May I know where exactly is this place? Thanks.

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Added on February 3, 2010, 11:42 pmErm....can't see the new photos one?

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Added on February 3, 2010, 11:55 pmHi all Taiwan experts,

Need some help in planning my trip.

Duration: 2 April 2010 to 9 April 2010 (Friday to Friday).
Travel party: 5 adults (ages 63, 62, 41, 37 and 21) and a 28 months old toddler
Intended hotel: Go CityInn II

Itinerary:

Day 1 (Fri) - Arrive via Air Asia, check in hotel and Shilin Night Market

Day 2 (Sat) - Wufenphu for shopping and then Raohe Night Market

Day 3 (Sun) - Taipei City Tour covering National Museum, Taipei 101, Ximending and maybe Beitou hotspring

Day 4 (Mon) - Go to Tarako (overnight at Minsu) and if possible, go Hualien for visit also

Day 5 (Tues) - Tarako back to Taipei and dunno what to do when back in Taipei. Should I go to Yangmingshan? Any cherry blossoms during my travel period?

Day 6 (Wed) - Jiufen, Yehliu and Keelung

Day 7 (Thurs) - Wulai (Dad's must go place as he wants to see Ah Mei..=P)

Day 8 (Fri) - Home Sweet Home

What do you all think of my itinerary? Any must go places which I have missed out?

Do you think I should stay overnight at the recommended Minsu in this forum for my Tarako trip? The recommended driver, I think his Toyota Wish might not fit all of us comfortably, any alternatives?

Day 4 is 5 April 2010, Monday which is the public holiday for Ching Ming there. Will I have problem travelling? I have already avoided Jiufen on that day as I understand that there is a cemetary right at the top of the hill there and further on the way to Yehliu where Teresa Teng was laid to rest.

Thanks all in advance for your invaluable feedback.

This post has been edited by McCabePlace: Feb 4 2010, 12:01 AM

Hi Stimix,

Thanks for your fast reply.

My itinerary needs to take into account my parents, old liao and got gout problems...so cannot like walk a lot.

My sis itu shopaholic...trust me she can spend whole day at Wufenphu but I will limit her time, otherwise, waste time and my parents will nag coz tired ler. So Day 2 will probably follow your suggestion.

Day 3 your suggestions looks good but dont plan to go Danshui as I heard there's only this bridge to see, which I look at the pictures don't even find it a wee bit romantic as a lot of ppl claimed it to be. Maybe I am not a romantic person @~@.

Day 3 can still fit in Ximending?

When I mean Tarako, means all those interesting sites nearby lo but thanks, I will make a note on Chin Sui Cliff less I forget about it. Need to pay extra to the cab driver for this place? Very out of the way one ah? Will take your advice to hire a cab (most probably need a van!) outside the station.

Getting so excited about the trip after reading through all pages in this thread about yours, kampungboycitygal, stimix, etc...trip experience.

Xie Xie!!!

This post has been edited by McCabePlace: Feb 4 2010, 12:46 AM

aeiou, yes I heard abt the lady who died at Tarako recently. That won't deter me from going. The only dilemma is do a day trip or stay overnight at a Minsu. What do you all think?

Stimix, still don't quite like Danshui. Googled a lot of pics about it and the volcano you mentioned but it pales in comparison to some places I have been/seen.

Will fit in Longshan temple in my city tour, didn't type out only.

XMD every night... wah....I thought Shilin every night tim....coz my whole family like to EAT! Can lah, can fit both during those in btwn times if we are not tired.

If Beitou is like you said, then I will skip coz going Wulai. There also got hotspring and thanks anti------ for the sakura photos in Wulai. Hopefully when I go, it will be blooming/still have. So i can kill 3 birds with one stone at Wulai - Amei, hotspring and sakura....Wulai is the place they shot At The Threshold of An Era 2 (Chong Sai Gei, where Chan Kum Hoong fell into the cliff). Wulai also got "Gu Jie" (Old Street), so maybe killing 4 birds with one stone!

Now getting ppl to quote transportation for Wulai and Jiufen/Yehliu/Keelung. Dun wan take public transport coz like 'yat chau yi lang' with senior citizens, toddler, baby bag, etc etc...

Thanks so much for all invaluable feedbacks on my itinerary....will ask again if I hit a wall...hope not (fingers crossed).

This post has been edited by McCabePlace: Feb 5 2010, 01:21 AM

See how first...if like so free nbtd, then maybe consider Danshui. But not on top of my priority list now. Pineapple tarts I maybe get my primary schoolmate now staying there to get me the real good local ones, I mean those not overly priced for tourist, if I do visit her.

Wow, I thought Tarako very spectacular but your dad said Danshui better...

Anyone been to Hehuanshan before? Thinking of adding this to my itinerary.

Any recommended hotel/minsu there? How far is it from Hualien?

English travel books and websites on Taiwan is damn teruk...and out of date.

Thanks.

aeiou, thanks for the wfp pics. really looks like a warehouse. prices not that cheap, comparable to bangkok only. quality wise, i gotta feel and touch first...hahaha

Dear All,

I super sei foh dy...i have checked with a few hotels near tpe main stn and all say they are out of rooms for 2-4 April 2010. I have asked Miyi, Y Hotel and GoCityInn, which have good/reasonable reviews.

Any other hotels near the main stn I could try? Need to stay there as travelling to Hualien on 4th afternoon.

TIA.

This post has been edited by McCabePlace: Mar 3 2010, 01:22 AM

Getting super excited liao! Trip is in about a week's time!

So far, from my experience in planning this trip:

1. Taiwanese are generally friendly. One hotel mixed-up my booking and I send a diplomatic email to them, they called me immediately to sort things out. They spoke to me in Mandarin, expecting me to understand when we were emailing each other in English previously. Lucky I can speak and understand. However, another hotel no sight no sound despite me getting locals to call them to re-arrange my booking, which made me cancel my stay in Hualien.

2. Booking train tickets is a nightmare. Not only were tickets snapped up quickly online, payment over the internet is a problem. Thank my lucky stars that I know someone in Taipei who paid and collected the tickets for me already.

3. Emailing to those drivers found in forums is great and they reply promptly. They also give you suggestions on the places to visit.

4. Doing research to travel to Taiwan is a nightmare for 'bananas' like me. Most sites are in Chinese and those in English are -.-"""""". However, plus point is it forced me to read Chinese and I am improving.

5. My Free & Easy trip not that cheap overall coz Air Asia X tickets were expensive. Otherwise, it will be much cheaper than those tours offered by travel agent.

6. Hotels are generally small and pricey. Most can't accommodate a third person and some charge you for the third person without extra bed if you decide to squeeze in. You may try to sneak in but then for smaller hotels as I am told by people who went before, it is very obvious and when you check out, you will be slapped with a 3rd person charge coz there aren't many guests due to limited rooms and they will generally get to know you by name. I found a hotel with a quad room for a resonable price.

My itinerary now is:

Friday - Arrival, check-in, Longshan and XMD
Saturday - SYS Memorial, Taipei 101, National Museum and Shihlin NM
Sunday - Yangmingshan or Danshui, afternoon to WFP and Raohe
Monday - CKS Memorial, Wulai and no plans for night time
Tuesday - Taroko/Hualien
Wednesday - Yehliu, Jiufen, Keelung etc
Thursday - Miniature Museum, Dihua Street and last minute shopping
Friday - Relax and go home

Cheers!

Leaving for Taiwan this Friday. Weather forecast shows it is rainy and windy most days throughout my stay there.

Shit! I thought April is not rainy season de?

It depends lor...if Typhoon Morakot like last time...you say safe or not....but areas that will be hit (if at all) wouldn't know now lor...

This post has been edited by McCabePlace: Mar 31 2010, 04:50 PM

When I couldn't get the TRA tickets on the intended day, I was devastated and the cab driver suggested that I book from the next few train stations along the stop as some people might have booked the available seats from Taipei to that stop. Once I get the tickets, then I can find out how to travel by public bus or cab to that particular station. This is very troublesome and time consuming man!

So, I changed my plans and woke up at 5am the next day to get tickets for the following day (coz the day before, I dilly dally reach office only start to book at 8am+). Booking starts at 6am and I so happily able to book but the problem is passport number is required when booking and they don't allow more than 6 tickets per passport at anytime. So I had to use another passport number to book.

Then when come to payment, I tell you I was @#@#%$^^& coz they won't accept Malaysian credit card (I tried a few credit cards from different bank and credit limit is not a problem, in case you are wondering, and I have made online payment as far as Europe ler). But I read in travel blogs that Singapore credit cards no problem one. So again, I was tearing my hair out coz the tickets booked needs to be paid within 48 hours. Luckily I got my old classmate staying there and I SOS her to pay and collect the tickets for me. Note that the credit card used to pay for the tickets is required to be presented for verification upon collection of the paid tickets. So, if you book online, need to be cautious also. Alternatively, can get your hotel (if they are willing) to go collect/pay for you and you reimburse them lor...the hotel I stayed in was willing to but my classmate beat them to it.

The Tze Chiang train (Tarako Express) very comfortable ler...wide seats and spacious...the most annoying part are those which bought standing tickets whereby they tried to get my daughter's seat when she was just moving opposite to my side...I bought a ticket for her though she don't need one.

Upon arrival at Hualien or Taipei, they will keep your tickets either manually or via the machine...I should not have given my daughter's ticket to them in Hualien and keep as souvenir....stupid me.

The day trip bus for Tarako costs about NT750 per person and it goes to less places/stops and limits the time as opposed to having a cab driver at your dispense to go/leave as and when you wish. Normal charge is around NT3,500 per a cab (Toyota Wish 7 seater including driver). So if you have more person, it will be cheaper or your could get the normal sedan car (up to 4 passengers without driver) which I think can start from as low as NT2,000 as documented by some forums/blog.

This post has been edited by McCabePlace: Apr 13 2010, 02:57 PM

When using credit card physically in Taiwan no problem. Can select to pay in RM also! The problem I faced is paying the TRA tickets online from Malaysia ler...


This post has been edited by McCabePlace: Apr 13 2010, 02:40 PM

Where I went and what I did in Taiwan 2 April 2010 to 9 April 2010:

Part 1: 2 April 2010 to 5 April 2010

2 April 2010 - Arrival, took Guo Gang bus to Taipei Main Station (TMS), check-in, rest and dinner. Walked half way to Ximending but patah balik due to the heavy rain. Spending: NT230 for return Guo Gang bus, buy umbrella NT120 and NT70 for dinner = NT420

3 April 2010 - Breakfast, Load MRT card, SYS memorial hall, walk to Taipei 101 (rain/cloudy, didnt go up), Lunch at Taipei 101, free shuttle to Cityhall station and National Palace Museum (NPM, MRT Shihlin station then Bus Red 30 or 255), Shihlin Night Market (Jiantan station, only go entrance then patah balik coz heavy rain and so sesak with people, umbrella and stalls) and back to hotel for dinner nearby. Spending: Breakfast NT45, MRT reload NT500, Another umbrella NT150, Bought Clothes shaver NT450, Lunch NT150, Souvenirs at NPM NT800, Dinner NT70 = NT2,165 ~ NPM free entrance after 5pm on Saturdays, otherwise it is NT180.

4 April 2010 - No breakfast, MRT to Cityhall station and walk to Taipei 101, lunch, Free shuttle to Cityhall station then MRT to Wufenphu (Houshanpi station, out within half hour), MRT to Zhongxiao Fuxing then changed to Nanjing East Road. Was supposed to walk only like one block to the Miniature Museum of Taiwan but then we got a stupid map and made us walk a very far and long route but we still managed to find the museum (NT180). It is interesting and the attention to detail is superb. Amazing Race once had one of their challenge there and that is how I got to know of this museum. After visiting the museum, we asked around at the bus stop on the next street and found bus 307 which stops right in front of Taipei Main Station (TMS)! Haiyor, if we would have known, it will save our half hour of walking. After resting our sore feets, we walked to Ximending cum dinner. Spending: Taipei 101 entrance NT400, Souvenir photos NT600 (expensive but for fun-lah), Taipei 101 souvenirs NT980, Postcard from 101 NT42 (still havent arrive till today wor), Lunch NT100, Shaved milk from Three Brothers Sisters NT120, Ah Zhong Mee Sua NT60, Yoshinoya beef bowl NT90 (try for fun to see same with Malaysia or not and Malaysia punya tutup kedai jor ma) = NT2,392

5 April 2010 - Breakfast, MRT to Xindian then bus to Wulai, Jalan-jalan in Wulai and hotspring, Lunch, back to TMS by bus from Wulai to be above ground to view Taipei city, say hi and bye to CKS memorial, visit malls near hotel (Shinkong, Nova, etc) and dinner. Breakfast NT45, Bus to Wulai (use MRT card NT40), Log train to/fro Wulai waterfall NT100, Hotspring NT300 (1 hour private room), Lunch NT90, Snacks at Wulai Old Street NT90, Bus to TMS (use MRT card NT75), Dinner NT99 = NT724

Not much shopping for me as most not suitable for me. Don't ask me how much the MRT costs for the various stop, I just touch and go with the MRT card but if you want to know exactly, then the Metro Taipei website got show. At the end of my travel, I got NT99 refund from the NT500 I loaded.

My hotel was NT1,500 per night for weekdays and NT1,800 for Saturday. Double room. no breakfast. So if you wanna count per person cost, just divide by 2 lor.

Part 2: 6 April 2010 to 9 April 2010 to be continued.

This post has been edited by McCabePlace: Apr 18 2010, 01:09 AM

Yes, using cc much cheaper rate as they let us choose the RM equivalent and the exchange rate is shown there.

However, not all places let you choose RM, example retail outlets.

Do not go to the Everich DFS at Min Chuan Road, waste of time as they tell you even cheaper than airport bla bla bla but all lies leh. Coz you can't choose to pay in RM, so they will convert NTD to USD then USD to RM to charge your bank and the prices all same with airport. Some more, you can't take the items immediately unless pink price tag but then you have to check in if you bought cosmetics like me lo.

When I went to airport, I saw same price and can choose to pay in RM. Ish!!!

SK2 users out there, it is definitely much cheaper to buy in Taiwan, especially at duty free shops. I just bought recently during Isetan sales, haihs...but buy again. Next time my friend coming back from Taiwan, I will ask them to buy for me....hahahaha!

Longchamp lovers, it is also cheaper there especially the seasonal Le Pliage range like Eiffel Tower as compared to Malaysia. Longchamp is not so popular there, so got lots of stock and I am kicking myself for having bought one recently before I went as it was a hot item, I scared reach Taipei will be out of stock. Taiwanese generally like monogram bags only so that people can clearly see what bag they are using. He he he...

This post has been edited by McCabePlace: Apr 13 2010, 11:55 PM

Part 2: 6 April 2010 to 9 April 2010

6 April 2010: Woke up super early at 6am to get everyone ready for the 8am train to Hualien (Taroko Express: adult NTD794 return and child above 120cm or 6~12 years old NTD398 return). Breakfast on board with those bread bought yesterday. Seats were pre-allocated and can't choose but if you get the seats on the left of the train on the way to Hualien, you will get to see superb scenery of the coastline. They also got sell drinks and food on board and many people walking up down to try to get a seat as they bought the standing tickets. Cab driver waiting for us at the front of the station (NTD3,500 whole day) and we went to all those popular spots at Taroko including a city tour. Lunch (all dishes flat NT200) was at one of the restaurant by the river with nice scenery. At 5:30pm we took the train back to Taipei and went for dinner at the self-acclaimed second best beef noodles in Taiwan nearby hotel. After dinner, went to the JSF bookstore and bought countless stationery items which were super cheap.

7 April 2010 - 8:35am, met our cab driver to Yehliu, Pingshi, Jiufen, Jinguashi, Bitou Cape, Nanya and Keelung (NT3,500). Super windy at Yehliu Geopark (entrance NT50) and many people. Bought the Queen's Head magnet (NT20 each) and glow dust (in a bottle with Queen's Head cork) souvenir (NT50) on our way out. Then we went to Pingshi to light Sky Lantern (NT100)..different colours got different meaning. A train passed right through the small town when we were there! Can buy miniature sky lantern as gifts (NT150 to NT300), quite expensive but bought 2 (total NT230 after discount) for the fun of it. After Pingshi it was to Jiufen where we had our lunch of beef noodles (again!! NT90), fishball noodles (NT40) and Tofufa (NT50). All also not so nice. Then jalan-jalan at Jiufen, bought tea (NT900, so much at home still buy!!!), prawn balls (NT50, not nice) and grilled mushroom (NT50, nice!). After that it is to the Gold Museum at Jinguashi (free entrance on Wednesdays, normal NT100 exclude the gold tunnel at NT50), interesting but lots of walking/stairs. Then it was to the Golden Waterfall (so called coz the metal content turned it into yellow), Bitou cape (didn't want to climb up), Nanya Rocks and finally to Keelung for the night market where we tried stinky tofu (NT40m yucks!), crab meat soup (NT50, okok lor), steamed sticky rice (NT25, tasteless), Prawn dumpling (NT35, too much chives), Tako balls (NT40, their version sprinkled with crushed peppercorns, yucks!) and a grilled squid (NT60, nice but must eat when hot coz if not, will be rubbery). Bought many socks, cheap and good quality at average NT20 each pair, handbag organiser (NT500 for 3, NT 200 for 1) and a Princess bag for my little princess (NT150). Back to Taipei and bought take-aways: the 2nd famous beef noodles (very nice, just like our pan mee and the soup is slightly spicy, so made me eat it again), pork lard noodles (NT45) and giant sushi roll (NT40).

8 April 2010 - Rainy day. Woke up late and went to Longshan Temple to pray-pray (not play-play...hahaha) and then to Din Tai Fung (DTF) at Sogo Fuxing (MRT TMS to MRT Zhongxiao Fuxing, no need go out as station is linkted directly to Sogo Fuxing). Need to get number, order and then wait to be called. We had Shanghai dumplings (2 servings), prawn dumplings, wonton noodles, prawn fried rice, prawn noodles, beef noodles (2 servings) and a bottle of oolong tea all for NT1580 for 5 adults and a toddler. After DTF, we went window shopping around Sogo and then to the most stupid place of our entire trip - Danshui! Took MRT from Zhongxiao Fuxing station back to TMS and then changed line to Danshui (last stop). At Danshui station, we took bus R26 (NT15) to Fisherman Wharf. Was there about half hour only as nothing to see and do there one. Waste the time away only and bought Steel Egg (NT100 each pack) and went back to the station via Bus R26. Bought some bread/apstries and went back to hotel coz raining cats and dogs. Rested for a while and went to Everich DFS at Min Chuan East Road (Metro at TMS to Zhongxiao Fuxing and then changed to Nangang line to stop at Zhongshan Junior High School station. Outside station, turn left and walk round the block after passing a bookshop). Bought SK2 (NT7,000, super cheap compared to Malaysia) and went back to hotel to take away pork lard noodles (NT45) for hubby. Pack for home!

9 April 2010 - Woke up and went to TMS to refund our Metro card. Of the NT500 uploaded on each card, hubby got NT126 refund and I got NT99 refund coz I went to Everich DFS without him. After that, we ate in one of the restaurants at the Underground Mall - Prawn dumpling noodles (NT65) and Hakka Bantiao (NT35, this is Pan Mee Taiwan style and it is yucks!). After that back to hotel, check out and take the King bus opposite our hotel. We were smart this time to cross the roads instead of going underground. The journey to airport took like an hour and the queue to check-in was OMG long. The DFS in the airport is interesting with lots of luxury brands and bought Longchamp bags (hehehe...much cheaper than Malaysia depending on the model). They have Hello Kitty nursery for babies and free diapers are supplied. As the queue to get into the check-in area was too long, we did not have much time to walk around and were practically running to the gate. It is then Home Sweet Home.

Do I miss Taiwan? Yes, in a way but definitely not for the food. Will go back there again to visit other parts I haven't been to but not in the very near future.

To all those planning or thinking to go to Taiwan, just do it. You will like it for its scenery, friendly people and convenient DIY trips.

This post has been edited by McCabePlace: Apr 18 2010, 08:08 PM

Boon, we did go to 七星谭 and saw those patterned rocks. We believe leaving only our footprints and not pilfer from nature so that future generations will still have a chance to enjoy it.

Jiufen at night nothing much one...the scenery I know is nice but staying so near to the 'nightclubs' We hired a cab coz we wanted to cover more places and not spend it walking, especially with aged parents. I tell you, though you pay more at NT3,500, it is worth it and when divide by per person, not that much more you will need to spend and you get the benefit of covering more places. Then no need to worry about timing, coz you can stay as long as you like and come/go as you like. Then we also got interesting local stories from the driver ler....

Inflight sale this time only got Lancome for famous brands. I am not into alcohol or ciggies, so I didn't go look at the price. Only went to see SK2, Gucci (cannot afford but saje wanna kpc) and Longchamp .

This post has been edited by McCabePlace: Apr 18 2010, 08:29 PM

Yes, this is the one. They sendiri gelar they are 2nd best and the boss so perasan, keep on asking us want to take pictures with him or not and want to take picture of him cooking the noodles or not.

Those going to Taiwan right, go print your itinerary or bring your air tickets (if not Airasia) to the Taiwan Tourist Association (TTA) at Wisma Goldhill JRC to get the free Tourist Easycard ie. the TNG card mentioned in the few posts before in this forum for us at Taipei Metro (subway) system.

During Matta fair can also go get if you happen to be there but make sure you bring your AA itinerary, your invoice for purchase of travel package or air ticket for unexpired travel (ie. date must be in future).

Different country call their subway travel card differently, Oyster in UK, Octopus in HK and Easycard in Twn.

The Tourist Easycard obtained from the TTA is preloaded with NT50. Once you are in Taiwan, can reload any amount you wish (minimum IIRC is NT100) and use until the max amount in card. No deposit whatsoever.

When you don't want to use it anymore, just go to the manual reload counters and get a refund. If you want to keep the card, just fill up a simple form, no charges.

Got discount for using it just like the Octopus card. For example, from TMS to Danshui is NT10 cheaper if you use Easycard. Can check it out here (http://english.trtc.com.tw/ct.asp?xItem=1056377&CtNode=27498&mp=122032)

But tell you, you won't bother coz no charges for refund. Load NT500 more than enough ler.

Owh, the Metro souvenir shop at the Taipei Main Station got sell limited edition Easycard...very nice ler...

Stimix, gua pun mau apply itu Youth Travel Card (YTC) but overqualify dy like you. The YTC site seems to be KO lately. The Travel Buddy my sis got apply but not much use. I only used it to call the cab drivers and later my sis forgot to pass me the charger, I use my Maxis line saje. Bill haven't come, should not be that expensive gua.

This post has been edited by McCabePlace: Apr 25 2010, 10:45 PM

Erm...not KL tourism office la. It is the Taiwan Visitors Association's office in JRC. KL Tourism Office ppl usually mean the MATIC at Jalan Ampang.

From what I und, autumn/winter they give hotspring vouchers and spring/summer they give the tourist Easycard. during Autumn/Winter, you can ask them if don't want the hotspring voucher can take the Easycard or not. If they got stock, they will give. However, my fren said the hotspring voucher is worth like NT200 compared to NT50 on the Easycard but he took the Easycard coz he ady booked/paid for his hotspring from KL before he found out abt this freebie.

Call them up la (+60-3-2070-6789)...very friendly ppl ler....

Have fun in TWN.

JRC = Jalan Raja Chulan. Wisma Goldhill. Very easy to find and nope, the last I called, they are not opened on Saturdays.