taiwan is a very nice place and the people are nice..

feel like at home when you go to taiwan. they are maintaining a lot of chinese characteristics, like china. Don't expect they will treat you like foreigners..
they just think that you are one of them. malaysian are treated like their friends.

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Added on March 27, 2010, 4:30 pmFor those who goes taiwan for the first time, you will have to go around the island, spending most time on bus, train and mrt. The main attractions will be taipei, taichung, gaoshiung. But most attractions will be at taipei.

taidong and hualien are just like our villages, nothing excited but sure you have to go once. The next trip can be just free and easy at taipei and taichung should be fine.

enjoy your trip..

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Added on March 27, 2010, 4:34 pmMy experience in taiwan: have no problem going from one place to another if you know how to speak and read mandarin. If you have taken chinese subjects from standard 1 to form 5, you should be no problem to understand anything. Because they will use idiom and discuss with you on all the histories, etc... standard daily mandarin communication may not be enough especially when you visit "old palace".

This post has been edited by epalbee3: Mar 27 2010, 04:38 PM

stimix... im trying to book the train tix to Hualien via their website (http://railway.hinet.net/etkind1.htm). I see there are afew type of train, namely 'Tze-Chiang Limited Express', ''Chu-Kuang Express' and 'Fu-Hsing Semi Express', hence wonder which is the fast train. Appreciate your advise. Thanks.

ehhh..I'm banana leh..Not really sure which one..thus i dun go online although having English version.

Me bought from the counter. I was lucky they still having seats to Huelien but not during return trip. If no tickets you still can go but using the so called "Standby" ticket on conventional train & not speed train.

Get Tze-Chiang, caused 441 TWD. Tze-Chiang from Taipei only stopped IIRC 5 stops. 2 hrs journey

Else it would be a long journey as the others would have more frequent stop at smaller town, not to mention; longer time of arrival.

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Added on March 27, 2010, 10:52 pmWe managed to catch ours on the dot. Bought the tickets at 5.15 and rush for the train that departs on 5.40pm. Also over the counter; but on the weekdays so more seats.

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Added on March 27, 2010, 11:00 pmHave you booked your accommodation in Hua Lian? Else you could try this homestay: http://www.netete.com/traveler or the owner's blog (he and his family are frequent backpackers as well): http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/travelerhomestay
Walking distance from the rail station. Walk straight at the 2nd traffic right, turn right and walk past 2 shop lots to reach destination. Around 15 mins walk.

The owner helped us arrange for the cab companies to bring us around, cost TWD3000 for a group of 6 ppl.

Anyway, if you need the Cab at Hua Lian, can try this cab company: 0935-190602 (Taiwan phone number).

This post has been edited by b00n: Mar 27 2010, 11:06 PM

So far anyone encountered delayed AA flights from KL to Taipei?

Finally just back home (Malaysia) today evening from Taiwan and Singapore.

The last few days got no internet access and therefore unable to reply.

Round Island Tour booking from Hwa Jing (Malaysia) and it's RM799/pax plus Service Charge of RM346/2 persons.
www.hwajing.com.my

6 days 5 nights stay at different 3 stars hotel. The 3 stars hotel is ok for us. Those tour include one Health food and one Pi Qi shop. The rest all go to the attraction but very rushing as we only have 4 days to round the entire Taiwan Island from North to East then to South and then back to Taipei at North.

The tour guide (local in Taiwan) is SUPERB, he is 71 years old but still very energetic to bring and share many stories to us in the bus.

The tour food is so so niah..You better eat at Taipei for the road side or the night market is better.

The last 3 days we go Jalan Jalan ourselves around Taipei and Taoyuan; 1 day in Xiao Ren Guo (Doraemon) and 1 day in Taipei ZOO. (miss the Muzha Cable Car due to currently they are giving 10000 tickets per day for re-open back the cable car service).

I would Highly Recommended TAIPEI ZOO, you must not miss it. The reason is world class ZOO, bigger than Singapore ZOO and more live animals in Taipei ZOO. Furthermore the entrance fee is cheaper. NT$60/pax only. Singapore Zoo is much expensive & smaller.

If you go to travel within Taipei city, pls buy the EASYCARD (from any 7-11 also got). It can use in major MRT train or BUS..The initial value is NT$500 or you may buy 1 day or 3 days PASS too. The EASYCARD is valid for 2 years from the last reload date.

BTW, the weather is unstable. I remembering I say not cold there & then we facing the "Sand Storm" in Sunday (March 22). The temperature dropped fast and then 3/24 (WED) then weather back to good stage. So u just need to read/listen from their local TV channel news. Taiwan got more than 100 channels in their TV, very scary.

Will share some photos later as now is very tired and got to sleep liao..Tata & good night.

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Added on March 27, 2010, 11:56 pmNot from our flight on last March 16 (TUESDAY).

This post has been edited by transit: Mar 27 2010, 11:56 PM

Correction. Need NT500, but actual value is only NT400. NT100 is deposit which is refundable if you used more then 5 times.
When the sandstorm hit, me and my wife didn't even notice until the news next day. Was at Wu Fen Pu. But did overheard phone conversations in the MRT asking friends to wear mask lar.

My trip was good, I meant the weather. All day shinny. Only first night at Hua Lian got small rain while at the night market.

transit, did we meet in taiwan? we was about the same time in taiwan.. i was in shilin night market on Thursday night.. perhaps you are at taichung bear resort on tuesday? did you dance the bear dance?

i guess i must meet you somewhere.. when is the time you departed from malaysia? we might met on 20 March in KLIA..

I had a good memory there.. let me know..

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Added on March 28, 2010, 1:35 amWhen the storm strikes, I was in Taichung.. after that it was ok on Thursday..

Seems like we all met in taiwan.. hey.. the world is so small..

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Added on March 28, 2010, 1:38 ami guess taiwan is a must go.. but i will probably take the taipei only next time..

mind sharing your experience?

This post has been edited by epalbee3: Mar 28 2010, 01:38 AM

b00n: Thanks for the correction on the EASYCARD portion. That is right! "Need NT500, but actual value is only NT400. NT100 is deposit which is refundable if you used more than 5 times."

epalbee3: not sure if meet you in Taiwan or not as we are there from March 16 to 24 (WED). I also take AA X from KUL to TPE.

transit... many thankx for the info. will try to book for that train.

actually we are planning for a day trip... hence not planning to stay a night @ Hualien. but appreciate the thought.

To share the experience: We take risk as the bag pack is heavy to carry Laptop and our Laptop is safe.
The hotel we stay is Lilai Hotel nearby Ximending. I am not sure other Hotel ya.

guys.. i was wondering if i can pick up any free map at the airport?

You may pick up many road maps in Airport (FREE)...I have tons of them in my bag right now. Haha

just wanna check with u guys, i wanted to travel to Taiwan somewhere in October. I am going alone. Izzit better if i go there by my self or follow a tour group. I am not so much into shopping/temple stuff. i wanna try their food, weather and clubbing experience as i heard their clubbing is very fun. I have not been to Taiwan b4 and got 0 knowledge about it. The only info i got is from this thread and those locations that u guys mention, haven even heard about it as i dun watch Taiwan dramas. izzit advisable to follow tour group or go there by my self. My budget is around RM4.5k for a 4day 3 night trip. if got extra, mayb i spend more on a better air ticket instead of taking budget airline. any advise?

Lester1987: For your requirement: You go easy back pack is more recommended. If you know Mandarin, then is more convenience too

I can speak basic mandarin but of cause there will be the canto accent is there as my main language is canto. what do u guys mean by back pack? sry for being noob and for a 4 days 3 night trip, u think $2k SGD is enough? any place that i should really go to taste their local food in their area? 1 place that i must go is Taipei 101 bcoz i think going to Taiwan, must at least get a picture of Taipei 101 to show that i am there:P

Wonderful! Your Mandarin can help you to ask around in Taiwan when you need help there. :-)
S$ is very POWERFUL ler...the exchange rate is higher than RM to NT$ lo..I think should be enough for you to stay 4D/3N if you saja eat eat, jalan jalan. (except buying additional stuff/souvenir/gifts)

RM depreciated a lot in Taiwan. Advised you to exchange in Malaysia rather than exchange in Taiwan due to the rate here (Malaysia) is much better.

101 Tower is good too but I personally recommended ZOO TAIPEI..Cheap and many animals inside. The ZOO is about 165 acres very BIG ya. We miss the cable car (Maokong Gondola) there, hope you can get the cable car there. It will be reopened in end of March 2010. Now is soft opening only giving 10,000 tickets per day from March 22/23 onwards.

This post has been edited by transit: Mar 28 2010, 02:59 PM

Day trip might be good if you only plan for one area to visit. Namely either the Taroko national park which is the mountains or the seasides.
But it would be tiring as traveling from Taipei by train already took you 2 hours. Then ride by cab to Tarako another 1 hr. Most probably will spend the whole morning + afternoon there then come back to the train station at evening. Another 2 hrs ride back to Taipei. Nonetheless although tiring, it would be a good trip if you like nature.

Backpack basically meant budget trip thus most ppl don't go on tour group but travel on their own (adventure adventure). Taipei got lots of night market. Shi Lin is full of ppl especially on the weekends but I would recommend Shi Da (was ogling while I'm there ). Anyway, if you're into food; go to the book stores and try to search for food guide. I bet there's tons of it there.

Taipei 101 caused NT400 to go up and the main attraction is only the stabilizer ball. Never went up but yes, took picture of it.

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Added on March 28, 2010, 3:18 pmBtw, a note to travellers. If you happen to have an oversea accounts such as Citi, SCB, HSBC; you might want to confirm whether your ATM card can be used overseas. If yes, then most probably by withdrawing money with ATM is even cheaper then exchange money locally.

FYI, I changed money with an exchange rate of 10.96 (NT100 = RM10.96) a week before my trip (my trip on the 13th)
but on the 20th when I withdraw via Citi, the rate is 10.56 (NT100 = RM10.56).

This post has been edited by b00n: Mar 28 2010, 03:18 PM

These are the night markets we went: 士林， 饶河，西门丁, 台南.
西门丁 is more organized. (西门丁is own classified by us as night market :-)

Before I forget all information, just to share some local contact (Taiwan) in case anyone need them in future.

1. Taxi Service: Miss 彭燕勤0921-984-658 or Miss Li (her husband) 0921-984-678 --> This is a taxi service is from 景安捷運站 to Xiao Ren Guo or LeoFoo Village Theme Park. The Public Bus from景安捷運站 to Xiao Ren Guo or LeoFoo Village Theme Park need to wait too long and wasting time. NT$150/pax. If you take Bus is NT$120/pax but losing on the time spent/waiting.

2. Taxi Service: Mr. 赖锦宏 0915-262-622  This is a taxi service from Ximending/Taipei City Hotel to Tao Yuan CKS International Airport. NT$1000/taxi. Due to the heavy luggage, my original plan to get the Public Bus from Taipei Bus Station has been changed to Taxi. If you take Public Bus, it will be NT$125/pax. (Single Trip).

3. Money Exchange Service: In Ximending area: Miss 莊素贞 at shop name GLPBE JEWELRY Co. Basically her shop is selling JEWELRY but got the Money Exchange Service provided too. You just need to bring your USD$ or RM plus PASSPORT. They need to register your name prior to exchange NT$ note to you. Not like in Singapore, exchange money is fast. The exchange rate in HOTEL is no good. So my advise is to consider this in Ximending area (when you running out of Vitamin M/NT$) or exchange in Malaysia.

For first timer and travelling alone, I would say better take a tour package as that will save you a lot of hassles.

tour package can get you a very cheap price but the drawback is you will have to visit some of the "shops"..

I am able to move around taiwan from taoyuan, hualien, taidong, gaoxiong, taizhung, taipei in a 6/7 days trip using tour package. If you plan yourselves, you will have to spend more. Don't forget in order to visit all tourism spots, we have to spent around 6am - 10pm everyday.. That is very tough for someone without knowledge of taiwan map.

One more good thing taking tour package is got tour mates and you won't feel alone, so you can share your travelling joy. If you go alone, you may probably feel lonely. e.g. if you take the 爱河之船 you will probably have to go alone.

For second timers, you can take free and easy package to just visiting taipei/taizhung, then you can walk yourselves..

It was a good trip and I enjoyed it.