On our first day, refer to the below list for our activities:
1. Decent hotel breakfast provided by Regalees Hotel (excuse me, no picture on this as I was rushing to meet up on the time schedule to adjourn to the next place. Anyway, breaksfast was just normal such as fried noodles, dumpling, bread, ham, fruit juices, coffee, tea...etc.)
Our bus driver and our private bus with the 740-GG bus number plate.
The seats looked new and comfortable.
Regalees Hotel's external decoration.
Reindeer and its presents on the carriage sleighing off to distribute the presents for the kids.
2. Fisherman Wharf @ Tamsui (~30min stop, early
morning); supposedly one could see the sunset in the evening while inhaling the breathtaking sea, however, the schedule had been changed by the tour guide without our knowledge.
We've reached the Fisherman's Wharf @ Tamsui. "Love" is everywhere ;)
The white bridge at the background is known as the Lover's Bridge. It was just a plain bridge for the pedestrians or visitors to walk over to the other side to breathe the seaside breeze. The name "lover" was represented here as in it refers to boys and girls who are dating, they usually will frequent the area to enjoy the nice and cozy place. :P
Other than that, probably with love, one could build a bridge to cross over :*
The strong wind and its chilly air was awesome! It was pollution free as well.
I loved it. If you were skinny thin, probably you might be blown away by the strong wind la. wth~ LOL~
These are the Lovers' cards. At other places, one usually will find lovers' locks instead ;)
Lover's bell? No idea what is that for? I have a few assumptions...:D
If one were to ring the bell together with your lover's around you, you'll live happily ever after with them forever. :*
If one rang the bell if one happened to be single, a lover would be coming your way soon. ;)
One would be able to come back to this Fisherman's Wharf or Taiwan in the future again. :)
Other than that, it has no meaning, more like a bell to get the boats to embark or disembark.
And so, let's say I rang 3 times for all the above.
hahaha~
Overlooking lover's bridge from afar.
Tamsui at its vicinity area.
Me enjoying the ultimate sea breeze and cool chilly air at Tamsui :)
Lover's Bridge and I.
Overlooking another island in Taiwan.
A brick demarcation stating the name as "Qing Ren Qiao" (Lover's Bridge). Built in the year of 2003 by the previous corrupted President of Taiwan, Chen Sui Bian, way before he was charged for his wrongdoings. Money and power are really tempting. When the citizens entrusted their votes by electing the leader and yet the leader disappointed them. Wtf~
3. Tamsui Old Street (~1 hr stop for strolling at the street and
Starbucks); supposedly a great place for fresh
seafood, snack stalls in the evening.
This is what happened when one decided to engage with a travel tour. No time to really enjoy and relax at one place. Just managed to have a quick sight-seeing. Although engaging with a travel tour allows one to cover a lot of places of interest, but the valuable time spent at one area is insufficient. One will always spend more time traveling on the bus in order to get to the other destinations.
Me with the signboard which is known as the Golden Beach (pronounced as "Jing Se Shui An" in pinyin). Don't know how it derives from that as I saw no beach nearby, just sea. haha~
Vicinity of Tamsui Old Street.
Vicinity of Tamsui Old Street area overlooking the sea.
Frosty the Snowman Christmas decoration along the Tamsui vicinity.
Christmas decoration of the original BK-20 Steam Locomotive train of Tamsui on the previous Tamsui Line.
A row of motorcycles which are arranged in order.
4. Taipei Shihlin Residence (the place whereby Chiang Kai -Shek retreated
from the mainland China and fled to Taiwan together with wife Soong
Mei Ling)
The original late Chiang Kai Shek's car placed at the entrance area.
Chiang Kai Shek was a political and a military leader of Kuo Min Tang from China who fled to Taiwan. He had then ruled Taiwan as the President for the Republic of China. Actually, I don't know about the history of Taiwan.
Anyway, Taiwan is independent from China. Thus, the currency is different.
But it seems like China rather thinks that Taiwan belongs to China.
I am rather confused. It feels like there is a craze for power. wtf~
Remember this words of advice, when one is greedy, one will tend to lose. ;)
A Cajeput Tree with its easily flaked bark at the vicinity of Shihlin Residence.
Taipei Shihlin Residence of the late Chiang Kai Shek. We didn't enter as we had no time for that.
Beautiful flowers.
Yin and Yang brick table at the Chinese-styled gazebo.
Soong Mei Ling was Western educated. Thus, at the Shihlin Residence, one would be able to find 2 types of garden, Chinese style and Western style. For the love of Western, Lady Soong Mei Ling designed her garden by representing hers with the Western style.
 |
| Whereas Chinese style garden is well represented with a gazebo for Chiang Kai Shek. The late president preferred a Chinese style garden for himself. It felt like respecting and embracing two different individualistic and preferences as long as the space allows them to do so :D |
Nature's decoration at its best.
5. Lunch @ Mongolian BBQ Restaurant (Men Ku Chao Ro)
Our BBQ Mongolian Buffet Lunch
6. The Miniatures Museum at Taipei, Taiwan (supposedly known as the first museum to collect miniatures in Asia)
The entrance to the museum. Had to climb some amount of staircase before reaching insight of it.
The 18th - 19th century miniature.
Miniature Greenhouse
Interestingly lavish designed bedroom miniature. Like those during the Elizabethan era (before 19th century).
Luxury lifestyle bedroom miniature. Who wants? *raise your hands up yo* ;) <3 p="">
Teddy bears miniature.
7. National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall @ Taipei (Chiang Kai Shek's huge
bronze statue, similar to the US Abraham
Lincoln's statue)
The arch and I overlooking the memorial hall at the far end.
(The arch with the four letter symbols which is read as "Zi You Guang Chang" that literally translates into "Freedom Square". Inside the hall sits the statue of a huge bronze Chiang Kai Shek, I guess he was the man who fought for freedom or independence for Taiwan)
My awesome pow-some jumping shot <3 p="">
After that, we adjourned to our hotel and then we were brought to Fong Jia Night Market. While on our way to the hotel by bus, we pastby at the highway and we were informed that the picture of a big building on a mountain side sits The Grand Hotel, Taipei. We were told that this hotel building is believed to be haunted. o.O
This was built based on the suggestion of Soong Mei Ling to his husband in order to accommodate foreign ambassadors with a 5-star accommodation.
We pastby highways and overlooking the suburban/outskirt buildings and greenery fields.
8. Fong Jia Night Market, Tai Chung @ nearby Fong Jia University; snack
stalls and cheap shoes, boots, and that the place we were brought to in order to let ourselves to buy our own dinner from the night market.
9. Overnight @ Zhong Ke Hotel, Taichung (Central Taiwan).
Vicinity of Fong Jia Night Market.
Da Chang Bao Xiao Chang (Special Taiwan Sausage Bun with some other vege ingredients) at ~NTD 45.
I read from some blogs, it is recommended to try. Big "sausage" (with sticky rice) wrapped in a small meaty Taiwan sausage.
Anywayyy, I really love Taiwan sausage. So, what is there not to try? ;)
It is really different from "lap cheong" in which i don't like it at all.
Chao tofu (Smelly tofu).
It is fermented, that is why it produced smelly smell.
If given another chance, I would like to buy this smelly tofu to try again. I think the sauce wasn't enough.
Eating deep fried smelly tofu. Actually, it wasn't really that smelly though.
Was just exaggerating and overeacting:P
Christmas deco at the ouside of the hotel
Zhong Ke Hotel by night.
Amenities provided by the hotel. Not too bad.
This was one of our very spacious bedroom so far. A decent and clean hotel room. I would rate it at 3 to 3.5 star. :D
A separate living room.
Taichung by night!
Lately, I've learned some basic Chinese language about the names of some places in Taiwan from my friend at work which was related to the compass direction. Just to share some knowledge about them here. Now...Taiwan names do make some senses to me and they are now easily to be remembered. ;)
If one still didn't know, here are the names of the main places in Taiwan, in which they are derived based on the geographical compass directions.
Examples, Taipei originates from the word North. North in Chinese is known as "Pei". Thus, Taipei is located at the North of Taiwan.
Whereas Tainan originates from the worth South. South = "Nan" in Chinese. Thus Tainan is located at South of Taiwan.
East = "Tung" in Chinese. Taitung is at East of Taiwan.
West = "Xi" in Chinese. Thus, Tai Xi is at West of Taiwan.
Lastly, Central = "Chung". Taichung is located at the Central of Taiwan.
:D
Good night, Taichung!
