Day 5: Birthday Celebration at Alishan

Day 5: 29th Dec 2006

3am, it was icy cold, and I think the temperature almost hit 10 degree celsius. We reached Chia Yi, which was a very different town from Taipei city. It was less urbanised, and have more shophouses then big shopping centres. We dropped by a 台湾鲁肉饭 outlet and have a taste of the famous 小吃, costing about 350NT per person. By then, the coldness was too much to stand, but the lucky thing is that I brought Guoliang's black pure lamb wool sweater with me. =) Thanks bro!

The famous braised rice. (8.5/10)

Ting and I

The banner.

We were supposed to wait for the first bus at the bus terminal to go up to Alishan. But due to the considerate coach driver thinking that many wanted to go home early to spent the new year, we were 2 to 3 hours earlier then planned. Booo. So after the meal, we went into to 7-11 hoping to get poker card and some drinks, hot ones! In the midst of that, a taxi driver spotted us, and wanted to drive us up to the mountain top at 2000NT. Being the cautious types, Weiting, Hongkiat and Jun ignored him. Butt and I gave one another a glance, had a mini discussion, before heading back to him for further clarification. Yes! Being the spoiltbrats in the group, we think that $20 per person wasn't too much (if he planned to cheat us). Haha, so in the end we hopped into his car, and I got the best front seat due to my big size（opps). And the journey was great. He was a friendly uncle.

The temperature dropped as we inclined. By the time we reached the top, whereby we need to pay another 150NT each (I guess) for the entrance, it was already around 4am. Dropping down the car, we were fucking cold. It was so cold that I actually felt like shitting. Haha. We went to the Hi-Life there to buy some hot drinks and alcohol to keep ourselves warm. Some 热情 Taiwanese-s spotted us, we exchanged some cultures; and in the end they became part of my Alishan's memories.

The union that was fucked by others for being too noisy.

The place we met.

Around 5am, the whole bunch of us went to sit for the train that brought us up to the peak to see the famous sunrise. The ticket costs another 150NT each. In less then 20 mins time, we reached the peak station. And after another 15 mins run (cause we were told we were late), we reached the top feeling breathless.

The ladies.

Us. Taiwan-Singapore.

On the train.

And the view was breathtaking!!!

The in-charge told us we were lucky, cause the sunrise had not appeared since a few days ago. Haha, and of course this sentence, made the never-want-to-lose us more proud and touched. Yes, we make it for the famous sunrise!

The sunrise. Too bad I don't own a pro camera to take nice pic.

Us again. The noisy ones.

Yeah! We conquered Alishan.

A jump for joy.

Two of my best poly cliques.

Jun and I.

We had some good photos taken and bought honey which was super yummy, before walking down the mountain to the train station at the base through a trekking route with the new friends.

We meant to act like 三八老. But I guessed we failed.

Yah! We are the great backpackers.

A stupid pic. Haha. But who cares. =)

The famous five.

From there, we bidded goodbye to the new friends, and headed for another tour package. $40 or 800NT per head, we hired a mini bus that bought us to many other locations of the mountain.

The forest train that's almost extinct. Heard there's only two in the world.

铁路饭盒, ~ 150NT. One word: 棒！（8.5/10)

A not so prepared timer pic.

On my Bday 29th. I saw this train #29. A pic for sure.

A hotel I think.

HongKiat!

The super nerdy us.

The girls from Tsou.

The men from Tsou.

Smile! Cheers! Happy girls!

The tour ended around 6pm, and the chatty driver cum brother brought us to our next desired location, JianFuShan. Haha, he was super duper friendly, and helped us to search for a guesthouse (民宿) at JianFuShan, though he himself was unfamiliar with the area. In the end, we settled for a Orange Farm Guesthouse which costs about 450NT per person for the night.

The owner of the house was very friendly too. She bought us to a nearby cafe for dinner for less then $10 per person. And that included a drink, the meal and soup. I felt very contended after a mountain conquering, and a supertumous meal. But I guessed the guys shocked the auntie cause I was in shorts when we went out for dinner while HongKiat and Jun were in berms and slippers. Haha, I think we aren't scared of cold anymore after the ordeal at Alishan. We went back in a open styled van, sang some songs; I felt relax and slept damn well that night.

The wonderful 大哥 that we loved.

The place we had dinner.

I was trying to take a pro pic.

My dinner. (8/10)
Plus an addition two points for feeling happy. (10/10)

My buddies.

Jun said I had a blanket battle with him in the midst of my sleep. Laughs.

辛福哦！

Day 4: Origins and Civilization

Day 4: 28th Dec 2007

It's jun's birthday, and we headed to National Palace Musuem (國立故宮博物院). Is a place that speaks about everything on China's civilization. And I got this liking for the Tang's dynasty corner for some undefined reasons. It was located at 221 Chih-shan Rd., Sec. 2; Shih-lin. We took the train to Shilin station followed by taking Bus 255. Other buses includes 304, 18 and 19. The entry fee was 160NT but 80NT for students. I didn't bring my student card, so boooo. Haha. Anyway, it was a majestic building to visit.

I was trying to act studious with a book on the museum.

Us. The photographer owns a semi-pro camera btw.

Me again.

Jun and I at the entrance.

HongKiat and I.

We got ourselves some simple lunch and nice milk teas from the nearby 7-11 before heading towards Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines, which is within walking distance. It was a museum about the the 13 different aborigins from Taiwan. Haha, and from there, I discovered that 阿美族 is not at Alishan but Hualien.

是将（这样）子的啦！

He's from 阿美族！

I'm from 鄒族!

We left the place around 4pm, had dinner at 快乐鸡 and went back to 南京东路 coz we need to get our bags and HongKiat need to buy some boxer shorts. Haha, but in the end, he didn't managed to get any from there while I bought many books from the local bookstore. LoL.

Went to K mall to shop for HK's boxers before heading to Mac for a coffee as well as to wait for MeiHua and Weiting, who came four days later. Taipei's Macs is kindda kewl, and there was this chio bu siting besides us! Haha. That night was super cold, coz there was 寒风.

In the end, Meihua and Weiting turned up rather prepared. With thick thick gloves and scarfs. Haha, seriously though I got a thick layer of fats as insulator, I was duper cold too. So we bought gloves and scarfs from the 路边摊. 500NＴ for 5 pair of gloves, another 500NT for 3 scarfs. Damn cheap, not very good quality but enough to tahan the coldness. Haha, headed to Guoguang Bus Terminal to take the coach to Alishan. It was a bus trip that made me cry a little.

Meihua, Weiting and HongKiat were sleeping soundly. While I had a motivational chat with Jun who was siting behind me. The talk was a bit saddening, but yet so close to the heart. With the icy cold as an add-on factor, I think I dropped a tear. Booo. Shawn can get rather emotional u see. Haha. The clock striked midnight, and I made a birthday wish secretly. And thanks Meihua the butt and Ting the neighbour who bought a muffin for me and jun for our birthdays. It was very much appreciated. At 3am the next morning, we reached Chia Yi.

A turning point of life.

Day 3: Back to Nature

Day 3: 27th Dec 2006

And so the results was out. Haha, I passed but didn't managed to score. Nonetheless, it brings my holiday mood back, as well as to enjoy life to the fullest. Left the hostel at 11 plus for breakfast-lunch at a nearby cafe, Dante. The food wasn't excellent, but quite a buy at 120NT per set lunch for the ambience and service.

Dante's Cafe.

Soup, drink, pasta at 120NT (7/10).

HongKiat's seafood rice set (7.5/10).

Jun's Chicken Chop set (7.5/10).

Took a bus - 402 (if i remembered correctly) to the famous YangMingShan (阳明山） from our area. Met up with a friendly uncle and some aunties who chatted with us all the way to the mountain. The uncle offered us to go 泡汤 with him, but we declined the offer. Instead, we took the shuttle bus that brings us to everywhere of the mountain. The metrocard could be used to purchase the bus trip. Mountain, lake, with the icy cold weather and mandarin ducks, it's definetely a must do thing for spending Winer at Taipei.

The Pictures:

Went down the mountain at around 5pm cause the last shuttle service was around that time too. Hopped onto the same bus back to Jiantan for dinner where we had our over-delicious steak at 140NT.

The no words can comment steak at Shilin Night Market (9.5/10).

The 大肠包小肠 we bought as well (9.0/10), 40NT.

Headed for shopping at the 12 stories high and 7 underground levels urban centric vertical Living Mall situated at the boundary of Hsin-yi District and Sung-shan District, as well as the complementary Raohe Street Night Market. HongKiat bought a damn cool cap at Living Mall while Jun got himself a nice watch from the market. I bought some accessories there too.

Living Mall.

Raohe Street Night Market.

The famous 油条王 that is famous in Singapore and not Taiwan (6.5/10).

We took a cab from the market(costs ~200NT) back to our hostel and we had a walk around our area. Passed midnight and I gave Jun a birthday kiss on his cheeks. Is gross I know, haha, but that's the whole point right?!?!

The beers HongKiat and I bought.
And we were checked by the policeman too,
For hanging out late at night.
Jun was drinking milk by e way. LoL.

Taiwanmex's Auntie. Note on HongKiat's cool cap.

The day ended with helping the hostel auntie's drunk son back to his room (it was his birthday as well), and chatting with a still sober Mike, an English teacher from Australia who is apparently a horny freak. Finally, I had a nice sleep that night.

Blissed.