I don't know... especially the hotel is priced ridiculously, maybe because it's rare to have people there, so better they chop you straight once and for all?
haha... the hotel I stay I can't recall the price for room (only remember that it is the most expensive I have ever stayed in my life), but a normal meal cost USD50 (just a plate of pasta or maybe a slice of steak)... but of cos eating in other restaurant is considerably cheaper, but you need to be with locals to be safe.

Maybe there are cheaper alternatives which I don't know, because everything was arranged by my client. I would be interested to survey more on this in the future... hopefully can go back to that place again and shoot some nice pictures as well... really nice view.
but it is a pain to get there... i travel with MAS from KL to Singapore, then transfer to Qantas from Singapore to Melbourne, then transfer to New Guinea Air from Melbourne to Port Moresby... a looooong journey

1. Your travel itinerary + gear
First visit=body+24-135+50 1.8+Nissin Di622+G11
Second visit=body+15-85+30 1.4+70-300+G11

2. Your travel experience
A place I will definitely go back again after visited twice, or probably resident there for few years

3. Nice places for photo shooting
Everywhere. Street, landscape, food...

4. Tips and skills for travel photography
Travel by your own instead of joining travel agency

5. Things to be careful or take note
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I will combine my snapshots for my both visit
1 Outside of 台湾国父纪念馆

台湾国父纪念馆 by Victor_Ng, on Flickr
2 All of the passengers behave well by lining up at the both side, it's even better than Australia

台铁 by Victor_Ng, on Flickr
3 Junction somewhere near to Xi Men Ding

IMG_1227-2 by Victor_Ng, on Flickr
4

宪兵换班 by Victor_Ng, on Flickr
5 Got this @ Computex 2012 They give away a lot of free gift by throwing them out, and it's a very very big event compare to our PC Fair, and of course, better girls

IMG_6918 by Victor_Ng, on Flickr
6 ShiLing night market

IMG_7187 by Victor_Ng, on Flickr
7

九份老街 by Victor_Ng, on Flickr
8 Their "pasar malam" with foods that suit my taste buds..

IMG_6409 by Victor_Ng, on Flickr
9 View from 89th floor of Taipei 101. 88th and 89th floor are the observatory deck. 88th is indoor while 89th is outdoor with very high fencing.

IMG_7221 by Victor_Ng, on Flickr
10 View of Taipei 101

IMG_7195 by Victor_Ng, on Flickr

This post has been edited by Grajindo: Mar 30 2012, 11:26 PM

What i normally do is, i will hand carry my tripod, and ask the counter during the check in whether i can hand carry or not.
If 'can not' is the answer, then i will check in it.
If 'yes' is the answer, then i will still request the counter to put a check in tag on it, and i continue to hand carry with me.
Reason being is, some cases the check in counter say 'yes, you can hand carry', but when you are at the security check point the security guard will not let you through with a tripod. If this happen, then you can just walk back to check in counter to check in without much hassle.

anyone can give tips on how to protect camera when go to island?

like when go island liao when go snorkelling or island hoping, i want to bring camera to take picture there, but then when go down swimming or play water that time leh?

the camera how? @@

at 1st i thought i can bought a hypergear drybag, then put my camera in and swim with it

but then when i test it at home, put some tissue paper inside it, and then splash water on it, seems that it will still masuk some water ehhhh

what about dicapac?

I just used a normal bag to carry my DSLR when i went to langkawi that time. even during island hopping. I didnt bring it out while I was on the boat though. swimming that time i just put my bag by the beach within my sight.

boy i love this thread!!!!

1. Your travel itinerary + gear
Day 1: Reach Taoyuan Airport in the evening, went to Shilin Night Market (士林夜市) right after check in.
Day 2: Walk around Taipei town (忠孝&敦化area), went for a concert at night
Day 3: Depart to Tai Zhong (台中), visit Sun Moon Lake (日月潭), areas and temples around it, then Feng Jia Night Market (逢甲夜市).
Day 4: Depart to Ye Liu Geological Park (野柳地质公园), Jiu Fen Old Street (九份老街), then Ji Long Night Market (基隆夜市)
Day 5: Gold Museum (黄金博物馆), Golden Waterfall (黄金瀑布), Yin Yang Sea (阴阳海), Shi Fen Water Fall (十分大瀑布), Xi Men Ding (西门町)
Day 6: Bei Tou Hot Spring (北投温泉,地热谷), Fisherman's Harbour (渔人码头), Lover's Bridge (情人桥)
Day 7: Old Palace (故宫), Hello Kitty Restaurant, Taipei 101, Five Dime Restaurant (五角船板), Merimar Wheel (美丽华摩天轮)
Day 8: Depart back home
Gear used: Canon Powershot G12, Tripod, CPL, ND Grad filter

2. Your travel experience
Basically it is safe to bring whatever gear you want and walk around. Places in Taipei can be easily access through the Metro and bus. Just get yourself a "Yoyo Card" (悠游卡) and no worries. when you want to visit Tai Zhong and Jiu Fen, it is mountain areas, therefore it is advisable for you to hire a taxi driver. For me, I'm going with my sister and her bf, so 3 of us share the taxi fare and it is only 100+ per day for each of us. We book the taxi driver to fetch us to whatever places we want for 1 whole day and it is more convenient to travel like this with all your gears and also in places outskirts of town. Research on the places you want to visit as there will be some special event for different season.

3. Nice places for photo shooting
You can get nice street shoot in Taipei Town & all the night market. Landscape will be those waterfall, bridge, harbour, lake... and for architecture will be of cos the Taipei 101 tower and all the temples around.

4. Tips and skills for travel photography
Take you time to stroll around, and take your time to take the pictures. Take note on the rainy season and bring along any necessary protection equipment when needed. Always prepare a plan B, let's say you want to go to the sea but it is raining... then you will have to re-schedule your itinerary. I prepare something indoor and outdoor, so can switch around whenever is needed.

5. Things to be careful or take note
Don't be cheated by some taxi driver... and ask for price first before you buy anything. Other than that, nothing to really worry about.

6. Last but not least... share your travel photographs here
















You can see more pictures in my flickr account, just search "the.mono.eye"
P/S: Still in the process of uploading...

Mind to give more travel + photography tips on Tokyo?
I am heading there in 2 weeks time.
Picture no.6 is taken from Harajuku?

Thanks for the info. Btw, did you hand carry your tripod with the case or strapped on the backpack?

from my experience, it is better you put it in the bag to avoid people over react at the airport. So far travelled twice with my tripod, twice also is hand carry, but i put it in my bag nice and secure. Yes, u need to ask during getting your ticket as rules and regulation differs between airport and airline.

your whole taizhong trip all by taxi? i was wondering whether are there any trains connecting taichung and hua lien or not.. if not have to go take train back to taipei and to hualien ...

ahhhh understood lol

won't dangerous meh?

ermm.. i chose a slightly secluded spot to swim lar at pulau beras basah there.. unless got people already target you otherwise its safe.. maybe need be careful of monkeys la

wow thats awesome...

wow i luv this trip...I have so many pica dunno which one to upload...and i just to lasy to edit the pic...

This post has been edited by senyii: Mar 31 2012, 01:42 PM

island hoping okay, but pulau payar....hmmm =.='

why la that drybag not working as it advertise.....or i use wrongly...

pictar gona update after i balik , hehe

oh i also invested in a water proof camera for occasions like these. sorry didnt mention earlier

if i recall correctly there are some local old train that runs around Tai Zhong (like KTMB in Malaysia) but i not sure where it covers...
I take bullet train from Taipei to Tai Zhong, then the driver pick us up from the station and drive us around...
Initially I plan to go hua lien also, but i can't seems to find a solution to the transport therefore just stick to Taipei & Tai Zhong, surely will go Hua Lien in my next visit cos it seems to be a very nice place for taking pictures.

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Added on March 31, 2012, 2:03 pmI'm lucky that whenever I travel to island with my friends... there's always someone who don wan to get wet and will jaga my camera...

This post has been edited by beelze_gpwk: Mar 31 2012, 02:03 PM

I used dicapac. Superb but if the casing too big u get natural edge vignette like this effect. This also some of my semporna islands photos

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Added on March 31, 2012, 2:17 pmBtw, there is one dedicated sub. Forum on travel hor. Haha

This post has been edited by stimix: Mar 31 2012, 02:17 PM

congrats dude!
great shots by the way.