“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”
It was a Saturday and he will be flying off that night to Qing Dao for a business trip.
He do not want to spend his Sunday alone and miserably as he only need to attend a meeting on Monday.. therefore he kept bugging me to go with him ever since he woke up in the morning.
Finally, it was in the early evening, I relented to follow him on the trip, barely 10 minutes, my flight was confirmed. It was beyond belief for me to go on a trip without any single planning. I don't have anytime to google the place at all! The only thing I googled on was the weather...
I packed my luggage within 45 minutes, and another 15 minutes later, we are on the way to the airport....
The feeling was so un-real.... 6 hours later, we landed Qing Dao Liu Ting International airport... 11 degree Celsius greeted me on my 1st breath in Qing Dao.
The weather was simply too great. Though the weather was pretty chilly but the sun was glaring.. Luckily I got my sunblock with me.
Jiaozhou was about 45 minute ride away, this is a newly developed city, a lot of residential high rise building. Our driver said these residents work in Jiaozhou, their working place is barely 20 minutes away only. Government structured here as industrial area, even Pierre Cardin's factory is here too.
Checked into the best hotel here is JiaoZhou - Sheraton. As his company's factory is located here as well, Sheraton is their company only hotel for all staff that are here on working trip.
Well, I never know that he is actually a Sheraton's Preferred Guest, we really got a real nice room that come with a walk-in wardrobe.
Being an "empty" tourist here, I decided to check out with the concierge about local attractions, shopping or entertainment. That staff introduced me the JiaoZhou Bay bridge which I was not keen due to the distance. If I want to see the real Qing Dao, I must visit the downtown that will be 1.5hrs ride away! If not, the best shopping mall here in Jiao Zhou is Bao Long shopping mall which is barely 5 minutes ride away. Leaving with no alternative, we reached Bao Long shopping mall within 5 minutes.
This is a 4-stories building, similar to our AMK hub's size.
Beside restaurants from Malaysia, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, authentic local food is here too.
Likewise food, clothing shop for young and old, accessories shops, arcade even cinema too.
Lunch at a Japanese ramen restaurant.. the soup is really not bad.
There is a mega supermarket just like our Giant's size, whatever you want, you name it, they have it.
I am here for my most favourite yogurt drink - An Mu Xi.
At the back of Bao Long, there are a few rows of double storeys shops mainly on food, some cafes, some lifestyle shops.
We decided to chill at the real cool place. Not only the interior decoration was cosy, the staff service here was great too.
As for dinner, we had hotpot at a local "Romance of the 3 kingdoms" themed restaurant.
The next day, I got sunrise view from my window at 630am.
Breakfast was at the hotel. Though it is Sheraton but the breakfast was quite a let down.
There were empty tables but full of dirty plates, there were 3 staffs "guarding" at 2 "reserved tables instead. And only 2 female staff was actually really working. Not enough staff to manage the whole restaurant at all. Beside of dirty tables, there were shortage of coffee cups, butter etc.. I just quickly wanna get out of the restaurant.
He left for work at 8am, he discouraged me to venture out alone. I understand where he was coming from thus I promised to rest in the room and explore the hotel later.
He back to the hotel around 4pm, soon we went Bao Long again... where else ?
This round, we decided on Beijing's Hutong restaurant.
Frankly speaking, actually I do not wish to write this blog for this trip but because of this dinner, I changed my mind.
There are 3 way to eat Peking Duck.
1) Strictly skin, dip some sugar and eat it while still hot - it just melts in the mouth.
2) fill the meat inside the 空心bread and chew it.
3) The usual way, wrap it with the white skin, add cucumber and sauce
this is how it look like on the 3rd eating
Last 2 photo here is 红烧新鲜鱼翅，fresh shark fin, not the sharkfin soup we had in the usual wedding dinner.
Lastly the bill was SGD55.00!!!! Before we end our short trip, we went for a foot & body massage. This 2hr service at RMB258 which is about SGD50! We got a room for 2, the movie on the TV was "我家有个河东狮“
Today we shall talk about Taiwan again. I been to this place for 5 times over 4 years.
In this blog, it will be the key points collection of the remaining 4 trips(there is already a blog on one of my Taiwan trip), therefore this gonna be long but I assured you, there will be plenty of photos.
Very good location, directly above QSquare mall and Taipei Main Station My apartment is clean and spacious, there is even a washing machine. It has almost everything , cosy apartment with comprehensive facilities except breakfast, fortunately there are ample restaurants and cafes for us fill our stomach before we start the day
Xi Men Ding
Hotel Via Xi Men Ding
Hotel is located in 10mins away from Ximen Mrt station. Hotel entrance is hidden between shops and lobby is located on 2 floors. Staffs are very attentive & free self service laundry. The room is specious, quiet and comfortable bed, it even come with an onsen type bath tub. The hotel offers snacks (spicy eggs in the morning and packs of nice instant noodles in the evening) and good free real coffee at its 2nd floor reception.
Number One must eat in XMD, located in Ermei street.
Queues are forever long, but fast.
Yong He Dou Jiang - I always come for breakfast. Located along the road opposite East Dragon Hotel.
Shop is small, a lot of people , limited numbers of tables. Usually whenever the shop is full, I will packet back to hotel to eat.
Located in narrow alley in XMD. The whole café is designed like a big toilet.
The dining table is actually a big bath tub and they a glass table top over it. The chairs are actually toilet bowls. All serving plates are mini bath tubs, basins or toilet bowls.
The food serves here taste average, affordable price but the atmosphere here rather interesting.
TWD50 per person, where to get this good deal?
XMD has several hotpot restaurants at similar price.
This is my favourite shop to buy Taiwan's biscuit.
Located directly opposite of East Dragon hotel, along a small lane.
PartyWorld KTV- Singaporean know what this place is huh!
I love the Chinese name which is "钱柜".
In Taipei's XMD itself, Party World is whole building by it own.. It is a grand building by itself..
The whole place is beautifully decorated with a lot of crystal lights, the staff here are very polite and friendly, room was pretty comfortable.
We were surprised that there was a private washroom in to our room. And the expenses is not high.
Shilin Night Market - Taipei
MRT : Jian Tang
Shilin Night market is a "forever packed" place. Whether you are here to shop or to eat.. tourist and local flocks here from all over.
Jiu Fen - Taipei
Located up on the mountain, this place has been around since the Qing Dynasty.
This isolated village housed nine families, thus the village would request "nine portions" every time shipments arrived from town. Later Kau-hun (meaning "nine portions" in Hokkien) would become the name of the village.
Here you will find the most beautiful teahouse in the world : Ah Mei Tea House.
If you had watched "Spirited Away" you will find this teahouse familiar.
The waitress demonstrates the process of tea making of gongfu tea. We were served with plenty of leaves with some traditional preserved sweet fruits to go with. The price is on the high side.
Shi Fen Waterfall
Walk further in a bit to get the full view of the strong waterfall.
Very green and natural park.
Shifen Old Street is small street with most shops selling sky lantern. The street is along the active railway track. The only purpose here is sky lantern. Purchase a lantern of your choice and write down your wishes on the paper lantern and release it to the skies with the assistance of the staff. One of Taiwan's must-do's for tourists. It's a beautiful sight and a great experience.
Fu Da Flower Night Market - Opens on Tue, Fri & Sat.
This night market was recommended by our local driver.
Indeed, there is very less tourist here, most are locals thus the crowd here is much much lesser compared with Shilin.
Snacks, food , clothings, toys ... you name it .. most they have it here.
Songshan - Taipei
This is where the famous Wu Fen Pu & Rao He night market are.
Wu Fen Pu is a wholesale garment district, there are also a lot normal retail shops here. You can find many cheap, fashion and high quality clothes here. Most shops do not have changing rooms for you to try the clothes.
Rao He Night market
As the dusk arrives, walk back to the direction of Songshan train station and follow the crowd, they will bring you there. Here food is more than others.
Wu Lai
Train to Xindian and take a taxi up to Wulai.
Hotel ：美人汤温泉会馆
As Wulai is on a mountain top thus most accommodation here do not have a lift.
We stayed on the 4th floor and had to carry our luggage up.. There is no porter here at all.
This hotel considered well maintained, I really love the open onsen bath tub.. Refer below pictures for million words.
We had a local lunch here in the old street. Well, short street actually.
I like this place for coffee break, felt so comfort to chill.
At the back of this café, it will lead you to a railway ride.
Dan Shui(Tamsui) - Taipei
Last stop of MRT, was near an hr ride from XMD.
Tamsui Old Street sells a variety of local food at reasonable price.
There is even a Naraya shop here...
As you explore further, there are many old schooled shops selling yesteryears sweets and games.
Check out the mostbeautiful Fisherman’s Wharf sunset of Taiwan.
Okay, too much of Taipei here, let's go to other parts of Taiwan : Miao Li , Taichung's areas.
Tai An - Miao Li
Hotel : Onsen Papawaqa Resort - the filming place of ”我可能不会爱你“， if you had watched this Taiwanese drama, you will know who is ”大仁哥“ & ”程又青“. Yes, because of this drama, I fell in love with this place.
We reached this place before noon thus our room is not ready yet. To kill time, we decided to venture nearby and within the compound of the resort.
The resort lies next to a stream which flows down from the mountain, yes it is spring water. So Tai An is a onsen place. This is indeed a "no regret to come place."
Here is the very nearby of the resort.
See the stream of spring water here.
As we had enough of outside, we went to explore the resorts's compound. Picture speaks thousand words. All the water you see here is spring water from the stream outside.
Our room is ready now... repeat : picture speaks thousand words.
We have the view of the stream of spring. Our onsen bath tub is so huge that we can place a mah-jong table.
It's dinner time...
After Miao Li, it will be Taichung.
FengJia Night market
Hotel : Beacon Hotel - located right in the night market, next to the Mcdonalds.
I have thoroughly no negative feedback about this hotel. Simply awesome.
Our late lunch here in Taichung.
When the night fell... everything come alive
The night market closed at about 12am.
Here is what we had local breakfast on our bed.
Xi Tou Monster Village
Japanese themed village in Taiwan.
Not really a big place but ideal place for photo taking.
Cing Jing
Home Stay : Misty Villa ( serves Yun Nan food )
Located near to the town center of Cing Jing. to 7-11, Mos Burger and tourist attractions such as little swiss garden, the highest Starbucks in Taiwan, Essential oil shop, Lavender essential shop and few eateries.
Though there is no lift in this home stay, but this place is so homely and beautiful. The staff here are so friendly too. They have a mascot named Niuniu - the dog.
Cingjing is on the mountain thus the temperature will be much cooler than other places.
We booked a tour, woke up at 0300hrs to He Huan mountain for the legendary sun rise.
Sun Moon Lake
The mountain views were misty and the lake was so serene.
Super worth trip from Taichung, very popular with tourist. We reached the top of Sun Moon Lake pretty early thus I was able to capture a great photo.
Before you take the ferry back, please drop by for the tea leaves eggs.
If time allow, visit the Wen-Wu temple ( Guan Gong Miao ).
Hou Li
We visited First Winery Railway Valley
The backyard of this winery is indeed superb for photo - taking.
You can even pay a small sum of money for wine tasting.
Before we end our day, we decided to go for a cycle along this beautiful place.
Next stop : Chiayi - nothing that particular except for Ah Li San.
Ah Li Shan
We stayed a night here, I forgotten the hotel name.. The temperature was pretty chilling here.
Tainan was already mentioned in my other blog thus we shall go Kaoshiung here.
Liu He Night Market. This is a very busy place very crowded here. Worth to visit..
Taroko Gorge - Hua Lien
Not my first time here, and will not be my last time here too.
I love this natural park very much.
Luo Dong - Yilan
We stayed 2 nights here so I will be slight naggy here.
Home Stay ; 幸福yes民宿 - just a stone distance away from Luo Dong night market.
There is no check in counter here. Inform the staff the estimated arrival time then will do the check in at the small homely lobby.
The room is big, with a balcony, most importantly it is very cosy.
Lunch at the famous 甕仔雞, the owner of the home stay even drove us there. So nice of them.
Luodong night market.
Something different - they have delicious lamb stew. Other than that, this place don't really excite me much.
The home stay do not provide breakfast, our driver brought us to this really nice place to eat.
We are so happy with this beautiful place though the food serve here are rather simple toast.
Driver brought us to this Taiwan most delicious Xiao long Bao. Lucky no queue.
Jimi's Square & Yilan train station - the most beautiful train station in Taiwan
There are actually 4 photography spot heres.. all within walking distance.
Driver brought us to this monster themed restaurant for lunch ： 山寨村
After lunch, we went visit some wineries here before we head back to Luo Dong again for our dinner at my most favourite gyoza shop ： 八方云集
Before we check out to Jiao Xi, we had these for breakfast. Located just outside of the alley of our home stay.
Jiao Xi - Yilan
Hotel : 多爱温泉会馆
We were early for check in so we went to nearby look see look see.
There are plenty of fish spas shop nearby, it is consider the heart of Jiaoxi therefore you can get almost everything here.
At night, there is also a small night market.
Well, it's time to check in .. this round we booked a quad room for we 4 gals.
That's for all here before my 6th trip to Taiwan again
