TAIWAN ADVENTURE - PHOTO JOURNAL

 TAIWAN - "MEI LEE' De BAO DAO".  Taiwan - Beautiful Jewel Island (my translation) is a Lush and Green beautiful Island.  If you paint the map shape of Taiwan in green, it's a beautiful green leaf. Unique aboriginal gourmet food, beautiful nature, and plenty of activities to enjoy your vacation time.  Relax at the natural mineral spring ONSEN, affordable massage parlor, great street food varieties.  The trip to Taipei, Taiwan after 50 years since I last visited and travelling with my school mates were just a blast and created a memorable vacation away from busy daily commute on super highway and 24x7 work.

This is the photo journal of my trip to Taipei, Taiwan on May 9th through 17th.  Internal travel were completed via Taiwan High Speed Rail "THSR" (west coast line) from Taipei to Kaohsiung.  Taipei to Taichung (Central Taiwan); east coast travels mostly completed by tour bus, car, local trains, etc. Traveling to east central to HUALIEN TAROKO Gorge was an interesting full day trip.  Meeting travellers from all over the world on the bus itself was an experience of its own.  I learned about "KLOOK" tour booking site during my search for something similar to Hop-On-Hop-Off Tour bus around the many other cities.  KLOOK has many different pre-arranged tour to choose from.  I chose Taroko Gorge tour that included Swallow Cave and so forth for my first day in Taipei, Taiwan.  For the second day, I decided to do a self tour to southern most of Taiwan Kaohsiung City, where I remember visiting 50 some years ago.  Thanks to some seasoned travellers all around posting their travel experiences on YouTube, I managed to travel on my own around the Lotus Pond in Kaohsiung.  And I learned a few things about Taiwan's high speed rail, how to reserve seat.  They don't have a "Green Windows" like in Japan, but every time I was at the Taipei Train Station at 7 am, the THSR window is open and ready to reserve my seat within 5 minutes.  In Japan, the Green Window does not open until 8 am or 9 am in some train station.  It wasted almost a quarter of travel morning if you didn't book all your travel dates on SHINKANSEN all at one time.  Meaning, it's not really Green Window's fault.  I am sure if I were organized enough to have booked all 5 or 7 days of travel on Shinkansen all at once, I would not have the need to visit the Green Window every day.  And I found out just a few days ago that the JR reservation can be made via online.  "Daaa..."  It probably was able to back in 2019?  Anyways,  I also learned from KLOOK, YouTube travel logs, and from my friends about Taiwan's "YOYO" card.  A definite plus to have this prepaid charge card to ride local Metropolitan train or buy food and snacks or even pay for some entrance fee at attractions.  It's equivalent to Japan's SUIKA card.  Because Taiwan government is promoting Taiwan tourism, foreigners whoever register before arriving in Taiwan is eligible for a drawing to win Approx US$160, NT$5000 YOYO Card.  https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4870363   

 

 I used it for so many things: buying gifts, snacks, food, paying for entrance fee, paying to ride Metropolitan rail train, and I still have left over on the card.  Food and local attractions prices are so reasonable in Taiwan that I say, I would like to go back to just to use up my YOYO Card.  The other fun thing about the YOYO card is that it does not have to be in the 'form' of a credit card.  My friends and I were at a local 7-11 style family mart and purchased a trinket that can load money.  I bought one in the shape of a Hello Kitty.  Really fun, even for a senior citizen... ha, ha... 

 So, here is my photo journal of my trip to Taipei, Taiwan has changed Sssoooo much since I last visited 50 some years ago!!  And I am glad I came to revisit this Beautiful Island.

Some of the activities as a school reunion included enjoy HA'KA' Gourmet lunch - full banquet list,  visiting local market, Balloon raising at JIUFEN over a live railroad track!!! (that was a surprise when the live train came through where hundreds of tourist were viewing or raising their candled balloons into the sky with their wishes written on them.)  

5/12/2023 evening street food tour at RAOHE Market.

Ordering is easy, just mark how many you want to order right on the placard menu.

Boar meat Hot Dog.

Famous TSOU' DoFu - STINKY TOFU

5/13/23 Tour of local market before HA'KA' Lunch.

  

 

Green Onion Pancakes.

(Almost everyone is wearing mask.)

5/13/23 Time for lunch

This retired chef prepped and cooked all the wonderful HA'KA' style dishes  - all by herself.  This restaurant only engages in limited private party, and we were very fortunate to dine there.

I loved the surprise mochi balls in this soup.  Down to earth vegetable dishes are just what I was craving for.

Salt and Pepper Shrimps that were prepped quite differently throughout in Taiwan than in California Chinese restaurants.  They are just delicious.

I loved this one.  The ingredient combinations are often considered with "medicinal" health effect.  Lotus seeds, Ginko nuts, mountain potatoes, various grains, etc.

5/13/2023 Afternoon activity.  Time to visit BEIPU for special tea making, then, to JIUFEN for Wishing balloon flying.

 

TIAN SWEI TSA FUN - Heavenly Water Tea House (loosely translated by me)

Mixing bowl with ingredients.  A stir bar is given to grind them into fine powder.  Then, hot water is added, mochi balls are added to enjoy by all participants who worked hard to make it into delicious dessert tea.  It took about good 30+ minutes to make.  It was a fun, laborious efforts by all members of the party.

 

Mochi goodies to add to the dessert tea.

It's ready.

  

After adding hot water, grind some more into smooth paste.

Add the desired mochi and Enjoy!  Everyone had a great workout.

Now it's time to visit the JIUFEN to make the Wish Balloons and fly them over the 'LIVE" railroad tracks.  Who came up with the idea, I am not sure, but, it was wild when the live train showed up in the middle of balloon launching.  People, tourist didn't think nothing about it... I am glad there was no human pancakes on the tracks afterwards.

To "TIAN DEN MA"

We signed up with the famous 94 year old - TIAN DEN MA (TIAN DEN = Sky Lamp; MA = Mom) owner's store.  There are 4 sides to the balloon to write the wishes.
 

 

Ready to launch.  Balloon is lit up.  Hot air is filling up the balloon.

Up, Up and Away! Beautiful, Beautiful, Ballooooon!!!  May our wishes come true.

Balloon in the sky.  They all fly or fall down from the sky after 5 minutes or so.  They have local town people retrieve the balloon.  They are compensated for retrieving and returning the balloon.  It is supposed to keep the town clean, but there are some that are hung way up high on the trees.  According to them, they have not had fire incidents.

 5/13/23 Class Reunion Dinner at Celebrity Cuisine - WTC - no one really know how we exactly managed to pull this one through to dine at the two Michelin star private club.  Of course, we know one of our classmate has a 'connection'.  We all benefited the most fantastic dinner.

 

Prepping Peking Duck

Various type of Appetizers - There were about seven different ones.  (Not all appetizers pics are here.)

 

 

Grilled Shark Fin Soup - quite different from the regular recipe

Grilled Boston Lobster

Main Course Menu.

But I counted far more dishes served than the menu.

Wagyu Steak

Then, as a customary, delicious fried rice was served toward the end.  The End ???  naaa, there were three delicious desserts served. Fresh fruits - Taiwan Pears, Guava; Portuguese influenced Dan Ta - Egg Custard; chocolate looking beverage which I do not know what it was, but delicious.

 

  

Almost forgot that we even had a time for the foot massage after the dinner @ Taipei city, Ton Hwa Road, Lane 38, #5. or Tel: 02-2784-6567.  " The place you step in is the way you pave for the world" is their store front name..  Full foot and leg massage or Full Body Massage. by 30 min, 60 min, 90 min or 120 min.  We were all very please with their services.   My frineds even visited it the second evening. They are clean, courteous, and very good in what they do.

5/14/23 Our activities continued the next morning into having general Chinese breakfast at a local restaurant that's been around since 1960. 

Earwood salad, special soy noodle salad, bamboo shoots salad

ZONG'TSE - Glutonous Rice with meat cooked in Bamboo Leaf

Rice wine (JIOU NI'AN) essence with egg

5/15/23 The next morning, small group of classmates ventured out to WULAI Village. Our first short hiking area is around the BEE'TAN.  The most impressive part of the tour to me was the lunch at WULAI village where aboriginals grew wild edible vegetables, cropped, and sold at the restaurant front.  After choosing the vegetables, they are prepared into dishes for you.  That was a native gourmet experience you cannot have, except in Taiwan.  

Native vegetables of all sorts that I have never seen it before.  Asparagus with big bulb head that looks like choux.

It's a vegetarian heaven.

Whatever you see here is what they will cook for you to make into dishes.  The vegetable at bottom to the left of purple flower is the amazing Ice Flower - BING HUA.  I love the salad they made with it.  It's an amazing experience in the mouth.

Even the "fire dragon fruits flower" is prepared into dishes.

I have no idea what this orange melon looking fruit is.

Various type of wraps.

The far right tag says SHIAN JIAO FUN - glutinous rice plus banana.

 

Can't quite read it from the glare, but ALI something ..FONG? - Chicken Feet?  Not sure what is enclosed inside.  It does say Purple Rice.

Pearl Onion

 

Menu - Very Reasonable NT$Price.

This is "Lover's Tear Drop" dish.

This is my favorite ICE Flower Salad with sesame dressing (I think it was sesame; otherwise, peanut dressing with vinagrette).  Once it is in mouth, the tiny droplets on the stems pops as you chew and releasing its cool tears. Amazing sensation.

Stir fried bitter melon dish.

Millet rice (?) filled with meat  wrapped in Lotus leaf(?)

Recognize the Purple Flower, Shiitake, Cabbage head Asparagus, and Cauliflower looking vegetables?  Tasted really really refreshing. 

Larger view of the dish above with slice of bitter melon that looks like a green chili pepper with seeds.

This is a chicken dish.

Here is the ICE Flower Salad on my  plate.  Notice the tear droplets all around its stems.

We were admiring their innovative loose Tea bottle afixed with filter head in the bottle.

More veges.  INGIAGUO

"AH!BAI" (left) Glutinous rice with grilled boar meat.  

SHIAO MEE ZONG - Millet rice roll with grilled boar meat and something else.

HAI ROO SWEN(Front) Ocean Bamboo shoots(?) or Water Bamboo Shoots(?)

Lover's Tear Drops (front) "RIAN LAI GU"

 

  The store across was selling various types of mushrooms.

Another boar meat hotdog stand.  They are very popular in Taiwan.

At the end of the street when we were crossing to hike up to the FALL by riding a mini rail cart.

I was able to use my YOYO Card with reward money to pay for everyone.  Because the fare is only NT$10 x 7 = NT$70 for seniors

Then at the next upper level.

 

 

Very clear water.

Forest plants.

Now back in Taipei, stopping by the large SOGO shopping mall's food court for shaved ice fruits.

Stopped by Din Tai Fong Taipei  (inside Taipei SOGO shopping mall right next to or 'in' or interconnected to the MRTrain station - check out how many workers are working 'for real' to prepare the Bao compared to the ones in San Jose, California.

 

Customers registering their names to dine in or ordering To-Go.

We waited 45 minutes for table for three on Tuesday evening. 

XIAO RONG BAO with crab and pork

I love it when you can tell all the ingredients.

XIAO RONG BAO filled with pork.

Excellent!

My personal Excursion tour on 5/10 and 5/11 & 5/16 to Hualien (Central, east coast side) and Kaohsiung (southern Taiwan) and TaiChung (Central Taiwan)

(Click on the image to view in larger size)

Taipei Train Station West Gate #3 where most of the Tours groups are meeting up to meet up with tour guide to ride tour bus.

Quiet morning before 7 am

Taipei Train Station

Central to exchange buy tickets, change trains.... quiet at 7 am.

On the way to Taroko Gorge on tour bus viewing east side of the Taiwan facing Pacific Ocean.  Taroko National Park has a marble canyon, cliff, and a 20 minutes hike up to the visitor station is well worth the time.

A pic time at Taroko Gorge.  20 Minutes hike up, and supposed to return to bus in 20 minutes down the hill.   Of course, I was late.  Running down the path caused a TSUNAMI reaction to other tourists who were walking down to their bus.  They thought if I am running, they must be late.  One after the other, there were at least five other tourists from a different tour group who started running down with me thinking that they are later, but only for a while.  They couldn't keep up and decided to just walk down fast.   When I got up to the top, I couldn't find the bus that was parked inside the dark tunnel drive way.  Embarrasingly when I got on the bus, everyone laughed.

 

Yep, I need to run back to the bridge where the tour bus is waiting to it's left in a tunnel.

Swallow Cave

Marble rock mountain

Lunch time.  Bamboo rice with ham or chicken.

Interesting, I thought, but unfortunately I did not taste the full flavor of the bamboo as I thought would taste like the sticky rice in bamboo leaves would.

This is the best donuts.  It's also made from millet flour.  As promised, the donut remained chewy hours later and did not become rock hard.

Time to fry more.

Everywhere you turn your head, it's green.

 

Cooling in breeze from Pacific Ocean.

Taiwan Plants

Rosewood Suite, 11th floor, at  Howard Plaza Hotel of Taipei.  1 - 2 miles away from Taipei Train Station. The Howard Plaza Hotel Taipei, 160, Ren Ai Road, Sec. 3, Taipei, Taiwan 10657, R.O.C. Tel: 02 2700 2323

Complimentary Welcome Snacks.

2nd day in Taipei.  Ready to travel on THSR - SHINKANSEN to Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, for self tour.  Downstairs to the Taiwan High Speed Rail station.  I am on my way to Lotus Pond.  Unlike Japan Rail Pass, Taiwan's Rail Pass require you to choose Two days out of the Five days (within the five consecutive days counting from 1st day ride).  If you forget and miss the date, you loose the ride.  No refund either.  It's best to have already an organized pre-plan of which date to ride the THSR or remember to change the date per instruction on how to's.

How the pass looks like.  Your reservation information is printed and adhesive to the passbook.

You need to show your passport and passbook at the gate of entry to the TSHR boarding station.

THSR boarding station is inside Taipei Train Station, for example, West Gate 3 entrance, downstairs, lower level.

Here it comes.  Back in "...5 January 2007, with trains running at a top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph),..." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_High_Speed_Rail but on my ride on 5/12, it clocked 358 km/h, 222 miles/hr.  My ears definitely felt it.

Unlike Japanese Rail Ticket we prepurchased before leaving U.S.A, Taiwan HSR 5 Days Pass is mis-leading in what i says "5 Days".  The pass only allows two days out of 5 days to use for High Speed Rail and 5 days for Taipei Rail.   I did not need to use the Taipei Rail)  We used MRT.  5 Days Pass requires that you choose two days of travel by THSR at the time of 1st reservation.  You have the right to make the change of time and date.  You are responsible to make that change or your ticket is considered Expired. If you missed the date of 2nd travel date.  No refund.  The THSR train from  Taipei to Taichung (central Taiwan) costed me extra NT$1400 that day.

Green, Green... and overcast

Passing by some industrial area of some city.

Cool looking highways.  They drive on the same side as in U.S.A.  But I don't think the drivers drive quite the same as in the U.S.A.  Not that they are reckless or anything, but just my observation...

The Kaohsiung train station is very busy by 9 am.

Make sure to note, which gate you came out, etc.

Like in Japan, there are food court and gift shops every where at that train station, and everything got English most of the time.

On the strip where Lotus Pond Park is.  Across the street is a very busy morning market.  Everyone's on 50CC motor bike of some sort to go grocery shopping.

Hmmm, I want to ride it... but looks complicated process... maybe next time.

1st stop at the Lotus Pond Park - Confucius Temple

Mostly display of the building.  Nothings else that I find.  I think most of the objects, if any, are situated at the museums located in Taipei.

Intersting tree.

The bird is different.  And sings like Italian whistling at a woman.

Panorama pick toward the pond.

There it is.  The Twin Towers.

That's a walk.

Looks interesting,... Naaa... don't want to go in there...

Almost there.

One thing about Taiwan.  Restrooms are every where, whether it is Squat type or Commode seat type.

Seniors enjoying Karaoke at the Lotus Pond Park.

Cool.

Statues of all the Heroes and Heroines.

The view across the pond.  I see another interesting stop.

Inside.

Detail painting all around and on ceiling.

Lucky Golden Egg for NT$100

What did I get.  I will open it when I get home.

Another interesting plant.

*You enter via Dragon's mouth and Exit out of Tiger's mouth.

 

Free back massage service.

Beautiful Lotus bloosom

It took me approx. 2-1/2 or 3 hours - a nice stroll around the pond to finish it.  Thanks to nice cooler weather, I made it back to the train station walking.  By 1330, I was back in Taipei.

Evening tour via MRT east to SHI MEN DIN evening market (in Taipei) was not as eventful as we thought.  Comparing to RAOHE market, RAOHE had more street food and eatery.  But we learned to ride the MRTrain to get there and back to our The Howard Plaza Hotel in Taipei.  The tip to know which train to ride is to find your destination in the schedule and find the beginning and end point station name.  Then, find out which platform that train is. Well, at least that's what I learned.

There was a long line for the Stinky Tofu stand though.  Must be good.

Time to wrap my Taiwan trip journal.  I might have missed some, but for now my thought is - I had a great time in Taiwan.    I would like to go back again to use up my lucky YOYO card award and eat those wild mountain vegetables dishes.

So, what is in my Golden Egg?  a Nice charm.

Wish all those who travel to Taiwan this year have as good luck as I did in winning the Taiwan Government's sponsored NT$5000 tour lotto.  https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4870363

*if I made any mistakes in the tour location info, please let me know.