Taiwan Day 5 - 24th March 2011 Part 1

Sorry for the delay. Here's day 5 of my Taiwan trip :) This time we're leaving Taipei and heading south to Taichung and then to the centre to Cingjing.

Checked out Fun Taipei Backpackers. After checking that we didn't leave anything behind, we came down and pass the key back to the cashier at OK Mart. Then head towards MRT Station. Before boarding, stop by at 7-11 to buy breakfast first. (9.20am)

Our breakfast!!

The MRT station there no bench to sit, so we just sit beside the stairs. This is the bicycle parking at the station. So convenient :) So, after our short breakfast enjoying the cool breeze, we head towards Taipei Main Station via MRT. (9.35am)

At Taipei Main Station, we switched to HSR Station which is just next door to the MRT Station within the same building. Queue at the counter to buy ticket to Taichung. We didn't buy in advance(didn't really know need to book in advance scared no seat). Luck was on our side as there are still available seat to Taichung.(10am)

We were there about 10am so we still need to wait like 15-20 minutes before they allow us to board. NT700 per person per way.

Me with the bullet train's head.

The interior side of HSR.

This is Taichung HSR Station. Time reached here really on the spot as stated in the ticket (11.19am). Oh how I wish our train will be as efficient as this. We had information earlier on that there's a bus that go to Taichung Train Station as the bus to Puli is just opposite the train station. But our main reason to go to the train station is to deposit our bigger luggage there and travel with our smaller luggage. There's a baggage service at the train station.

At Taichung HSR Station, we were waiting for the bus to come when we were approached by a few cab drivers who offered to fetch us to Taichung Train Station. They said he bus might took 45mins to reach there as they have a lot of stops to make. The offered NT280, which we didn't take. Went to the route info nearby and saw that the bus really have to make quite a number of stops between HSR and Train station.

Then another cab driver approached us and offer us NT200 and claimed that he wanted to go that direction also. Well, since we are quite in a hurry as we still have quite a journey to make to Cingjing, so we accepted. (11.35am)Reached in about 10 minutes(11.45am). Went to the end of the train station to the baggage counter. Put the luggage there, keep the tag, and pay NT17 for day 1. Balance will calculate per day when we come back and collect.

Ok. Luggage is safely kept. Now to the bus station. We crossed the road to one of the bus station there. Enquire about the bus to Puli and was told there's one coming at about 12.20pm. Quickly bought the ticket and wait it out at the bus stop.

The ticket to Puli. NT125 per person.

Poor little doggie as it looked suffocated. While we are waiting for the bus to come, got one auntie came and sit beside me and talked to me in Hokkien which I only can understand a bit only. I have no idea what the heck she's talking but I politely just smiled. Apparently she's going to Puli also.

On the way to Puli, you'll see a lot of this massive flyover. And I really mean A LOT and MASSIVE. And it's so damn high running across barren land with a lot of "Pinang" trees planted.

Our comfy bus with leather seats but very less passengers. Remember the auntie I mentioned just now? Well, she was seated in the front row and was mumbling to herself and also talking to the driver. I guess she's a little bit "crazy".

"Pinang" trees! There are a lot here especially at the less developed area. And at these areas are where the girls selling "pinang" with very less clothes.

Yay. Almost reached Puli.

Yellow flowers are falling down from the trees. As I snapped this view, there are still flowers flying down due to the strong winds that blew.

Finally reached Puli Bus Station at 11.15am. Quickly went to the Nantou Bus counter to buy the connecting bus ticket to Cingjing. There's one coming in 20 minutes time. Bought the ticket and then wait la. NT115 per person.

In the meantime, we went to relieve ourselves. Unfortunately, in this "kampung" area, the washrooms are far different from Taipei, can match our own public washroom here in Malaysia. So smelly.

Ok, I was relieving myself at the urinating area when I noticed someone coming in. To my shock is that crazy auntie that walked in and just went to a stall, nonchalantly. And it gets worse. Although she was at the last stall, she didn't really close the door at all and start relieving herself also. OH MY GOD!!!!!! I quickly get out from there and pray that the bus came quickly.

Anyway, we realized that we still haven't had our lunch yet. And while we still have another 20mins before the bus arrives, finding a restaurant to eat is out of question. So I asked the lady at the counter where can I get food and was directed to a nearby place that I can takeway. They called it Bento.

Looks like mixed rice to me. And they are really green there by using paper box. This is mine.

This is my other half's. It cost NT50 each.

As I walked back from the bento shop, pass by a shop where a lady was squeezing all the oranges(Using machine) and put it in this bottle for sale. One bottle NT20. It's nice because it's freshly squeezed.

On the way up to Cingjing. Same experience if you have gone to Cameron Highlands before. The difference is that this place is far higher, so the valleys are very deep and you can feel it's just beside you only. When the bus makes a turn, you can feel like it's going to crash.

Eh. Suddenly reached Europe?? Haha.

Yeah. Reached England? Old England? Actually is one of the design here in Cingjing.

This is Little Swiss Garden view taken from the bus. Will cover the stories of this place in the next post. Finally reached the last stop of the journey(3.10pm). Came down the bus and called 李大哥, the owner of Starry House (觀星園) where we are going to stay. He's not around but someone else will come and fetch us who arrives about 10 minutes later to bring us to Starry House.

This is our room. Since the temperature is usually cold here, there's electric blanket just above the matress so that you can feel warm at night. We were told to set the temperature to 2 so that when we came back at night, the bed will be warm and comfy to sleep in.

Another angle of our room.

Another angle.

This is what it's supposed to look like when you wake up in the morning. Sea of clouds.

This is what it's supposed to look like when you wake up in the morning. What a beauty.

This is what it's supposed to look like when you wake up in the morning. How blissful.

Well life is not perfect. We were there at the wrong time, so everywhere is fog.

View from our balcony. Can't see what's outside also.

Hot/cold water dispenser outside the room at the corridor.

So cute, I like Husky. Notice the different colour of it's eyes.

As time went by, the view became clearer.

We were quite late when we reached there, about 3 something. As we sit down with 李大哥 to discuss the suitable travel itenery, we were told that there's nothing much to see of we still stay there. So, we actually went to the Green Grass Valley first to see the sheep, then only walk downhill. The details will be continued in part 2 after this.

As summary, switching mode of transportation will make you lose time, so you better prepare your journey properly. Travelling in a group of at least 4-6 people is better so that you can hire a transport and share it out, then you can reach your destination faster too.

Ok, that's all for now. Part 1 is over.