2009 Oct: Taiwan: Day 3: Day Tour at Taroko Gorge, Hualien

Travel Date: October 21, 2009

My 3rd day is a guided tour in Hualien. This is the cheapest tour I found from Taipei, because they offer it via train. Most of the Hualien tours are using airplane.Try to understand your train ticket. Get into the station as early as you can, so will have enough time looking for your waiting area.

Merry Travel Service (Taipei)
Phone：886(2)25652780
Address：8-2F, No. 54, Songjiang Rd., Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Web: www.hunters-tour.com.tw

Ticket below shows the time of departure and arrival. Take note of the coach number (2) and seat number (25). Along the way, a ticket inspector will check if you have the correct ticket.


Upon arrival (10:41am) at the Hualien Station, find your way to the Visitor’s Information counter. Get some maps that will still help you on the tour.

When the bus arrived, I got frustrated that I booked for the Mandarin tour. I checked it online that it was an English tour. Good thing that my co-tourists were accommodating and generous to translate to me important information along the way.

The tour includes pass at Cihmu Bridge, stroll on Tunnel of Nine Turns Trail, look at Changchun Shrine and stop over at Cisingtan Beach.


The tour guide also sent us to a Jade shop and souvenir stores. I love the chocolate mochi I got from Hualien.

I arrived at the Hualien train station few minutes before the departure time, but I felt like I really need to run to find the train. I’m not able to take a photo of the bullet train from outside because I’m afraid that I might be left behind. So I just stay inside the train and wait until it depart from Hualien.


When I get back to Taipei proper, I immediately go to Ximending to find Modern Toilet (this will be my third, I had my first and second at Mongkok, Hong Kong). I ordered for the seafood pasta meal, thus, I was able to taste the ice cream that looks like a poop.
Restaurant: Modern Toilet, Ximending Store, Taipei (http://www.moderntoilet.com.tw/en/store.asp )
Address: 2F., No.7, Lane 50, Sining S. Rd., Wanhua District, Taipei City
Weekdays:　AM11：30 ~ PM10：00 (Last order by 9:00PM)

Near Ximending MRT, Exit 6, I was lucky enough to watch a mini concert which also features English songs.


Summary of 7 days 6 nights Itinerary on 2009 Taiwan Trip

Day	Places to see	Food and Restaurants	Where to Sleep
Day 1	St. John Bosco Church Miramar (Ferris Wheel)		City Inn Hotel
Day 2	National Chiang Kai Shek Memorial NTUniversity Dr. Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall Taipei 101	Lunch @ Mr. J Restaurant	City Inn Hotel
Day 3	Taroko Guided Tour	Dinner @ Modern Toilet	City Inn Hotel
Day 4	Ta Shee Blooming Oasis Tomita Farm		City Inn Hotel
Day 5	Walking on Tianmu Area Fisherman’s Walking Area	P.S. Bu Bu Restaurant	City Inn Hotel
Day 6	National Palace Museum Taipei Story Land	Hello Kitty Restaurant	City Inn Hotel
Day 7	Taipei Fine Arts Museum Taiwan Storyland		City Inn Hotel

2009 Feb: Hong Kong: Day 2: Museum and Snoopy World

Travel Date: February 2009

I think, my sister is a little bit tired during this day, thus we did not follow our set itinerary for the day.

In the morning, we went back to Tsim Sha Tsui area. We were able to see the skyline with the actual buildings and without lights.

We had a chance to enter the Museum of Art for free, since it is a Wednesday. So try to set your itinerary to visit Museums during Wednesday. We were not able to enter Space Museum since it will open still on a later time.

Then, we decided to take the KRC Train to reach Shatin Station. Here we visited the Snoppy’s World which is located on Level 3 of Shatin New Town Plaza Mall. This is the place which will be more appreciated by kids. Even though the mall is too big for the adults to enjoy, the area is just too far from the Metro.

Then, my sister wanted again to visit Mongkok district. I finally convinced her to have dinner in Modern Toilet. (Hopefully, I can try the original Modern Toilet in Taipei.)

After doing some shopping on Mongkok, we still had the energy to roam around Time Square mall.