Feeling great & more time to yourself...no time limit set. BTW, I will be going cumin Dec....Got RM162 ticket from MAS y'day ..Will be vsiiting this thread frequently for another backpacking trip to Taiwan...Hopefully can get private ensuite backpacking style hotel <RM100...

No-lah just like AA...RM162 b4 everything & 1 way so return =RM324 + tax & surcharge of about RM220/1way so Total =RM778/pax loh...

Infact the AA is offering cheaper (Rm750 all inclusive fare) non promo price to Taipei ~ same time but without food & free check-in..So if I booked AA, the food & check-in price will be slightly more expensive than MAS

This post has been edited by stimix: Jun 23 2009, 02:36 PM

Going too..Still very early to start...Now only reading up to pg 3 of this forum. Only have 5 days for me to cover Taipei till Hualien & probably meeting Ah Mei ancestors l..(.the ancestor of Austronesian-Malayo-polenesian race)...

AA is slightly cheaper if you opt for no food & check-in but after including the RM15 for food & RM10 for check-in baggages, it will be slightly more than MAS but very small. Have to take into consideration taxi fare going to LCCT which is slightly mopre than KLIA & also availablilty of alternative parking (for me-lah) which is cheaper +_ KLIA is much better than LCCT what...Anyway tnx to Air Asia, if not MAS will not hv reduced so much to compete

Ah Mei ancestor:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austronesian_people

Also include Philipinoes, Malays, Indon, Champa, Maori, Fijian, Hawaian & also madagascar.

No-lah..RM500 probably their past promo..Normally AA very difficult to get promo closer to Cristmas. probably they going to promote soon not sure.....But right now MAS having promo and it's slightly cheaper than AA on the same date ..so I choose MAS-loh...Sumore long time din use KLIA oledi..abit missing this airport..everytime LCCT saja..abit boring-lah...time to change abit.. & going high class abit

No going wth my wife & daughter. Can only booked during school holiday ..Yeah AA Early Feb'10 ~RM525 nia...very good buy but I can't during that time. Balik Kampung is compulsory during CNY & Taipei as others chinese cities will be emptied during this period..nothing interesting during CNY..be warned.

This post has been edited by stimix: Jun 23 2009, 04:00 PM

Well I'm not sure about it but as u read everywhere & also frm those went to China (not Taipei) the cities look deserted..souless & lotsa shops closed....it's understood that chinese normally closed during CNY for ~10 days what...so based on this, I'm sure taipei also almost souless..loh..probably going a week before CNY or 2 weeks after will be a good idea?

This post has been edited by stimix: Jun 23 2009, 04:31 PM

Taroko is one of my planned itineraries still finding ways how to go from Taichung >> Mt Hehuan (Snowing area) >>Taroko>> Hualien & back to Taipeh...

My sifu (google) telling me almost impossible because there is no bus service after the mountain to taroko...haizz....

It's either taking a train to hualien & thereafter to taroko & a seperate journey to Taichung & hehuan mountain....sumore..cannot be done in a day...

Vin Ann check this documentary on Taroko & the narrow road passing thru many tunnel..There is a small scene on the marathon:


This post has been edited by stimix: Jun 26 2009, 07:37 AM

Tnx thinking of renting a car..family trip. but I'm still trying to find a way by taking the bullet train to Taiching & thereafter to Hehuan for the snow &thereafter to taroko...within 2 days...possible?

Tnx kokuryo.. .Now my taruko trip probably decided already..but how to goto Wuling (hehuan Mt..I want to see snmow!!)..& thereafter to Taichung to catch the bullet train bck to Taipei?

That really one lack of info on this...Taroko info even suggested hitch hiking!!

This post has been edited by stimix: Jun 26 2009, 11:36 AM

Tnx I found my answer already from http://forumosa.com/taiwan/index.php?sid=a...4d74305082bf8ed

It's almost impossible to cross from Taichung to Taroko without a rented car and a winter tyre chain especially at Mt Hehuan. There is no Public transport serving from Mt hehuan to taroko unless hitch hiking style. & impossible within 1 day because from Taichung to mt Hehuan already ~4hrs! and during winter where whole taiwanese flocking to Mt hehuan to see snow...the whole road up there will be jam

So my only option by Public tranport is by taking a train journey to Hualien (~NT$1000/pax return) & hire a car + driver as suggested by kokuryo ~NT2000++) Or probably I asked them to bring me further near to Mt hehuan wth additional $$

If u are at Taiwan near soon, pls check for me as well especially Papago 5800...very hot item in malfreemaps.com right now... ..U won't regret getting this as the maps fit nicely & lotsa junction view pictures.. ..M'sia selling ~RM899..if I'm not mistaken

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Added on July 10, 2009, 7:54 amNo it's not fun going by package...I hate when they hv to stop at those compulsory stops/souvenirs ctr/gems stores/ginseng shop to earn abit of commission....That's not tourist wanted...

This post has been edited by stimix: Jul 10 2009, 07:54 AM

Ya..One of my itineraries Is visiting one of the Pinang gal-gal stall...heard u can ....
But 1st hv to find a reason way from family

This post has been edited by stimix: Jul 26 2009, 10:54 PM

No need Visa..Those knows where the nearest exotic Pinang stall/shop near Main railway station, do share ho..

Taipei to Kaushiong for sure using theri Hi-speed train..but not cheap....Can't rememebr the rate that I read liao...(try google lah)

Distance is ~!500KM & journey takes 1.5hrs only !!

Not me..I dun giv a shxt. Only when they ask (I think once at Shenzhen Hotel, I gave them RM1...in protest!!

U better book now & log-in to AA..otherwise ticket closer to the actual date will be pricey...expecting RM1000 to.fro if too near to the date or book now & u still can get ~RM600 to.fro

Right now in M'sia only few good money changers having good rate but yet all of them still not at market rate..i'm not sure why..probably lack of demand??

The current world rate is about 10.7 but most of money changer selling at 11:10 to 11:30...notmuch diff..the best reference is this:

http://www.wawasanmoneychanger.com.my/exchangeRates.asp

U miss the boat...If u have book in July during AA promotion, U can get ~RM500 during DEcember period inclusing during Christmas!...

Take the Taroko express tilted train to Hualien & thereafter either rent a car or hire a driver to taroko. I'm hiring a driver there...Earlier someone posted the driver info ~ tw$2000 + for day trip exc the hi-speed train.