i am travelling to taiwan this dec , any advice on the currency exchange??

Hi all Sifus,

This is my first time going to Taiwan.  I will be going with another 3 of my friends from 15 - 22 Oct 2011. This round, I would like to visit Taipei, Ching Jing and Tarako. Please advise whether I can go to Tarako from Taichung. Please aslo give comments on my itinerary in  below. A million thanks in advance!
      
16 Oct 2011 Sun  0800 to 0900  Breakfast around TS Hotel Area.
     0900 to 0930  Check out from TS Hotel and head to Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR)
     0930 to 1030  Reach THSR - Tai Chung. Take cab to Tai Chung train station.
     1030 to 1100  Keep our luggage in Tai Chung Train Station. 
     1100 to 1200  Head to Ching Jing Farm
     1200 to 2200  Walk around Ching Jing Farm and stay at 觀星園景觀山莊
         (How can I go to those tourist spot from here? Can advise where to go?)
Time above is a bit off. Check my blog for the timing. If you are lucky to board 11am bus to Puli, then you might be able to take an earlier bus to Cingjing from Puli. If the time is spot on, I think you should be arriving in Cingjing by 2pm instead of 12pm. Check with your minsu if they can provide the transportation to nearby tourist place for free or not
             
17 Oct 2011 Mon  0900 to 1000  Breakfast at 觀星園景觀山莊
         Can I plan from here to Tarako / He Huan San and other nearby tourist spots?
         Any difference from FengJia Night Market and Those Night Market in Taipei?
         Where should I spend a night here? any recomendation?

Friend, Taroko and Taichung is like east and west side of Taiwan, it's impossible to be at the same place at the same day cos most of the time is spent on travelling. The most you can go is Hehuanshan, then you need to turn back to Cingjing and back to Puli, then to Taichung. If you cross over to Taroko, it will take you 4-5 hours just on the small and windy mountain road. I'd suggest skip taroko but include Hehuanshan. Fengjia Night Market if i'm not mistaken is the largest Night market in taiwan. A lot of nice food there. Don't miss it if you spend a night at Taichung.


   

Taipei itinerary should be ok. It's easier to move around Taipei and reschedule if there's something on. PM me if you need more info as your journey is almost the same as mine.

I do saw some blog intro for staying in 觀星園 Starry House..if i'm correct, Room price $1750 per night includes free transportation around Cingjing area, breakfast and dinner from the homestay.
But for my trip to Cingjing with only 清境农场 for visit..I think i'll prefer there..or can you share me more info on the interest of Cinjing?

i heard wufenpu has super cheap clothes....it's a wholesale place so might not be able to try on the clothes before buying though....

Is it all train station have luggage storage place? wonder is it safe? train station and highspeed train is diff right? 

I was thinking if i want to travel out of Taipei to places like Cing Jing Farm, Alishan, lugggage will be the major concern. As most of the time we can only check in to hotel either 12noon or 2pm, which we might have to carry our luggage to visit around, which this is very inconvenient.

Hey there.

Here's the weekday room price that  Starry Minsu 李大哥 quoted me:-
2 persons room = NT$1980 per night

I got this price in March2011, but I booked in December 2010. Probably the cheaper rate is for locals as the locals there get better hotel rate than us, the foreigner.

I think most likely just around 清境农场 Cingjing farm, see sheep and walk around. I'm not really sure what else to in CJ do so will ask the Starry Minsu boss to recommend us when we reach there.

Starry is just 5 mins drive from the entrance of the Cingjing farm. I suggest your start your walk from the top. The farm is heading downhill so you won't feel that tired. Cos towards the end have a huge stairs with 300+ steps. You would want to go downs the stairs instead of climbing up. From the other entrance down there, you can walk further down the road but becareful of the cars and buses. You'll pass by Cingjing information building(you can see this if you take bus to starry). Walk further down will be Little Swiss Garden. Nice place too to visit. Walking in these 2 places will take up most of your time. If you go during weekends,you can catch the sheep shaving event at the farm.

I'd suggest you go Hehuanshan the next morning. You won't regret going there.

There are 6 of us, so our CingJing to Taroko driver asked for Nt$6000 (5-6 persons). If up to 4 persons, it's NT$5000.  Pay additional NT$500 to include Qingshui Clif, which we should be covering as well. Our driver wont be sending us to Taipei after Taroko. The plan is to board the railway train to Taipei from Hualien. Train fare should be NT$284 to NT$441 per ticket per way, depending on the type of train, date and time. http://railway.hinet.net/etkind1.htm

This train if possible book earlier to avoid sellout tickets.

Yeah..李大哥 quote me the same price as well :-)
Any idea how long Cingjing to Taroko? And any good driver to recommend?