2010 Taiwan Trip

This is my second trip to Taiwan. I knew I would be back there :-) This time was a bit different from the last time, no walking in the markets, no visiting the modern 101. We went up to Cingjing, a hill at the middle of Taiwan where we could breathe fresh air and see the beautiful scenery.

First day

We reached Taipei at about 3 in the afternoon. Then we took the high speed train immediately to Taichung. It was very fast. It took 60 minutes to reach Taichung. There was a free shuttle bus to town (not always so lucky:-)) We reached town easily so far.

There were some difficulties walking to the hotel after getting off the bus. I was misled by the bus driver and walked to the opposite direction. I was not stupid though and I asked people the way every 10 yards. Taiwanese people were very nice. Everyone I asked was very friendly and helpful.

We reached the hotel after circling for an hour in the street. The hotel was quite good. The room was comfortable and there was free internet.

After settling down, we took a taxi to Tapa Tapa, a Spanish restaurant to have dinner. I would not recommend it to anyone because it was not what I expected. The standard was far behind the Spanish restaurants I had been to in Hong Kong. Later I heard that it was the habit of the Taiwanese restaurants to use MSG in the food.

At Taya Taya

Second Day

After staying for a night, we headed to the hill. I felt quite excited because I had planned the trip for two months.

We took the free shuttle bus back to the High Speed Station where I expected to catch the bus up the hill. Unfortunately, when the bus arrived, it was full. We could not take the bus and was touted by a taxi driver.

After all, we had to share a taxi with another couple. The price was double to the bus fare. Ah well, if we didn't take the bus, I didn't know what to do because there were only two buses per day and it was the last bus.

The journey up the hill was dangerous. The driver took over others at the double white lines, spoke on the mobile phone and ate and drank all the way. Thank God we reached there in one piece.

We finally reached the hotel
A view from the window of the hotel room

We went to the little Swiss Garden after settling down. It was beautiful inside - a typical tourist spot :-) We took some photos, walked around and fed the fish.





It was just a warming up of the three days' trip.


Before dinner we took photos from the neigbourhood



At six o'clock, we had dinner in the 'hotel' (they didn't call it a hotel, they called it a 民宿). Before dinner, I was surprised to see four of my old LKY students. They yielded at me when they saw me. Obviously, they were very excited but I was a bit shocked. I could not recognize them. They graduated in 2004 and now became adults. It was easy for them to recognize me but not the other way round. I felt sorry that I didn't have a chance to chat to them after the meal because they left early. They didn't stay in that hotel.


We had a drink before going to bed.




Third Day



Our plan was to take a bus to Polei and changed bus to Sun Moon Lake. When the assistant manageress was helping me about the route, a girl came and offered to give us a lift there. The girl was with her Mum and brother. They were going to Sun Moon Lake too. We were very lucky to meet them. The Mum wanted to see the sheep (this was our plan for the next day) so we waited for them to come back from the farm and joined them to the lake.



We had a walk and took photos while waiting for them.


We arrived at Sun Moon Lake. Then we had a ride on the cable car above the lake.



A view of the lake from the cable car

Sun Moon Lake


None of us dared to play on the rides. We walked around and watched the show by the Taiwan's aboriginal tribe -the Ami.



After that, the family had to go back to Taipei. We said goodbye to them and had a little walk in Sun Moon Lake.



Then we took a taxi back to the hotel. The trip was very luxurious and expensive, not what I had expected. Only because it was getting late, we had no other choice. I always wanted to take buses because it was cheaper and more adventurous. The taxi driver pointed at a park when we were at a traffic light. He said that the park was right in the middle of the whole Taiwan. Later the driver picked up his daughter on the way so she would accompany him back to Polei after dropping us. So strange!

We didn't want a big meal in the evening so we went to Starbucks and 7-11 to get some take away. We ate in the room and enjoyed a movie while eating.


Fourth Day


A view in the morning before seven

It was the best day of all. After breakfast, we checked out and left our lugguage in the hotel.

We had a nice and slow walk up the farm. The weather was nice - not too hot and not too cold. The air was fresh and the scene was fantastic. It took us less than an hour to reach the farm.



We sat down and watched the sheering show. Then we walked around, took pictures with the animals. We fed the sheep and lambs . It was fun. The little lambs were so cute :-)




The lamb enjoyed the milk so much




It became foggy when we left the farm. We were so lucky to take photos before the fog arrived. We walked slowly back to the hotel to get our luggage at about twelve. We was going to take a bus but ended in taking a taxi down. This time we were very lucky to share a taxi with four other people. The driver only charged NT 100 per person, cheaper than taking a bus. Wow! Make a change.


We reached Polei and had a walk before taking a bus back to the High Speed Train Station. It was a small town situated at the centre of Taiwan. I was going to stay longer but the weather was not so good there. So we took a 2 o'clock bus and changed train back to Taipei.


Fifth Day


Got up early. Reached the airport. Back Home.

Taoyuan Airport, Taiwan

Bye bye Taiwan :-)

Pollution Index

Yesterday the pollution index in many parts of Hong Kong were at 500. It was shocking when I heard it from the radio on the way home. Couldn't believe I was standing at the bus stop in North Point with such a high index. When I went back to Shatin, I could not stop coughing because of the uncomfortable throat. I have never experienced it before. It was unbelievable!

A tough hiking

It was the toughest hiking I have ever experienced. Yesterday I went with some youngsters who came from Finland and Germany to Tuen Mun hiking. We were led by an ex-soldier from Finland who was an expert on hiking.


We walked to the top of that hill.
We climbed over the fence where it had a sign "No unauthorised entry":-) Our leader climbed inside first.

Walking up there was not too tough compared to going down.
We reached the top!
Having lunch in the pergola.

The background is the firing range.
Very army look, the building was painted with army camouflage.
Bird eye-view from the top. Below is Tuen Mun New Town, Just like a concrete jungle.
View of the other side.

Walking down this hill was very difficult. Too much sand there and it was so slippery that sometimes I had to slide down.


We took a ten minutes' break here.
This kind of rockets are everywhere.

Looked back from where we had been walking.

No more pictures after this point because I was exhausted. I could hardly walk and I know there was more than an hour to walk. We walked to a small stream and had another rest. I was totally lack of energy. I had never been so tired at all. It was difficult to move a step. I know I had to move because there were no other alternatives.

Among us, there were four from Finland, one from German, one from Eastern Europe, one Enlishman and one Hongkonger (that's me). Most of them were young, between twenty to thirty. I felt that I was lucky having companions like this group. They were friendly and helpful. One of the Finland girl who was studying Sports at Baptist University. We had a few chat on the way.

One girl I must mention was the East European girl who was my guarding angel. When I felt exhausted and hungry, she gave me a banana. Without it, I could not carry on. She was walking behind me and gave me a helping hand when necessary. I felt graceful. I didn't want to be a burden of the group. With the walking stick from the leader, I struggled and struggled and I reached the village where we finished the journey at last. Also with the walking stick, the first time I felt I am really getting old :-(

Maybe because they had German or Finn name, it was difficult for me to remember their name. Only remembered Rebecca who gave me some water.

Another rainy hiking day

Yesterday was my second day hiking with the Roz Hiking Group. And...it rained again. Fortunately it was not as heavy as the last time. Comparatively, the weather was much better.

We took a 9:40am ferry to Lantau Island. Took a bus to somewhere near Tong Fook. Got off, walked up a small path towards Tai O. It was raining from time to time. The rain was not heavy but it was very foggy. Very low invisibility, You could not see much close by. The journey was not difficult, however, I met the most terrible part which I had walked before - a very steep downhill. My hurting knees were killing me. They were so painfull. The downhill was long. It was a torture all the way down and it was a release when I reached the flat ground.

This time we had eight people together. Beside, Vicky, Amenda and John, I met some new friends, three from Taiwan, one from Australia and one from Malaysia. Emma, the Australian lady, has a very easy going personality. Sunny, a Taiwanese lady who is teaching Arts in Baptist University. I liked to talk to them and found them nice and friendly. I enjoyed the walk and meeting the new friends.

Two weeks' difference

On 20th February, 2010

On 7th March, 2010

'Our tree' - that is the tree growing next to my block. We called it our tree since a typhoon attacked it many years ago. The wind blew the roots up. I thought it would die but after the care of the gardener, the tree grew strong and healthy again. The tree never leaves us so we call us 'our tree' :-)

Exactly two weeks ago, strong winds blew most of the leaves off the tree within one day. When I walked past the path, I seemed like walking on a carpet of leaves. On 7th March, I walked past it again and I was shocked to see that the tree was full of green leaves. It was like magic and unbelievable. Take a look at the two pictures.

That is spring.

Year of the Tiger

Today is the first day of the lunar new year. This year is the year of the Tiger. It is also my Dad's birthday today. We gather together and that is our usual practice every year. In the afternoon, we cut the birthday cake and in the evening, we had dinner in the non-floating floating restaurant. The weather was not good today. It was raining all day and it is going to be like this the coming few days.

My first walk

I went hiking in the heavy rain and thunder storm yesterday. It was my first walk joining a hiking group. What a start! Will I carry on? YES.

The people in the group were nice and friendly. We talked and laughed all the way despite the terrible weather. It was my first time to meet them and I could feel warm and comfortable talking to them. Either I started the conversation or vise versa. They were from different nationalities and different walks of life. It was interesting listening to their walking experience. It was also interesting to talk to people with different jobs.

We took a taxi from Tsuen Wan MTR station to Pineapple Dam in Shing Mun Reservoir. It started to rain when we got off the taxi. It was raining heavily all the way. We were soaked in wet. I haven't had exercise for a long time. Walking in nearly four hours in the rain was not easy for me. My legs and knees were aching in the last hour. Our expected destination was Tai Po. Because of the bad weather, after walking down Needle Hill, we turned back to Tsuen Wan via the trail along the reservoir. We took a taxi down to Tsuen Wan and I changed a bus home. Walking back home after getting off the bus was the hardest part of the journey for me. I felt so cold and my legs were aching so much. However, after a hot shower, I felt good again:-)

Walking past Shing Mun Country Park, we saw a bunch of monkeys attacking a group of teenagers. The monkeys occupied their territory ( the picnic area) and seized their food. It was frightening seeing the monkeys which reminded me of our school picnic last year.