We book the 8 Days Splendid Formosa Taiwan Tour from Misa Travel for two at S$788 per person (S$1175 including the Airport Tax and Booking Fee), the Package include China Airline Flight Ticket, Hotel Stay, Tour of Attractions and Meals. The Tour was from 7th Feb 2015 (Saturday) to 14th Feb 2015 (Saturday, Valentine Day).
7th Feb 2015 (Saturday) Tao Yuan (桃园）:
Arrive at Tai Pei Tao Yuan Airport at about 1530 Hrs together with another older couple and check in to Room 600 of City Suite Hotel at Tao Yuan.The first day was Free and Easy, decide to visit Zhong Xie (中协） Night Market (Taxi 500 NT about S$20) in the evening for Dinner. We had Chicken Chop 50 NT (S$2), Pumpkin Fries 40 NT (S$1.60), Peking Duck Roll 40 NT (S$1.60), Bean Curb and Grass Jelly 70 NT (S$2.80) and Cherries 150 NT (S$6). The Chicken Chop here came with bones which is very much different from the one I ate in Singapore, maybe it is a way that they prove that the ingredient is real.
8th Feb 2015 (Sunday) Tai Pei （台北）to Hua Lian (花莲）:
We wake up in the Morning at 0600 hrs and had Breakfast at the Hotel, we set off at 0730 hrs to Tai Pei after another East Malaysia Family meet up with us. We took the Bullet Train from Tao Yuan to Tai Pei, the train was traveling at about 200 km per hour and we arrive at Tai Pei in 20 mins. The first stop at Tai Pei is Zhong Lie Shirne which was build to honor their President Jiang Jie Shi (蒋介石）, we visit the Cake Shop near by and purchase 3 Boxes of Pineapple Tart 1000 NT (S$40), 3 Boxes of Sun Biscuit 1000 NT (S$40) and Milk Candy 1000 NT (S$40).
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| Zhong Lie Shrine |
We arrive at Jiu Fen (九份) at about 1130 hrs, we brought 4 Package of Ginger Tea 600 NT (S$24). We had Beef Noodle and Wanton Noodle 145 NT (S$5.80) , also Brought 8 Bottle of Cocktail Wine 1000 NT (S$40) and 13 Package of Winter Worm Herbal Tea 3000 NT (S$120). Brought a Sausage 40 NT (S$1.60). Jiu Fen (九份) name came from olden days when they discover gold in the mountains, the miners had to bring stuffs for the local there when they go up the mountains to mine the gold. There are nine families in the mountains and so the stuffs the miners bring are always nine set, Jiu Fen is the Chinese for nine set and that's how the name came about.
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| View of Kee Lung Port from Jiu Fen |
We arrive at Ye Liu (野柳） at about 1400 hrs, we visit the Erode Sand Rock there and brought a Ice Jelly (爱玉冰） 40 NT (S$1.60). We were suppose to travel from Tai Pei to Hua Lian by Train, but the Tour Guide suggest that we travel by the mountain path so that we can see the beautiful scenery of the Pacific Ocean. The whole mountain path trip remind me of the AE86 Tofu Delivery Car in the Japanese Comics Initial D, 4 out of the 8 passengers got motion sickness in the process and me and my wife were not one of them. I had injure my ear drum when I surface too fast during scuba diving when I study in Polytechnic and my sense of balance had not been sensitive after that incident, I had never get any motion sickness since then.
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| Eroded Sand Stone at Ye Liu |
We arrive at Hua Lian (花莲） at about 1800 hrs and had Fried Fish, Prawn Sashimi, Chicken Chop, Chicken Soup and Fried Sweet Potato for Dinner at the Aboriginal Restaurant. We check in to Room 630 of Liga Hotel at 1900 hrs, we decide to visit Zhi Qiang (志强）Night Market (Taxi 200 NT about S$8) and had Two Stick of BBQ Scallop 60 NT (S$2.40).
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| Parrot Mimi at Hua Lian Aboriginal Restaurant |
We woke up at 0630 hrs and had Breakfast at the Hotel, we set off at 0800 hrs to visit the Hundred Lion Bridge (百狮桥）, Chang Chun Shrine （长春祠） and Taroko Gorge （太鲁阁峡谷）. The Hundred Lion Bridge is the Bridge that the Aboriginal Tribe cross when they when to the mountains to hunt and harvest, as there are a lot of people had lost their live in the past a hundred lion statues were place on the bridge to subdue the evil spirits. Chang Chun Shrine is build to honor the 212 Heros who had help to fought the war at that area in the past, the shrine was move from left side to right side of the Hundred Lion Bridge after a lighting strike destroy the shrine due to Feng Shui (风水）.
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| Hundred Lions Bridge |
We visit the Ling Zhi Shop and learn about the two treasures of Taiwan (Chinese Herb Ling Zhi and Mei Hua Deer Unborn Baby Powder). Ling Zhi (灵芝） is a miracle herb in the past in the Legend of the White Snake, it had very good anti cancer properties. Mei Hua Deer Unborn Baby Powder (鹿胎粉） was grind from the unborn baby of Mei Hua Deer (梅花鹿）, the Deer ate a lot of herb in the mountains and the Aboriginal Tribe set trap to capture the deer and get the unborn baby and use it to grind into powder. The powder was known to cure the Asthma of the Taiwan First Lady Song Mei Ling (宋美龄）， it is also known to cure a lot of illness too but as we find it is a very cruel practice to get the unborn baby we do not support the sale of the powder.
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| Taiwan Treasure Ling Zhi |
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| Taiwan Treasure Mei Hua Deer |
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| Japanese Koi at Guan Shan Waterfront Park |
We arrive at Tai Tung (台东） at 1500 hrs and brought Beer, Milk Tea, Titbits 300 NT (S$12) and Carrying Bag 300 NT (S$12). We arrive at Master Bear Resort at about 1600 hrs and check in to Room 507 U4. We walk around the Resort and saw some Goat and Goose, we also encounter a brown dog and brown cat at the Convince Store which seem to be very friendly and get along well with each other. We had Steam Fish, Steam Prawn, Steam Pumpkin and Meat Ball Soup for dinner at 1800 hrs, we join the event at 1900 hrs at the resort where we had quiz, dance and sky lantern. We wrote our wishes on the sky lantern and set it off into the sky so that the heaven will see it and grant our wishes, that was the grand finale for the night.
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| Level Two Bed Room at Master Bear Resort |
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| Level One Living Room at Master Bear Resort |
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| Goats at Master Bear Resort |
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| Goose at Master Bear Resort |
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| Cat and Dog at Master Bear Resort |
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| Sky Lantern at Master Bear Resort |
10th Feb 2015 (Tuesday) Tai Tung （台东） to Gao Xiong (高雄）:
We wake up in the Morning at 0600 hrs and had Breakfast at the Resort, we set off at 0730 hrs to Gao Xiong (高雄）, we stop by at Tai Tung （台东） Fruit Market and brought 5 Banana 50 NT (S$2), 3 Water Apple 100 NT (S$4), 4 Mandarin Orange 100 NT (S$4), 3 Peach 100 NT (S$4), 6 Custard Apple 650 NT (S$26) and Mango Ice 150 NT (S$6).
We arrive at Gao Xiong (高雄） at around 1200 hrs and had Braised Pork, Steam Fish and Sausage for Lunch. We visit the Exotic Marine Life Museum （海洋奇珍园） and Cheng Ching Lake （澄清湖） at 1300 hrs. The museum use to be a bunker for Nuclear War, it had a 5 tons steel door install at the entrance. It was brought over by a business man and convert into an Exotic Marine Life Museum later after the cold war was over, the Cheng Ching Lake serve as a Fresh Water Reservoir.
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| Light Vented Bulbul at Cheng Ching Lake |
We went to the Teressa Teng （邓丽君） Museum and Pearl Shop at 1430 hrs, Teressa Teng was a famous Chinese singer in the past. The pearl in Taiwan were different from other countries as it is breed in mountain spring instead of Sea or Fresh Water Lake, the Pearl Powder had various medical and cosmetic properties such as curing fever, stopping bleeding and smoothing skin.
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| Jewellery of Teressa Teng at Teressa Teng Museum |
We arrive at the Dream Mall at about 1530 hrs and took the Farris Wheel Ride 300 NT (S$12) on top of the shopping mall. We check in to Room 619 of City Suite Hotel at about 1700 hrs. We visit Liu He （六合） Night Market for dinner at 1800 hrs and had Pork Roll 100 NT (S$4), Chicken Chop 60 NT (S$2.4), Fried Bun 60 NT (S$2.4), Papaya Milk 50 NT (S$2), Bird Egg 50 NT (S$2) and Eight Treasure Soup 40 NT (S$1.60). We went for the Love River (爱河） Boat Ride 240 NT (S$9.60) after that, the legend say a pair of lovers committed suicide at the river long time ago and the local change the name from Da Gou （打狗） River to Love River after the incident. Da Gou （打狗） was the old name for Gao Xiong (高雄）, it was change by the Japanese later when they rule Taiwan for a period of time.
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| Farris Wheel at Dream Mall |
11th Feb 2015 (Wednesday) Gao Xiong (高雄） to Ali Mountain （阿里山）:
We wake up in the Morning at 0600 hrs and had Breakfast at the Hotel, we set off at 0730 hrs to Ali Mountain （阿里山）. We arrive at Jia Yi （嘉义） Eternity Suspension Bridge （天长地久桥） at 1000 hrs, it was believed that any couple who walk the Eternity Suspension Bridge will had a relationship that last till eternity.
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| Chameleon at Eternity Bridge |
We arrive at Feng Qi Hu Old Street (奋起湖老街） at 1200 hrs and had Chicken Drum Stick Lunch Box, Salmon Fish Lunch and Bamboo Shoot Soup for Lunch. The Lunch Box Meal was the specialties there and it is a must try when you visit Feng Qi Hu Old Street, it was the main meal for the worker when they had to travel deep into the mountains by the train in the olden days.
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| Train at Feng Qi Hu Old Street |
We visit the Ali Mountain （阿里山） at about 1400 hrs, there are a pair of Sister Lake （姐妹潭） which told a legend of how two sisters fell in love with a handsome guy and decided to commit suicide at each of the lake so that the other sister can be with the guy and find happiness.
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| Sister Lake at Ali Mountain |
We check in to Room 216 of Long Yun （龙云） Mountain Resort at around 1600 hrs, the resort is locate at 1500 meters above sea level on top of Ali Mountain （阿里山）. We had Steam Fish, Steam Chicken, Deep Fried Wild Vegetable for Dinner at 1800 hrs, we join the Night Walk at 1930 hrs to see the Flying Squirrel and Fire Fly.
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| Sea of Cloud at Ali Mountain |
12th Feb 2015 (Thursday) Ali Mountain （阿里山） to Tai Chung （台中）:
We wake up in the Morning at 0600 hrs and had Breakfast at the Resort, we set off at 0730 hrs to Tai Chung (台中）. We arrive at Nan Tou (南投） Ji Ji Train Station （集集火车站） at 0930 hrs, brought a Banana and Milk Ice Cream 80 NT (S$3.60). The Ice Cream were a bit dull in taste but the Biscuit for the Ice Cone was made fresh on the spot and was very crispy and nice.
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| Ji Ji Train Station at Nan Tou |
We visit the Xuan Guan Temple （玄光寺） and had the Famous Ah Po Tea Leave Egg （阿婆茶叶蛋）, the Temple had the Holy Relic of Tang Monk form the Journey to the West. The Mountain Ridge at Xuan Guan Temple represent a Green Dragon and a Pagoda which signify a Sword is place on its back to destroy the Feng Shui. The Sun Moon Lake were originally separated by the Naru Island, the Sun Lake was round in shape while the Moon Lake was Crescent in shape, the Japanese had build a dam for the power generation and divert a mountain stream to fill up the lake to serve as a reservoir.
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| Sun Moon Lake view from Xuan Guan Temple (Naru Island at the Centre) |
We had Steam Fish, Braised Chicken, Stir Fried Pork, Stir Fried Mushroom for Lunch at Jing Sheng Lou (景聖楼）, this restaurant had survive the Year 1999 Earth Quake as it had a very good name when sound like The Only Building Remaining (仅剩楼）in Chinese. We visit the Wen Wu Temple （文武庙） and Peacock Garden (孔雀园） after Lunch which are just near by to the restaurant. The Wen Wu Temple is the only temple which house the Civilize and War God under the same roof, it had a pair of very eye catching Red Lion Statue.
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| Red Lion Statue at Wen Wu Temple |
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| Peacock at Peacock Garden |
We visit the Aboriginal Product Shop and Tea Shop in the afternoon, their specialties are Ling Zhi and Deer Unborn Baby Powder as usual. But in additional they also selling Royal Jelly, Pollen and Honey, they are trying very hard to sell me Royal Jelly 9000 NT (S$360), Pollen 2800 NT (S$112) and Honey 1500 NT (S$60) but were unsuccessful. I told them I don't drink Royal Jelly, don't eat Pollen and I can buy at least 5 bottle of similar Honey in Singapore at that price. The older couple brought the Pollen just to ensure that we could leave the shop early, while the East Malaysia Family turn down the Pollen offer after the Credit Card Payment didn't get through.
The Tea Shop suffer the same fate as they are trying to sell the Tea Leave from 2000 NT (S$80) to a discount price of 800 NT (S$32) which led us to our suspicion of raising the products to very high price and later giving very attractive discount to cheat the customer. From my previous experience, most the Specialty Shop usually increase the price from 100% to 500% higher and the Tour Guide usually earn about 25% to 200% commission from the shop.
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| Eagle and Bee Hive at Aboriginal Product Shop |
We arrive at Tai Chung （台中） and check in to Room 302 of I Deal Hotel at 1700 hrs, we went to Feng Jia （逢甲） Night Market for dinner and had Banana Pancake 60 NT (S$2.40), Cheese Chicken Chop and Cheese Chicken Pop Corn 100 NT (S$4), Silk Stocking Milk Tea 40 NT (S$1.60), Big and Small Sausage 45 NT (S$1.80). I brought a Sweater with the print of Kitten for my wife at 500 NT (S$20), she brought a pair of Black High Heel Shoe to suit her Red and Blue Dress which she will be wearing for the coming Chinese New Year at 300 NT (S$12).
13th Feb 2015 (Friday, Friday the Thirteen) Tai Chung （台中）to Tai Pei （台北）:
We wake up in the Morning at 0600 hrs and had Breakfast at the Hotel, we set off at 0730 hrs to Tai Pei （台北）. We visit Zhong Lie Shrine （忠烈祠） at 1000 hrs to see the Guard Changing Ceremony, we also visit The Grand Hotel （圆山大饭店） which use to be the prominent building which represent Taiwan until the Taipei 101 Tower was completed. The Zhong Lie Shrine was build to honor Mr Sun Yat Sen （孙中山） and all the heroes who had lost their lives during the call of duties. The Grand Hotel was use to entertain all the Foreign Minsters when they visit Taiwan, one night stay at the hotel will cost 7000 NT (S$280). The Feng Shui of the Hotel was destroy by the Highway and the Xing Guang Building （星光大厦） which look like a joss stick position right at the main door.
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| Guard Changing Ceremony at Zhong Lie Shrine |
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| The Grand Hotel |
We had Mongolian BBQ Buffet for Lunch and visit the Pi Xiu （貔貅) Shop and Beauty Product Duty Free Shop after that. The Pi Xiu Shop is located at the Underground Basement like most of the Casino which I had visit over the years, they strongly believe that Underground Basement had the ability to keep fortune in the study of Feng Shui even the Vault at most of the Banks are located at the Underground Basement.
Two very big Pi Xiu Statue are right in front of the entrance when we enter the shop, Pi Xiu is believe to be a rare mystical creature which is the ninth descendant of the Dragon. As it eat monsters for food and does not have an ass hole, it will vomit gold and jewels from its mouth after it had digest the monsters. So it had been a favorite ornament for most of the business man since ancient times.
The shop ask me to represent the tour group to receive the fortune, I had to place both my palm on the head of the statue and turn three round anti clockwise and then move all the way to the tail. We went in to the room for the Feng Shui Talk right after that, the shop talk about how having 4, 9 and 13 stroke in the name will bring great fortune. Like the Tradition Chinese Character Luck (運）which is 13 stroke and had a roof, a car and a ship in the character, it also look like an army on a ship too. But if you are aware enough, you will realize that the character actually had 12 stroke instead of 13 stroke.
The shop continue say that Singapore was once name 星嘉坡，星加坡 and later become 新加坡, the Traditional Chinese Character 星 9 stroke 新 13 stroke 嘉 13 stroke 加 4 stroke and 坡 9 stroke. But if you are aware enough, you will realize that the character 嘉 actually had 14 stroke instead of 13 stroke, 加 had 5 stroke instead of 4 stroke and 坡 had 8 stroke instead of 9 stroke.
The shop continue to illustrate on the Singapore Currency and say that most of the Currency had Octagon (八卦） on it, from the S$1 Coin to the S$50 Note. The $2 Note had Bat （蝙蝠） which mean Blessing （福）, $5 Note had Mandarin Orange (甘桔) which mean Lucky （吉）, $10 Note had Bronze Coin (铜钱) which mean Wealth (财） and $50 Note had Peaches (寿桃) which mean Longevity （寿）.
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| $2 Note with Bat |
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| $5 Note with Mandarin Orange |
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| $10 Note with Bronze Coin |
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| $50 Note with Peach |
The shop goes on and and say that I lack Metal Element and my wife lack Wood Element in our life, and wanted us to buy the Metal Element (White Jade) and Wood Element (Green Jade) Pi Xiu Statue at 600 NT (S$24) each to help in our fortune (The Water Element is Black Jade, the Earth Element is Yellow Jade and the Fire Element is Red Jade.). But I turn down the offer and walk out of the shop. Guess all the Octagon on inside my wallet had manage to destroy the Feng Shui of the shop and fail to retain my fortune inside their shop. The same fate happen for the Beauty Product Duty Free Shop as their products are found to be much more expensive than the normal products sold outside.
We went to the Fishermen Wharves （渔人码头） and visit the Lover Bridge （情人桥） at 1600 hrs, we check in to Room 1122 of Paradise Hotel at 1800 hrs. We went for Dinner at Xi Men Ding (西门町）Shopping Street and had Pork Intestine Vermicelli 50 NT (S$2), Chicken Chop 70 NT (S$2.80), Passion Fruit and Green Tea Drinks 170 NT (S$6.80). We decided to visit to Guang Zhou Street （广州街） Night Market later as Xi Men Ding Shopping Street became a bit boring after some time. My wife had BBQ Corn 50 NT (S$2) while I had Maltose Candy 50 NT (S$2) at the Night Market. The Maltose Candy was soft and nice as compare to the hard one I found in Singapore.
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| Lover Bridge at Fishermen Wharves |
14th Feb 2015 (Saturday, Valentine Day) Taipei （台北）:
We wake up in the Morning at 0800 hrs and had Breakfast at the Hotel, we went to visit the Tai Pei 101 Tower 1000 NT (S$40) at 0900 hrs (Taxi 250 NT about S$10, with additional 20 NT for the Chinese New Year Period). The Tower is 508 meters high, with the Fastest Elevator which travel at 1010 meters per minute.
Tai Pei 101 Tower had a lot of Feng Shui in the design, the Logo of the building are Bronze Coin (财） forming a Wishful (如意). The building is form by 8 Trapezium （聚寶盆） which look like Bamboo (節節高升). We check out of the Hotel and set off for the Airport at 1200 hrs, we had Noodle, Dumping and Bubble Tea 550 NT (S$22) at the Airport.
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| View of Tai Pei City from North of Tai Pei 101 Tower |
Taiwan is an Island fill with Treasures and Love, we had seen the Ling Zhi, Mei Hua Deer, Cat Eye Stone and Pearl and we had visited Love River at Gao Xiong, the Eternity Bridge at Jia Yi, the Sister Lake at Ali Mountain, the Lover Bridge at Tai Pei. If you really want a romantic tour with the one you love, Taiwan would be the best choice.
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| Love Sign at Gao Xiong Love River |
