Sunday, December 30, 2018

2018 Dec: Taiwan: Taipei: Huashan 1914 Creative Park

Huanshan 1914 Creative Park is quiet huge. Back then I remember that the place was a bit crowded because multiple exhibits and events are taking place. The place will most likely appeal to the young ones and young at heart. Shops selling various crafts and trinkets are all over the place. You won't get hungry here as there are plenty of cafes and restaurants are spread across the venue. In deed a place where creative juices and ideas are overflowing.



2018 Dec: Taiwan: Taipei: Holy Family Church

Church


2018 Dec: Taiwan: Taichung: Houli Blossom Pavilion

Houli Blossom Pavilion is located in Houli Horse Ranch, another venue of Taichung World Flora Exposition. The expo begun last Nov 3, 2018 and will run until Apr 24, 2019. Refer here - https://2018floraexpo.tw/En/

Due to public's interest in the flower expo, the place gets too crowded. We arrived at nearly lunch time, fall in line for 30 minutes before stepping into the pavilion. Inside its huge but due to the large crowd one will have a hard time looking at the flower displays. You have to really allot time when visiting this place, and roam at your own pace. To get descent photos, bring a lot of patience and wait for a while until the crowd disperse a bit. Good thing I got some pics worthy of posting here.


2018 Dec: Taiwan: Taichung: Houli Forest

Houli Forest

Houli is one of the venues for Taichung World Flora Exposition that started running from Nov 3, 2018 to Apr 24, 2019. We particularly went to Forest Park and enjoyed the scenery created by different participating countries.


Taichung World Flora Expo Highlight: "The Sound of Blooming" 

2018 Dec: Taiwan: Taichung: Zhongshe Flower Market

Zhongshe Flower Market
(text to follow)

2018 Dec: Taiwan: Taichung: Fengyuan Huludun Park

Fengyuan Huludun Park is a series of parks connected by bridges.  This is one of the 3 sites for 2018 Taichung World Flora Expo.


2018 Dec: Taiwan: Shifen

Shifen together with Jiufen is also a town mostly visited in northeast Taiwan.  The only reason I have chosen Shifen over Pingxi is because of the location being closer to Ruifang.


Saturday, December 29, 2018

2018 Dec: Taiwan: Jiufen

Jiufen is a town found in the mountainside of northeast Taiwan.  This has become a famous visit for tourists to experience the old town street with viewing deck to see the horizon of East China Sea.


Plus of course to visit A-mei Tea House which has beautiful red lanterns.

2018 Dec: Taiwan: Ruifang Station

Before we can reach the towns of Jiufen and Shifen in northeast side of Taiwan, there's Ruifang that will be the base for commuting transfers.

I already bought advance tickets online because based on some vlogs, there are cases that the train back to the city from Ruifang are fully booked (and we cannot let our mom standing for that long on the train.)

For regular trips, you can visit here.  For the high speed, try to check this page.  You just need to print your paid reservation voucher and exchange it to actual tickets on the counter. 

2018 Dec: Taiwan: Wǒmen lái chī ba (Let's eat) in Taipei and Taichung

Tasting food as we go along the streets and restaurants of Taipei and Taichung!

Jiufen

Tea Restaurant in Jiufen
Location: across A-mei Restaurant
Food: fried noodles with vegetables & sliced pork (250ntd = 430php), mixed fruit tea (160ntd = 272php)
Personal Preference: 8 out of 10
A-mei maybe good to visit if they can accommodate you due to it's popularity.  But going to the tea house across A-mei gives you a good spot to have a better view of the Spirited Away inspired scenery. 
I really enjoyed the mixed fruit tea as I also enjoyed the cold weather, people watching in the old street and the viewing deck for mountains of northeast Taiwan and horizon of East China Sea.


2018 Dec: Taiwan; Taichung: New Plaza Hotel

New Plaza Hotel
No.77-1, Xiangyang Road, Fengyuan District, Taichung, Taiwan 42080
向陽路77-1號, 豐原區, 台中市, 台灣 42080


Price: Got this from agoda.com with Early Booking Saver. Rate at 10% discount!

2018 Dec: Taiwan: Taipei: Morwing Hotel Fairytale

Morwing Hotel Fairy Tale
3F., No.36, Sec. 1, Kaifeng St., , Taipei Main Station, Taipei, Taiwan 10044
開封街一段36號3F, 台北車站, 台北市, 台灣 10044


Price: Luckily to get these rates from agoda.com: Early Booking Saver. Rate includes 28% discount for 2 nights and Limited time offer. Rate includes 21% discount for 1 night.

2018 Dec: Taiwan: Click Hotel Taipei Main Station

Click Hotel - Taipei Main Station branch
5F, No. 72, Section 1, Zhongxiao West Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan, 10041

Price: Expensive but opted to stay since I'm looking for a place that would accept us on our arrival at the area by 2am-4am.

Location: Pretty much close to Taipei Main Station.


Taiwan: Itinerary for 5 days in Taipei and Taichung

Accommodation:  
Where to stay in Taipei?
Click Hotel - Taipei Main Station branch
5F, No. 72, Section 1, Zhongxiao West Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan, 10041

Morwing Hotel Fairytale
3F., No.36, Sec. 1, Kaifeng St., Taipei Taiwan 10044


Where to stay in Taichung?
New Plaza Hotel
No.77-1, Xiangyang Road Taichung Taiwan 42080


2018 Philippines and Taiwan: Christmas Around the Corner

Let us enjoy the bright lights shinning around the cities, from Tiffany in Shangri-La to Dior in 101!

Taguig

SM Aura, 26th Street, Corner McKinley Pkwy, Taguig, 1630