Taiwan - Flowers in Full Bloom

I am pleased to share with you photos taken by Huey Ling's friend, Cheu Leng.

Huey Ling is one of the 8-person team visited Taiwan (11 to 25 April 2010) click here whereas Cheu Leng and friends visited Taiwan from 10 to 17 March 2010.
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Cherry in full bloom

Please click here to view photos by courtesy of Cheu Leng.

From the photo albums, we can see all types of flowers in full bloom. What a pleasant and memorable experience walking along a forest reserve trail to be greeted by all the beautiful and refreshing flowers.

Just like running full marathons, we need a few tries to get it right – I shall go visiting Taiwan again for the flowers and trekking.

Note: when you are in Flickr photo album, click the icon at bottom right to expand the display.

Happy viewing.

At Alishan -- Good to take time off to smell the flowers

Posted by KC

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Taiwan Backpacking Holidays (2)

Alishan ku niang

In the evening, the group likes to visit night markets that operate in urban or suburban areas of Taiwan that have become popular tourist destinations among sightseeing foreign travelers. Much like the Pasar Malam in Kuala Lumpur offering vast variety of food and shopping, the night markets in Taiwan operate in much bigger scale.

Alishan dancers performing a cultural dance
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Night markets offer excellent environment for shopping and to savour the delicious Taiwanese cuisine. There is so much food to eat that we usually eat more than three types per evening. However, there is something in common that becomes staples in all night markets: the stinky tofu that gives off an unforgettable aroma -- IT SMELLS LIKE SHIT! Since one man's taste is another man's poison, much like durian in Malaysia, this is an acquired taste which I shall reserve one day to try.

Heart shape forms by two cypress tress ... Hui Min and Hui Mei

.Please click here to view Photo Album #2 (of 2) taken by yours truly (KC).
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Su and Huey Ling walking along a trail in the Alishan forest reserve area
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Coffin cakes (棺材板 guāncáibǎn) – What a name! It is bread baked into the shape of a coffin, hollowed out, and then stuffed with minced meat. But it is delicious!!.

Fried Chicken Fillet – At Shilin night market, there is a particular store which is well known for serving tasty fried chicken breast, in large portions and for only RM 5 equivalent. While standing there, people are seen queuing up to buy.

Magneficent old tree that dated back almost 2,000 ago
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Based on simple deduction, the prices of most drinks and beverages are about 25% more expansive than in Kuala Lumpur. For example, a can of cold Coca Cola is RM 2-00 equivalent whereas it is about RM 1-60 in Kuala Lumpur..

Train out of service ... Su, Huey Ling, Hui Mei and Hui Min

Iron Man 2 Taiwan version (now showing Iron Man 2 Holywood version in cinemas)

A cruise boat ride at the prestine Sun Moon Lake

Thao tribe cultural dance at Sun Moon Lake

F4 girls enjoying a scenic sunset at Sun Moon Lake

Calm and serene ... in the morning
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A Magical Crystal Lake -- The beauty of the lake, from dawn to dusk and from spring and summer to autumn and winter, whether it is bathed in sunlight or shrouded in mist, exudes such an aura of enchantment that viewers never tire or looking at and sighing over it. [Extracted from Tourism Board, SunMoonLake]

Yours truly (KC) waiting for train together with other group members

Freedom Square at Taipei ... Hui Mei

Taipei 101 Skyscraper ... Su
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Posted by KC

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Taiwan Backpacking Holidays

I am back. It is fun to be part of the 8-person team going for backpacking holidays in Taiwan for two weeks (11 to 25 April 2010). We traveled from north (Taipei) to south (Kaohsiung) via east coast railway line and back to north again via the famous Alishan National Forest Recreation Area and Sun-Moon Lake route. I wish I am 20 years younger to travel and see the world using this method... :-)

Posing next to a replica of Queen's Head, the symbol of Yehliu Geopark ... Hui Min, Su and Hui Mei

Please click here to view Part 1 of the photos taken by yours truly (KC)
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Yours truly (KC) and the Queen's Head
At National Palace Museum ... Huey Ling, Su, Hui Min and Hui Mei

Though it is spring in Taiwan, the weather was cloudy and gloomy with limited hours of blue sky. Most of the time, it is cool, and occasionally, cold. At certain places, it was hot in the afternoon.

Night view of Tamshui Fisherman's Wharf

The tourist spots are scenic but not the city view that is typical of any established towns or cities. The Night Market in Taiwan is unique offering lots of delicious Taiwanese cuisine. So far, I did not notice any curry or spicy food.

The group is cycling to the beach while stoping at a junction

The people of Taiwan are courteous and very helpful. Mandarin is widely spoken. We feel safe walking at the streets of any towns.
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Oh! What a feeling ... strong winds from Pacific Ocean

At the mountainous areas of Alishan, I was a bit disappointed not able to see the cherry in full bloom and also to meet the pretty Alishan girls, as sung in the famous song describing the mystic place and tribe people. Instead, I was greeted by the elderly and oversized tour agents and shop assistants ... :-) I enquired and the best time to see cherry blossom is from mid-February to mid-March.
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Taroko Gorge

Staying in the budget hotel is cheap, clean, and comfortable. At around RM 30 per pax per night, the facilities include air-conditioned room, hot water bath, soap, towel, hot water, flat screen TV, etc.
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Hui Min and Hui Mei

The public transport is clean, fast and on time. We travel to places by the spacious trains, public buses and high-speed trains.
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Beach at Kenting, the southern tip of Taiwan

Will I go again? Yes, I shall organize a nature and trekking trip to Taiwan in three years time focusing only on Alishan mountains and Sun-Moon Lake for about one-week’s holidays. With a flight time of 4.5 hours (takeoff and touchdown) via Air AsiaX direct flight, it is indeed a must-go holiday destination.
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Yours truly (KC) at left ... Chen Hock (at right)

Without any tour guide for the guided tour, backpacking trips require considerable amount of time to identify places of interest and read maps as to how to arrive at the destinations. We constantly have to ask the local people where or how to go. So when we asked for direction, we address them as "lao xiong" (old buddy) or "da ker" (big brother). The word "lao" (old) does give some hesitation to the person who was addressed (the guy may be thinking: am I that old?). Nevertheless, the 'da ker' gives more motivated responses.

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Hui Mei, Hui Min, Su and Huey Ling

Group photo taken at Kenting National Park, the southern tip of Taiwan Island.
(L-R): Back: KC, Chun Lian, Chen Hock
Middle: Su, Hui Min, Hui Mei, Huey Ling
Front: Donny

At Love River @ Kaohsiung

According to Taiwan's Tourism Bureau, there are countless places to see in Taiwan. But the following eight sites are among the best to experience the island's natural and cultural charms. Out of the 8 places, we managed to visit 7.

At Fo Kuan San

Top-8 Sites are:

1. National Palace Museum

2. Taipei 101 Building

3. Sun Moon Lake

4. Taroko Gorge

5. Alishan

6. Love River in Kaohsiung

7. Kenting (pristine beaches)

8. Yushan (Jade Mountain) - Did not manage to visit.

Arriving at Alishan ... at 14 degree Celsius.

To be continued ... click here for part 2
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Posted by KC

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