A couple of months ago, I signed up for a mandarin class. Prior to that, my mandarin was very basic. Although Singapore is a majority chinese population, english is mainly used no matter your race.
Practicing is the most effective method to retain the ability to speak and understand a language. I realized how quickly I forget the basic concepts such as “Wo jiao ____” which means “my name is _____”
That brings me to the topic of today’s post. My trip to Taiwan. This was another impromptu trip to fuel my wanderlust journey.
Day One
After a sleepless night with a friend on the plane, we arrived in Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei. Upon collecting our luggage, I saw a large sign with a “shower symbol.” Funny how the universe grants your wishes precisely.
After collecting the EasyCard, We took a private charter to the hotel to place our luggage, before heading to Shifen to visit the waterfall & Jiufen by local train. A washroom inside the local train is something I did not anticipate. Utilizing it on a moving train is wasn’t a great idea.
Pro-Tip: Use the toilet when the train stops at a station before your destination
After switching trains, we arrived at Shifen. It consists of a long stretch of shophouses with a railway track in between. A few moments before, a large crowd of people cheered on the incoming train which we were on. A grand entry indeed. Since the train comes every hour, there is plenty of time to take candid photos on the rail tracks. It started to drizzle, so we stayed indoors while munching on the local snacks.
Unfortunately, due to the rain, we did not visit the waterfall.
We then took an Uber to Jiufen, a scenic mountain region. The main highlight was the Mt Keelung trail. The weather dampened our plans for a hike, but fortunately I had an umbrella to take us up to the teahouse.
Thanks to the translation apps, ordering food from a menu written in traditional chinese is a breeze. Technology is definitely a game-changer that makes the world more accessible. After slurping a bowl of beef noodles & a pot of non-caffeinated tea, we headed back to the hotel. It was almost 5pm & the sun was already beginning to set. After taking a warm shower, I realize that my umbrella was left in the backseat of the Uber car. Let’s hope it doesn’t rain for the remaining 6 days of the trip.
Spoiler Alert: It didn’t 😉
Day Two
Upon waking, the first thing I did was to boil water to brew my morning elixir. Yes, I took the effort to bring a small bottle of moringa and garlic powder. If you haven’t tried it, it has a grassy taste, but most importantly, I cured my morning inflammation thanks to this magic potion which I consume daily.
After having the most average breakfast at the hotel, we headed to Songshan station, which took 5 minutes on foot. After getting snacks from 7-11, we set off to Hualien, home to Taroko National Park. Boarding on the wrong side of the train and having to perform a walk of shame to the other side is definitely worth the try. *facepalm*
Pro-Tip: Check your ticket for the car and seat number before boarding at the platform.
Taroko Gorge is famous for its spectacular mountains and marble canyons. With cliffs and canyons stretch along the Liwu River, it would be agonizing not to visit.
Two hours later, we arrived at Hualien station with empty stomachs. Just in time for some Dim-Sum, one of my comfort foods.
Our tour guide was patiently waiting for us at the station while we savoured dumplings and soup. He was warm and friendly, with a decent command in English. It was time to put my mandarin to practice.
Hualien is a relatively peaceful town, with a much slower pace of life compared to Taipei. It was a soothing atmosphere with less traffic and noise.
The first stop was Buluowan Suspension Bridge. It was filled with tourists which means that we have to ensure not photobombing others in their photos.
We then headed to three other locations around the area. The final stop was the most breathtaking! Do not take my word for it, instead, enjoy the photos* below
*(taken by my shabby yet humble iPhone SE)
I felt a sense of gladness from witnessing the beautiful sceneries throughout the day. As we bid farewell to our driver, the sun began to set. “Today was one of the most memorable days of the year”, I murmured to myself as I reclined my seat on the train back to Taipei.
Day Three
Waking up to a bright Saturday morning, I opted to put on a sweater. It was a mutual decision to skip breakfast at the hotel. Instead, we took a stroll to a cosy local breakfast place serving dough fritters and steamed bun. We topped it up with a warm glass of Soy Milk. We were so hungry that we forgot to take photos.
A brief bus ride brought us to Sinsinan Village Museum, a stone’s throw away from Taipei 101, which used to be the tallest building in the world at one point of history.
An elementary school, located near the museum, coincidentally hosted their sports day when we visited. It was truly gratifying to witness children joyfully running around. After chilling in the park for an hour, it was time to make our way to the next destination.
We booked a ride on the Maokong Gondola, which is just a fancy name for a Cable Car.
In a moment of confusion, we inadvertently entered through the exit door, finding ourselves on the 3rd floor That’s when I realized that we were supposed to queue at the first level, where people were released in batches to make their way upstairs. It was an honest mistake that saved us an hour of waiting time.
By the time we returned to the city at almost 3 pm, we were just an hour behind schedule for lunch. We made our way to Xinyi to experience the popular sushi franchise, Kura Sushi.
After indulging plates of sashimi, we went shopping for outerwear at an apparel store buzzing with locals. With our hands full of shopping bags, we decided to take a long walk to Xiangshan for a quick photoshoot at an alley. We stumbled upon it on while browsing google images before the trip.
If you observe the picture above closely, you’ll notice a subtle smile on my face. I was anticipating the upcoming High-Speed Train ride that night, whizzing us to Taichung for the next two days. That concludes the first half of the trip 🙂
Leap with Luqe 