigger space in mind. damn! hahax.
8 days passed by just like that. the place was nice, but food wise no what i kinda like. too oily, too salty, too weird at times. diff countries diff tastes. here's the run through of the trip - sis and me.
Day 8:- sleeping in till close 11am was a luxury. missed the breakfast buffet, who cares sinces am only in for the toast and coffee most of the time. headed for airport and collected the royal jelly, mochi, pineapple tarts. this trip is hella lotsa food buys.
Day 7:
- 國立故宮博物院 visit. (Gu Gong Musuem) - full of artefacts and displays. the most amazing craft would be the ivory cravings which takes about 10yrs plus to complete. marvellous work.
- Tian Lu shop. I case you are wondering whats Tian Lu. Here u go...
it comes in a pair in most shops.
* tian lu (male - with horn)and pi xiu = pi xie (female without horn)
experts say that pi xie (female) is only recommended to be placed at graveyards ONLY and not to be carried around or placed at home, if not bad stuff will occur.
*only tian lu (male) can be carried around, and yes depending on what you desire, it's considered auspicious; be it wealth, drive danger away, etc..
*when you "invite" one to go back,it should be tied to only a red string, instead of the many fanciful colours we have seen. Every individual is suitable for a color.(not of your preference, but more of basing on your name characters stroke) entirely based on a certain affinity (due to its material, jade has "ling-qi)" between its potential first-time owner and it, hence just look for your favourite design (color, check with the experts) and stick with it basically. - Steamboat - this is without seafood. faints. we were full from flour stuffs basically.
- Tea House: Alishan tea leaves and what they have was also the slimming green tea powder, which is ridiculously expensive we all agreed.
- 西門町 - Taipei1 (Xi Men Ding): huge shoppin area, somewhat like bugis. we headed for the jap restaurant (not to mention, there's alot of jap tourist in taiwan) just NT$260 left us very full. hot green tea was on the house. perfect. abit of shoppin here and there, left us buying more shoes. hahax. last stop was the "Aloe Vera Honey Xue Bing" - Snow Milk Ice, Aloe Vera Honey. cold but yummy. hopped on the cab with 2 fellow tour mates, just as it rains, we are on our way back to Four Points Hotel by Sheraton! :)
Day 6:
- 野柳 to see the scenic view of the coastline, and especially 野柳女王頭. This area is famous for its unique rock formations that have been naturally sculpted by the wind and surf
- Taipei 101: explanation of the building of Taipei 101 and free time. its like the paragon of SG.
- Guard change of shift display. The guards are pretty good looking.
- 士林夜市 Shilin Night Market: we only savoured the grilled hot mochi (hand grilled by the jap boss), with complimentary red bean paste and hot green tea from the lady boss. and giant juicy sausage for dinner. the food street was packed and not to mention taiwan pple sure like smelly tofu alot, and we cant stand most of the stalls. yikes. then we headed shoppin in a very packed situation, of which we didnt quite fancy.
- 奇萊養生休閒館 Royal Jelly store: we bought at NT$15,000. yea, expensive. but its said to be active royal jelly and it grows as u use, shall see? our bus driver happen to be using this on his almost balding head, and guess what? hair is growing on his head now. hehe.
- The night stay was @ Four Points Hotel by Sheraton
- Late night drinks with Corrine, our damn young tour leader at the lobby bar.
Day 5:
- Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall: display of Jiang Jie Shi fame and power.
- 九份老街: famous for its mochi and other local snacks here. became a touristic attraction after the movie- "The City of Sadness" we bought a box of mochi here and some other lil things! packed small lanes though.
- Keelung Night Market: very very packed, a street full of food and snacks. the famous item - healthy sandwhich. we got the number 963 and even after 1 hour of shopping and back, it was only at the number 860+. we gave up. we had fried chicken fillet - filled with ham and cheese. The grilled corn was expensive and left us havin terrible stomach upset. i somehow caused me indigestion. a nightmare.
- the night was at EverGreen Hotel. we each has our own King size bed! how cool is that! :)
Day 4:
- The earliest departure of the 8D trip to Alishan National Scenic Area 阿里山国家风景区we went. a long bus ride up. very nice view, very cold. not to mention the drizzling rain. the grilled pork with almond and sesame was great. we even saw cherry blossoms! :)
- 日月潭Sun Moon Lake: very cold very windy. we had nice sausage and tea eggs.
- Dinner was at Wu Jiao Chuan Ban (Five Dime ) 五角船板. the best meal i would say.
- the night was spent at Fu Wan hotel located at Tai Zhong and we shopped at the local supermarket nearby for beer. we spent the countdown in the hotel. we were lucky to see the fireworks right out of our room :)
Day 3:
- Hakka lane visit, good Hakka lunch. Thunder Tea was different but was nice. i tried the yam ice cream, taste not too bad.
- 佛光山寺 visit
- Liouhe Night Market @ Kaohsiung: a simple night market.
- night stay at Holiday Garden Hotel
Day 2:
- Tropic of Cancer 北回歸線標- experience cold and warm weather at the same time.
- 八仙山 - now occupied by nuns.
- Lunch was by their mountain locals
- 三仙台- seashore filled with marble, jade and colored stones. nice seaview.
- Hot spring. we headed for the naked hot spring with additional NT$150 each. so fun! haha. the dip for hot 35C to cold 17C was crazy!
- Stay @ Naruwan hotel
- Night show by the tribes. fun and dance.
Day 1:
- Arrival @ taiwan!
- Tan shui for local breakfast. hot soya milk and fried crispy you tiao! (different from SG oh, looks like strudel!) and the fried crystal bun was damn yummy!
- Fisherman Wharf: nice nice view! mountains and sea.
- Lunch was lobster and abalone course :)
- Ma Zhu temple (priginal, gold, and jade mazhu too!)
- overnight at Parkview Hotlel.