tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77693359846219237432024-02-25T23:20:49.099+08:00Tourist KittyWhen the travel bug bites, the kitty gets going.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-2382808428987876682018-01-24T15:35:00.001+08:002018-01-26T14:08:19.842+08:00Review: Disneyland, Disney Sea & USJ (Japan)If you are going to Japan, and visiting both Tokyo and Osaka, you might be in a dilemma. Which theme park do you visit if you only had budget for one? Well, I've been to all 3 so here is my review on them. Now bear in mind that I didn't take all the rides as my husband is not fond of too-violent rides and I don't really enjoy taking rides alone so this review may not be as complete as you might like. Nonetheless, hope my review will help you make a decision. :)<br />
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<b>Disclaimer: This is gonna be a looooooong post so please bear with me. </b><br />
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<b><u>Tokyo</u></b><br />
This metropolitan city has 2 theme parks under Disney: Disneyland and DisneySea. In other words? Land and Sea. They both have their own charms but Disneyland has been often described as a more suitable option for family with kids while Disneysea seems to attract more couples and adults.<br />
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My personal favourite? Disneysea with its beautiful Disney-inspired architecture, awesome live shows, and the limited edition Duffy Bear and friends.<br />
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<b><u>Disneyland</u></b><br />
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<b>OPENING HOURS</b>:<br />
8 or 9am, depending on the schedule. <a href="http://info.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/calendar/201801.html#20180107" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Make sure you check the timing before you go</a>.<br />
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<b>ATTRACTIONS:</b><br />
There are several attractions in the land where dreams come true, which are divided into several zones like World Bazaar, Adventureland, Westernland, Critter Country etc.<br />
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<b>RIDES:</b><br />
Since my husband is not a big fan of rides, I can only give you a preview of what the rides entail through some of the videos uploaded on YouTube. Most are kiddy rides (read: not too scary) that I'm sure your kids will love, but be prepared for loooooooooooooong queues. You can circumvent that by running (yes, I mean literally run) to get your <a href="http://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/help/tdl_fastpass.html" target="_blank">FASTPASS</a> from the various ticketing machines located near the attraction you want to ride on. More on this later.<br />
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Exciting, right? Jeez, writing about it makes me want to go back again. >.< I really miss walking through the beautiful park and eating cute snacks.<br />
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<b>SHOWS:</b><br />
Disneyland Tokyo also has a <a href="http://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/attraction/detail/str_id:fl_cinderella/" target="_blank">Cinderella's Fairy Tale Hall</a>, which is soooooooooooooooooooo beautiful. There's even a throne at the end of the tour where you can pretend to be royalty for a few seconds! Hehe.<br />
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<b>PARADES:</b><br />
I love love love the parades in Disneyland. They are so full of life and there is not a single boring minute as the gorgeously costumed dancers pranced past in their respective fairy tale theme. I will encourage you to catch both the day and night shows as they bring different elements to the table. They switch off all lights for the night show, but that's only to bring out the full beauty of their lights-adorned Disney floats. Check the videos below for a preview.<br />
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<b><u>DisneySea</u></b><br />
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<b>OPENING HOURS:</b><br />
The timing varies but can be 8am, 9am or 10am. <a href="http://info.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/calendar/201801.html#20180124" target="_blank">Check the timing here before you go.</a><br />
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<b>ATTRACTIONS:</b><br />
The attractions here are super awesome because they appear to take things a little further where imagination is concerned. Also, because it's DisneySEA, all of the attractions are water-based. You can look forward to several zones like Mediterranean Habor, American Waterfront, Port Discovery, Lost River Delta etc.<br />
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<b>RIDES: </b><br />
As mentioned, my husband is not very fond of violent rides so we limited ourselves to tamer rides (tamer, not kiddy...LOL). One of the rides we took was the <a href="http://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/attraction/detail/str_id:mi_20000/" target="_blank">20,000 Leagues Under the Sea</a>, only because the queue for the FASTPASS ticking machines was pretty non-existent. =x<br />
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Anyway, it was supposed to be a ride that takes you deep underwater where you can then experience the wondrous sea wonders that you will only get to see if you go really really deep. It was an interesting experience because you can then pretend to be Captain Nemo on one of his seafaring adventures. Cool, right?<br />
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Another ride I took was the <a href="http://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/attraction/detail/str_id:ld_indiana/" target="_blank">Indiana Jones® Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull</a>. My husband didn't join me coz a) he was feeling out of it with the flu and b) he really really didn't like violent rides so he asked me to go ahead on my own. :x<br />
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I joined the extremely long queue but on hindsight, I should have joined the single rider queue because I WAS alone and it would have made things faster for me. If you are doing this as a couple, you MIGHT want to join the single rider queue but bear in mind that you may be assigned different seats. Anyway, the purpose of the single rider queue is so that the theme park employee can slot you in any time they have a seat that cannot fit a group.<br />
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Now this ride is reminiscent of the Revenge of the Mummy ride at Universal Studios Singapore because it involves similar jerks and jolts during the ride. It's damn scary but damn fun at the same time! I only wished I had time to try other rides but it was getting dark and the husband was, well, sick. T.T<br />
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<b>SHOWS:</b><br />
Okay, one of the shows that you ABSOLUTELY MUST catch is the <a href="http://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/attraction/detail/str_id:ml_theater/" target="_blank">Mermaid Lagoon Theater (King Triton's Concert)</a>. This is a live-action show that involves 'mermaids' dancing through the air and telling the story of Ariel, the little mermaid before she met Prince Eric. It is superbly well-done and I cannot emphasize how much you should catch this show. It's totally in Japanese, of course, but hey, their actions should pretty much say out loud what the story is all about. :)<br />
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Another show that I REALLY love is <a href="http://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/attraction/detail/str_id:ac_magic/" target="_blank">The Magic Lamp Theater</a>. Remember our beloved genie? He's here in a live action show featuring that mysterious merchant you saw at the beginning of the animated movie. Super awesome.<br />
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<b>PARADES:</b><br />
If you love the parades in Disneyland, then you will love the ones in DisneySea. But instead of rumbling on, I will leave the following video to show you just how beautiful they are:<br />
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Okay, now that I've pretty much covered as much as I can remember, let's move on to how you can maximise your stay at the Disney theme parks.<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIhxKC-DLCk" target="_blank">Read this on how to utilise FASTPASS at both Disneyland and DisneySea.</a> FASTPASS is basically a ticket that allows you to avoid the longer queue and advance faster to the ride at a particular timing. Only a limited number of tickets are available but it doesn't mean that you don't have to queue. You STILL have to queue, except you get to the ride a lot faster than a normal queue.</li>
<li>If you want to get your hands on the FASTPASS for popular rides, then you need to arrive early at the venue coz people will be there earlier for the same purpose anyway. 30 minutes before opening hours ought to be sufficient.</li>
<li>Bring a picnic mat unless you don't mind sitting down on the ground during one of the parades.</li>
<li>Bring an empty that you can refill from the strategic water coolers scattered throughout the park. If you are on a budget, this will go a long way.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/08/17/national/perceived-dangers-posed-selfie-sticks-prompt-bans-tourist-venues/#.Wmgn-ajXaM8" target="_blank">Selfie sticks are a no-no in both theme parks</a>. Your bags will be searched at the entrance so don't try your luck. You can also read more about their notice <a href="http://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/tdr/caution/forguest.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </li>
<li>If you can only buy ONE souvenir from Disneyland or Sea, the consider getting the Duffy bear from DisneySea coz it's limited edition and can't be found anywhere else outside the theme park. </li>
<li>Above all, behave like the courteous, civilized being that you are. LOL.</li>
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<b><u>Osaka
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<b>OPENING HOURS:</b><br />
It depends, it can be 830am or 930am so <a href="https://www.usj.co.jp/e/parkguide/calendar.html" target="_blank">make sure you double check the timing before you go</a>.<br />
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<b>ATTRACTIONS:</b><br />
<a href="https://www.usj.co.jp/e/" target="_blank">USJ (Universal Studios Japan)</a> is one of the most well-known theme parks in Osaka, probably due to the ever-popular Hogwarts that it houses within its grounds. Harry Potter fans will make it a point to visit this beautiful spot and stock up on wands/uniforms but to be honest, I found it a little lacking. While you get to visit the shops that you could only read about or watched on the HP movies, Hogwarts was smaller than I expected. Their merchandise was awfully expensive too...I don't know why but I didn't feel very motivated to spend. Except on the butter beer that was much hyped about in the books. LOL.<br />
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How does the butter beer taste like? Well, it's sweet but nothing to shout about unlike how it was described in the books. :/<br />
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I'm very tempted to buy the wands, of course, but <i>whatever will I do with them</i>? LOL. I can't use a wand to magick my way out of trouble or help me win TOTO sooo...it's a no for me. Now bear in mind that Hogwarts is an extremely popular place on high traffic days, so you are recommended to get a <a href="https://www.usj.co.jp/e/attraction/timed-entry-ticket/index.html" target="_blank">Timed Entry pass</a>. Wednesdays and Thursdays are presumably the best days to go since the crowds only get bigger from Friday to Tuesday. I went on a Thursday so I was able to enter Hogwarts without a timed entry pass.<br />
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Other attractions include the Minion Park, Universal Wonderland and Snoopy Studios.<br />
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<b>RIDES:</b><br />
USJ also has a FASTPASS system like Disney, except it's called <a href="https://www.usj.co.jp/e/attraction/timed-entry-ticket/yoyakunori.html" target="_blank">Yoyakunori</a> and is only available for rides like Elmo's Go-Go Skateboard and The Flying Snoopy--all kiddy rides. An alternative is getting the <a href="https://www.klook.com/activity/3407-universal-studios-japan-express-pass-osaka/" target="_blank">Universal Express Pass</a>, which is of course makes it more expensive. Some rides you can look forward to include:<br />
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I didn't take any of the rides back then coz I had hurt my foot and I didn't think it was a good idea to go on any exciting rides. :x<br />
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<b>SHOWS:</b><br />
I didn't manage to catch any of the shows..(don't know why I was so unenthu when I really love theme parks)...but here are a couple of shows you can catch:<br />
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<b>PARADES:</b><br />
I didn't stay for the night parade because by then, I was tired from hobbling around and the weather was too cold for me to continue staying. Dinner was out of the question too as my husband felt that the food was too expensive and it was more worth it to splurge on good food that was more justifiably priced near our <a href="http://touristkitty.blogspot.sg/2017/12/review-namba-oriental-hotel-japan-osaka.html" target="_blank">hotel</a>. Plus, it was SOOOO crowded that I couldn't even find a place to sit down to wait for the parade. >.<<br />
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Okay, I must admit that this review is not very complete and perhaps a little biased because I wasn't in top form that day. I had <a href="http://touristkitty.blogspot.sg/2018/01/review-soak-in-onsen-japan.html" target="_blank">hurt my foot while in an onsen</a> previously. I didn't know it then, but I had in fact dislocated a bone. To make matters worse, my <a href="http://touristkitty.blogspot.sg/search/label/Travel%20Insurance" target="_blank">travel insurance</a> refused to let me claim, citing that I had to seek medical advice in Japan and then come back to Singapore for a follow-up before I can claim anything. *rolls eyes* I didn't seek medical treatment in Japan coz I didn't know the language very well and I was worried that something might get lost in translation.<br />
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Anyway, despite the hype, I didn't enjoy my visit to USJ. I found it a tad 'soul-less' and too commercialized. Of course, I'm well aware that theme parks are technically 'tourist traps' but I didn't feel that way in Disney Tokyo. I guess they did it in a more subtle and effective manner? I don't know. Just my personal feeling. :)<br />
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<a href="https://www.klook.com/article/1225-universal-studios-japan-2017-osaka" target="_blank">Klook has a rather comprehensive article on how to enjoy Universal Studios so do have a read. </a><br />
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<b>End of the day, I really really love Disney in Tokyo and I really really hope to return one day. If I had to choose between Disney and Universal Studios, I will go for DisneySea, hands down. Hehehe.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<h2>
Get your tickets here:</h2>
<div>
<span style="color: #ea9999;">Disneyland</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.klook.com/activity/589-tokyo-disneyland-japan/?krt=s10&krid=40944284-f37a-4ac0-5170-e597163370f6" target="_blank">Klook</a> (New to Klook? Sign up using my link <a href="https://www.klook.com/invite/433JA?c=SGD" target="_blank">here</a> to get $4.20.)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.kkday.com/en-sg/product/17976" target="_blank">KKday</a></li>
<li><a href="http://attractions.changirecommends.com/japan/tokyo/tokyo-disneyland-or-disneysea" target="_blank">ChangiRecommends</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: #ea9999;">DisneySea</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.klook.com/activity/589-tokyo-disneyland-japan/?krt=s10&krid=40944284-f37a-4ac0-5170-e597163370f6" target="_blank">Klook</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kkday.com/en-sg/product/17976" target="_blank">KKday</a></li>
<li><a href="http://attractions.changirecommends.com/japan/tokyo/tokyo-disneyland-or-disneysea" target="_blank">ChangiRecommends</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: #ea9999;">USJ</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.klook.com/activity/835-universal-studios-japan-ticket-osaka/?gclid=CjwKCAiA15vTBRAHEiwA7Snfc3s_WmbCSloWfm6J5EWAJ_WDU2TMUoWc6iwHLLdMMZWu231XCu8lEhoCycoQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Klook</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kkday.com/en-sg/product/2247?qs=usj" target="_blank">KKday</a></li>
<li><a href="http://attractions.changirecommends.com/japan/osaka/universal-studio-japan" target="_blank">ChangiRecomends</a></li>
</ul>
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You can also book from alternative vendors on Qoo10 although you MUST be sure to compare prices and read the reviews to make sure you are buying from an honest vendor. Have fun planning your trip!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-21679049797317198402018-01-20T01:00:00.000+08:002018-01-22T16:33:36.943+08:00Review: Soak in an Onsen! (Japan)One of the experiences that you shouldn't miss out when you go Japan is the <i>onsen,</i> otherwise known as the Japanese hot spring. The reason? Well, it's relaxing as hell and soothes tired muscles after a whole day of exploring, of course. The first time I went to Japan, I went to an onsen called <a href="http://daiba.ooedoonsen.jp/en/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Oedo Onsen Monogatari Odaiba Hot Springs</a> and then when I was in Osaka, I visited <a href="http://www.spaworld.co.jp/english/service.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spa World</a>. I will do a review of both onsens in this post. Do note that both onsens have women only and men only baths so no worries about showing off your inner assets to the opposite gender. =)<br />
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<b><u>Oedo Onsen Monogatari Odaiba Hot Springs</u></b><br />
An onsen theme park in Tokyo, it's a pretty popular for both locals and tourists. In fact, it's so popular that it was even featured in a Digimon Adventure anime!<br />
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Okay, it's not obvious from the scene in the video but if even anime characters are making it a point to visit the place, you know it's a must-visit spot! In fact, it's much like an amusement park where you can wander around in a festival-like place and pay with a number tag on your wrist. You can settle the bill upon leaving but don't go too crazy or you might find yourself running out of yen before the trip ends! LOL.</div>
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To give you a better idea of what it's like inside this onsen amusement park, here's a vid to get a preview:<br />
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Looks fun, right? I thoroughly enjoyed myself in this amusement park because there are quite a few things to do aside from soaking in the baths (indoor or outdoor with hot and cold springs to balance out the experience). Tired of soaking? There are a few sauna rooms for you to sweat it out.<br />
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You can even go out to enjoy the foot bath or fish spa outside. Aching muscles? No worries, because there are additional services such as full body massage and head spa available for an additional fee. After soaking in a hot spring, you are bound to be hungry so head on to the indoor Edo Town for some delicious nom noms like sushi, ramen and yakitori.<br />
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There are many arcade games to entertain you but if that's not your cup of tea, you can always head upstairs to the relaxation room where there are loads of recliners for you to relax on. Each recliner comes with a mini TV of its own so that's pretty swell.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCwH6nXsWrEizHqg64pXV8pOuex2lPU3LF_oF0asIZAqSsjbTaLgs6Jz1cFMLmPTkP_zgvg7qAJsXymzIVF0IPIeEUawB7F9VFNVdiSxWeUEJP0ZA0LpBqgwiUam8hv6c0CyWE7JHP0c/s1600/Onsen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="665" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicCwH6nXsWrEizHqg64pXV8pOuex2lPU3LF_oF0asIZAqSsjbTaLgs6Jz1cFMLmPTkP_zgvg7qAJsXymzIVF0IPIeEUawB7F9VFNVdiSxWeUEJP0ZA0LpBqgwiUam8hv6c0CyWE7JHP0c/s400/Onsen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>What I liked: </b>Everything! I love that you can stay for as long as you like until 9am the next day. It's one of the most relaxing places I've been to and it helps that the Edo town theme they have going on is so festive and fun-filled. The food is reasonably nice too. You will definitely want to spend the whole day there just relaxing!<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.gotokyo.org/en/kanko/koto/spot/40657.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here for directions.</a></b><br />
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<b><u>Spa World</u></b><br />
This is another spa that's located in Osaka. Similar to Oedo Onsen Monogatari Odaiba Hot Springs, <a href="http://www.spaworld.co.jp/english/service.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spa World</a> has both hot and cold springs that you can relax in. The design is much like a Roman bath, where there are various ways to relax. For instance, you can lie in a shallow pool of warm water or you can chill it out in a tub. As for entertainment, there aren't many options. There are a few restaurants but nothing too exciting. Families with young kids may like this place though because it has a amusement pool like Wild Wild Wet where kids can go wild.<br />
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You can get a beauty treatment or full body massage but when I was there, nearly everything was closed so I didn't find it as fun as Oedo Onsen Monogatari Odaiba Hot Springs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JHWWEadcOVGDXhHp9jKDHX-eMAG-zDmISA1gNnSieBtzn_wgHugKBvF3Jw6IXm76jbSzgRdTfw2JQWWVrc9Xb35A6WLJsQXqeY2Hqt8a73KM58RLm4gdwa_DAL1EQ-fHhDhcQroEdhI/s1600/spaworld.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="665" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JHWWEadcOVGDXhHp9jKDHX-eMAG-zDmISA1gNnSieBtzn_wgHugKBvF3Jw6IXm76jbSzgRdTfw2JQWWVrc9Xb35A6WLJsQXqeY2Hqt8a73KM58RLm4gdwa_DAL1EQ-fHhDhcQroEdhI/s400/spaworld.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>What I liked: </b>The<b> </b>design for the baths is quite unique and you definitely can spend a long time in there. But other than that, there isn't much going for it in terms of entertainment. There are full body massages etc. although I think they close quite early around 9 pm. They do have an interesting entrance with all the life size action figures though and there is a security room with security cameras where you can place your valuables.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.spaworld.co.jp/english/access.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click here for directions.</a></b><br />
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If you ask me, I definitely prefer the Oedo Onsen Monogatari Odaiba Hot Springs because it has so many things to do and eat. Spa World is okay for me but you can still drop by to soak away your aches after walking all over the place! =)<br />
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<b>Some tips to remember:</b><br />
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<ul>
<li>You are expected to be naked but don't be shy! Everyone will be naked and there are all shapes and sizes of people enjoying the baths so don't feel too embarrassed. Chances are, they won't even notice your flabby arms or rounded posterior while they are soaking. Just be yourself.</li>
<li>Don't forget to wash your body and hair before entering the baths. It's much like going to the swimming pool that way. </li>
<li>Don't stay in the hot baths for too long. Take short breaks after a while because it's not good to stay in there for extended periods of time.</li>
<li>Be careful! I slipped and fell while I was entering a bath. I hurt my foot in the process and it was excruciating. Luckily I didn't hit my head. >.<</li>
<li>You can put a small towel on your head or on the rocks nearby but if it falls into the bath, be sure to wring it outside the bath. </li>
<li>Tattoos are not allowed, not even a small one because the Japanese associate them with the Yakuzas or gangster ties. You might be able to use a water-proof bandage to cover up but the establishment might deny you entry if you have many tattoos on your body. </li>
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Have fun soaking!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-7510105528833646452018-01-17T00:50:00.002+08:002018-01-17T21:10:26.133+08:00Review: Day Trip to Everland (Korea)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHpRc9olLaopjIEPzmn9Ii3sBgaNWKgj8Yf060V8ltMkAROcOX0-jfv03b8s_BKAIUQ77LZFSprd2XHslc1ZnvQhbzO8k4QV0UeuDT3nlpiBWeK4rbbWeoi4ox9AK05bTzmYW_uaUFhk/s1600/Theme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRHpRc9olLaopjIEPzmn9Ii3sBgaNWKgj8Yf060V8ltMkAROcOX0-jfv03b8s_BKAIUQ77LZFSprd2XHslc1ZnvQhbzO8k4QV0UeuDT3nlpiBWeK4rbbWeoi4ox9AK05bTzmYW_uaUFhk/s400/Theme.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I love theme parks so I always try to make it a point to include a theme park in my itinerary where possible when I jalan out of Singapore. Yes, I know there are different types of theme parks but for simplicity's sake, let's stick to those that come with roller coaster rides etc. Hehe.</div>
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Japan is known for its awesome theme parks like <a href="http://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Disneyland and Disney Sea in Tokyo</a> as well as <a href="https://www.usj.co.jp/e/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">USJ</a> in Osaka. Although Korea is better known for its TV dramas and drool worthy celebrities, you can consider visiting either <a href="http://www.everland.com/web/multi/english/everland/main.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Everland</a> or <a href="http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264152" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lotte World</a> after you have cleared out the beauty shops along the streets of Myeongdong. LOL.</div>
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Now, if you only have time for one theme park, you'd be curious about the differences. In a nutshell, Everland is more suitable for adults and couples while Lotte World will appeal more to kids. With this in mind, I decided to visit Everland. There are <a href="http://www.everland.com/web/multi/english/everland/everland_guide/transportation/Transportation01.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">various ways to get to Everland</a> but since we were travelling in a group and we wanted to stay for the night fireworks, we decided to book a shuttle bus package via <a href="https://www.funtastickorea.com/en/prod/2018-everland-fireworks-shuttle-bus-package?af_key=w9MB53Fiv1XmIaJ" target="_blank">Funtastic Korea</a>. Besides, I figured that we would be tired out after spending an entire day at the theme park so having a guaranteed transport back was a big comfort. </div>
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The shuttle bus package is undoubtedly more expensive than if you were to take public transport, but I was kinda worried we would get lost after dark or have to struggle with the crowds going home so I thought it was kinda worth it.<br />
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The shuttle bus package has 3 convenient pick-up points:<br />
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<ul>
<li><b>Hongik University, Hongdae Station Exit 4</b></li>
<li><b>Myeongdong Station Exit 2</b></li>
<li><b>Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station Exit 10</b></li>
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I picked the Myeongdong station since our hotel was nearest to it and it was a simple matter of waiting by the exit until you see someone walking around asking if you are waiting for the shuttle bus. Be sure to keep an active lookout or you might just miss the bus! Oh, and don't forget to bring a screenshot or printout of your booking so the guide knows where to direct you because there might be buses heading to different locations at the same pick-up point. Don't be late either! The bus won't wait for latecomers.<br />
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Our guide was a nice friendly guy who spoke eloquent English and gave clear instructions on where to wait after the fireworks. He even gave us his name card in case we got lost. Hehe.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGlg22uGQCoULvq45qvo3ZrrAJRbiFmI9UnvQFwM_0ONOvoD6lB1jMtcv9XBdrOk_G8FTgm8MExs0dhk7AetkRTbshE5__4Fh2JhQppk3H76Oo7ik3dGCEMjeA5uDxkFiFu0zrgSfCOk/s1600/%25E6%259C%25AA%25E5%2591%25BD%25E5%2590%258D_meitu_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="665" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGlg22uGQCoULvq45qvo3ZrrAJRbiFmI9UnvQFwM_0ONOvoD6lB1jMtcv9XBdrOk_G8FTgm8MExs0dhk7AetkRTbshE5__4Fh2JhQppk3H76Oo7ik3dGCEMjeA5uDxkFiFu0zrgSfCOk/s400/%25E6%259C%25AA%25E5%2591%25BD%25E5%2590%258D_meitu_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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All in all, the pick-up was smooth and before we knew it, we arrived at Everland for a full day of fun and excitement. One thing you need to remember is that Everland is no Disneyland so don't go in expecting the same level of entertainment. Everland has its own charm, which includes a Safari World Tour and T Express (a really scary roller coaster ride) plus we went during Autumn so it was beautiful at the same time.<br />
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Words won't do it justice so here are some pictures I took:<br />
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<b>Review: Although I personally felt that Everland lacked the magic that Disney has, it still has its own charms. Go in without expectations and you may just enjoy yourself! It comes with the usual roller coasters and theme rides but don't forget to check out the Safari World tour for a unique animal kingdom surprise. If you have time, you may want to check out the <a href="https://www.funtastickorea.com/en/prod/caribbean-bay-discount-ticket?af_key=w9MB53Fiv1XmIaJ" target="_blank">Caribbean Bay</a> as well although it involves a different ticket altogether. But no worries! You can get your tickets on <a href="https://www.funtastickorea.com/en?af_key=w9MB53Fiv1XmIaJ" target="_blank">Funtastic Korea</a>. Have fun!</b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-81398685524180113592018-01-15T23:04:00.000+08:002018-01-16T11:20:22.126+08:00Disrespectful TouristsI'm not sure if you guys had seen this already but apparently some time back, a US vlogger called Logan Paul made a video about his trip in Japan. Among the places he visited was a forest called Aokigahara (青木ヶ原) aka Sea of Trees or what's popularly known as Suicide Forest where he came across a suicide victim. He then uploaded the video onto his channel, but soon took it down due to the immense backlash.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Logan Paul in a screenshot taken from his deleted video</td></tr>
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In case you are not up to speed on the news, here are a few news articles you can check out:<br />
<ol>
<li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/2/16840176/logan-paul-suicide-video-apology-aokigahara-forest" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTuber Logan Paul apologizes for filming suicide victim, says ‘I didn’t do it for views’</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/01/03/national/vlogger-logan-paul-apologizes-youtube-video-shot-infamous-japanese-suicide-spot/#.Wly2RqjXaM8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Suicide prevention group slams YouTube celebrity Logan Paul over controversial video</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-42644321" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube punishes Logan Paul over Japan suicide video</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/02/outcry-as-youtube-star-posts-video-of-dead-body-in-japan" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube star Logan Paul apologises for film of man's body in Japan</a></li>
</ol>
Now, suicide is no joking matter but apparently this man saw fit to make light of the matter and uploaded it online. And that's not all, on top of this particular video, the other parts of his trip in Japan on video were just as cringe-worthy. You can watch a super cut <a href="http://digg.com/2018/logan-paul-offensive-japan-video" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a> where he even took off his pants in the middle of the streets in Tokyo and threw a Pokémon ball at random passers-by including a Japanese policeman. >.<<br />
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I'm sure you've seen or heard of disgraceful behaviours but this really takes the cake for me. Whether you are a tourist or frequent traveller, the most important thing to do is to respect the place you are visiting and NOT pull stunts like this for the sake of eyeballs. He's not alone either. <a href="http://beta.latimes.com/world/asia/la-fg-thailand-tourists-20171130-story.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">You have American tourists who bared their butts at a Buddhist Temple in Thailand</a>, <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/peoplesdaily/article-3504202/Chinese-tourists-shake-kick-climb-trees-cherry-blossom-rain-photographs.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chinese tourists who shake, kick and climb trees to create cherry blossom 'rain' for photographs</a> etc. Seems like common sense is not so common after all.<br />
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So how do you become a respectful tourist? Well, <a href="https://www.hipmunk.com/tailwind/how-to-be-a-respectful-tourist-anywhere-in-the-world/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tailwind by Hipmunk has a rather insightful article on this</a> so I'd suggest you have a read. In other words? Always remember to treat someone else's 'home' with the sincerity and respect that you want others to treat you with and people will return the same favour.<br />
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Oh ya, this reminds me of a movie I recently watched. You can catch it on Netflix but you can watch the trailer below. =x<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-47585513421410376852017-12-18T14:20:00.000+08:002018-01-07T14:40:25.955+08:00Review: Oriens Hotels & Residences (Korea)I visited Korea last year in 2016 and stayed at this hotel called <a href="http://www.orienshotel.com/main.asp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Oriens Hotels & Residences</a>. This is located within walking distance (about 10 minutes' walk) from Myeongdong so it's quite convenient. One thing to take note though, you might want to remember which point to start walking from Myeongdong or you might get lost. Myeongdong is like a maze that could get confusing, especially at night when the crowds are in attendance.<br />
<br />
I decided upon this hotel because my ex-colleague had glowing reviews of it when she visited Korea some time back. I booked both accommodation and airfare via Expedia so the price was quite reasonable. I can't remember the exact price but I do remember it being quite reasonable and of course, cheaper than a hotel room in Japan. Heh.<br />
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Anyway, its address:<br />
<b>50 Samil-daero 2-gil, Jung-gu
Seoul, Korea</b><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m17!1m11!1m3!1d3!2d126.99091200000001!3d37.559892999999995!2m2!1f0!2f90!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f75!3m3!1m2!1s0x357ca2fb6dff1c9f%3A0xb8188654380852f8!2sORIENS+HOTEL+%26+RESIDENCES!5e0!3m2!1sen!2ssg!4v1513574959505" style="border: 0;" width="600"></iframe><br />
<br />
<b>What I like about it:
</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>spacious room equipped with a small kitchenette, big fridge and dining table</li>
<li>friendly and English-speaking front desk </li>
<li>walking distance to Myeongdong and various subway lines</li>
<li>accessible to a few eating places and convenience store</li>
<li>it's near the <a href="http://www.airportlimousine.co.kr/eng/lbr/lbr02_1.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">airport limousine stop</a> from Incheon airport</li>
<li>it has a lower level at the front door where you can leave your shoes before you step up to the room level.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>What I don't quite like about it:</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The toilet's water flow is a bit weird. It flows outside the shower area to the toilet drain under the sink instead so it wets the entire toilet. </li>
<li>It's a little confusing to walk from the airport limousine bus-stop but you can actually access the hotel lobby via its indoor car park. </li>
<li>The lift is a tight squeeze for 4 people and their luggage, especially our big and bulky ones.</li>
<li>The rooms are fairly close to each other, for example, we were able to look into our friends' room when the blinds were not drawn so you may want to take note of that. </li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="color: #c27ba0;">Review: We enjoy our stay at this hotel for a few reasons. It was quiet and reasonably near to Myeongdong. The rooms are quite spacious and come with a kitchenette, but could do with some improvement to their toilet design. You might be a little confused as you come up from the airport limousine bus-stop though so remember to access the hotel lobby via the indoor car park. The front door is quite prominent so no worries there. It just takes a bit of an uphill walk.</span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-82183896886538270282017-12-14T16:48:00.000+08:002017-12-17T14:30:37.569+08:00Review: The Berkeley Pratunam Hotel (BKK, Thailand)So I visited BKK in July and I decided to stay at a hotel in Pratunam because of its proximity to Platinum Mall, TALAD Neon etc. I had stayed at Asia Centara Watergate Pavillion previously in 2015 but I decided to try another hotel. This time: <b><a href="http://berkeleypratunam.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Berkeley Pratunam Hotel</a></b>.<br />
<br />
Its address:<br />
<b>559 Ratchaprarop Road, Makkasan, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand</b><br />
<b><br /></b><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3875.4730839801887!2d100.53889051478532!3d13.750320301032524!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x30e29ec5f696e3ab%3A0x5769a19944d9510d!2s559+Ratchaprarop+Rd%2C+Khwaeng+Makkasan%2C+Khet+Ratchathewi%2C+Krung+Thep+Maha+Nakhon+10400%2C+Thailand!5e0!3m2!1sen!2ssg!4v1513492206380" style="border: 0;" width="600"></iframe>
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To provide some perspective on Centara Watergate:<br />
<ol>
<li>rooms were spacious</li>
<li>bedsheets had holes in them</li>
<li>front desk was ok but seem to lack a little of the famed Thai friendliness they were supposedly known for</li>
<li>walking distance to Platinum Mall etc.</li>
<li>entrance was around the back, not very obvious from the main road</li>
<li>2 restaurants, only tried one of them and food was acceptable. </li>
<li>access to amenities like a swimming pool, spa room and bar</li>
<li>next to a shopping centre that was nearly devoid of people</li>
<li>cable channels were available at no extra cost</li>
</ol>
As for The Berkeley Pratunam Hotel, things I liked were:<br />
<ol>
<li>spacious rooms, like really spacious</li>
<li>proximity to Platinum Mall, Pratunam Market, etc.</li>
<li>well-defined and grand entrance that you can see from the main road</li>
<li>next to The Palladium World Shopping, where there is a shop selling Zebra products and really cute Hello Kitty plates</li>
<li>provides breakfast vouchers for buffet breakfast, which was ok</li>
<li>friendlier front desk, but looked overwhelmed due to the huge number of guests checking in and out</li>
<li>next to TALAD Neon</li>
<li>cable channels were available at no additional cost</li>
<li>opposite to this apparently famous chicken rice, but I wasn't too impressed by it.</li>
</ol>
<div>
Things that I didn't like:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li>our first room was leaking water onto our luggage and the hotel repair man promptly came to fix it but to no avail. They moved us to another room instead.</li>
<li>certain lights weren't working </li>
<li>rooms were spacious but in some cases, quite worn out</li>
</ol>
<div>
Some pictures of our rooms:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLm4klvJupT5dzd-juGQr6ADfvGD3esTY2mgxc1Jr49p-HepKlfnepoQyugF5N5KaKy7lD5WM05wr8_rBX3ZXmQux3E2TcOaP-D6eBhCkZkMVoHotRDgUPdIsf73JLWAgW4HpjMHltlc/s1600/IMG_20170708_070512_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLm4klvJupT5dzd-juGQr6ADfvGD3esTY2mgxc1Jr49p-HepKlfnepoQyugF5N5KaKy7lD5WM05wr8_rBX3ZXmQux3E2TcOaP-D6eBhCkZkMVoHotRDgUPdIsf73JLWAgW4HpjMHltlc/s400/IMG_20170708_070512_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TALAD Neon Market during the day</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TALAD Neon Market at night</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First room</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Replacement room</td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: #c27ba0;">Review: The hotel was ok due to its location and spacious rooms. I can tell the hotel is trying its best to take care of its guests although the rooms are a little worn out and need maintenance. Not exactly a hotel I will stay at again, but it's great for families and quite value for money. Breakfast buffet was ok...nothing much to shout about but acceptable. </span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-4667034083630630372017-12-13T15:39:00.001+08:002017-12-14T13:47:20.386+08:00Review: Namba Oriental Hotel (Japan, Osaka)Booking a hotel has got to be one of my most favourite things to do when planning a trip. I'm not much of a hostel/AirBnB person so I often turn to hotels to provide accommodation. In this review, I'm gonna talk about <b><a href="https://ssl.nambaorientalhotel.co.jp/language/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Namba Oriental Hotel</a> </b>that's located in Osaka where I travelled to on my last vacation.<br />
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First off, its address:<br />
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<b>2-8-17, Sennichi-Mae, Chuo-Ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 542-0074, Japan</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3281.5617426620256!2d135.50150131511793!3d34.6657693925962!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x6000e76b04980c81%3A0xe2630e2327221333!2sNamba+Orientalhotel!5e0!3m2!1sen!2ssg!4v1513148546949" style="border: 0;" width="600"></iframe></b><br />
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I gotta say I'm really pleased with my choice this time because:<br />
<ol>
<li>the room was more spacious than I expected, it even had a sofa where my husband happily napped on from time to time</li>
<li>close to railways and MRTs like Namba Station</li>
<li>smack in the middle of a shopping district and walking distance to <a href="https://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/regional/osaka/dotonbori.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dōtonbori</a></li>
<li>near to food places (there were many restaurants just downstairs) and <a href="https://www.osakastation.com/kuromon-ichiba-market/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kuromon Ichiba Market</a></li>
<li>walking distance from a <a href="http://www.okkbus.co.jp/en/index2.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">limousine bus service</a> that you can take from the Itami airport </li>
<li>quite clean and tranquil </li>
<li>beautiful water fountain for Instagrammable moments</li>
<li>not very important but it had an ice machine that we could get ice from when I hurt my foot</li>
</ol>
<div>
What I didn't quite like:<br />
<ol>
<li>the lift we took to go to the lift lobby was a little smokey, probably due to the Pachinko arcade that was located in the same building on a lower floor</li>
<li>it didn't have a safe to keep our valuables</li>
<li>no cable channel that we could watch, you had to purchase a movie card for 1200 yen in order to access additional content</li>
<li>WiFi was a little slow so I resorted to using my own WiFi egg for Internet access</li>
<li>sometimes the chambermaids forget to clear an ice bucket or replenish our toothbrushes, but not a biggie...</li>
</ol>
<div>
But other than that, the hotel was pretty great. Wouldn't mind staying at it again next time. Here are a few pictures I took of the hotel and room:</div>
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<b><span style="color: #c27ba0;">Review: Our stay at this hotel was extremely pleasant. I loved its central location and proximity to shopping districts, food places and transportation. It's A LOT OF WALKING but still considered quite close. The lift heading up to the hotel lobby was a little smoky due to a Pachinko arcade on a lower floor. Wouldn't mind staying at this hotel again. The front desk and chambermaids were all very friendly, and it's surprisingly tranquil despite being located in the middle of a shopping district. I also LOVE the fact that the shopping district is sheltered so you never have to worry about unpredictable weather! </span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-49126767645751623942017-12-09T19:25:00.002+08:002017-12-13T14:30:04.950+08:00Buying Travel Insurance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Travelling can be hazardous so getting a travel insurance is another must-get on my list. Of course, we hope that nothing happens during the trip but it's imperative to be prepared. You never know what may happen. But you don't want to blindly buy any insurance off the Internet, so here is an article by <a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/business/invest/10-tips-on-buying-travel-plans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Straits Times</a> on the things to look out while purchasing an insurance policy. All the important points are there, so do read up.<br />
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Now you might be someone who doesn't believe in travel insurance and thinks it's a scam. But it can really come in useful, especially when you lose your belongings or get hurt in an accident. On top of the tips offered in the ST article, you may want to make sure that your policy doesn't require you to see a doctor <u style="font-weight: bold;">during your trip</u> before you claim post trip medical expenses. The reason why I say this is that we all assume that travel insurance is supposed to cover post trip medical expenses. However, the insurance that I usually buy doesn't actually do that.<br />
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I hurt my foot during a recent trip to Japan and while it was painful, I thought I'd see a doctor in Singapore instead. After all, I know where the doctors are and it's easier to tell them where I hurt and to get medication instructions. This is not really possible in Japan since I hardly speak the language. Anyway, I filed a claim and all, but they rejected my very small medical claim by saying I had to seek medical advice during the trip first and follow up with a post trip medical visit before I could claim anything. It's like so WOW that I'm amazed. Isn't it a given for travel insurance policies to cover post medical expenses?<br />
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Anyway, I'm not going to purchase any policy from them in future but I thought I should put this here to remind my readers to make sure all angles are covered adequately before you purchase a travel insurance policy. Don't just be attracted by the price or promotion! XD<br />
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In any case, to make things easier for your comparison, there are a few websites where you can check out the differences in pricing as well as features. <a href="https://www.moneysmart.sg/travel-insurance" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MoneySmart</a> is one and <a href="https://www.gobear.com/sg/travel-insurance?ds_rl=1247501&gclid=Cj0KCQiAsK7RBRDzARIsAM2pTZ__6wK5xTBkjKa0ExbBp9QrFXzxTw79lK8yLSIPyslCxWspc0vWN2MaAsKUEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CMrOss7o_NcCFQhNKwodQ9cEZw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">GoBear</a> is the other, so have fun comparing! :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-81352260146639981702017-12-03T11:31:00.003+08:002017-12-03T11:31:41.339+08:00Get Connected On The Go<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Having Internet access while you are overseas is very important. After all, you need it for Google Maps or general research. Also, my husband is someone who cannot do without his beloved mobile games so finding viable pocket WiFi options is always at the top of my list.<br />
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There are a few options to getting your Internet fix. You either get a SIM card, rent a pocket WiFi from the airport or add on a data roaming plan. I personally prefer SIM Cards because it's less of a hassle than a pocket WiFi, which tends to run out of power before the day ends and you usually need to carry more than one power bank to ensure all of your devices are powered up on the go.<br />
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I'm not a big fan of data roaming plans either because I worry about the cost and data limits. Anyway, here are the major Telcom data roaming plans for your reference:<br />
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<li><a href="http://www.starhub.com/personal/mobile/mobile-phones-plans/prepaid-cards/happy-roam.html#hr_plans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">StarHub Happy Prepaid Data Plan from $5 & 1GB</a> - no need to switch SIMs</li>
<li><a href="http://www.starhub.com/personal/mobile/mobile-phones-plans/prepaid-cards/happy-roam.html#hr_plans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">M1 Passport Data Roaming from $10 per destination</a> - can be deducted from the local data bundle of your mobile plan</li>
<li><a href="https://www.singtel.com/personal/i/phones-plans/international-calling/travelling-overseas/singtel-dataroam-saver-plans" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Singtel DataRoam Saver Plan from $10 & 100MB</a> - visit site for more details</li>
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<b><u>Japan</u></b><br />
When I go Japan, however, I usually rent the WiFi Router from <a href="https://www.changirecommends.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Changi Recommends</a>. Sometimes they have pretty good promotions, which could work out to about $4 a day. All you need to do is register online beforehand, collect it at one of their collection kiosks, put a deposit of $1 on your credit card and pay only when you return the pocket WiFi on the day of your arrival in Singapore. It's a pretty painless process but sometimes the queues could get pretty long.<br />
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Why do I choose to use the pocket WiFi instead of a SIM card? The reason is because when I researched on getting a SIM Card from online vendors like <a href="https://www.qoo10.sg/item/DOCOMO-ICC-JAPAN-SIM-CARD-10-15-20-30-DAYS-4GLTE-UNLIMITED-DATA-LOCAL/464018637" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Qoo10</a>, I was told that apparently the SIM Card cannot be used on my phone - a Xiaomi Mi Note. I'm not sure whether this is true but I didn't want to run the risk of buying something I don't need. Yes, I could sell it off later but it's so troublesome. Also, I understand from a friend of mine that you need to change the settings on your phone when you use a SIM Card in Japan while you just need to input the password from the pocket WiFi and voilà! Instant Internet access.<br />
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If you have a few people travelling together, having a Pocket WiFi is also useful, practical and economical. The only thing is your group members can't venture too far from one another. LOL. Well, at least you won't lose sight of your travel mates. Anyway, here is a <a href="https://www.sakuramobile.jp/japan-wifi/prepaid-sim-cards-or-pocket-wifi-in-japan-which-device-is-best/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">useful article on the pros and cons of using Prepaid SIM vs Pocket WiFi</a> if you plan on visiting Japan. If you were to rent an apartment under AirBnB, your host will usually provide a pocket WiFi but according to what I heard from fellow travelers, such pocket WiFi tend to be unpredictable and weak in signal so I would recommend you to get your own pocket WiFi instead.<br />
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If you prefer other pocket WiFi options, here are a couple of other alternatives for you to choose from. Do note that I have yet to try them, although my friend did mention that she likes Pupuru for its convenience. You can drop it off at any post box in Japan before you leave.<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://pupuruwifi.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA0vnQBRDmARIsAEL0M1lZyRDKsydpgpji6o6i3DIZSJtNy4kXKujee8zbqX5FPBGWtDG3KBwaArRVEALw_wcB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pupuru</a></li>
<li><a href="http://kyushu-wifirental.com/en/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kyushu</a></li>
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<b><u>Australia</u></b><br />
The Changi Recommends Pocket WiFi worked fine for me while I was in Japan but my friend who used it in Australia found the signal weak and unpredictable. She even had to resort to using M1's Data Passport to bring up Google Maps etc. I guess it's because she visited more rural areas where the signal is not as strong.<br />
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<b><u>Korea</u></b><br />
When I visited Korea in 2016, I decided to take a chance by renting the pocket WiFi from one of their local Telcoms. There are various plans, some of which may include free rental fee. <a href="http://koreafreeandeasy.blogspot.sg/2015/07/korea-travel-tips-how-to-rent-wifi-egg-in-korea.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Read this to find out more</a> (note: this is a 2015 article so may be outdated but it provides a good guide on how go about renting your own WiFi egg). The connection was not as good as I expected, but still usable. Will probably just buy a SIM card next time.<br />
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<b><u>Thailand</u></b><br />
I used a couple options before. Once I bought directly from the airport and the other, I booked on <a href="http://www.klook.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Klook</a>. Both options provided me with fast Internet access. You can also buy your SIM cards off <a href="https://www.qoo10.sg/?__ar=Y" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Qoo10</a> or <a href="https://www.myfave.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fave</a>.<br />
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<b><u>Taiwan</u></b><br />
When I went to Taiwan, I just picked up SIM cards from one of their very convenient Telcom counters. This was some time back though so my info about it may be outdated. Anyway, here's an <a href="https://guidetotaipei.com/article/cell-phones-and-sim-cards" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">article </a>that you can read up to catch up with the latest news and which SIM card to choose depending on where you go. My experience with their SIM cards has always been good. Connection was fast and flawless, <br />
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<b>There you have it. Not a lot of countries covered, but hope the info is useful for you to kickstart your own research!</b><br />
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<b><u><br /></u></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-37035229590017523262017-11-29T17:21:00.001+08:002018-01-17T21:10:53.292+08:00Review: Day Trip To Nami Island, Petite France & Gangchon Rail Bike (Korea)It's fun to make your way to various tourist destinations at times but when it's so out of the way, a day trip on a tour bus makes a lot of sense. For one, you can rest on the bus (even nap!) between stops. Secondly, the tour bus usually takes you back to a location that's closer to your hotel so it's not so tiring to make your way back after an exhausting day.<br />
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When I went to Korea in 2016 with my friends, I decided to book a day trip to Nami Island, Petite France and Gangchon Rail Bike on <a href="https://www.funtastickorea.com/en/prod/gangchon-rail-bike-reservation?af_key=w9MB53Fiv1XmIaJ" target="_blank">Funko: Funtastic Korea</a>. Well, mostly because it was more affordable. But don't just take my word for it, no matter where you book your day trips, it's important to do your research first. Read reviews and compare prices. I read a Klook review that someone was mad that they had paid a higher price but it's really important to do your homework first. I'm not defending any website that offers such day trips, just reminding my readers to do their homework first and live with the decision, if necessary. No point spoiling your holiday just because you missed something out or got a less than ideal deal, ya?<br />
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Anyway, on to my review of the day tour. It was basically a pickup and dropoff service where the tour bus takes a group of people to a location, drops them off, and reminds them what time to wait at the pickup point. It's not unlike a package tour, but we were given free-to-roam time that was far better than following behind a tour guide. Our tour guide was this very vain but friendly Korean guy who took every opportunity to preen before a photo shoot. Not that I blame him, of course, he is a pretty good looking guy but still... =x<br />
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This particular tour took us to 3 destinations: <span style="color: #ea9999;">Nami Island, Petite France and Gangchon Rail Bike</span>. They took us first to <b>Petite France</b>, where it's a small park that's designed like a French village. It's very instagrammable but smaller than I expected. Food is also comparatively more expensive, so I will encourage you to buy some bread and bottles of beverage before you set out for the day.<br />
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Petite France features many cute popular icons such as The Little Prince and their respective backstories. They even had a collection of puppets - some quite pretty and others kinda scary but it was a unique experience. The tour guide gave us a couple of hours to explore the place and it was more than enough. At the end of our walk, we even got to watch a puppet show. In my humble opinion, I thought it was the most interesting part of the entire place since we got to see how flawlessly puppets can move when their handlers have skill. Hehe.</div>
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After the puppet show ended, it was time to head to the next destination! This time we are going where the most romantic of people love to go (aka people who fell in love with Bae Yong Joon and Winter Sonata): <b>Nami Island</b>! </div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">If you thought Petite France was crowded, then Nami Island is just overpopulated. Since it made its name on the well-loved Korean drama series, Winter Sonata, </span><b style="text-align: left;">throngs of people have visited this beautiful place</b><span style="text-align: left;">. It's not a pleasant sight because everywhere you go is just mountains upon mountains of people. I really love the place for its beautiful trees and sense of tranquility, but the crowds just completely turned me off. Anyway, since we were already there, might as well make full use of our time there! </span><br />
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The bus dropped us off at a jetty where you can either take a ferry or hightail it overhead via a zip wire (aka <a href="http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=1245307" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">flying fox</a>). It's a very fun and exciting activity, but as usual, you can expect to queue for some time before you finally get your turn. The price (which includes admission to Nami Island) is about 38 000 won. One of my travel mates wanted to try it out initially, but because the queue was too long, they eventually decided to join us for lunch at one of the nearby food joints instead.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_z3Fx61OM3UwejkTFHgWzLg891jUL5ePe20cKgukV095DsfuVliKsmrElKn2tpsaIuNLHgMMkMduxWhVkGE10KYKEwDc9zuLnFQnwMFkQXa7nC3WPynYXpvFQsWPWQ4WLPmq1SJrDbs/s1600/IMG_20161026_120515_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_z3Fx61OM3UwejkTFHgWzLg891jUL5ePe20cKgukV095DsfuVliKsmrElKn2tpsaIuNLHgMMkMduxWhVkGE10KYKEwDc9zuLnFQnwMFkQXa7nC3WPynYXpvFQsWPWQ4WLPmq1SJrDbs/s640/IMG_20161026_120515_HDR.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to the Zip Wire...you can also spot our tour guide in the picture.</td></tr>
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If you plan to eat before crossing the waters to Nami Island, there are plenty of eating places around. But like I mentioned earlier, it's a tourist destination so you might have to explore a bit before you find a place to settle down.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInzktWXKRxbbNpCks-9RwhFT3LyC3lMH6yDHCDt7SQNWOjw4xn9xtrWhUz6zsZ5m4XQgyd7pYs_Kca0-WPhortFnjz0yjMBEVw-LOqViE7_DJiWyxQ0LJ6BEBwSh3PABhsfzt7kis3oM/s1600/IMG_20161026_123827_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInzktWXKRxbbNpCks-9RwhFT3LyC3lMH6yDHCDt7SQNWOjw4xn9xtrWhUz6zsZ5m4XQgyd7pYs_Kca0-WPhortFnjz0yjMBEVw-LOqViE7_DJiWyxQ0LJ6BEBwSh3PABhsfzt7kis3oM/s400/IMG_20161026_123827_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yummy</td></tr>
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After lunch, it was off to the jetty and Nami Island!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZQCYBqKG6HQqPjOXWUNY32vH858SxO0yZr_kP43p5XMWXep0tGmlJpnWy6CPq1kPoHg1TEAkJFgd4lxC-WdT6VojXPRJTTzninBXz0dztldRQLXiXI_rTh4uh5iG5r7NFSHVPAusPGM/s1600/Meitu4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="665" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZQCYBqKG6HQqPjOXWUNY32vH858SxO0yZr_kP43p5XMWXep0tGmlJpnWy6CPq1kPoHg1TEAkJFgd4lxC-WdT6VojXPRJTTzninBXz0dztldRQLXiXI_rTh4uh5iG5r7NFSHVPAusPGM/s400/Meitu4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Crowded, right? But since we only had a couple of hours more to go, we decided to explore as much as we could of this beautiful island. I could only wonder how gorgeous it could get without all the people! >.<<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3GpsqOvwfjqsx_LMbzeCieE0RVKum1jb9wY0pyqAq3uXxAwbWfjHyCiQEhgUKlknbFDTqj7d8CTSkadZN9z7grDCV4rjdBbbqogctMPG1VvZeGjKfHLygfbh8uJeeo2q2lUeOs__lH8/s1600/Meitu5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="925" data-original-width="670" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3GpsqOvwfjqsx_LMbzeCieE0RVKum1jb9wY0pyqAq3uXxAwbWfjHyCiQEhgUKlknbFDTqj7d8CTSkadZN9z7grDCV4rjdBbbqogctMPG1VvZeGjKfHLygfbh8uJeeo2q2lUeOs__lH8/s640/Meitu5.jpg" width="460" /></a></div>
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Despite the fact that it's super crowded, Nami Island is one place you shouldn't miss out. It's super beautiful and the autumn leaves are simply gorgeous. Lots of instagrammable locations so you can't go wrong. Hehe. There's even a statue of the 2 Winter Sonata lovers honouring the couple for making the place so famous! LOL.<br />
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After Nami Island, it was time for our final stop! This time, we are going to take the <b>Gangchon Rail Bike</b>! By now, it was nearly evening time so our tourist guide hurried us up the bus after meeting us at the jetty. Riding in the dark ain't going to be fun if we can't see where we are going. Hehe. Once we reached the place where we were supposed to take the rail bike, we were divided into groups of 4 or 2. You could either ride the rail bike in twos or fours, but remember to practise teamwork! After all, you can't really expect the people in front to do all the work while you relax and only take photos behind, right? Anyway, you have to be careful as well since you might crash into the group in front.<br />
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It was quite a distance from starting to end point, but along the way, you can even check out the beautiful scenery. There are even a few tunnels halfway where they put up a light show, bubbles and loud Korean music to spice things up. I personally felt that the music was too loud, but it was a unique addition to the journey. Here's a video I took...apologies for the poor quality. Heh.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwGCJSXFYEMJFNlZRye5_k2ddtc203RP2iLwIF11eksqjWU4N883sdtmrB0uvSqlxLbJpXw1wdhft2Xcitdjw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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The journey lasted about 30 minutes if I'm not wrong and at the end of it, we waited for a choo-choo train to take us back to where we can hop onto the tour bus for home. Sorry, I didn't manage to get a picture of the train exterior, but here is the interior! Rather crowded, right?<br />
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As we waited in the cold, the train platform had a refreshment kiosk where you could buy drinks or snacks to stave off the hunger pangs. We didn't buy anything but took the opportunity to take some pictures! Ahem, forgive the poor quality of one of the photos. =x<br />
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And there you have it, a rather fruitful day in my opinion. 3 places in a single day! Now, that's what I call a relaxing tour. While you may prefer to make your way there yourself due to budget, but if you can, try to book at least one day package. It's SO MUCH MORE relaxing and trust me, being stressed and lost is the LAST thing you want to be on your vacation!<br />
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><b>Review: My travel mates and I really enjoyed this day trip to not one, not two, but THREE tourist destinations. I seriously love how little trouble it was to book on the website and the meeting place was easy to find as well. The day trip also saved us lots of time travelling and I appreciate the fact that we got to rest in between stops as well. Imagine if we were to make our way to these places on our own. We might have gotten lost, or worse, not being able to cover so many places in a day. Hehe. I definitely recommend that you take up a day trip package but don't forget to do your homework first before booking, ok?</b></span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-52150460662357027732017-11-26T15:07:00.003+08:002018-01-17T21:11:08.373+08:00Review: Oneday Hanbok (Korea 2016)Okay, here goes another review. This time, it's hanbok rental from the <a href="http://www.onedayhanbok.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Oneday Hanbok</a>. This is a small rental studio where you can rent Hanboks for OTDs at nearby palaces, which you can easily reach via one of their very affordable cabs. Just show them the Korean name of the place you want to go and most, if not all, of them will be able to understand your destination. :)<br />
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We had a little difficulty finding the studio but thanks to the friendliness of my fellow travel mates, we managed to find the building that the studio was located in. It looked like an office building, which probably accounted for my confusion coz I was expecting it to be in a short shophouse-like building. Heh. From my research online, it also seems they have moved. Anyway, here are a couple of addresses for you to choose from. Just make sure you google the locations properly before heading out of your hotel.<br />
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<b>Address 1:</b><br />
2nd Floor, 4 Bukchonro5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (approximately 300m from Exit 2 of Anguk Station and across the road from Jae-dong Elementary School2nd Floor, 12 Jae-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
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<b>Address 2:</b><br />
2nd Floor, 12 Jae-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul)
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m14!1m8!1m3!1d6323.927269244532!2d126.984731!3d37.579474!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x357ca2c4e8c15e01%3A0x41a7b778f6e23b09!2s12+Jae-dong%2C+Jongno-gu%2C+Seoul!5e0!3m2!1sen!2skr!4v1511593480561" style="border: 0;" width="600"></iframe>
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The good thing about renting a hanbok is that you get free entrances into selected places like royal palaces and the Korean Folk Village in Gyeonggido. Cool right? On top of that, you get to experience what it was like to wear their traditional costumes. Their rental fees are as follows:<br />
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<ul>
<li>4 Hours - 15,000 Korean Won
1 Day (24 Hours) - 28,000 Korean Won (Minimum rental duration is 4 hours) </li>
<li>Additional hourly fee - 4,500 Korean won </li>
<li>Basic accessories - Free (Hair accessories, bags) </li>
<li>Special accessories - 2,000 Korean won (Kings hat, Gisaeng hat, Gat, dress underskirt etc.)</li>
</ul>
A rental deposit is required:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Copy of ID card + Hanbok Rental Deposit of 50,000 Korean Won per Hanbok. </li>
<li>OR deposit ID card + Hanbok Rental Deposit of 10,000 Korean Won per Hanbok* As a substitute an ID card, a valid Passport or Korean Alien Registration Card will be accepted * In case of group booking (max. 6 people), only 1 ID card is required.</li>
</ul>
You get 2 fittings so you need to choose your size and preferred designs very carefully. Although Oneday Hanbok states that they have sizes ranging from S to XXL [male (S~XL) and female (XS~XXL)], I didn't find many Hanboks in my size. Not that I am terribly overweight or super fat, but I guess that the Hanboks usually come in a smaller size because Korean ladies are slimmer. Anyway, after searching around, I managed to find a suitable Hanbok in my size. It also helped that the assistants were around to find the right sizes so that was useful. Basic accessories are free too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijr1DJL0NnFVbiL6E4I0C6F-qlTPYm-yo88Z0EuQyXCx-6NpAisdd36S8x8RRC84NNTwx1pzP3TVRwkNFLnuUEcJqpeyCIZZNPadvFODmEGhOU5IPwAz5C_8lXVNl-OQEk6sYjioESFP4/s1600/Korea_Meitu_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="1600" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijr1DJL0NnFVbiL6E4I0C6F-qlTPYm-yo88Z0EuQyXCx-6NpAisdd36S8x8RRC84NNTwx1pzP3TVRwkNFLnuUEcJqpeyCIZZNPadvFODmEGhOU5IPwAz5C_8lXVNl-OQEk6sYjioESFP4/s400/Korea_Meitu_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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As you can probably tell from the picture above, the Hanboks themselves are of good quality, but when we were out and about, I noticed others wearing a much better type of hanbok. Not that the rentals from Oneday Hanbok are not good enough, it's just that other rental studios appear to have skirts that have a bouncier effect. I think it's due to the additional crinoline under the skirt, which gives off a more flouncy effect that I thought was more flattering for my figure. Hehe.<br />
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The other rental studios also appeared to have more options for the guys. For example, I noticed a lot of guys walking around in an outfit of a royal official so that was interesting.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #c27ba0;">Verdict: The whole experience was rather hassle-free. All you need to do is email them ahead of time with booking details like your name, date & time and number of people. The range of hanboks are of high quality but I would prefer them to include more bigger sizes and give us the option of the crinoline to make it more flattering for bigger figures. The assistants were super helpful even though I was slightly on the larger side and probably posed more of a challenge for them. </span></b><br />
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Anyway, that was my experience with them. Have fun!<br />
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<b>Website: www.onedayhanbok.com</b><br />
<b>Email: onedayhb@naver.com
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<a href="https://www.kkday.com/en/product/2612" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Book your experience with KKDay here</a>!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-26269678949528066622017-11-05T16:10:00.000+08:002018-01-16T23:17:08.655+08:00Review: Goguan Studio (Korea 2016)Back in my younger days (not that I'm very old now), I used to love cosplay and even dabbled in a few random characters from time to time. I particularly loved the cultural costumes from Japan and Korea so when I visited Korea in 2016, I jumped at the chance to do a photography package wearing a Hanbok with my husband.<br />
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Since I'd be in Seoul for the majority of my trip, I thought that visiting a photo studio in the vicinity of Myeong-dong (which was near to my hotel) would be just the thing. So I did a little research and found this neat little studio in the heart of Myeong-dong...ok, technically the address is Chungmuro but it's actually very near to Myeong-dong. See the map below:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3162.7319165876165!2d126.98114231518943!3d37.561379432181496!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x357ca2f11c090af1%3A0xc5a8a313ffcd46ef!2s22-15+Chungmuro+1(il)-ga%2C+Jung-gu%2C+Seoul%2C+South+Korea!5e0!3m2!1sen!2ssg!4v1509864015056" style="border: 0;" width="600"></iframe><br />
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<b>Goguan Studio </b><br />
<b>Address: Seoul, Chungmuro 1-ga, 22-15, 2F
110-290 Seoul, Korea</b><br />
<b>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/goguanstudio" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/goguanstudio</a></b><br />
<b>Website: </b><b><a href="http://goguan08.cafe24.com/?page_id=352" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://goguan08.cafe24.com/?page_id=352</a></b><b><br /></b><br />
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To make a reservation, you can simply drop them a message at their <a href="http://goguan08.cafe24.com/?page_id=400" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">website</a>. The price list can also be found <a href="http://goguan08.cafe24.com/?page_id=400" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>, just need to scroll down the page. So I basically made a booking and when I got there on the day of my appointment, it was literally pouring. Like raining dogs and cats. LOL. Anywho, that didn't affect our session since it was all indoors.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTbAmU2aFMweD7dh5IV0TDK1D2-32qde6ML5jzfeZJRThhUIA3yK2C_bnv5NZJo8B3uc1ixypjjtCVUiPDSgMCrRn-EMKHdqV0-cQ4BvpQnxLBh5TTBXCwWwPwQYb2dsuNxl2Q_2AcR4/s1600/IMG_20161024_103545_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTbAmU2aFMweD7dh5IV0TDK1D2-32qde6ML5jzfeZJRThhUIA3yK2C_bnv5NZJo8B3uc1ixypjjtCVUiPDSgMCrRn-EMKHdqV0-cQ4BvpQnxLBh5TTBXCwWwPwQYb2dsuNxl2Q_2AcR4/s400/IMG_20161024_103545_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance of Goguan Studio, which is next to a TonyMoly Store</td></tr>
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I booked a couple's package so it means that both my husband and I got to try out the traditional clothing of the Koreans. I choose the princess makeover coz I thought it would make me look younger while my husband went for the scholar look. Hehe.<br />
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We waited for a while at the reception but we were soon ushered into different sections of the studio to choose our costumes and apply makeup. I decided to go for a red hanbok with a black floral skirt while my husband chose a maroon outfit to match me. The whole process took about 45 minutes or so with me obviously taking longer because of all the extra makeup and hair accessories.<br />
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After the whole makeover, my husband and I took separate shots before we posed together as a couple. The results? Tada...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCiGrft1QQgMZVmXAj8wJ3Qy0JRZ6E7eLXYCYtG7pvWtIGkHZZktiMqgWkujI8n3kuhN5II26h1aiePqSJhyDfKQcPpxWPqtjvgZahXK4oe720rmfT68Teeb2JXe5Ki9cp2hgYieLvd_Y/s1600/hanbok+photoshoot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="945" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCiGrft1QQgMZVmXAj8wJ3Qy0JRZ6E7eLXYCYtG7pvWtIGkHZZktiMqgWkujI8n3kuhN5II26h1aiePqSJhyDfKQcPpxWPqtjvgZahXK4oe720rmfT68Teeb2JXe5Ki9cp2hgYieLvd_Y/s400/hanbok+photoshoot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I didn't get the CD or more pictures coz obviously that would cost more, but you do get some time to yourself in their various backdrops to take selfies so we had some fun playing around:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivg9Jh_O76B6axiCxeS6deLHe07pte9VkiC4ML7sCYz-CAtG7zO9P9UKRs-hmk4Qzo1DHjBUlSK3vAKwRn5BUd5pHG-W89_xdqZXEc2wHnPygarGhZBlz3JWR_c66vC1BkjCOxCODo10U/s1600/Fall+is+here%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="945" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivg9Jh_O76B6axiCxeS6deLHe07pte9VkiC4ML7sCYz-CAtG7zO9P9UKRs-hmk4Qzo1DHjBUlSK3vAKwRn5BUd5pHG-W89_xdqZXEc2wHnPygarGhZBlz3JWR_c66vC1BkjCOxCODo10U/s400/Fall+is+here%2521.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Yes, yes, we do look silly but it was fun and I think there's a time limit of about 15 minutes. Also, I think because of the rain, there weren't many people in the studio so we could freely play around with the backdrops. In any case, it was fun and it was a great experience. <i>A little expensive</i> in my opinion, but it was still worth the time and money.<br />
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<span style="color: #c27ba0;"><b>Verdict: We really enjoyed the whole experience. The makeup artists and photographers were polite and always ready to help us. The costumes would be a tight fit for people on the larger side though, so do take note. The hanbok was a little small for me, but the makeup artist was not fazed by it and simply pinned it closed. The photo studio is</b><b> also located in a very location near Myeong-dong so that's a huge plus point. The costumes are well made too. </b></span><br />
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Well, that's my personal opinion so hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did! <3 You can also book the experience on <a href="https://www.kkday.com/en/product/2809" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kkday.com</a> although at the time of writing this, the slots are all sold out. If that's the case for you, then maybe you can try emailing the studio directly or check out <a href="https://www.funtastickorea.com/en/prod/hanbok-photoshoot-in-studio?af_key=w9MB53Fiv1XmIaJ" target="_blank">Funtastic Korea's offer here</a>. Have fun!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-65716855162849000382017-11-04T23:22:00.000+08:002017-11-04T23:42:13.084+08:00Earn CASH when you book flights & hotels!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xNj92Fn3NeizG6l2lVI1UdxzxGrrBde60hLNxDSlYhN3SC9DpoYZsAtVaHwRLuXdxUWrz8_8wBSBxwnWMu50rCV-aTSHDmXBy43X7suJD9n8YAxzzrl1_ff08pjAtLZFS_DzOzi-z8A/s1600/earn+cash.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xNj92Fn3NeizG6l2lVI1UdxzxGrrBde60hLNxDSlYhN3SC9DpoYZsAtVaHwRLuXdxUWrz8_8wBSBxwnWMu50rCV-aTSHDmXBy43X7suJD9n8YAxzzrl1_ff08pjAtLZFS_DzOzi-z8A/s320/earn+cash.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm something of an online shopping queen at the office so whenever my colleagues want to buy something online, they would always ask me to help them check for good deals. Now, I don't claim to be an expert in this, but I do LOVE a good deal or two. ESPECIALLY when it earns me cold hard cash. <a href="https://www.shopback.sg/referred-signup-bonus?raf=jaqKg7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shopback</a> is one such website.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMlQBl4AJUf0XSPg6UXHaE0-vaNlRO2m1JQCt-B9Ib5sZJUF2cvJEQOY52fEHOeMyOSEiV91SG3G6zuKvLTqmRBFgwp1gjUJe0i_SbBYe_FxcD3IebyC7qk21dOKkYuVfmfowar05rPc/s1600/Shopback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="650" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMlQBl4AJUf0XSPg6UXHaE0-vaNlRO2m1JQCt-B9Ib5sZJUF2cvJEQOY52fEHOeMyOSEiV91SG3G6zuKvLTqmRBFgwp1gjUJe0i_SbBYe_FxcD3IebyC7qk21dOKkYuVfmfowar05rPc/s200/Shopback.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Once you sign up for an account on this website, all you have to do is click through it to the website of your choice (e.g. <a href="http://www.qoo10.com.sg/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Qoo10</a>, <a href="https://www.expedia.com.sg/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Expedia</a>, <a href="https://sg.hotels.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hotels.com</a>), make a purchase and voila! Instant cashback, although the cashback for a flight or hotel booking will only be reflected in your account after the trip.<br />
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And the best thing of all? You get $5 upon signing up PLUS another $5 after you make a purchase! Just click my referral link <a href="https://www.shopback.sg/referred-signup-bonus?raf=jaqKg7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a> to start enjoying cashbacks! I've earned almost $100 by simply booking my hotels and flights through Shopback so I personally think it's a great deal. Oh and if you make a purchase of $25 and above, I will get $5 too so thanks in advance, ya. :)</div>
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Another way to earn cashbacks is to download an app called <a href="https://www.fuzzie.com.sg/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FUZZIE</a>. Now, this was recommended to me by an intern who used to work for our company at a time when every successful referral will get you $5. But due to overwhelming response, they later changed the policy to only giving you $5 upon a successful purchase. Nonetheless, it's still a good app to have if you are an ardent shopping queen/king.</div>
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<img border="0" data-original-height="92" data-original-width="418" height="43" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzO9ggdmkEeV59rrF7p5pRgGi4iru53yFLwRQqgA5S7xEcA0QlwHmp4OkLmY13uDS5Psoo8E2vp5-R9KbmF8C2F2X9AvIxb-ye5pZR57H7NnNfTTwHCCrpCT66d8vMm2pWM0ARDlgTrOk/s200/logo-red.png" style="text-align: center;" width="200" /></div>
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How does it work? First, you download the app on either the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/sg/app/fuzzie-the-gifting-app/id969637423?mt=8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Apple App Store</a> or <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=sg.com.fuzzie.android" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Google Play</a>. When you sign up, use my invite code <b><span style="color: yellow;">lilian4382</span></b> and get $5 instantly. You can either use this credit on your next purchase or accumulate cash credits by purchasing gift cards on the app. They have loads of stores for you to choose from. For instance, if you are a frequent GRAB user, then you can buy gift cards in denominations of $6 to $35. Every denomination has different levels of cashback. In other words, the more you spend, the more cashbacks you get!<br />
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Each gift card will come with a promo code that you can apply in the respective stores so you not only get to shop, you also get cashbacks to spend on other purchases. Shiok, right? FUZZIE also features <a href="https://www.klook.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Klook</a>, which is another awesome website where you can book experiences and tickets at cheaper prices. I would know, coz I often book my holiday experiences there! Hehe.<br />
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PS: I will also get $5 when you make a purchase on FUZZIE via my invite code so please support, ya!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD-LOCWDos2RCgZcKRsUaxRB_8STEMAlAWUbTv5Nvj-pkG1n9B8UQLs9Q-26het79GRP6ApG1XbQBM_gGvDg_KViYME7YR6OEutUI9lGYMHSSkQ3qno6mMGTfTGpisF3mwO8-lvg03FFE/s1600/bannerLogoEn.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="60" data-original-width="232" height="51" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD-LOCWDos2RCgZcKRsUaxRB_8STEMAlAWUbTv5Nvj-pkG1n9B8UQLs9Q-26het79GRP6ApG1XbQBM_gGvDg_KViYME7YR6OEutUI9lGYMHSSkQ3qno6mMGTfTGpisF3mwO8-lvg03FFE/s200/bannerLogoEn.png" width="200" /></a></div>
Last but not least, Klook! There is one other website that offers similar services but Klook appears to be the only one that offers you credits for doing reviews AND credits when you sign up via my <a href="https://www.klook.com/invite/433JA?c=SGD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">referral link</a>. You can get all manner of experiences here: from airport transfer and day trips to dressing up like a Geisha in Kyoto. When I go holidaying, I will often check out this website to see if there are interesting experiences to book.<br />
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Excited to see what Klook can offer you? Then don't forget to sign up on the website via my <a href="https://www.klook.com/invite/433JA?c=SGD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">referral link</a> and get $4.40 as soon as you sign up!<br />
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<b>Hope you guys enjoy my recommendations. Hope you earn many many cashbacks! XD</b><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-59981414881876506562017-11-04T14:58:00.001+08:002017-11-05T00:52:36.026+08:00Tadaima!Wow, it's been more than 4 years since I last posted on this blog. Much has happened this past few years - both bad and good - but what the heck, the most important thing is that I'm back! I'm no jet-setting kitty but I have been lucky enough to visit a few countries like Japan and Korea. Nothing much, but I'm contented that I've had the chance to fly to these places. :)<br />
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In the upcoming posts, I will try to share as many of my experiences and tips as possible. Hope you guys will like it! In the meantime, here's a picture of an ice cream to cheer your day up! Hehe.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RFUOOVb96SsPU2Q3Cqt4rfk-61i_6f_yS1nGr942kuXUDG7t8cIE2PFUlKmTKv5sbcepVEfpHeWOqU2x5M01YS4X-S9cxoz_Q_o5kXDmi0DaFCATJcaMmpoO5efKKH9K06XJLrm7kUU/s1600/%2523traveltheworld.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RFUOOVb96SsPU2Q3Cqt4rfk-61i_6f_yS1nGr942kuXUDG7t8cIE2PFUlKmTKv5sbcepVEfpHeWOqU2x5M01YS4X-S9cxoz_Q_o5kXDmi0DaFCATJcaMmpoO5efKKH9K06XJLrm7kUU/s320/%2523traveltheworld.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-2049393183527619682013-04-05T15:48:00.000+08:002013-04-05T15:49:15.978+08:00Visit Japan with HELLO KITTYLove travelling to Japan? Then you probably shouldn't miss out on this cute little app that was launched by the Japan Tourism Agency last year. It "introduces great places to visit in all of Japan's 47 prefectures and enables users to take a picture at each location with HELLO KITTY".<br />
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Muiee Phan, a Singaporean blogger, tried out the app during her trip to Tokyo last year and wrote all about it on <a href="http://www.wretch.cc/blog/muiee/22359902" target="_blank">her blog</a>. Do check it out if you want to know what it's like. =)<br />
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It looks rather cute...although Muiee mentioned that you need 3G or connection to the local wifi in order to access the AR Camera, which is a camera function that comes with a location specific HELLO KITTY stamp. For instance when you launch the AR Camera upon reaching Nagano, you'll get a HELLO KITTY that represents the local culture. =)<br />
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Keen to try it out? You can download the "<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/visit-japan-hello-kitty-japan/id552845005?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D2" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Visit Japan with HELLO KITTY</a>" iPhone app on<b> <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/visit-japan-hello-kitty-japan/id552845005?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D2" target="_blank">iTunes</a> </b>for free! Muiee has generously offered to share some photos that she took with the app but for more details, but DO visit her website!<br />
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PS: It's in Mandarin. But here's the <a href="http://www.seejapan.co.uk/JNTO_Consumer/media/press-releases/press-release-detail/12-09-03/Japan-Releases-Hello-Kitty-Tourism-App" target="_blank">official website in English</a> for you, just in case!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmi06W77mlJu09_SIvtxloic7NkBeiHX2LMAtuRrUgaMTlkBaSNDKAMK-oOWu4IUm7SFn6Rq4qqKi-mz3Rk4EzPl0bK9C6cZtG_KATTCs59qOvfhPx91BEPTOnjlXXdtP9gdvE8GonOP4/s1600/image_1365147155861308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmi06W77mlJu09_SIvtxloic7NkBeiHX2LMAtuRrUgaMTlkBaSNDKAMK-oOWu4IUm7SFn6Rq4qqKi-mz3Rk4EzPl0bK9C6cZtG_KATTCs59qOvfhPx91BEPTOnjlXXdtP9gdvE8GonOP4/s320/image_1365147155861308.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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If you've tried the app too, then I'll love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments below. XD<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-58370978647950245722013-01-24T16:42:00.000+08:002017-11-04T14:22:34.505+08:00Taiwan 2012: National Center for Traditional Arts (Yilan)Yilan is an amazingly quiet place to relax in. I know people usually rush through their itinerary and do counties like these in a day without an overnight, but I've always been of the opinion that one should fully soak in the place before moving on. We're not in a rat race, ya know. Hehe.<br />
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Anyway, this post is gonna be on the <a href="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/main/index.aspx">National Center for Traditional Arts</a>. Yes, the name sounds boring but really...it's good for at least a few hours' entertainment after your invigorating adventure through the Dongshan River Water Park. It's a boat ride away from the park, so you gotta hop onto a small boat and putter your way there. For those who get seasick easily at even the sight of a boat, you can ride your way there but it MIGHT be a tad far for the physically unfit. =x<br />
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But no worries, the boat moves almost immediately after all the passengers have boarded and it's a mere 10 minute trip so it shouldn't be a big problem. Just sit back and enjoy the ride. =)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EUSy9pJ2kutAtEWRPf1NE-8psDBgFU5wmxU6Sr6_OhD4wJYWVaBeq7MfUI8iZGeZFoyD5oTZpLKb9nkklR1UB_-qQS2OpgiJQxRyjT8yrV99LtBspJLRLWTetLvctEuT-vAVUzTq4ww/s1600/01-2012-10-14+11.17.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EUSy9pJ2kutAtEWRPf1NE-8psDBgFU5wmxU6Sr6_OhD4wJYWVaBeq7MfUI8iZGeZFoyD5oTZpLKb9nkklR1UB_-qQS2OpgiJQxRyjT8yrV99LtBspJLRLWTetLvctEuT-vAVUzTq4ww/s320/01-2012-10-14+11.17.41.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All aboard!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmmNLLzCc3DIBnztEnJxqFxughZWnbISfmgjPyJMiMbhjkguyG36cJlXchyphenhyphen48zjLWXL-t7E1Xn3JwDJlSODpY8hIpZZxySGjre5TpY6KdSmYr1ZNOeLHIi8StQToFFvy3rv6DPlX5478/s1600/02-2012-10-14+11.30.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmmNLLzCc3DIBnztEnJxqFxughZWnbISfmgjPyJMiMbhjkguyG36cJlXchyphenhyphen48zjLWXL-t7E1Xn3JwDJlSODpY8hIpZZxySGjre5TpY6KdSmYr1ZNOeLHIi8StQToFFvy3rv6DPlX5478/s320/02-2012-10-14+11.30.44.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tickets for to and fro~ 100NT in total</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCvrEnRKYQumoTohkBRaFT6rUwf7oj6QpGDkndc3g2OBgcN-69UJ5BpMyz8SzY00gMwYLxR4c5V5qpJd4sOWHdLwRa2cOsHj-Iomj6lmx2A2HWKvs8VrkPiCxD1HYNltD82zhvP9Bi4g/s1600/04-2012-10-14+11.40.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCvrEnRKYQumoTohkBRaFT6rUwf7oj6QpGDkndc3g2OBgcN-69UJ5BpMyz8SzY00gMwYLxR4c5V5qpJd4sOWHdLwRa2cOsHj-Iomj6lmx2A2HWKvs8VrkPiCxD1HYNltD82zhvP9Bi4g/s320/04-2012-10-14+11.40.01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Windy view from the boat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbqzE2zngCiQKc2b5gscoFqP7_tFkumL5d98MAxjzY4l2R6Npe4wcYiZpTMOg1DwBGOjA7SfmwzXxSgx_vejUTdo7R2HgB1JWphrvfJwpLi_JO0IJWggsFAbwgP8Wpqut32DUMhzij6I/s1600/07-2012-10-14+11.48.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbqzE2zngCiQKc2b5gscoFqP7_tFkumL5d98MAxjzY4l2R6Npe4wcYiZpTMOg1DwBGOjA7SfmwzXxSgx_vejUTdo7R2HgB1JWphrvfJwpLi_JO0IJWggsFAbwgP8Wpqut32DUMhzij6I/s320/07-2012-10-14+11.48.06.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the Wen-Chang Temple from the river~!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now, as the name suggests, it's a center for traditional arts. This means that you'll get to see all sorts of cultural and artsy stuff like mini concerts, opera performances, local eats, historical monuments, art exhibitions etc. You can also get to eat stuff like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanghulu">bingtanghulu</a> that are really fruits (like baby tomatoes) caked in honey and huge packets of preserved fruits like plums. There are also shops that sell retro toys like snakes and ladders and other masak masak (Malay word for toys, I think) like <a href="http://singaporeactually.com/2011/08/13/retro-toy-store-at-north-bridge-road/">these</a>. They will definitely make unique souvenirs for those digital-crazed kid nieces and nephews you have back home. LOL.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWLU6wwUa3FwrPCGeOouKEhwzvK23pSTTm2UJWgkniLHQ9nhZ8-fTSLgz5mTQjzVjMFXIcgzWbHM_kJfjtsqzr-g_DOc1k55B7d0ga6JVhAJ9znhHeu8pQl420u_WBtX7A6sFdx3jfA8/s1600/08-2012-10-14+11.53.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWLU6wwUa3FwrPCGeOouKEhwzvK23pSTTm2UJWgkniLHQ9nhZ8-fTSLgz5mTQjzVjMFXIcgzWbHM_kJfjtsqzr-g_DOc1k55B7d0ga6JVhAJ9znhHeu8pQl420u_WBtX7A6sFdx3jfA8/s320/08-2012-10-14+11.53.14.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Food stalls that will ensure you won't go hungry!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5lOoKQtEpHXQD_p_cVFctwV6zM9RELuKxnH4LLc8y5k_T_MYSXSiUNcyGvDgPZYxiCM3y4dauRJ-Ub_v7Nxid6WmxooMT1jOkMan-ICTW5qCBwDGfXHGTv2gSe0u4PjVE6RYOy4cyeM/s1600/09-2012-10-14+11.53.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5lOoKQtEpHXQD_p_cVFctwV6zM9RELuKxnH4LLc8y5k_T_MYSXSiUNcyGvDgPZYxiCM3y4dauRJ-Ub_v7Nxid6WmxooMT1jOkMan-ICTW5qCBwDGfXHGTv2gSe0u4PjVE6RYOy4cyeM/s320/09-2012-10-14+11.53.22.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The venue is quite popular with both locals and tourists!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaoJOQxlPybfajC0NI-JSNmFYd4pYNdN7j-3dmsOXIwmq69T1V0-MBhJ9up2ND7Z1QzkttY0K4_64ekvglU4HXa9ai2deWUK7_Cc3fc7T9pRcJSI4eM-gjWL7UXx8CHzpYi-KgI7FpgU/s1600/10-2012-10-14+11.54.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaoJOQxlPybfajC0NI-JSNmFYd4pYNdN7j-3dmsOXIwmq69T1V0-MBhJ9up2ND7Z1QzkttY0K4_64ekvglU4HXa9ai2deWUK7_Cc3fc7T9pRcJSI4eM-gjWL7UXx8CHzpYi-KgI7FpgU/s320/10-2012-10-14+11.54.42.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheltered seats for the weary and a serene view of the pond,<br />
sometimes you can even enjoy a mini concert while you<br />
rest! =3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEdVSUmRIOFCnbgDor0RQK2K7ASYatPvGNCL8vxpIjZf59IbJ2p2hxq1PhzsqqyqRa_OwBm72g6ztnL7HpsJimHY92PFVRc1PcW8xo2wXv3w-lVR5X8ir0d6pF5SMsFeCI5HFgGVAJl8/s1600/11-2012-10-14+12.14.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEdVSUmRIOFCnbgDor0RQK2K7ASYatPvGNCL8vxpIjZf59IbJ2p2hxq1PhzsqqyqRa_OwBm72g6ztnL7HpsJimHY92PFVRc1PcW8xo2wXv3w-lVR5X8ir0d6pF5SMsFeCI5HFgGVAJl8/s320/11-2012-10-14+12.14.58.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous, isn't it? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltaw-y7ulmWDpT7TX5XxRVfxcgphKOar4rzE9rG1Jryf5blk1kvdgFR0wLk_BEbvXDR1qgiNNQhTfaJap_BANiWyBkPMqmygMeuN3PLe_xOnrPEjrmJ3psyUuGT7pr0HQCt61SFtCAUY/s1600/13-2012-10-14+12.15.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltaw-y7ulmWDpT7TX5XxRVfxcgphKOar4rzE9rG1Jryf5blk1kvdgFR0wLk_BEbvXDR1qgiNNQhTfaJap_BANiWyBkPMqmygMeuN3PLe_xOnrPEjrmJ3psyUuGT7pr0HQCt61SFtCAUY/s320/13-2012-10-14+12.15.10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entire streets of arts and craft</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For those who enjoy collecting BJDs (Ball-jointed dolls), you'll be happy to know that there is one particular shop that sells and exhibits beautiful lifelike puppets that have their very own drama serial! See below for video:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xcXQreVesSs/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xcXQreVesSs?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYENvYjgs0q5_sv4-qhck7l0TZ228wEORZ499pf3dFWbCze6qfEFwcBs-lwCKR1cZ3Vn7AyFpdjrdsiJlgSQ2xFhA0vGI6nQoPnTsmmvz8THUwZyQPNBDmKXnUzc8Mk1qKoPtFmVFzwg/s1600/38-2012-10-14+12.44.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyYENvYjgs0q5_sv4-qhck7l0TZ228wEORZ499pf3dFWbCze6qfEFwcBs-lwCKR1cZ3Vn7AyFpdjrdsiJlgSQ2xFhA0vGI6nQoPnTsmmvz8THUwZyQPNBDmKXnUzc8Mk1qKoPtFmVFzwg/s320/38-2012-10-14+12.44.35.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whoever makes these puppets are just really pro</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHs5-hS7pncP4BZAV-JC3vOy2HdkGwlBz61FXjXP4xC8eCY8sMqBIJY6IWQR-5bvOP0ZLHJIuL8M65_Dp56E308qE5aXxPQxndOSSnD-XNuJFsXa-onp9_tTxQI7LZbDIcx4wkLbaO6-s/s1600/27-2012-10-14+12.39.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHs5-hS7pncP4BZAV-JC3vOy2HdkGwlBz61FXjXP4xC8eCY8sMqBIJY6IWQR-5bvOP0ZLHJIuL8M65_Dp56E308qE5aXxPQxndOSSnD-XNuJFsXa-onp9_tTxQI7LZbDIcx4wkLbaO6-s/s320/27-2012-10-14+12.39.27.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They look really lifelike, right?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSAsWRPxRe9GUjqNL7sHwTGLWUWtDauLBq0VNevY4bM9YA2e6uEQCiLkaWnX_ym5huzS_DNMC9QeUk-FGOmbkrK2zljM4BMwhqALb4Sc9U3dhrIQXBbWbCXKfi8anp_yyMwL5nAZNVnI/s1600/24-2012-10-14+12.38.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSAsWRPxRe9GUjqNL7sHwTGLWUWtDauLBq0VNevY4bM9YA2e6uEQCiLkaWnX_ym5huzS_DNMC9QeUk-FGOmbkrK2zljM4BMwhqALb4Sc9U3dhrIQXBbWbCXKfi8anp_yyMwL5nAZNVnI/s320/24-2012-10-14+12.38.13.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are no ugly puppets...really. =x</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOebUPNlcXXC9Tphvalux86hdejhbuhQN_5IuXU0urvLe6jqxMPu-gNSIJQfx8bzwgwIYJwIffva8HZp8BDgexF_m7fv45-SNAQ_bc8xGltticZY1kXqq2VDIj6jS5tUhcrkkSZJ_yli4/s1600/32-2012-10-14+12.42.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOebUPNlcXXC9Tphvalux86hdejhbuhQN_5IuXU0urvLe6jqxMPu-gNSIJQfx8bzwgwIYJwIffva8HZp8BDgexF_m7fv45-SNAQ_bc8xGltticZY1kXqq2VDIj6jS5tUhcrkkSZJ_yli4/s320/32-2012-10-14+12.42.53.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each puppet character play a significant part<br />
in the show to represent an ideal or idea. Neat,<br />
huh? Like caricature. =3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Before I visited this shop, I never knew that puppets could make such impressive drama serials the likes of Jing Yong! LOL. If I remember correctly, you can also buy one of the puppets home to add to your collection although the price is quite hefty. Heh.<br />
<br />
There is also a soap shop where you'll gain better understanding on how the modern soap originated and its evolution to today's version. For those who want to make their own soap or buy special soaps for unique skin conditions, you can choose from a wide variety of sweet-smelling soaps that are made from natural ingredients and herbs. =)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Al3KAo-dljk2a39s_KW-Rpt2UoMd9TDQIPS1UQv21T_vjk3S-w9-QgDj-sXIQue9vP4uZaahu3aujz5tLKLrUs9Bhrf2jZuDSudwN8GhAqGpycgKIatkP2zhIt7nMLvXcvshbaY2qg4/s1600/16-2012-10-14+12.16.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Al3KAo-dljk2a39s_KW-Rpt2UoMd9TDQIPS1UQv21T_vjk3S-w9-QgDj-sXIQue9vP4uZaahu3aujz5tLKLrUs9Bhrf2jZuDSudwN8GhAqGpycgKIatkP2zhIt7nMLvXcvshbaY2qg4/s320/16-2012-10-14+12.16.45.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet smelling soaps you can try out before buying</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIZu5wOI05Yhw_hX8zdl6X-t4q5Az_D5s2nKEEuW1xF-1tNSMhtnM58RSopdMfpAizrkqRzuu3mqaVqtIEUvGiEbHzmB-rbLglPThcQA7ep6nYDh0-XcpXnHA55tySPl1vf8Hw-baxUw/s1600/15-2012-10-14+12.16.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBIZu5wOI05Yhw_hX8zdl6X-t4q5Az_D5s2nKEEuW1xF-1tNSMhtnM58RSopdMfpAizrkqRzuu3mqaVqtIEUvGiEbHzmB-rbLglPThcQA7ep6nYDh0-XcpXnHA55tySPl1vf8Hw-baxUw/s320/15-2012-10-14+12.16.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soap curving of a turtle!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVdULsuwha0xE2at-pQkx3HH6d6HebIV0UmX3KHy3ajhXHnJP5a2MF5Kq9tia444rI0Z6yFYWCa8HXhPo1Qp1AGVSXJjubSdvR73NYAuLQNjafiAcFXzIlp4PbCaTpyZ_Fa7G9FPUf6A/s1600/18-2012-10-14+12.20.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVdULsuwha0xE2at-pQkx3HH6d6HebIV0UmX3KHy3ajhXHnJP5a2MF5Kq9tia444rI0Z6yFYWCa8HXhPo1Qp1AGVSXJjubSdvR73NYAuLQNjafiAcFXzIlp4PbCaTpyZ_Fa7G9FPUf6A/s320/18-2012-10-14+12.20.03.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The good old days of bathing in a tub</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcS96s9kfjHYECSUWKrBFnwBQAIzNJLHwL3ODRxorzbfX3pWjh2lFZHk3IoBdKHi_CAqnTUs5mzdZDQxmQ9D_MROFHXxTKv3aBZ31pgoLGrWNW5g11EpxdffdssNlLCpPT35kE5WhBWw/s1600/19-2012-10-14+12.22.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcS96s9kfjHYECSUWKrBFnwBQAIzNJLHwL3ODRxorzbfX3pWjh2lFZHk3IoBdKHi_CAqnTUs5mzdZDQxmQ9D_MROFHXxTKv3aBZ31pgoLGrWNW5g11EpxdffdssNlLCpPT35kE5WhBWw/s320/19-2012-10-14+12.22.04.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curious about the evolution of soap? Hop on upstairs in the shop<br />
to find out more!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3WhByoCfDLICg_VPAJRFv8xEjVZfLu5THt8RuVrx-Y9RsihJb8ffttY8ZrmhZqbjwLU3xxTqNnAsMVje7ivNSHAXA0Hw7w91n795VYI88UezPbD3pHNgQed5ve6q7ayXtIDe1HIXq7c/s1600/43-2012-10-14+13.07.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3WhByoCfDLICg_VPAJRFv8xEjVZfLu5THt8RuVrx-Y9RsihJb8ffttY8ZrmhZqbjwLU3xxTqNnAsMVje7ivNSHAXA0Hw7w91n795VYI88UezPbD3pHNgQed5ve6q7ayXtIDe1HIXq7c/s320/43-2012-10-14+13.07.34.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional opera costumes for the ladies, I think<br />
this is a wedding gown for female characters.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOPtSF2OblF4wFkds08gJCSO4vWvZSWzewPs9Gu991Q4Mjjw9yySJuk607EVKBVzJM9fS-IZUw-FrLmNOnyu356gKmHogQz04Z__OLvUczX8S3bIQ0ZwVJngMtT1sALgIO6AMTL63FMo/s1600/44-2012-10-14+13.07.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOPtSF2OblF4wFkds08gJCSO4vWvZSWzewPs9Gu991Q4Mjjw9yySJuk607EVKBVzJM9fS-IZUw-FrLmNOnyu356gKmHogQz04Z__OLvUczX8S3bIQ0ZwVJngMtT1sALgIO6AMTL63FMo/s320/44-2012-10-14+13.07.44.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the garb of a scholarly (and often poor)<br />
man in opera performances</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHq0v2hepnVC_6v_ccvG6jQPXGgz_mV0YDEW0NzLjVzMtxtu2d9uNb57bdsiy78ausuVh36KRFg_nfmKs8vgIMqwTXYlNuVgv9MSk3cryDCO5rTrpi_NgHbaypDzjBIrXTOxlgruFUmI/s1600/45-2012-10-14+13.09.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHq0v2hepnVC_6v_ccvG6jQPXGgz_mV0YDEW0NzLjVzMtxtu2d9uNb57bdsiy78ausuVh36KRFg_nfmKs8vgIMqwTXYlNuVgv9MSk3cryDCO5rTrpi_NgHbaypDzjBIrXTOxlgruFUmI/s320/45-2012-10-14+13.09.10.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fabric postcards! You can make little fabric<br />
animals from the fabric on the postcard front</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxkaYutNuNOR563Z-_2pRW-L1SaUsiE2Fc93_OhUqOBLO0Ssso3pMzAZy7EXHdRqXZobvscwHzh86LWfh4h0INir50K8lcQ3Yzuy3SzTQaodYCyx1kJcIKZoR3Hbbm7DOqzDfjsCTAg4/s1600/47-2012-10-14+13.17.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxkaYutNuNOR563Z-_2pRW-L1SaUsiE2Fc93_OhUqOBLO0Ssso3pMzAZy7EXHdRqXZobvscwHzh86LWfh4h0INir50K8lcQ3Yzuy3SzTQaodYCyx1kJcIKZoR3Hbbm7DOqzDfjsCTAg4/s320/47-2012-10-14+13.17.22.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The weather was a bit hot, but it does look like a swell place<br />
for exhibitions. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAbPC2KYrDqeHuVstDXYrVbBGRZPu0Y01CmxlbMsqKZ38wSZD1G8j1Iee7TqVjF2iHJNi2iZ7e6mCwXdp-ftzBKVjKBIwz2ZmliR3IujyUPMrPQvGndIuZ2YBvymgd1T-pcToptNmC7w/s1600/48-2012-10-14+13.18.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvAbPC2KYrDqeHuVstDXYrVbBGRZPu0Y01CmxlbMsqKZ38wSZD1G8j1Iee7TqVjF2iHJNi2iZ7e6mCwXdp-ftzBKVjKBIwz2ZmliR3IujyUPMrPQvGndIuZ2YBvymgd1T-pcToptNmC7w/s320/48-2012-10-14+13.18.57.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gorgeous view from the other side of the river</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHKKP1l-LG0IIuCoQ4x02nT1buNSfpx1kEf3-gnkPii3VklPlAGdS2_iFOZKAzjuYkx1T721AlqvsWhtkgykBiWyZA48uKUStW5IgtaigGW_gYPlKO6PWutm9Lkruc9loiz4xsX_Txuk/s1600/49-2012-10-14+13.22.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHKKP1l-LG0IIuCoQ4x02nT1buNSfpx1kEf3-gnkPii3VklPlAGdS2_iFOZKAzjuYkx1T721AlqvsWhtkgykBiWyZA48uKUStW5IgtaigGW_gYPlKO6PWutm9Lkruc9loiz4xsX_Txuk/s320/49-2012-10-14+13.22.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great place for a stroll...in the evening. =x</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There is even a temple where you can visit or pray for excellent school results. Wen-Chang Temple was built to honour the Taoist God of Wisdom, Literature, Books and Writing. <a href="http://www.culture.tw/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1347&Itemid=157">Taiwan Culture Portal</a> has this to say about him.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"He started out as a mortal by the name of Zhang Ya Zi, a Zhou Dynasty sage who could predict the future and perform great transformations. He is also a God of Education and Learning, who helps students and blesses schools. It is said that it is easy to get on his good side: all you need to do is love books."</blockquote>
Well, then I will definitely be one of his favourites since I love reading and writing. Hohohoho. =3<br />
<br />
For those who are unfamiliar with temple traditions (like me), there are also arrows to direct you into the temple through the right door for good luck. Apparently, the right door symbolises a dragon while the left one a tiger. So you basically enter the temple on the right and exit on the left. The temple also features five other gods. And if you want to see how people in the olden days live, you can hop on over to Scholar Huang's Residence; a well-kept place that has been there for 120 years! It was built using the san-ho-yuan pattern, otherwise known as the three winged pattern that symbolises a father sitting in the middle and embracing/protecting his family with his outstretched arms.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaM-pMy9lnnCudOnLbkF6deO2bktDiSsa6DZFAq2i9VhzmbFUIYSaJp3P5AUHEcQnThd49YnWMs97SIAW8-DJ_39K1kNFQwxtLg3JutJrMUoL7x_qSBtw6q5iWcyXelQ0rEGxk9XaKNig/s1600/60-2012-10-14+13.44.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaM-pMy9lnnCudOnLbkF6deO2bktDiSsa6DZFAq2i9VhzmbFUIYSaJp3P5AUHEcQnThd49YnWMs97SIAW8-DJ_39K1kNFQwxtLg3JutJrMUoL7x_qSBtw6q5iWcyXelQ0rEGxk9XaKNig/s320/60-2012-10-14+13.44.47.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to the temple</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdefSZYavvXH1ZcL16Q_25ErpGbT9DJdNhJqGzllhyLuuZgydSkfoe8Py81etJbVxa6DkDB2PCKVbpajRrxamWIagDtfAofrMt7CCOJ4zSA4gXg39PlT-eD4FBhpwfertwNpBp29gc48/s1600/61-2012-10-14+13.45.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdefSZYavvXH1ZcL16Q_25ErpGbT9DJdNhJqGzllhyLuuZgydSkfoe8Py81etJbVxa6DkDB2PCKVbpajRrxamWIagDtfAofrMt7CCOJ4zSA4gXg39PlT-eD4FBhpwfertwNpBp29gc48/s320/61-2012-10-14+13.45.18.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My somewhat feeble attempt at taking an<br />
artistic shot of the temple's interior</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbwjeooJXvxwjoR09xKXwCqGiZgRpGje3tiJzsGdkQ_gd5LKbj5wgQlwce2UFT4MJyXIYu7Z9qNx0MxpJCjUwKy_VaHMKKcr7_b3J5JTesu6GryqUnjsPTyFPKdLKkIhy3jZyUtWRyAc/s1600/50-2012-10-14+13.30.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbwjeooJXvxwjoR09xKXwCqGiZgRpGje3tiJzsGdkQ_gd5LKbj5wgQlwce2UFT4MJyXIYu7Z9qNx0MxpJCjUwKy_VaHMKKcr7_b3J5JTesu6GryqUnjsPTyFPKdLKkIhy3jZyUtWRyAc/s320/50-2012-10-14+13.30.00.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scholar Huang's house! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60HtR4YUKbCxaI8G2JeaCR7y8-MxFamhJBoR0YDjvfQH46iIShAm118wD5ob6ay9HXbGQ_C1VCoZA3C0HPuBz2n0IbcXuEG-HKO9vPXczplDtnkVktrtIkOR6cW6dPAJlC-UIlzEO71E/s1600/54-2012-10-14+13.35.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60HtR4YUKbCxaI8G2JeaCR7y8-MxFamhJBoR0YDjvfQH46iIShAm118wD5ob6ay9HXbGQ_C1VCoZA3C0HPuBz2n0IbcXuEG-HKO9vPXczplDtnkVktrtIkOR6cW6dPAJlC-UIlzEO71E/s320/54-2012-10-14+13.35.30.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A place to honour the ancestors and the gods</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: start;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1E8E_gSYpZ0P8GqiguTC_H6bWN5nNhUOMm639Os24GgL8l9N8z3MVoztHgUACrGpkF5f2kdXrapDctdytpWmB-X28GNkFZgjCNeP-wt8EoKi4sikn33SFLW0hQUK_V1djv_Yus3jVi-E/s1600/56-2012-10-14+13.36.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1E8E_gSYpZ0P8GqiguTC_H6bWN5nNhUOMm639Os24GgL8l9N8z3MVoztHgUACrGpkF5f2kdXrapDctdytpWmB-X28GNkFZgjCNeP-wt8EoKi4sikn33SFLW0hQUK_V1djv_Yus3jVi-E/s320/56-2012-10-14+13.36.05.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Display of items that had been used in the past</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIW7yHqE5nyfGJgXd87-_SQ16hf6nl8tmGIG7vu4fidJTVJ7iLOK77EjcVdzR2lr0pjwP2R8gn3Ic6Lij-oJ_l1HZeUYUcbvoKKtwufmgd0hS184Q5-vlkFTy-rF0Wz7XsdS6INTz16o/s1600/51-2012-10-14+13.34.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIW7yHqE5nyfGJgXd87-_SQ16hf6nl8tmGIG7vu4fidJTVJ7iLOK77EjcVdzR2lr0pjwP2R8gn3Ic6Lij-oJ_l1HZeUYUcbvoKKtwufmgd0hS184Q5-vlkFTy-rF0Wz7XsdS6INTz16o/s320/51-2012-10-14+13.34.02.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As I walked through the place, a little girl was<br />
leading her family through the house and<br />
explaining the story behind each item. Quite<br />
entertaining. LOL.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeYJvgeDOhE521HNdn05moB-_oPUK2F6nwsk0jT1Ni60tyqa1MjQfmkKz0rjXT48VpBQ3l9UL9g3CaEIF2lHue23pLtzwHNVnniDn2E6AOkkeDof7j8Ka3pXsIbM7sg7vCoNPg5V5z6c/s1600/64-2012-10-14+14.54.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeYJvgeDOhE521HNdn05moB-_oPUK2F6nwsk0jT1Ni60tyqa1MjQfmkKz0rjXT48VpBQ3l9UL9g3CaEIF2lHue23pLtzwHNVnniDn2E6AOkkeDof7j8Ka3pXsIbM7sg7vCoNPg5V5z6c/s320/64-2012-10-14+14.54.14.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can't really see it but there is a machine<br />
blowing bubble shooting bubbles into the sky.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_W5Lbm7ondhbSTWSOW6Ht3Hu890gmaNkIG_RRHGwiOQL_mFKTB_wQukg7KBRCISeex_OCZvZv3ugTd17Rl0S2c3jiNmNtniXvWUoD36WbfIxnARSByzesZ7UEYWSnF2MxyCMhdLD0ciI/s1600/66-2012-10-14+15.41.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_W5Lbm7ondhbSTWSOW6Ht3Hu890gmaNkIG_RRHGwiOQL_mFKTB_wQukg7KBRCISeex_OCZvZv3ugTd17Rl0S2c3jiNmNtniXvWUoD36WbfIxnARSByzesZ7UEYWSnF2MxyCMhdLD0ciI/s320/66-2012-10-14+15.41.49.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A final look as I leave on a boat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Hungry? No worries, for there is a food court on site where there is a large variety of food available. You can nom on burgers, soup noodles and even Japanese food if I remember correctly. Should you want to spend more than a day in the arts cultural center, you can also stay at the Forte Dong-Shan Villa that is situated right next door. Check out its reviews and photos on the <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g608526-d597014-Reviews-Forte_Dong_shan_Villa-Yilan.html">TripAdvisor</a> website.<br />
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This place is definitely a must-see for people who love traditional architecture and/or arts & crafts. It MIGHT not be Disneyland but I thoroughly enjoyed myself that afternoon. =)<br />
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I even got to wear a traditional opera costume for a souvenir picture! Hehe. Oh and before I forget, here's a <a href="http://www.ncfta.gov.tw/ncfta_eh/e02/index.aspx">map of the place</a>. Have fun!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-20679011086829175432012-12-12T23:15:00.000+08:002013-01-03T15:37:54.550+08:00Taiwan 2012: Beautiful ilan (B&B)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;">宜蘭優質民宿-真水蘭陽白鷺鷥RESORT</span></b></div>
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<b>Website:<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1736171737"> </a></b><a href="http://www.beautiful-ilan.com.tw/">http://www.beautiful-ilan.com.tw/</a></div>
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<b>Address: </b>宜蘭縣冬山鄉武淵村東八路130號, Ilan, T'Ai-Wan, Taiwan</div>
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<b>Email:</b> beautiful_ilan@yahoo.com.tw <span style="color: red;">(They usually reply in Chinese but you can email them in English if Chinese is not your strong language)</span></div>
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<b>How to get there: </b>You can get there by alighting at the Luodong train station. Book your tickets<a href="http://railway.hinet.net/net_eng.htm"> here</a> or purchase them at the counter that is situated at the Taipei Main Station. Once there, you can either take a cab or arrange for the B&B people to go fetch you. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjh6NDJcvFwXe1RnPYXXt9YpfQOeTjEfnvpRcr7EkRHQOCQrxZYrMs_tvmc9vN8vrNZLUTs1xOuOMYgZqnrl_Cz5SZL_vlTtCqx84uARnd2QJ7nNm8dNzCqZ0Mn7m1-jlaQwIL76C03U/s1600/TW2012+(81).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjh6NDJcvFwXe1RnPYXXt9YpfQOeTjEfnvpRcr7EkRHQOCQrxZYrMs_tvmc9vN8vrNZLUTs1xOuOMYgZqnrl_Cz5SZL_vlTtCqx84uARnd2QJ7nNm8dNzCqZ0Mn7m1-jlaQwIL76C03U/s320/TW2012+(81).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Luodong Train Station</td></tr>
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<b>Review: </b>I love staying at B&Bs in Taiwan. If you manage to pick the right one, your stay becomes all the brighter because the proprietors of these lovely places always have a few tips on where to go or what to eat. This particular B&B that I stayed at was not exactly my first choice, but it turned out to be the best one ever because Steven the B&B owner was a really friendly person who made me feel at home. </div>
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In fact, that was his mission: to make all guests feel as comfortable as possible so they feel like it's home sweet home. To do this, Steven didn't depend on any big-name designer to do up the place. He put the place together with his own personal touches like the pebbles along the corridor and the wooden rocking horses in the relaxation room. He even scattered photos of his own kids (I think) around the place so it really does feel like home. =)</div>
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And the scenery...OMGS...it's really damn beautiful. It wasn't as breathtaking as the one in Jiufen but it was still unforgettable. Check out its lovely website <a href="http://www.beautiful-ilan.com.tw/">here</a> and you'll know what I mean. Hehe. My photos don't really do it justice, but if you're there...you can feel the love and effort that the owners put into the place. The B&B faces the river and it can get pretty bright in the afternoon, but it has that restful vibe that is rarely seen in the hotels of Taipei. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jN8K2UawPAvJVmUjnpIALyTfwShyeFNULqXD7KMBjLifzrV69KPpkmw3Pg1_06Eud2hB6B-4X38S_XmZjMLSISISeCAmGKVqXGtq6WQHcHPDGZGheqAxfXMcV6Wuo8DVbyHLpjlCmNA/s1600/TW2012+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jN8K2UawPAvJVmUjnpIALyTfwShyeFNULqXD7KMBjLifzrV69KPpkmw3Pg1_06Eud2hB6B-4X38S_XmZjMLSISISeCAmGKVqXGtq6WQHcHPDGZGheqAxfXMcV6Wuo8DVbyHLpjlCmNA/s320/TW2012+(1).jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The exterior of the B&B...quite a zen and<br />
minimalist feel to it, right?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrVVwttxP1atwMt4r_nPVbXh3X7tiR9aa-LOHnvR8EO57LeBIebvq4OQHY5QhZJKv8PAOGH9jqQ9kfvyUHrnQvwiYx0NQDdrNUGXR2nz5DdM48SiDmoOHGX5p3-kKTNNDWaXykKSksM4/s1600/TW2012+(56).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrVVwttxP1atwMt4r_nPVbXh3X7tiR9aa-LOHnvR8EO57LeBIebvq4OQHY5QhZJKv8PAOGH9jqQ9kfvyUHrnQvwiYx0NQDdrNUGXR2nz5DdM48SiDmoOHGX5p3-kKTNNDWaXykKSksM4/s320/TW2012+(56).jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bobby the resident African Grey parrot...I<br />
wanted to pat him but decided not to press my<br />
luck. LOL.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5rILy42Z15BmoX9nUnUqF6DWeEtDQgK1xS2k1cAwUbPJR6iFuxNgIGTwlXN6cUMwHCYjf0SP5azEeqMvS5y3tKggCgw5iPAWYftSH2_GNvz9KWKctlcaJfOsqEwv2WVPz9KEjt1CVk0/s1600/TW2012+(57).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5rILy42Z15BmoX9nUnUqF6DWeEtDQgK1xS2k1cAwUbPJR6iFuxNgIGTwlXN6cUMwHCYjf0SP5azEeqMvS5y3tKggCgw5iPAWYftSH2_GNvz9KWKctlcaJfOsqEwv2WVPz9KEjt1CVk0/s320/TW2012+(57).jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful backdrop to the counter and that's<br />
Steven the B&B owner checking me in there. Hehe </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iFFFuNsIgwSqYFZfgmx7K5Slytd5kTH21gPqlou3e_YRrl59s7sH6tXphmJLZfjP-DCqbj0YBQucejIexKymMjCvjQSxilJ-X1Q1SpW4SohNC_SauYjD7U6kdyLcDsH4JD01PEPPfNc/s1600/TW2012+(59).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iFFFuNsIgwSqYFZfgmx7K5Slytd5kTH21gPqlou3e_YRrl59s7sH6tXphmJLZfjP-DCqbj0YBQucejIexKymMjCvjQSxilJ-X1Q1SpW4SohNC_SauYjD7U6kdyLcDsH4JD01PEPPfNc/s320/TW2012+(59).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful greenery to spice up the place</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPJY5jTHaiIpHChxdmyJmWXBpfZMwJi0gODqRr2XEDNzUk0NGjrlLYSh_j7VGKOKBNIi07Gf33bTdrQfyFrFGmmih4dL266PIszeFhDziKdH2caOqpWqr0HUM5ye4kW4KDyIKarx0jmU/s1600/TW2012+(60).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPJY5jTHaiIpHChxdmyJmWXBpfZMwJi0gODqRr2XEDNzUk0NGjrlLYSh_j7VGKOKBNIi07Gf33bTdrQfyFrFGmmih4dL266PIszeFhDziKdH2caOqpWqr0HUM5ye4kW4KDyIKarx0jmU/s320/TW2012+(60).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A relaxing space for guests to chill</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAbWGPRTvE73Q5hnIfKpVG4uTtyfL56VRyUj_zPf1H0BLWr2ylT7iuPZwCIA4OyNUa5HJX0m_D1DdLvvQT6s0-IWxmpgjqXy8WKEsO1evEtiJJoUZOzZTU_AHz1Wa2IM5ffi0oZ1mXwQ/s1600/TW2012+(61).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAbWGPRTvE73Q5hnIfKpVG4uTtyfL56VRyUj_zPf1H0BLWr2ylT7iuPZwCIA4OyNUa5HJX0m_D1DdLvvQT6s0-IWxmpgjqXy8WKEsO1evEtiJJoUZOzZTU_AHz1Wa2IM5ffi0oZ1mXwQ/s320/TW2012+(61).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bedroom! Steven told me that this room is apparently<br />
very popular with Singaporean visitors~! It's called the 明池森林二人套房 </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkk6d8Asp-W0KOILhzWy3-jS4Mz1r56BChib6V7tZ56sqH3wSkFzdUW8-V3YE0l6txvSVmLaPLmZkj5JSC4uqZmDGUER8oB6XoCDFgw7lZK43EFncf9QMjtDOVH71TCCJ0M5ZR3YCxwc/s1600/TW2012+(62).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkk6d8Asp-W0KOILhzWy3-jS4Mz1r56BChib6V7tZ56sqH3wSkFzdUW8-V3YE0l6txvSVmLaPLmZkj5JSC4uqZmDGUER8oB6XoCDFgw7lZK43EFncf9QMjtDOVH71TCCJ0M5ZR3YCxwc/s320/TW2012+(62).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dah bed</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdyHIlpn_T2rqScTDd6b0v3D5vTgcL2clW5lFLDs9Xi_wel-awlHcYIuz6_JN9t6QUTYe4kZ2FfYVXDQlp_8ptXXeSbSyc01wFcM39xjK_GEw_Rz1ogrGyNvLKOFJeJf5zsfP9sqHHSQ/s1600/TW2012+(63).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdyHIlpn_T2rqScTDd6b0v3D5vTgcL2clW5lFLDs9Xi_wel-awlHcYIuz6_JN9t6QUTYe4kZ2FfYVXDQlp_8ptXXeSbSyc01wFcM39xjK_GEw_Rz1ogrGyNvLKOFJeJf5zsfP9sqHHSQ/s320/TW2012+(63).jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bathroom with the AWESOME shower<br />
area cum bathtub</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROWwXVFB9Jv7G740Z_SdYoOQPsat7LHJRK5n4GUQ2dqdc3Cy6rHAh3l8DSRnAz4t_A2kBEcu5beSntYjRoG3VY27IPT2B77dAkxOAf_6UjhVBKK4LatD5O7fiduFGO_H90gRiGAftScY/s1600/TW2012+(64).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROWwXVFB9Jv7G740Z_SdYoOQPsat7LHJRK5n4GUQ2dqdc3Cy6rHAh3l8DSRnAz4t_A2kBEcu5beSntYjRoG3VY27IPT2B77dAkxOAf_6UjhVBKK4LatD5O7fiduFGO_H90gRiGAftScY/s320/TW2012+(64).jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HUGE, right? It comes with bath oils so you can<br />
soak to your heart's content!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisi7xqTQx0dEiloHMuR_OpQ7TRtqr0RGI3bhje8jV86q5iFfxRAixLeZjA8_c5OP1-Jyg1p80Wv2ApQyZeK6tDaPkhJAW2XPmFhcCXmU-34R__LTASResGy-LOFi-yXaycxx0mn32Gwmg/s1600/TW2012+(65).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisi7xqTQx0dEiloHMuR_OpQ7TRtqr0RGI3bhje8jV86q5iFfxRAixLeZjA8_c5OP1-Jyg1p80Wv2ApQyZeK6tDaPkhJAW2XPmFhcCXmU-34R__LTASResGy-LOFi-yXaycxx0mn32Gwmg/s320/TW2012+(65).jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very resort-y feel to the corridor</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuAjjM1j8HwFGS2Yn5_XplhP9qj4YfdWTDSbGJBvhm4yuJBtCuFKAxBV73m1M_mN15JPD7wV9EI7KPCU_sralpXcbbIrRTaWMQx6pefXyu2zfWuIY4erzQqcY1cMsR3ueV1YnI0D7wvU/s1600/TW2012+(66).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxuAjjM1j8HwFGS2Yn5_XplhP9qj4YfdWTDSbGJBvhm4yuJBtCuFKAxBV73m1M_mN15JPD7wV9EI7KPCU_sralpXcbbIrRTaWMQx6pefXyu2zfWuIY4erzQqcY1cMsR3ueV1YnI0D7wvU/s320/TW2012+(66).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The staircase faces a river! I love how the water sparkles with<br />
the sunlight.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkiE3RiVTw3QF-tZHXHNNbRFEFjNB6vyKZzT6eyQHjOn6JsPBmAwyVzGl7XqGRfL7AVPsqaTSia7ZcDQFN7JL4TR4XVXN_YjeOLht8ZZS-IM19B1ISwtVmcLIb7FEBF3xatn7-5BU4eQ/s1600/TW2012+(69).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkiE3RiVTw3QF-tZHXHNNbRFEFjNB6vyKZzT6eyQHjOn6JsPBmAwyVzGl7XqGRfL7AVPsqaTSia7ZcDQFN7JL4TR4XVXN_YjeOLht8ZZS-IM19B1ISwtVmcLIb7FEBF3xatn7-5BU4eQ/s320/TW2012+(69).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A swing for those who want to enjoy the cool breeze</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4foYfMdlNglO2pD5F1cbeKGFjBGfGj0srO8AB7qUaTfAe9uiMbk6sZt8eGI6U-cd76AsKSe46F3V9QKskMYiR6w6_xzQVB-UO-KsnWkOJAuk8UhMeIx7ZLUJ-pnV2ssXLoEK1PTJFaE/s1600/TW2012+(71).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4foYfMdlNglO2pD5F1cbeKGFjBGfGj0srO8AB7qUaTfAe9uiMbk6sZt8eGI6U-cd76AsKSe46F3V9QKskMYiR6w6_xzQVB-UO-KsnWkOJAuk8UhMeIx7ZLUJ-pnV2ssXLoEK1PTJFaE/s320/TW2012+(71).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another relaxation area behind the house</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIi8NrvnNij7MD2XnwsU-rUgj_TRm_UdxXGJ9rOAJC9x416Q9rMxGf3Cgzbah_oT7ybS62UmiIc7Hukx31Lcnb1a-tnMO_mrcfUnGTHLjJq0jAC8vadBiTqBWOvt_8C_ybWW1i3jmBWBI/s1600/TW2012+(72).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIi8NrvnNij7MD2XnwsU-rUgj_TRm_UdxXGJ9rOAJC9x416Q9rMxGf3Cgzbah_oT7ybS62UmiIc7Hukx31Lcnb1a-tnMO_mrcfUnGTHLjJq0jAC8vadBiTqBWOvt_8C_ybWW1i3jmBWBI/s320/TW2012+(72).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are a lot of empty lands in Yilan...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbq7HwHwghH3CU0j2VzdGhl7D9x5eGcNUIvjVP6LB4pVwa4ioJvibkpa-f3uw_slr07RonL20Xa_gNO_eBPwJ0bq-rcPc93YuFXa9ljrcwGiq2Jd4gqggknO4Fj5bXSrIc7a5c2bHcnI/s1600/TW2012+(68).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMbq7HwHwghH3CU0j2VzdGhl7D9x5eGcNUIvjVP6LB4pVwa4ioJvibkpa-f3uw_slr07RonL20Xa_gNO_eBPwJ0bq-rcPc93YuFXa9ljrcwGiq2Jd4gqggknO4Fj5bXSrIc7a5c2bHcnI/s320/TW2012+(68).jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A touch of cuteness</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xC7euz_BWIQHw7Q7uln5kBPNB79j83kbDcpJ7HaYtbrO7h2D_SrMyumMvZD0HPFedrZA81mWrTTDnY1nF07Slz0IrCGv-T-rqwVklEYShKB4KsNv4YJ-LjzgwjGYvFTQe0C7TYon-xU/s1600/TW+2012+(82).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xC7euz_BWIQHw7Q7uln5kBPNB79j83kbDcpJ7HaYtbrO7h2D_SrMyumMvZD0HPFedrZA81mWrTTDnY1nF07Slz0IrCGv-T-rqwVklEYShKB4KsNv4YJ-LjzgwjGYvFTQe0C7TYon-xU/s320/TW+2012+(82).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The place behind the main B&B building where we have <br />all our meals</td></tr>
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According to Steven, the room I booked was extremely popular with Singaporeans. BUT! He does recommend 礁溪溫泉二人套房 because it has an awesome view of the river that can be enjoyed from both the bedroom AND the bathroom plus it has a balcony. You can just open the door in the bathroom to admit the view while you soak in hot water. XD</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
One thing about this place though...it gets REALLY dark at night and there are absolutely NO shops nearby. I'll recommend you to stock up on the instant noodles in case you get hungry at night. You're also highly recommended to complete your bathing rituals early so you don't disturb the other guests. I guess it's coz when you release the water in the bathtub, it can cause quite a ruckus that echoes loudly especially at night. If you're visiting the night market, be sure to return earlier as well since the owners will lock up the place and it's not very nice to keep them waiting up for you too. =D</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Breakfast is provided in a separate little house that is just behind the main building and it's from around 8 or 830 to about 9 or 930am, I think.</div>
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<b>How to book: </b>You can email them at beautiful_ilan@yahoo.com.tw with your name, number of guests, type of room and dates you want to book OR you can simply register online. They will get back to you within a few days. They have a couple of booking phone lines as well so you can give them a jingle. A 50% deposit is required, which can be paid via Paypal. If you ask me, being able to email them is a great plus point for me because it's a lot more convenient to email than calling them. Hehe.<b> </b></div>
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<b>Hotel amenities provided? </b>Yes</div>
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<span style="color: red;">Rating: *****</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-size: large;"><b>Conclusion: I will highly recommend this place to anyone who wants to get away from it all. Take the time to explore Yilan and recuperate from your daily toils. =)</b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-33698522341413566382012-12-09T14:40:00.000+08:002012-12-09T14:40:06.763+08:00Taiwan 2012 - Dongshan River Water Park (Yilan) & Luodong Night MarketSorry for taking so long to post this up. Not sure if my computer's problem or it's my ISP's problem but every time I try to upload a photo, my internet inadvertently gets cut off. As a result, I have to resort to uploading them one by one--a very time-consuming task. >.<<br />
<br />
Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy my post!<br />
<br />
Dongshan River Water Park is a huge park in Yilan, something in the manner of East Coast in Singapore but with better scenery. Hehe. The Dongshan River runs alongside it, bringing with it a constant yet cooling breeze that feels really refreshing. In fact, this place was built to cater for several recreational activities. The architecture was designed such that people could sit along terraces to enjoy water races etc. Quite neat huh.<br />
<br />
It's a great place for a day trip, especially if you're coming from Taipei. You can rent a bicycle or one of those 2/4-seaters to explore the park in its entirety and enjoy the fresh air. One thing about this place though. There are lots of tiny bugs flying in the air, so be sure not to...well...open your mouth too often. LOL.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9akOLk6Q-HMl6jmsi4JNk-5sf4sNPszzKYK6wo1R3nyJTO2nI8nhMhH5i8hyphenhyphen7nsVlSwhB4ShYe98pkzSpSvD8UY4vsKa18DlZqFp4R9NC5-81d47VeLmYpTxukL2tCNmSkJHrxO-V6ps/s1600/TW2012+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9akOLk6Q-HMl6jmsi4JNk-5sf4sNPszzKYK6wo1R3nyJTO2nI8nhMhH5i8hyphenhyphen7nsVlSwhB4ShYe98pkzSpSvD8UY4vsKa18DlZqFp4R9NC5-81d47VeLmYpTxukL2tCNmSkJHrxO-V6ps/s320/TW2012+(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the sky is bluer here</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xs5OcyPYP20T4sCvpKBOMW0YYbYRDn6puEDFr6qPSiFvYsHM7bUatGCzwdt6v30dDviASSKLl8ahe5BnAOErQAz291hjkjl_z-ceieVVP2UfroI1ZxR5iiCrBWeIeovxPeuHImqS5B0/s1600/TW2012+%252834%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xs5OcyPYP20T4sCvpKBOMW0YYbYRDn6puEDFr6qPSiFvYsHM7bUatGCzwdt6v30dDviASSKLl8ahe5BnAOErQAz291hjkjl_z-ceieVVP2UfroI1ZxR5iiCrBWeIeovxPeuHImqS5B0/s320/TW2012+%252834%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tunnel that leads to the park from my B&B, cycling is<br />
a rather popular activity here! XD</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqsmgs4Kpnh1dTek2uB3o5BR6IgNZjetrhdID9An-eewTVsAdA2qcXUS84rFlpn9huwqZYjrDm5K9wyXmS8mAgOz3OZ8OKCsoFY0f60mBIs6UpWj470HN8m6BFl0SAh89oWai0KTGbfw/s1600/TW2012+%252832%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqsmgs4Kpnh1dTek2uB3o5BR6IgNZjetrhdID9An-eewTVsAdA2qcXUS84rFlpn9huwqZYjrDm5K9wyXmS8mAgOz3OZ8OKCsoFY0f60mBIs6UpWj470HN8m6BFl0SAh89oWai0KTGbfw/s320/TW2012+%252832%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first glimpse of the park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQViDZ8WKb1hddUloZxDHF6m-hueU3mMiZT9at5QWfKRvub6EKarWQ-0z4rXYBESoUS_LblGwhMTDxhwAMwJoSTSKjC6XnjQsz3aDRk8QeM2FVHghP2ReI6wcaoSa6bcMszQu8aozTmVU/s1600/TW2012+%252835%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQViDZ8WKb1hddUloZxDHF6m-hueU3mMiZT9at5QWfKRvub6EKarWQ-0z4rXYBESoUS_LblGwhMTDxhwAMwJoSTSKjC6XnjQsz3aDRk8QeM2FVHghP2ReI6wcaoSa6bcMszQu8aozTmVU/s320/TW2012+%252835%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A well-kept path that meanders along the river</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-2lv8Cf0mEo5Xz-qqfUNdGs3n_NtA0QQf_KMkQrU2HQCK6TVzFJs4DplXN4fluAjLuHBNUCEP-7xqDQL9GyOnJYP_9nIwFVmcsI-lSGnrTI6Xiu4N_foulKuaVbH8ezvlsC1ZZ3Qci4/s1600/TW2012+%252836%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-2lv8Cf0mEo5Xz-qqfUNdGs3n_NtA0QQf_KMkQrU2HQCK6TVzFJs4DplXN4fluAjLuHBNUCEP-7xqDQL9GyOnJYP_9nIwFVmcsI-lSGnrTI6Xiu4N_foulKuaVbH8ezvlsC1ZZ3Qci4/s320/TW2012+%252836%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A map! You can see that it's a really huge park.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDMHz8h8hOWfp99TgEFratswv3QJixzOjpMFo2XjkcFbm6cQCv_YRO-wjdqyfOsF93v-YxSi4cW8Daldb3SQbgG3XPmCtpU9ffHws2Kzmo5Ye08zq37knz27Y3KYcF_05PonR9rRDufM/s1600/TW2012+%252837%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDMHz8h8hOWfp99TgEFratswv3QJixzOjpMFo2XjkcFbm6cQCv_YRO-wjdqyfOsF93v-YxSi4cW8Daldb3SQbgG3XPmCtpU9ffHws2Kzmo5Ye08zq37knz27Y3KYcF_05PonR9rRDufM/s320/TW2012+%252837%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The iconic red bridge of Yilan - Lizejian Bridge<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"> 利澤簡橋</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR32xKT7AUoYoX_FcfXIbmjWgT7abMSOnJlr8OuNcF0a4CIR2mv6N3KL1tHUGSK6ToMS_xdv8kVLqhndWtuA_AzMm1yJ_gCBVbU-PHuYc-vXa3SCmR00eDptUoDExk-xqnwB8E3mYDPMw/s1600/TW2012+%252838%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR32xKT7AUoYoX_FcfXIbmjWgT7abMSOnJlr8OuNcF0a4CIR2mv6N3KL1tHUGSK6ToMS_xdv8kVLqhndWtuA_AzMm1yJ_gCBVbU-PHuYc-vXa3SCmR00eDptUoDExk-xqnwB8E3mYDPMw/s320/TW2012+%252838%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water sports galore...you can even sit along the terraces to<br />
enjoy the breeze</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkQrTBWzl10EbF8PdxdrLKMSDHYd6WkUKjclljcGtVJzrcZ8XW-69aW0NvxdPb-AWpmMW3mF0zB3cCbE1b6KTuAQhGnBI1OoV6PzPHEXPuj2KN_iSDkcL5Eg7i4l0L12p-QpueefiOB4/s1600/TW2012+%252840%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkQrTBWzl10EbF8PdxdrLKMSDHYd6WkUKjclljcGtVJzrcZ8XW-69aW0NvxdPb-AWpmMW3mF0zB3cCbE1b6KTuAQhGnBI1OoV6PzPHEXPuj2KN_iSDkcL5Eg7i4l0L12p-QpueefiOB4/s320/TW2012+%252840%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can tell that it's a really popular spot for water-sports<br />
lovers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qZfQjql1WXaFDiYCkZCcrhgFvA03QVCiuKQqndLy67HOyjWfeJ3yK9VM8xZSkFU4yq1udi0cmK5OQi1U2NHj949hLNEs72r7MWiXBLE5KPEJKAeXByuyTej5YBFhCbq87ChsTZt5djs/s1600/TW2012+%252842%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qZfQjql1WXaFDiYCkZCcrhgFvA03QVCiuKQqndLy67HOyjWfeJ3yK9VM8xZSkFU4yq1udi0cmK5OQi1U2NHj949hLNEs72r7MWiXBLE5KPEJKAeXByuyTej5YBFhCbq87ChsTZt5djs/s320/TW2012+%252842%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An abandoned coffee place...but it DOES have the air of a<br />
modern Taiwanese love drama setting, right? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMts2jUZ7ne7IIVDDtSkYNvJEJEQaiM99Ivmu240C7QG5m3UeC-r3aje7W4735cgwy0oHtnWFLsJSlQlXOwAtDxBHffjH2HPtlyjRE8bOnI3IF2sUHdNjs4d_Vo_F1XF4S-htLHpP7e3c/s1600/TW2012+%252841%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMts2jUZ7ne7IIVDDtSkYNvJEJEQaiM99Ivmu240C7QG5m3UeC-r3aje7W4735cgwy0oHtnWFLsJSlQlXOwAtDxBHffjH2HPtlyjRE8bOnI3IF2sUHdNjs4d_Vo_F1XF4S-htLHpP7e3c/s320/TW2012+%252841%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another place in which to admire the scenery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6O3PK8Yl5DZw7WPBukQUdCqVoQy5KVI0Aw4NB8pYE5Ie_r4UuzUeLB5UF8S2jRfFX1psA_TNiuPSRKoIosjaS2dKF03NH91euW-TR9ICXFKxj5O9-qrY4PG9VcibMOxQP5sMWfdm-Yw/s1600/TW2012+(46).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6O3PK8Yl5DZw7WPBukQUdCqVoQy5KVI0Aw4NB8pYE5Ie_r4UuzUeLB5UF8S2jRfFX1psA_TNiuPSRKoIosjaS2dKF03NH91euW-TR9ICXFKxj5O9-qrY4PG9VcibMOxQP5sMWfdm-Yw/s320/TW2012+(46).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not sure what this building is for, but it appears to be <br />
empty as well.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhil2rb68bpJ9vWaQRoF3yNK0KeQFlHyv9ycfaBMHWGYiNDdLRkxr-vViS8NAvvspcSnpL4aoTbIxBe4dIlujd9jkyRk2FCgWRfevnJLc25DhdzYPEZCDo9U-pXWVITJ78WRS3NZPSd9ds/s1600/TW2012+(47).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhil2rb68bpJ9vWaQRoF3yNK0KeQFlHyv9ycfaBMHWGYiNDdLRkxr-vViS8NAvvspcSnpL4aoTbIxBe4dIlujd9jkyRk2FCgWRfevnJLc25DhdzYPEZCDo9U-pXWVITJ78WRS3NZPSd9ds/s320/TW2012+(47).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So nice and peaceful, right?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMO-xXiyna2T-mk3c1ej9aXdPUDv18LYV1x5M3tiU0ShQlxyMWhTzZTVxqFWF8Dl2EW48RY0g0zbMgZGYst7d_PL2iuK3_kKeo97ZmLxsgCH69gT5xxswn-zAP4mm7Msl97pFWOl9Gb7E/s1600/TW2012+%252848%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMO-xXiyna2T-mk3c1ej9aXdPUDv18LYV1x5M3tiU0ShQlxyMWhTzZTVxqFWF8Dl2EW48RY0g0zbMgZGYst7d_PL2iuK3_kKeo97ZmLxsgCH69gT5xxswn-zAP4mm7Msl97pFWOl9Gb7E/s320/TW2012+%252848%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous expanse of grassy fields for the picnic lovers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEEMydeGaefe0Yuyrq7rwxPxtW2QBvEebfXofNwRUdqOnCH-viFykadB57Br_XtSgY2SjN4z-gGaYzIHlh5lRcxtGN1bfDbPBLK9DWcD9QjYBPckcnRijGdAkcfBtN1Jm9RivsLjPHAY/s1600/TW2012+(50).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEEMydeGaefe0Yuyrq7rwxPxtW2QBvEebfXofNwRUdqOnCH-viFykadB57Br_XtSgY2SjN4z-gGaYzIHlh5lRcxtGN1bfDbPBLK9DWcD9QjYBPckcnRijGdAkcfBtN1Jm9RivsLjPHAY/s320/TW2012+(50).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The benches are like something out of a fairy tale, no?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhYmW_OU0kVgsQBLs-77WeHM_80AFFPRyTmtjvC4gZroRZJsyJvODf8c8kLakLBqtsqX3sTTKFHV46HmbdMw_JuwtUweNHI866f4GE-TWjEHrB26WEqv3iJznjWgNrXAeCNbeVAC15sA/s1600/TW2012+(49).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhYmW_OU0kVgsQBLs-77WeHM_80AFFPRyTmtjvC4gZroRZJsyJvODf8c8kLakLBqtsqX3sTTKFHV46HmbdMw_JuwtUweNHI866f4GE-TWjEHrB26WEqv3iJznjWgNrXAeCNbeVAC15sA/s320/TW2012+(49).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the shelters are so pretty! Not just chunks of shady concrete.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_24iRUQbteUUq-RYlW0u82bls8_kdMYTYrTJwxFHgf_DCG2csE_OIjOrfg5bmYIKxIKiwNsqV3P1i5HAgLPqodBron1fDaC5MifC4A9vHmqHxaUdNKbg9yf1RFvLDR_KrPJGRnOTPF0/s1600/TW2012+(51).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_24iRUQbteUUq-RYlW0u82bls8_kdMYTYrTJwxFHgf_DCG2csE_OIjOrfg5bmYIKxIKiwNsqV3P1i5HAgLPqodBron1fDaC5MifC4A9vHmqHxaUdNKbg9yf1RFvLDR_KrPJGRnOTPF0/s320/TW2012+(51).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DINO! They definitely planned this park for the<br />kids.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vGZhszLyHzEqFF3tAGyRKfmmsXmcXMnltQ8ZbbmNF-3wJEv791YGXRsbwIHAx-IAW50lL2FRT-defYjHyaViJV0tWGL_a8LQtVTY1FT3kipwoGoMZmMiN3bms1JzeaFH4pniGfGz_IQ/s1600/TW2012+(54).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vGZhszLyHzEqFF3tAGyRKfmmsXmcXMnltQ8ZbbmNF-3wJEv791YGXRsbwIHAx-IAW50lL2FRT-defYjHyaViJV0tWGL_a8LQtVTY1FT3kipwoGoMZmMiN3bms1JzeaFH4pniGfGz_IQ/s320/TW2012+(54).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Truly a kid's world</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtDyjoxnYOR6jUNpc56YZcF6GDH5XMyTvq7oARMzS75iev0EXpCq4dRQqat2lnE9ahet9Hz9Nzwif3mK2IEqlgz34ELc8xn79Tc5qU4TkJKTBeM9sTvR7vRAhbiRCHEIY4Nh2qhvtmb8/s1600/TW2012+(53).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtDyjoxnYOR6jUNpc56YZcF6GDH5XMyTvq7oARMzS75iev0EXpCq4dRQqat2lnE9ahet9Hz9Nzwif3mK2IEqlgz34ELc8xn79Tc5qU4TkJKTBeM9sTvR7vRAhbiRCHEIY4Nh2qhvtmb8/s320/TW2012+(53).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Food for the hungry & bicycle rental</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There is not much to eat nearby...a couple of restaurants that requires a good deal of walking after you've crossed the Lizejian Bridge (the red bridge that is pretty iconic in Yilan) to the other side, but you can always consider visiting the Luodong Night Market which is located in the middle of the Luodong Township near the Luodong train station.<br />
<br />
Now the night market, like any other in Taipei, is absolutely PACKED. There are loads of delicious food and you can see long queues of people in front of popular stalls that can also be found in several locations scattered throughout the night market. So what exactly does one eat here? Regrettably, I didn't take a lot of photos of the food. But here is a post by <a href="http://kampungboycitygal.com/2009/11/luodong-night-market-%E7%BD%97%E4%B8%9C%E5%A4%9C%E5%B8%82-luodong-yilan-county/">Kampungboycitygal </a>that not only includes a map where all the delicious treats are, it also has loads of pictures for your visual feast! XD<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8cuWUn6XQhWROMVXVn5b2ZNblpXMx8buxdTFNKT_tc73A69UrcS3RbpsHdCaH0kSVrStCKHARsYj2gV0-n-ag6TPfENlp4tsOu-7y193itzZaenP9AscWg8wdvRGgXuNlfjkAsKSpBw/s1600/TW2012+(78).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh8cuWUn6XQhWROMVXVn5b2ZNblpXMx8buxdTFNKT_tc73A69UrcS3RbpsHdCaH0kSVrStCKHARsYj2gV0-n-ag6TPfENlp4tsOu-7y193itzZaenP9AscWg8wdvRGgXuNlfjkAsKSpBw/s320/TW2012+(78).jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whole streets of food, fun & shopping<br />at Luodong Night Market~!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
You can get here from the Dongshan River Water Park via a cab. It's easier than taking a bus & it doesn't cost much either. I took a cab and the driver was so friendly. Hehe.<br />
<br />
<b>My thoughts:</b><br />
Not exactly a touristy spot, but it's good for a leisurely day trip. You can also take a small boat from here to the National Center for Traditional Arts. The park is very pleasant, but you can't help but feel that it was meant to be a more commercialised area. The beautiful yet empty buildings that you walk past are a mute testimony to that. About the only shops that survive around here are the food and bicycle rental kiosks because people love to come here and cycle or buy some food to share with their friends. On the whole, Yilan appears to be a sleepy town with not much happening. There are a lot of B&Bs around though, so you can count on a restful vacation if you decide to come here. Among the more popular ones are <a href="http://kampungboycitygal.com/2009/09/taiwan-day-56-luodong-yilan-part-i/">Rothenburg Lodge</a> and <a href="http://www.sunday-home.com.tw/about.php">Sunday Home</a>, but do note that these places are extremely popular so if you want to stay there, you gotta book fast and way before you make your trip into Taiwan. =D<br />
<br />
I didn't get to stay at these B&Bs coz they were already booked by the time I got around to doing the nitty gritties BUT I did manage to score myself a room at the <a href="http://www.beautiful-ilan.com.tw/">Beautiful Ilan B&B</a>. I'll cover that in my next post. =)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-79594873911096734812012-10-31T17:56:00.002+08:002012-11-01T13:03:44.384+08:00Taiwan 2012 ItineraryHi guys! Wow, it has been almost a year since I first started my travel blog after I returned from Taiwan for the first time. Well, I love the place so much that I went back again! This time, I took a longer and more leisurely vacation because there were so many friends to meet up with. Hehehe...<br />
<br />
I was there from 9th to 16th October, a total of 8 days--the last day being sort of redundant coz I had to make my way to the airport early that day. Anyway, here are the various places I visited. You MIGHT find my itinerary sort of lazy and uninspired, but it was all very nice and relaxing for me...which was sort of the reason why I took the vacation. LOL. To make things easier for you, here are the places I visited:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Dongshan River Water Park </b>(Yilan)</li>
<li><b>National Center for Traditional Arts </b>(Yilan)</li>
<li><b>Luodong night market </b>(Yilan) </li>
<li><b>Beautiful ilan B&B </b>(Yilan)</li>
<li><b>Wulai </b></li>
<li><b>Ximending </b>(to take in the night crowds that I missed the first time round!)</li>
<li><b>Danshui</b></li>
<li><b>Longshan Si</b></li>
<li><b>Bopiliao Street</b></li>
<li><b>Qing Guang Shi Chang</b></li>
<li><b>Woobar @ W Hotel Taipei </b></li>
<li><b>Chia Te Bakery </b>(for the famous and yummy pastries!)</li>
</ol>
<div>
I will be covering them in the upcoming posts so do keep your eyelids peeled for them!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<b><br /></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-88147190532205649742012-09-18T13:39:00.000+08:002012-09-18T13:39:14.326+08:00How much to tip?If you're an ardent traveller, I'm sure you've come across the rather tricky issue of tipping--that is to leave a small amount of money as a way to thank the person who has rendered you good service. Unlike Singapore where people don't usually give tips due to the already existing service charge, countries like France, Germany and USA do have the custom of tipping. But how much tip enough? Well, no worries. =D<br />
<br />
I've written <a href="http://www.silverkris.com/ideas/travel-news/tipping-point" target="_blank">an article on this</a> and it can be found on Silver Kris, an online magazine for SIA. Do head on over there to find out more about the custom of tipping so you don't inadvertently commit a faux pas that could potentially ruin your holiday~!<br />
<br />
So have you guys ever run into a situation where you didn't know how much to tip or the refusal of a tip caught you off guard? It'll be great to hear from you guys in the comments. =D<br />
<br />
Have fun then!<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-74060957527017386112012-09-16T23:54:00.000+08:002012-09-17T00:08:41.126+08:00How to beat the blues after a holiday<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6lz7tsE02QRGHSx7H7N7Doy6P0zgXAgeCqeI4G9q20R98zGPI_PuMHnHhoDxzQczs5BOyAsYyV24st4Pk0M7HVxZe8eyQNfSRumakz-w6z1bdZMpwlkv0IN71n9D7FNq9rfYQypDtjA/s1600/2012-09-17-00-01-50_deco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6lz7tsE02QRGHSx7H7N7Doy6P0zgXAgeCqeI4G9q20R98zGPI_PuMHnHhoDxzQczs5BOyAsYyV24st4Pk0M7HVxZe8eyQNfSRumakz-w6z1bdZMpwlkv0IN71n9D7FNq9rfYQypDtjA/s320/2012-09-17-00-01-50_deco.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm lying flat on my back till I get <br />
my mojo back. >.<</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Have you ever felt like the world is going to end on the last day of your vacation? Or maybe you wished you never had to leave the place you were holidaying in? You might even have fallen sick once or twice after your holiday, as if your body was protesting the amount of activities you cramped into itinerary.<br />
<br />
Well, this is known as the "Let Down" effect where your immune system becomes weaker after a period of high energy levels is immediately followed by a period of low energy levels. It's just like a speeding car that was forced to stop without the brakes. I'm sure you can imagine the kind of damage it can do to the car. =x<br />
<br />
It's natural to feel emotionally low or physically ill after the euphoria of your holiday, but it's important to have a cool-down period where the shock of having to handle a low energy period after a high energy one is not too overwhelming for your body. Here are a few tips:<br />
<br />
<b>Put away your stuff</b><br />
Don't procrastinate and put away your luggage soon after you reach home. It's a great chance for you to look through your travel photos and vids, plus divy up the souvenirs that you had gotten for your friends and family. Better than sitting around aimlessly and emo-ing about your holiday, right? =)<br />
<br />
<b>Pamper yourself</b><br />
If possible, book a spa session or two for yourself soon after your trip. You'll soon feel the cares melting away from your body. Shopping's more your thing? Then plan a shopping spree with your girlfriends! Or fix a gaming session with your boys. The key is to acclimate your body rhythm to the pace you were used to before you went on that holiday.<br />
<br />
<b>Go on an adventure</b><br />
The common complaint about living in Singapore is that it doesn't seem to have enough spots to have fun in, but you'll be surprised at what you can find if you bother to look. Going on an adventure in your home country may not be exciting as the one you had on your holiday, but at least your body will have more time to get used to the change.<br />
<br />
<b>Plan the next vacation!</b><br />
Remember the excitement you felt when planning your getaway? Well, <a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/18/how-vacations-affect-your-happiness/" target="_blank">studies</a> have shown that people are generally happier when they are in anticipation of a trip so instead of feeling down, why don't you plan your future trips now! XD<br />
<br />
Do the above tips work for you? What do <b>you</b> do to recover from your holiday? Do feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-87525232321242305552011-12-30T21:57:00.000+08:002011-12-30T21:57:13.622+08:00Taiwan 2011 - Maokong Gondola (貓空)Maokong (貓空, literally translated as Cat Empty) Gondola is located in the Wenshan district of Taipei and used to be the largest tea growing area in Taipei. To get there, you can either take a bus or a cable car to the last stop along a string of stations that include Zhinan Temple.<br />
<br />
Popular folklore (and my Taiwanese friend) say that unmarried couples are not encouraged to visit Zhinan Temple because they will break up after that. It is said that the temple's main deity, Lu Dong Bing, is jealous of lovers due to his unrequited love for He Xiangu and will break them up if given the opportunity. So if you're going there with your boyfriend or girlfriend, visit the temple at your risk. =)<br />
<br />
Married couples should be fine, I guess. Don't ask me why. XD<br />
<br />
Zhinan Temple is the stop before Maokong Gondola so don't walk downhill if you want to avoid the temple after you reach the last station.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZ1r8eZ83HRPB1qKfrhmRBN_CDJhyu7zh8pPDTeRgzuDDLKwXm0CfB7WDMw7CK8zf-EOlA_-vhX05fbRcd1F1O07R8ohHZisMtGbmJyoFNYe3qkXEZAxDReoIMC8bLW7lfXt3jegaGY8/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Taipei+Zoo+Station.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZ1r8eZ83HRPB1qKfrhmRBN_CDJhyu7zh8pPDTeRgzuDDLKwXm0CfB7WDMw7CK8zf-EOlA_-vhX05fbRcd1F1O07R8ohHZisMtGbmJyoFNYe3qkXEZAxDReoIMC8bLW7lfXt3jegaGY8/s320/TouristKitty+-+Taipei+Zoo+Station.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To get to Maokong Gondola, you must first take<br />
the MRT to the Taipei Zoo Station.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0vRpqt6T7RpKRRG3SxfORNXnTjI2-aMQaQGxnf6TsOmDnWi9BEjdKomGWxDBEyBl8uOjjUpw_2FK76DP0hP1Q_A9o1omC-e_i4hk8hyphenhyphenBJzUhlVZsJRXAw3lpS3zLh36Noa9-o_JGzXU/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Signboard+at+MRT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0vRpqt6T7RpKRRG3SxfORNXnTjI2-aMQaQGxnf6TsOmDnWi9BEjdKomGWxDBEyBl8uOjjUpw_2FK76DP0hP1Q_A9o1omC-e_i4hk8hyphenhyphenBJzUhlVZsJRXAw3lpS3zLh36Noa9-o_JGzXU/s320/TouristKitty+-+Signboard+at+MRT.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The signs showing the right direction to take the cable car up<br />
Maokong.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2VgvpVnrhkApz6Hh1yqj4v6q2xgxos1g0_3M3pHy5v4eoPnLkDOmoQcPqVtIYml6Cn0f4DwUlubU-GZKYgnYREUiYMwf2fdKna0dTM-9M4JmhC0Oszso1GNjC4wri4X4vsfa5EcDshM/s1600/TouristKitty+-+On+the+way+to+Gondola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir2VgvpVnrhkApz6Hh1yqj4v6q2xgxos1g0_3M3pHy5v4eoPnLkDOmoQcPqVtIYml6Cn0f4DwUlubU-GZKYgnYREUiYMwf2fdKna0dTM-9M4JmhC0Oszso1GNjC4wri4X4vsfa5EcDshM/s320/TouristKitty+-+On+the+way+to+Gondola.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dreary and rainy day, as usual on a day in November. Once<br />
you reach the place, you have to grab a queue number and buy<br />
a ticket but if you have the EasyCard, you can go on right up to<br />
ride on the cable car. People usually take the normal cable cars<br />
though coz they are cheaper.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEier9N6QUCpQCzn_ZF0FdMHpuc6wuaNO_9Xi79mjsJnHFVLcsNCpyesk0Xm8xHqOyS44LsN9CNxpuaVkTg8L09KMgrEnCA3mhh3Uq8vfo6m38df9p-TiOUOpFyxfSPOc61ngzVUCObBYLc/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Cable+Car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEier9N6QUCpQCzn_ZF0FdMHpuc6wuaNO_9Xi79mjsJnHFVLcsNCpyesk0Xm8xHqOyS44LsN9CNxpuaVkTg8L09KMgrEnCA3mhh3Uq8vfo6m38df9p-TiOUOpFyxfSPOc61ngzVUCObBYLc/s320/TouristKitty+-+Cable+Car.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can either choose to take a bus up the Maokong mountain<br />
or take cable cars, the normal ones or the crystal cabins which<br />
allow you to see what passes beneath your feet. The crystal<br />
cabins are slightly more expensive, of course but you can pay<br />
for the rides using your EasyCard. =)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhniYENSPhum-XubOK1AABPDbGpveeC1d12RFWQuO6Lc3IX9vyJfNFF1u05qQoI1a0ekXEzeYpUGPNMR6U9DnD3vk4XM1msviyCkP6xDMBLhJnYt1gtsGt2kQXs8Kt_0-DLp03Fk1dXgmM/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Below+the+crystal+cabin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhniYENSPhum-XubOK1AABPDbGpveeC1d12RFWQuO6Lc3IX9vyJfNFF1u05qQoI1a0ekXEzeYpUGPNMR6U9DnD3vk4XM1msviyCkP6xDMBLhJnYt1gtsGt2kQXs8Kt_0-DLp03Fk1dXgmM/s320/TouristKitty+-+Below+the+crystal+cabin.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view below: if you take a crystal cabin...do bear in mind<br />
that you're not allowed to take a cabin alone or in a couple<br />
so you have to share cabins with another couple or a few<br />
other people. Guess they don't want any hanky panky to happen.<br />
Hehe...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUM2_I7JSIsKim3KXvXo-h_P7jRMCjmiVz9SlLw2ve2QfPYqCR312yHEY-NZq2E7UGwBoUQ73MXUiqKny8lbfJ6BTonG-RDXXAhK6XwdiEIFJppMP6TIGcS6paFncM9rslq0Pcu3dT5bY/s1600/TouristKitty+-+View+from+Gondola+Station.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUM2_I7JSIsKim3KXvXo-h_P7jRMCjmiVz9SlLw2ve2QfPYqCR312yHEY-NZq2E7UGwBoUQ73MXUiqKny8lbfJ6BTonG-RDXXAhK6XwdiEIFJppMP6TIGcS6paFncM9rslq0Pcu3dT5bY/s320/TouristKitty+-+View+from+Gondola+Station.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maokong Gondola is the last stop at the top of the mountain<br />
and is the perfect spot if you want to have some tea with a<br />
beautiful view. The way downhill is to the left of this picture.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HiC5f8eJ8Ofk4F7aVm4McaIL38sozYhSV2TQ1HdefwbFWE9VUgjoU63Y-o9P1bYGz5-rj_aP_rhbuJUcqMX2nvgF3tMi5MJYBHczGarXIZHNaqhtT19JX7HqHYhcoi64FVNirXeoxto/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Info+Gondola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HiC5f8eJ8Ofk4F7aVm4McaIL38sozYhSV2TQ1HdefwbFWE9VUgjoU63Y-o9P1bYGz5-rj_aP_rhbuJUcqMX2nvgF3tMi5MJYBHczGarXIZHNaqhtT19JX7HqHYhcoi64FVNirXeoxto/s320/TouristKitty+-+Info+Gondola.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Information counter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMy7YrrIMZwkeawjupXKB3R5smOgZPzHrMMGmBkwR9et3chEyrzBupIy5mdrR0oePIEOXd4kH2SeNLrqxssVKsvGDZmAVLksgNoySfpJxZ4yGBui13ecJi7oAJnQ-YorFMqyMCh4bDBJ4/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Gondola+Houses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMy7YrrIMZwkeawjupXKB3R5smOgZPzHrMMGmBkwR9et3chEyrzBupIy5mdrR0oePIEOXd4kH2SeNLrqxssVKsvGDZmAVLksgNoySfpJxZ4yGBui13ecJi7oAJnQ-YorFMqyMCh4bDBJ4/s320/TouristKitty+-+Gondola+Houses.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nature's paradise, surrounded on all sides by Mother Nature</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZ5-pLzWlVI9XKZvTKYVCaoNHuf-UaGxIu18KNrtPDKtxa7dJ-Kf922a4fp2ZHTUThSMsQRjioWwK6WH7x1mQLiDgswOERbNTpa03u1Hdk3U0kUvAZ5sG-7DcKd_GOPUpoVMpCW3fdSI/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Gondola+Food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZ5-pLzWlVI9XKZvTKYVCaoNHuf-UaGxIu18KNrtPDKtxa7dJ-Kf922a4fp2ZHTUThSMsQRjioWwK6WH7x1mQLiDgswOERbNTpa03u1Hdk3U0kUvAZ5sG-7DcKd_GOPUpoVMpCW3fdSI/s320/TouristKitty+-+Gondola+Food.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A food place~! Empty at the moment, probably coz it was still<br />
early in the day...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPs4NAes265ghx3GAIrN2KmcGK4m1axVe_uy1KACwQCSrTcPq-49CZAHmh9ov2D0zO9jeYuZ5NIXpG_1aXuZEbpIdXsfAzxV_BahQnqM68n7zXk8ddc90bS13aq9La0cIq1EvheygukS4/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Gondola+Road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPs4NAes265ghx3GAIrN2KmcGK4m1axVe_uy1KACwQCSrTcPq-49CZAHmh9ov2D0zO9jeYuZ5NIXpG_1aXuZEbpIdXsfAzxV_BahQnqM68n7zXk8ddc90bS13aq9La0cIq1EvheygukS4/s320/TouristKitty+-+Gondola+Road.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were no pavements but strips were designated as<br />
pedestrians' right of way.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEznOGFxCozj7H1f20beY5dEn41Iw_Hz8jbSJQ9dyop5gXyxkAq6JQWW-a_iTgzt9Jpom3N6DZ5Y0K5oBAGZbTqaauaVxbT2ROoMHor-B1R-5oBScmB9CLv4YQhwv83iEHxSsza6S7yA/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Foggy+Gondola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEznOGFxCozj7H1f20beY5dEn41Iw_Hz8jbSJQ9dyop5gXyxkAq6JQWW-a_iTgzt9Jpom3N6DZ5Y0K5oBAGZbTqaauaVxbT2ROoMHor-B1R-5oBScmB9CLv4YQhwv83iEHxSsza6S7yA/s320/TouristKitty+-+Foggy+Gondola.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foggy skies, thanks to the incessant drizzle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPwa0gjj_qzCW_ryIgQ0W2PmCTmCq2LXfr5-2tow9LrqWj5slbZzRz3I4l4QBqWohE-h7cDwDgczhQnMeXJSBjoeYYNhPSkkZeOKCaQ-GiaUeLzJifIqHrpCIbJyxQ444I8tgK-dirtQ/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Gondola+Town.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPwa0gjj_qzCW_ryIgQ0W2PmCTmCq2LXfr5-2tow9LrqWj5slbZzRz3I4l4QBqWohE-h7cDwDgczhQnMeXJSBjoeYYNhPSkkZeOKCaQ-GiaUeLzJifIqHrpCIbJyxQ444I8tgK-dirtQ/s320/TouristKitty+-+Gondola+Town.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You will see this town if you walk down the mountain...they<br />
have a lot of tea places for people to chill out.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFC3aVz8jVQV6stDmmua2vkumD9mUTGnIbS7bMomSLO_ZrNGGuVdVlrzFIhhm9I-EpKUEK9Np-LK2EW30fzoaFauOgcJ-isHDbd603zrcop9scokjd3VWt8ZilcCmmX58syb3yfPtHx2A/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Gondola+Teahouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFC3aVz8jVQV6stDmmua2vkumD9mUTGnIbS7bMomSLO_ZrNGGuVdVlrzFIhhm9I-EpKUEK9Np-LK2EW30fzoaFauOgcJ-isHDbd603zrcop9scokjd3VWt8ZilcCmmX58syb3yfPtHx2A/s320/TouristKitty+-+Gondola+Teahouse.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tea place where they apparently sell nice Yakitori...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQYBohVK5P3oumrBuiDThqDwaO4vMbU4QvTrt00wdARi9qqXMmf6ikLD4KIX2bvlpVDlmmClpIJ7-cws-v7Rh-x9eyT1yUPVcI0RY8UqWFXQ2-AeuiddsiIKldAmjcV8J_YDiajzOkxc/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Gondola+Tea+leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQYBohVK5P3oumrBuiDThqDwaO4vMbU4QvTrt00wdARi9qqXMmf6ikLD4KIX2bvlpVDlmmClpIJ7-cws-v7Rh-x9eyT1yUPVcI0RY8UqWFXQ2-AeuiddsiIKldAmjcV8J_YDiajzOkxc/s320/TouristKitty+-+Gondola+Tea+leaves.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tea leaves being grown...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOeu-5YNBnx5X0-s0B-jRoX7Y2ZwnJzqPZpvNadH75S_Fvg0mPmdaazZlQc_PmCE7XofyYgT6fnuf71Jq2XAhlgy2YaAE0WRK50OdUuMEc8LbD0AOKI95_eZ7AcrALBwea8QcavMgqgg/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Maokong+Cafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOeu-5YNBnx5X0-s0B-jRoX7Y2ZwnJzqPZpvNadH75S_Fvg0mPmdaazZlQc_PmCE7XofyYgT6fnuf71Jq2XAhlgy2YaAE0WRK50OdUuMEc8LbD0AOKI95_eZ7AcrALBwea8QcavMgqgg/s320/TouristKitty+-+Maokong+Cafe.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the roadside cafes where you can sip tea atas-ly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRNXBH6TQID05oG4Jkl1eJpC6Kabd8VOTiYBatk3yx4xjIaqjTdWGmcJyQ90NuaESvbGULGeL5kISgSVl65YOAUNTtY34NoeR6obTCwV7P3h6SuxELIPECukU9OcC7ynDOajoH4sSHo0/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Maokong+Outdoor+Cafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRNXBH6TQID05oG4Jkl1eJpC6Kabd8VOTiYBatk3yx4xjIaqjTdWGmcJyQ90NuaESvbGULGeL5kISgSVl65YOAUNTtY34NoeR6obTCwV7P3h6SuxELIPECukU9OcC7ynDOajoH4sSHo0/s320/TouristKitty+-+Maokong+Outdoor+Cafe.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It would have been nice had it not been raining... >.<</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5KzHBjJilmIj-aQdNmNtxnAgD8f-JnJ5sbVsgmUo9TmmYi5UIg4STAmEiwIE8KjzwL40DDlvx5YFZkYDPgkt07mehYXCV6D386mpxTm9MBC-oNSy1hVWk-2t7Trg-v6vCbW14gjq2Xk/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Gondola+Temple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5KzHBjJilmIj-aQdNmNtxnAgD8f-JnJ5sbVsgmUo9TmmYi5UIg4STAmEiwIE8KjzwL40DDlvx5YFZkYDPgkt07mehYXCV6D386mpxTm9MBC-oNSy1hVWk-2t7Trg-v6vCbW14gjq2Xk/s320/TouristKitty+-+Gondola+Temple.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the temples you can consider visiting...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_hoVWxeRBb8RpduH3mWVrTfSTn_juq2u1dveIKFzglvBRXpWRtWk1za_raonFGSVqvXGOrtfSeWqX0CU9jKMsFejQqyi03axWqDi1JHsoKYf2e3i8MLCHj9dNPPUYmA-2YvM-HaI9TU/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Gondola+Prosperous+Kitty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_hoVWxeRBb8RpduH3mWVrTfSTn_juq2u1dveIKFzglvBRXpWRtWk1za_raonFGSVqvXGOrtfSeWqX0CU9jKMsFejQqyi03axWqDi1JHsoKYf2e3i8MLCHj9dNPPUYmA-2YvM-HaI9TU/s320/TouristKitty+-+Gondola+Prosperous+Kitty.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I walked past this little shop that sells excellent pastries such as<br />
sun biscuits. And they had a doggie that was quite friendly. XD<br />
They wouldn't allow me to take photos of the interior though. =/<br />
This is a recommended place to get your sun biscuits, oh and<br />
hand-made soap that is quite good for the skin as well.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thanks to my usual blur-ness, I took a mini bus in front of the above little shop and ended up at the bottom of the mountain again. =x But the thing is, if you don't want to take the cable car down, you can always try taking a bus. They have these bus signs where you can wait next to until the bus arrives but no shelter, which could get tricky if it rains.<br />
<br />
All in all, lots of walking to be done if you want to explore the place in depth. But if you're just there for the tea, then don't forget to buy a box of pastries before you go there coz it will taste great with your tea. =DAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-87184922931341007032011-12-27T18:22:00.001+08:002011-12-30T20:48:51.325+08:00Taiwan 2011 - XimendingXimending is a shopping spot that is best visited at night. I went there during daytime and the place was almost like a ghost town, save for a few open stores and cineplexes...which by the way, seem to be mushrooming all over the place. I guess the Taiwanese love their movies. =)<br />
<br />
Otherwise known as the "Harajuku" of Taiwan, Ximending is the favourite hangout for the young, the fashionable, subcultures and Japanese culture. To really experience the night life (as well as the crowds & gay bars that are scattered over the area), however, you've gotta start late.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja606aH7fHMpyS0ZBvRzrWTgY0PuzlKDFWXAqNYmwUbpZQriqNEb_pN8VCl5ic1QNZeDj2oFgz4twcW0SrzN7kgoapfCkrhRUOrkDQDVOwZctMXqOc4yP-MwV8k4RumYAq2Mx5iZnVfSM/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Abandoned+Building.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja606aH7fHMpyS0ZBvRzrWTgY0PuzlKDFWXAqNYmwUbpZQriqNEb_pN8VCl5ic1QNZeDj2oFgz4twcW0SrzN7kgoapfCkrhRUOrkDQDVOwZctMXqOc4yP-MwV8k4RumYAq2Mx5iZnVfSM/s320/TouristKitty+-+Abandoned+Building.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abandoned building for sale...yep...the whole building</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyymjJQn_acDNnxWdeLLmxFozAlkSxr4KEnf0MSfM8cOlZ4gA3XV9vFnTWdLM7YhEia_adBOmnUE1q1shThl19-4m0HZRt8IesZM5hFa-MnMqf4xw_daiVMIgmlceWFlOe9Z_xznhMvXM/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Ximending+Cinema.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyymjJQn_acDNnxWdeLLmxFozAlkSxr4KEnf0MSfM8cOlZ4gA3XV9vFnTWdLM7YhEia_adBOmnUE1q1shThl19-4m0HZRt8IesZM5hFa-MnMqf4xw_daiVMIgmlceWFlOe9Z_xznhMvXM/s320/TouristKitty+-+Ximending+Cinema.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many cineplexes in Ximending, their<br />ticket prices are about 10SGD per ticket.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMrtIYPEtCdWxNtginJJvj8vkGhMOF1NHf_iAIzck61TMF7Nye2ooFi5aFA55x7hovREMw74pjn-YA4KFKgOlg1j-R5txwgHa-jJedAZfPqVBtQyguW5o-1HxSalRH0IlhnaDIzlXzLw/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Ximending+Cineplex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMrtIYPEtCdWxNtginJJvj8vkGhMOF1NHf_iAIzck61TMF7Nye2ooFi5aFA55x7hovREMw74pjn-YA4KFKgOlg1j-R5txwgHa-jJedAZfPqVBtQyguW5o-1HxSalRH0IlhnaDIzlXzLw/s320/TouristKitty+-+Ximending+Cineplex.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another cineplex, one that offers an IMAX experience too</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfirnMSeHRFpHkK71NVjTrwyxcNc_GL2lwSYiHBGZzGHB958vionNM3MuqYbJaWUFRpnPC1P91cZ4EJWXpc57vzeDB9899SHkGUIthvCqqK3FP66Pr9SiMJr2CJmfdpwrHDU1gREQMOM/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Ximending+Daytime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfirnMSeHRFpHkK71NVjTrwyxcNc_GL2lwSYiHBGZzGHB958vionNM3MuqYbJaWUFRpnPC1P91cZ4EJWXpc57vzeDB9899SHkGUIthvCqqK3FP66Pr9SiMJr2CJmfdpwrHDU1gREQMOM/s320/TouristKitty+-+Ximending+Daytime.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This entire street consists of a whole stretch of cineplexes...I<br />kid you not. Ximending became well-known as 'Theatre Street'<br />way back in the 1930s and has over 20 theatres today plus 6000<br />vendors. It's also a popular area for street performances, album<br />launches and small concerts. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYIKQHeQG2BG6Thvnq8IHSxVoJgs1VBdR0cqYpA5HYAHEDFSVPIUMH__71F5U2EBT9OiglAhYU6JUeqEzuvzIcgdSi8FXbq5A3IyM30kluM5sLszvkJtYYgiQFBhHOURureNywx-b6no/s1600/TouristKitty+-+XMD+Store.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYIKQHeQG2BG6Thvnq8IHSxVoJgs1VBdR0cqYpA5HYAHEDFSVPIUMH__71F5U2EBT9OiglAhYU6JUeqEzuvzIcgdSi8FXbq5A3IyM30kluM5sLszvkJtYYgiQFBhHOURureNywx-b6no/s320/TouristKitty+-+XMD+Store.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not open for business...but they sure have colourful shutters!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-ECuSQPN8gIzdrAdRxxzBjjuClbhdBqxp0jtjt1YDb5l04tg9Dvg4SUvIa2qyjmXm_osqwVkHHgHjs__Nd2MQEPEM65MQkyp0it0Z7IxCRwCyvr1IT97ozoRA3Usymu-jwo4x9OXmmk/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Ximending+Traffic+Junction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-ECuSQPN8gIzdrAdRxxzBjjuClbhdBqxp0jtjt1YDb5l04tg9Dvg4SUvIa2qyjmXm_osqwVkHHgHjs__Nd2MQEPEM65MQkyp0it0Z7IxCRwCyvr1IT97ozoRA3Usymu-jwo4x9OXmmk/s320/TouristKitty+-+Ximending+Traffic+Junction.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dead town but the cineplexes and some stores were already open <br />for business</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWRIeKfOwBqFcN8x5DGLTVZkZydMkgdQLE1FiWYU_QOoN1x9rzF_j9RJBKpg_kjSj1TniMYhUwDwIQPPgLtB49qHLMUdxs37PBp8cy2RRrnJTXNsnumJB56M_db-eBiWYUlIjSRjOi_Q/s1600/TouristKitty+-+XMD+In+time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWRIeKfOwBqFcN8x5DGLTVZkZydMkgdQLE1FiWYU_QOoN1x9rzF_j9RJBKpg_kjSj1TniMYhUwDwIQPPgLtB49qHLMUdxs37PBp8cy2RRrnJTXNsnumJB56M_db-eBiWYUlIjSRjOi_Q/s320/TouristKitty+-+XMD+In+time.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">English movies seem to be quite in vogue here...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>How to get there:</b><br />
The most straightforward way is to take the MRT to the Ximen Station on the Taipei Metro line & go out via exit 6. Me, I had actually walked there from Hope Hotel, which is very near to Taipei Main Station. It took me about 15 to 20 minutes of getting lost and asking directions from people but it was kinda fun coz you get to see things that you don't see on guided tours. =D<br />
<br />
For instance, I walked past a small restaurant that sold economical rice (the type where you can pick your choice of meat or veggie) in rather large portions. It looked rather delicious if you asked me, hehe...picked up a large cup of bubble tea and fell instantly in love with Taiwan's bubble tea. I will never be able to drink Singapore's version of bubble tea...ever again. =x<br />
<br />
Unless they are of the Taiwanese brand like A-gan tea. =D<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CRM2w08CRiQojQfcjgSEKpNZLIkU_hIYmG-mrJxcz_NFYAZudcIDIMIPMq_U774AvzzULyY6ebyWG8jjTZd2-pqCqrduShq1q8bZ-4K3dStDJW7JqwnCS19ySNYZSHDRim7O8hehhZw/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Blue+Building.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CRM2w08CRiQojQfcjgSEKpNZLIkU_hIYmG-mrJxcz_NFYAZudcIDIMIPMq_U774AvzzULyY6ebyWG8jjTZd2-pqCqrduShq1q8bZ-4K3dStDJW7JqwnCS19ySNYZSHDRim7O8hehhZw/s320/TouristKitty+-+Blue+Building.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Advertising with bad English... =x</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1S3HIKVxbqKExkX5gTAicB_mGLmFMuPFyDh8_crWMPynqTxv7quMSutRMG0UpKTZEMGeWMxhcrsbpTHkYxDK7a2fgyUFEKacByzQOEvUeOUvPyJzMpNf8I61Qz0rnM-EtO6UiAZcYj3k/s1600/TouristKitty+-+XMD+Bubble+Tea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1S3HIKVxbqKExkX5gTAicB_mGLmFMuPFyDh8_crWMPynqTxv7quMSutRMG0UpKTZEMGeWMxhcrsbpTHkYxDK7a2fgyUFEKacByzQOEvUeOUvPyJzMpNf8I61Qz0rnM-EtO6UiAZcYj3k/s320/TouristKitty+-+XMD+Bubble+Tea.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first bubble tea in Taiwan~!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Taiwanese typically go everywhere on motorbikes. Seems like almost everyone owns a set of wheels and most people don't really take cabs...coz they usually take the train or buses, which are pretty convenient. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDNREk_OFXXmx_PjI5ivpOfQ0BjIx1BK2p_I3yHeZ2685G9Va12nAE0GTuoUGJydXBnZA-KHtJ2WGoYtQ3aoBrKVtYxNyYDvl7ahc1iMz3wX1ifIpfXevv6Q4qHTcoXsckNWvjiEOV3c/s1600/TouristKitty+-+XMD+Motorcycles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDNREk_OFXXmx_PjI5ivpOfQ0BjIx1BK2p_I3yHeZ2685G9Va12nAE0GTuoUGJydXBnZA-KHtJ2WGoYtQ3aoBrKVtYxNyYDvl7ahc1iMz3wX1ifIpfXevv6Q4qHTcoXsckNWvjiEOV3c/s320/TouristKitty+-+XMD+Motorcycles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Since it caters mainly for the young people (and the young at heart), the stores there mainly sell Japanese inspired stuff like anime-themed stationery and soft toys as well as beauty staples like face masks. While comparable to night markets like the Shilin Night Market, shopping could get a tad expensive though so do take note. =)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-42937250161021446892011-12-17T00:29:00.000+08:002011-12-30T19:16:47.355+08:00Taiwan 2011 - JinguashiA bus ride away from Jiufen lies Jinguashi, a gold and copper mining town that has been converted into a tourist attraction with the opening of its Gold Ecological Park. It was an interesting spot to visit because you can learn all about the history of gold and copper mining. This spot was also the place where POWs during WWII were brought to work as slave miners. They even had this mini museum that featured Sun Yat Sen's letters so if you're a Chinese/Japanese history buff, you should go check it out. =)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4lfh1dXZuizcNbzzX9-PpvFiMZaIus8ZL5FdQcfbtM3_QhAsith8415HWOKQNAZUJxBJLm-Spf2flhJt0LqFa0mzPZkIw-C_B8355LTjv7j9AqObTuxFWhpDu_3CwIrobMvN9Mh3CLME/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Gold+Ecological+Park+Entrance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4lfh1dXZuizcNbzzX9-PpvFiMZaIus8ZL5FdQcfbtM3_QhAsith8415HWOKQNAZUJxBJLm-Spf2flhJt0LqFa0mzPZkIw-C_B8355LTjv7j9AqObTuxFWhpDu_3CwIrobMvN9Mh3CLME/s320/TouristKitty+-+Gold+Ecological+Park+Entrance.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance to the Gold Ecological Park</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmIrwloiee-XXNXaOvSrbcWu0yHsQS_re6jSpF__v2ff4f8UdW6pzT3wneH2oOfq9a0YYq4Qo7_W8WEeSfAeQQhGKBDIK1EwBKkj4h8IcN7l948CKRlj5W-HjeYqLAHLUSRhdtZ0vMsA/s1600/TouristKitty+-+GEP+Statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmIrwloiee-XXNXaOvSrbcWu0yHsQS_re6jSpF__v2ff4f8UdW6pzT3wneH2oOfq9a0YYq4Qo7_W8WEeSfAeQQhGKBDIK1EwBKkj4h8IcN7l948CKRlj5W-HjeYqLAHLUSRhdtZ0vMsA/s320/TouristKitty+-+GEP+Statue.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A statue of what a typical miner would look like<br />
in the good old days.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFCqC5Ivxavg0271iu3Xm6dTiFXJga3h6hJMhzo81XuCN_2pY6AY8UTDOaCpExW7WopeyrzvXTqhs7Z7oIxyZWkGrwR-A9TI8pS-P1A8Ed_eRO1CDo9UL3T1oh_zvE4LY79ak5DFyGR0/s1600/TouristKitty+-+GEP+Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFCqC5Ivxavg0271iu3Xm6dTiFXJga3h6hJMhzo81XuCN_2pY6AY8UTDOaCpExW7WopeyrzvXTqhs7Z7oIxyZWkGrwR-A9TI8pS-P1A8Ed_eRO1CDo9UL3T1oh_zvE4LY79ak5DFyGR0/s320/TouristKitty+-+GEP+Map.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gold Ecological Park map: A rather large space to explore if<br />
you ask me, so try to allocate at least half a day to tour around<br />
this spot. =)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRwDBgG1Ru6q8Uhm8SlXmaapG2HrV9CtzlgUVx5rq0Ae960mSmP3tbMl_NiXKPe7-wBhQ5vtbHFOFWUn09Y5NZ4orN51XKfRrPD8ZVRQnzXYv-4lXFxsnXFomobKlZiMxkZORwNi6xi8/s1600/TouristKitty+-+GEP+Signs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRwDBgG1Ru6q8Uhm8SlXmaapG2HrV9CtzlgUVx5rq0Ae960mSmP3tbMl_NiXKPe7-wBhQ5vtbHFOFWUn09Y5NZ4orN51XKfRrPD8ZVRQnzXYv-4lXFxsnXFomobKlZiMxkZORwNi6xi8/s320/TouristKitty+-+GEP+Signs.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Signs to the different spots of the park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7Ch4WUfUZYjr9bi2PuNTyCO4SiFAv24gGJnLunGh6ZOOMFpq5fXdK_8nulkyhc94DTE8gBg_pUa067V7Z1n0KpJT3vncGZsVUzryQI9AKgzpPecjblPCZe0DBObm7yKgoHcZtHlFX9Y/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Cloudy+Skies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7Ch4WUfUZYjr9bi2PuNTyCO4SiFAv24gGJnLunGh6ZOOMFpq5fXdK_8nulkyhc94DTE8gBg_pUa067V7Z1n0KpJT3vncGZsVUzryQI9AKgzpPecjblPCZe0DBObm7yKgoHcZtHlFX9Y/s320/TouristKitty+-+Cloudy+Skies.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fluffy clouds floating past</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Lkm8A_VaQgLXTP5Rgs_2Db0s5IUoQkTCnR4Wl8liq0KYSROr5vnIeGPfozClHDOxBSCUixGMWfMNo2ErTDc8I3PdxnPRuTLqps7aIyPAbe7U-5oPaF9sayI40oZGpGHe4uVywwowcbg/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Four+Joined+Japanese+Style+Residences.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Lkm8A_VaQgLXTP5Rgs_2Db0s5IUoQkTCnR4Wl8liq0KYSROr5vnIeGPfozClHDOxBSCUixGMWfMNo2ErTDc8I3PdxnPRuTLqps7aIyPAbe7U-5oPaF9sayI40oZGpGHe4uVywwowcbg/s320/TouristKitty+-+Four+Joined+Japanese+Style+Residences.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The residences where the owners of the mines used to live in,<br />
apparently one has to queue up to enter the area but the queue<br />
was too long for me that day. =.=</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJ7bUjxkNBkVBhM9n0UtPHExEyiy1lOXuvclNSKK_IJ_THzcJnwVh0WqZINEqeGnCceR_kQJH6ijqhGhrZzTfe_EqxZ2rj6YwSSncJPj09Jup9k9t7sz8rg1T7-Ei3W9oZUoMXRGOnNg/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Crown+Prince+Path.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJ7bUjxkNBkVBhM9n0UtPHExEyiy1lOXuvclNSKK_IJ_THzcJnwVh0WqZINEqeGnCceR_kQJH6ijqhGhrZzTfe_EqxZ2rj6YwSSncJPj09Jup9k9t7sz8rg1T7-Ei3W9oZUoMXRGOnNg/s320/TouristKitty+-+Crown+Prince+Path.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A long time ago, they prepared this gorgeous place for the<br />
Imperial Prince from Japan to stay for a visit at the mines but<br />
he never came so it turned into a tourist spot instead.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vbc5K4sGlTlx-zwUheLfQEHX-B_t8PQovoV4opnJaNkaBlKZ0sZr21f_sm7hWnKsA2j-POnus2jY6tWbjtUklBQOhOqecxXQEx0gaEuZ2_PYx3aFkYuT58deZed9IwVUwhZKS0jTUwo/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Crown+Prince+Residence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vbc5K4sGlTlx-zwUheLfQEHX-B_t8PQovoV4opnJaNkaBlKZ0sZr21f_sm7hWnKsA2j-POnus2jY6tWbjtUklBQOhOqecxXQEx0gaEuZ2_PYx3aFkYuT58deZed9IwVUwhZKS0jTUwo/s320/TouristKitty+-+Crown+Prince+Residence.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We weren't allowed into the residence but you can tell that<br />
the interior has been painstakingly prepared for his royal<br />
highness. A woman walked past me grumbling about the size<br />
of the living space though. =x </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4wUkD7wbsF8w6HOiIMemITL_f0Tfh06J_ZdqZQLjOffVbV_1Z73NN89Daz8s3FES_NlWVvR9I1nHy0Li4tWRR5pEVBGiKnFpyyaJbqeEMiicLnK7Njeq0i3Tf5PJpmVBkhMBlzRZJ1Y/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Shooting+Range.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4wUkD7wbsF8w6HOiIMemITL_f0Tfh06J_ZdqZQLjOffVbV_1Z73NN89Daz8s3FES_NlWVvR9I1nHy0Li4tWRR5pEVBGiKnFpyyaJbqeEMiicLnK7Njeq0i3Tf5PJpmVBkhMBlzRZJ1Y/s320/TouristKitty+-+Shooting+Range.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mini golf range for his imperial highness's entertainment</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaofmuPtnfLNeiUyHLR_6E0-q39MiSE0d4WycR28MfosJrqL6TgU8YHigkb48N6aSQb3QgXcaLbMxFh6yULAQhwedHYZ2sRVnJHRZB82TEBNeBfnqUSE85UwUR1tYsK9qxUMb8BBOrgk/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Rain+Path.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaofmuPtnfLNeiUyHLR_6E0-q39MiSE0d4WycR28MfosJrqL6TgU8YHigkb48N6aSQb3QgXcaLbMxFh6yULAQhwedHYZ2sRVnJHRZB82TEBNeBfnqUSE85UwUR1tYsK9qxUMb8BBOrgk/s320/TouristKitty+-+Rain+Path.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rainy path outside the Crown Prince Residence,<br />
in case his garden didn't suffice?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEvaDQGtc3dh8ARygmXfPq013x4mYKbbu-OKXr9SZk5gNRulwjGLdjnObenwl3vaOVMnNCmFeuEcB9e4saV-mpYproojkP__8cvd_h71EX-ZwVq9FyKGelEwtjVTqUVbiv1QVmfL1CRY/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Jinguashi+Hills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEvaDQGtc3dh8ARygmXfPq013x4mYKbbu-OKXr9SZk5gNRulwjGLdjnObenwl3vaOVMnNCmFeuEcB9e4saV-mpYproojkP__8cvd_h71EX-ZwVq9FyKGelEwtjVTqUVbiv1QVmfL1CRY/s320/TouristKitty+-+Jinguashi+Hills.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountainous view...nice fresh air 24/7 </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZ5FwKTGDSFGZ5CJ0WqWxNqilG_2-tEgeBtXdOSB_U4ZM2elNwUm2E0_djfcHrYpwzTNzAsFawZWGEhhFv2EWxnJtruNfCFZUF_NiR1iMoM5ZUFfuJWH68zqitpe3wHtWLpMlBE9moXI/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Bronze+Statue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZ5FwKTGDSFGZ5CJ0WqWxNqilG_2-tEgeBtXdOSB_U4ZM2elNwUm2E0_djfcHrYpwzTNzAsFawZWGEhhFv2EWxnJtruNfCFZUF_NiR1iMoM5ZUFfuJWH68zqitpe3wHtWLpMlBE9moXI/s320/TouristKitty+-+Bronze+Statue.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See the gold and bronze statue in the distance? It's on<br />
the Cyuanji Temple built in 1896 and is the largest idol<br />
of that deity in the world.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGB2_EauONwXxq8j7xD5kUxqcfcQ4wmKSOuoqdk4bw0qvWDBVqr0ydR4i8_bQxE3y_iPoFf1ADEvQhYPorD6v8dI9Yr4dhRUylBQQ6j_Z8dlckxEHFHXijPikzw0W3VoVec9h3OU5lnwc/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Jinguashi+Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGB2_EauONwXxq8j7xD5kUxqcfcQ4wmKSOuoqdk4bw0qvWDBVqr0ydR4i8_bQxE3y_iPoFf1ADEvQhYPorD6v8dI9Yr4dhRUylBQQ6j_Z8dlckxEHFHXijPikzw0W3VoVec9h3OU5lnwc/s320/TouristKitty+-+Jinguashi+Sign.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wagon of rocks...kinda heavy to push around</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueGrdBFGC9eXgrtKTp2iYpJrSHamE-0Up8wAPx9nSzvMhyphenhyphendoCp_TwVzjCTqQwcaLaiDvGyyq8uib9D0cJD9r2velaphnZGwTsg9yYN4uCGmYcDP7Tr3Wj8zmg6W0UgXAdGMF2bjLp-PU/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Stairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueGrdBFGC9eXgrtKTp2iYpJrSHamE-0Up8wAPx9nSzvMhyphenhyphendoCp_TwVzjCTqQwcaLaiDvGyyq8uib9D0cJD9r2velaphnZGwTsg9yYN4uCGmYcDP7Tr3Wj8zmg6W0UgXAdGMF2bjLp-PU/s320/TouristKitty+-+Stairs.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One thing I hate the most...stairs...to get to<br />
the next level of the park =.=;;</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIplb6fXfHFWDhCPbsngGB-QlXYRgkz9HLYa499wvP4lHocBZT2933-1BI3T4gaiCD5brYmGsg7iJA-H5jl4irIO9QzSHvD0-o0Pdocs-EBPxXQBEYpOC_5QpTXajjF4FvMB_1wUJEJLY/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Stairss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIplb6fXfHFWDhCPbsngGB-QlXYRgkz9HLYa499wvP4lHocBZT2933-1BI3T4gaiCD5brYmGsg7iJA-H5jl4irIO9QzSHvD0-o0Pdocs-EBPxXQBEYpOC_5QpTXajjF4FvMB_1wUJEJLY/s320/TouristKitty+-+Stairss.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More stairs... T.T</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCAru_wDtyt2XM8MS_19e8yAyU-Ws9I0WIC3ETOcawh9GeRi2875-dL4TyIAsXPFqQwOnB1Gvg1P_6hmD1HuvpkgEEoHI7zW2xGvte-AAo4feoNf0OOq41RCIRyKcyfa4VAk8jiA5zIs/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Stairway+to+The+top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCAru_wDtyt2XM8MS_19e8yAyU-Ws9I0WIC3ETOcawh9GeRi2875-dL4TyIAsXPFqQwOnB1Gvg1P_6hmD1HuvpkgEEoHI7zW2xGvte-AAo4feoNf0OOq41RCIRyKcyfa4VAk8jiA5zIs/s320/TouristKitty+-+Stairway+to+The+top.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not sure where this staircase leads to but<br />
adventurous types could give it a try! =D</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgga1IO3li74pnrs8aPjJ7cb71zyw0heXpExTT2W2W0QTH-udDcTDVN4VuqFyHPLJfujrB-8JANMXg7ZERegWgsPKLh-Fq3FJW93vo21T3WTKSrS1hDGhMAczzWfPjxQe8Fjd_HNlg0fVA/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Giant+Gold+Bar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgga1IO3li74pnrs8aPjJ7cb71zyw0heXpExTT2W2W0QTH-udDcTDVN4VuqFyHPLJfujrB-8JANMXg7ZERegWgsPKLh-Fq3FJW93vo21T3WTKSrS1hDGhMAczzWfPjxQe8Fjd_HNlg0fVA/s320/TouristKitty+-+Giant+Gold+Bar.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GOLD BAR~! It's as heavy as one person. =D Imagine getting<br />
this as a proposal gift. LOL. You can find this in the museum next<br />
to the mining tunnels.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhML0fzTgN6YQNuyfMDfXD0zpCMNl7rctfutDsJJLst5POpWQbalRG53Yc0JpjNizh0iCPD68trZSFhrB8BOyj4MGhY1RWQdWnUH-jVrY4FXlUMjllNPuTOjKmcp-yHhA9D1QvGyU2DiS8/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Mining+Tunnel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhML0fzTgN6YQNuyfMDfXD0zpCMNl7rctfutDsJJLst5POpWQbalRG53Yc0JpjNizh0iCPD68trZSFhrB8BOyj4MGhY1RWQdWnUH-jVrY4FXlUMjllNPuTOjKmcp-yHhA9D1QvGyU2DiS8/s320/TouristKitty+-+Mining+Tunnel.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance to the mining tunnels, entrance is<br />
ticketed though.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2F-ybM8DaRO1w6lG78AUz0Xk2KlGYpi7d4tccLk0JiWnJppgRJ1NhRRF-JS9aHweELHJeFmIYPV-EqNT6opn-6A4EWJbMwlVtRfKzxmVb9B27UGiGjVK-UlTHJdNQfQorINQ05YGrdAA/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Down+the+stairss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2F-ybM8DaRO1w6lG78AUz0Xk2KlGYpi7d4tccLk0JiWnJppgRJ1NhRRF-JS9aHweELHJeFmIYPV-EqNT6opn-6A4EWJbMwlVtRfKzxmVb9B27UGiGjVK-UlTHJdNQfQorINQ05YGrdAA/s320/TouristKitty+-+Down+the+stairss.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stairs that will take you to the Shinto temple...you can also<br />
spot the Teapot Mountain from here as well...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kLkOk7jgH7eEZf23sF2BRugTXmKH2X_DNyNoHrrjw-Oji30b2YOyMSlRzsjHdIu5dJVMCvBeg7mclFtUhMtqirk3tEyP5O2m6nZA6929fz-lOyWSpdmT8QpLm0avog7KStWbqrj5Ll4/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Shinto+Shrine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kLkOk7jgH7eEZf23sF2BRugTXmKH2X_DNyNoHrrjw-Oji30b2YOyMSlRzsjHdIu5dJVMCvBeg7mclFtUhMtqirk3tEyP5O2m6nZA6929fz-lOyWSpdmT8QpLm0avog7KStWbqrj5Ll4/s320/TouristKitty+-+Shinto+Shrine.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Shinto Temple at the halfway point. Took<br />
me quite a while but I finally reached it! Had to<br />
go down though, coz it was getting dark.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Being the not so athletic type, I found all the climbing tiring. LOL. But if you're a nature lover, then Jinguashi is a good place to visit for its mountains, blue skies (when it's not raining) and mining history. As always, I didn't manage to cover the entire area coz I set off late due to the rain in the morning. So do remember to set aside a day or two if you want to explore the whole place~! =)<br />
<br />
I didn't get to explore much but if you want to find out more about its other attractions, click here for the <a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Jinguashi#b" target="_blank">Wikitravel</a> version. Hope this helps.<br />
<br />
<b>How to get there: </b><br />
If you're going there from Jiufen, you can take a bus from the bus stop in front of the pavilion that overlooks the sea. Make sure the sign bus says that it's going there. If you want to make doubly sure, ask the bus driver. Bus fare is payable using the EasyCard or cash...about 100NT if I remember correctly.<br />
<br />
The same goes if you are coming from the Ruifang Station. Hop on the bus that is opposite the station square and make sure that the bus sign says that it's heading for Jinguashi. =)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7769335984621923743.post-48365395098571108012011-12-13T11:13:00.000+08:002011-12-14T01:15:40.114+08:00Taiwan 2011 - Jiufen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I spent a couple of days away from Taipei in a quaint little mountain town called Jiufen, named for the "nine portions" of shipments that arrived for the nine families that lived there during the Qing Dynasty. It's located in the Ruifang district of New Taipei City, near Keelung, Taiwan. Providing the backdrop for award-winning movies like A City of Sadness and Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away, Jiufen is an ex-gold mining community that now attracts many tourists from Taipei.<br />
<br />
If you've read my post on <a href="http://touristkitty.blogspot.com/2011/11/taiwan-2011-windsor-b.html" target="_blank">Windsor B&B</a>, then you would have known I stayed there for 2 nights. It wasn't exactly a very action-packed itinerary while I was there, but I had fun exploring the place. I don't mind going back there though. =D<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFVly9IYjJML4-l9zRVCjed0SlvFA2cDvfCjqkpA7GGoU2I-nE92EgrFW_EOjrnfk4HovVcEjbut13wlikVZ4Sp6EVNw_pU9gHyEfFEIWM4BmPmeZlyzW_vTCYtKu60QsCn21k97OWsI/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+7-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFVly9IYjJML4-l9zRVCjed0SlvFA2cDvfCjqkpA7GGoU2I-nE92EgrFW_EOjrnfk4HovVcEjbut13wlikVZ4Sp6EVNw_pU9gHyEfFEIWM4BmPmeZlyzW_vTCYtKu60QsCn21k97OWsI/s320/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+7-11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance to the night market is right next to the 7-11</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bJpZt8xcECJ1l91ayMv6g39_pqF0bv3XPr1lM2rMR6Pwe5VxFBBKjKkF_9jIdtZ3EIKsjhUJCiwOGF2PN5if99RzmE2TutUtXZ9lXGPJgHMZ6OKWFDofxeKXk8BaFWjbFEUAa7qkMJc/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Bus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bJpZt8xcECJ1l91ayMv6g39_pqF0bv3XPr1lM2rMR6Pwe5VxFBBKjKkF_9jIdtZ3EIKsjhUJCiwOGF2PN5if99RzmE2TutUtXZ9lXGPJgHMZ6OKWFDofxeKXk8BaFWjbFEUAa7qkMJc/s320/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Bus.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bus that will take you to Jinguashi</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZTv6cIdWK5xIyxGn0wePUVhT0oygPcjqz89dc3QmwF7qp4E7UtXrRZbjmhQKCWGBjk0rcEi37MHTNbRKLCm0-YVNa6HbkeCNtCWRey2MbQbWCcBklysYVdJF32xaFk4twx6Pty8qG8g/s1600/TouristKitty+-+JIufen+Mountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZTv6cIdWK5xIyxGn0wePUVhT0oygPcjqz89dc3QmwF7qp4E7UtXrRZbjmhQKCWGBjk0rcEi37MHTNbRKLCm0-YVNa6HbkeCNtCWRey2MbQbWCcBklysYVdJF32xaFk4twx6Pty8qG8g/s320/TouristKitty+-+JIufen+Mountain.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grassy mountains against a gorgeous backdrop <br />
of sunny skies...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1dxUrBwxUYBdYNkn63ypw18NiJQlkwA4l77x6gQI_low_GKaLt7PUqdhyphenhyphen2bhV7G8v6jqylymD91UCn7qdeYwLbuv4vI3ghJWoPYJqyfjgqSeSZ5TvfaV8BQPf39AYreE4dWjmBV0JBA/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+seaview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1dxUrBwxUYBdYNkn63ypw18NiJQlkwA4l77x6gQI_low_GKaLt7PUqdhyphenhyphen2bhV7G8v6jqylymD91UCn7qdeYwLbuv4vI3ghJWoPYJqyfjgqSeSZ5TvfaV8BQPf39AYreE4dWjmBV0JBA/s320/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+seaview.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A surreal sea-view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YuaHU63u_4-qm-Vq831av8cictctPqr0uyhDCL5vqtq5AYy_4W79uoZ-VdF7eELvmzCUov0XRz15ZXgyot1Cxr7JAksnYhk4r59MYURVjGtv9nKVnD_QuH-DwTKQv_7LW22uCFBqHLs/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Scene+from+the+stairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YuaHU63u_4-qm-Vq831av8cictctPqr0uyhDCL5vqtq5AYy_4W79uoZ-VdF7eELvmzCUov0XRz15ZXgyot1Cxr7JAksnYhk4r59MYURVjGtv9nKVnD_QuH-DwTKQv_7LW22uCFBqHLs/s320/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Scene+from+the+stairs.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from the stairs that leads to Windsor B&B</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh866IOUtXGS1uYQOlc_2T5vzpJW31SeNMMWweFhamvsX9WBJnNfcMATT2nkh-Gig1-j4yzVYjvk95fCscoThC2VEfonLFqbwi_BG_ItqRTd-KI4Fm-tFE71UoqTlHsu0tlRzS6bYuWY7g/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Evening+Scene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh866IOUtXGS1uYQOlc_2T5vzpJW31SeNMMWweFhamvsX9WBJnNfcMATT2nkh-Gig1-j4yzVYjvk95fCscoThC2VEfonLFqbwi_BG_ItqRTd-KI4Fm-tFE71UoqTlHsu0tlRzS6bYuWY7g/s320/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Evening+Scene.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful evening sky at Jiufen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbSnheK6Cf9RQ4gPEorppmX5FV38YTuR4Oiv3Fdzodqu42lkpNvsf23dyHLAvHeap5-VS0ZLZhauNtCJw_dB8NEoTVmpJigUJT5OoViVVZNjkV0ASH31VfV8xwV88Qa6wDL0ssZOaU6s/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Evening+Sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbSnheK6Cf9RQ4gPEorppmX5FV38YTuR4Oiv3Fdzodqu42lkpNvsf23dyHLAvHeap5-VS0ZLZhauNtCJw_dB8NEoTVmpJigUJT5OoViVVZNjkV0ASH31VfV8xwV88Qa6wDL0ssZOaU6s/s320/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Evening+Sky.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sight of the shoreline really puts one at ease, huh?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65W8VglS6ffdN2e5xcZRf37oESHHjtkOM_9rubS5nBZ8qwh1beI8X2FftMZlLpE-fJnoVnRj6NH3SUiqGeXtLGVeSyT8BC5TEgvuh3LFia8pXlpriTVztu7TZ63Vv6wR-F-VUVQoHg9A/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Night+Scene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65W8VglS6ffdN2e5xcZRf37oESHHjtkOM_9rubS5nBZ8qwh1beI8X2FftMZlLpE-fJnoVnRj6NH3SUiqGeXtLGVeSyT8BC5TEgvuh3LFia8pXlpriTVztu7TZ63Vv6wR-F-VUVQoHg9A/s320/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Night+Scene.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to capture the moon from Jiufen...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHtbpJDzR61-aD7Jl8FvBT0o3gq5jmcRGICfIrX9aJLLSOtRewyKAFCS_0k5ME9gN6Uy47f3YxnD6BaRqgdBshLb0V1tGLI5HxJcdi8v-ijpLYEzPQ0a3OriY5-zxodQULPV2OdPB9WU/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Teahouse+on+the+mountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHtbpJDzR61-aD7Jl8FvBT0o3gq5jmcRGICfIrX9aJLLSOtRewyKAFCS_0k5ME9gN6Uy47f3YxnD6BaRqgdBshLb0V1tGLI5HxJcdi8v-ijpLYEzPQ0a3OriY5-zxodQULPV2OdPB9WU/s320/TouristKitty+-+Teahouse+on+the+mountain.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many tea places where one can relax</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr22Mk-dFbTs6nxVKP49PyVKPlJeLWNTzgYLIjAULK7jN40BbEa0kfIW4tbxZZAyDDl3r3yQlTwDinoRTF_dWAZ_LEjH-1EHwd8a0yc9rj20xOBarWTaOAdmoBu3NJu1b54Uaar4mlE2g/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Kitties.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr22Mk-dFbTs6nxVKP49PyVKPlJeLWNTzgYLIjAULK7jN40BbEa0kfIW4tbxZZAyDDl3r3yQlTwDinoRTF_dWAZ_LEjH-1EHwd8a0yc9rj20xOBarWTaOAdmoBu3NJu1b54Uaar4mlE2g/s320/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Kitties.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few of the many kitties in Jiufen where residents apparently love <br />
animals. These kitties are the recipients of a donation drive by <br />
a lady who invites people to donate money for their daily meals.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAdZ2woLYbh1sSWlZZpu7XjWqHdquADH3RMNpiTjiy0Nm_rTO7-B9LITDQZoa9qQAQPuF1ZKcveBlx1BE5MEvfeLGaDsCBWMuZ8O33Mg-xYR2G38eLH6EJqbxOu5FvA1XbggB1nPQQ2E/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+night+market+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAdZ2woLYbh1sSWlZZpu7XjWqHdquADH3RMNpiTjiy0Nm_rTO7-B9LITDQZoa9qQAQPuF1ZKcveBlx1BE5MEvfeLGaDsCBWMuZ8O33Mg-xYR2G38eLH6EJqbxOu5FvA1XbggB1nPQQ2E/s320/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+night+market+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jiufen market starts from 8am onwards but closes<br />
at around 7pm so do try to finish your shopping before then!~</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLLj_nZZl_wkkd6npd568CT_k2Y7Q2Y30xd0yrPUFTEkvbag9F1oGzvKrtZe7Lfo_8CkZ-Mw25skOBzXE8mIraF-yzUJ5pvPUlgIlE5E1cIROcsm0d55LgQu7zIknpR_5GcBBhO2pc9g/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Window+display.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXLLj_nZZl_wkkd6npd568CT_k2Y7Q2Y30xd0yrPUFTEkvbag9F1oGzvKrtZe7Lfo_8CkZ-Mw25skOBzXE8mIraF-yzUJ5pvPUlgIlE5E1cIROcsm0d55LgQu7zIknpR_5GcBBhO2pc9g/s320/TouristKitty+-+Window+display.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Window display of a B&B located along the streets of the<br />
Jiufen market</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLbL5v9MxS07jixnbTR4PVJKGIJ8fqR3Rs_7_XiB8n0hVJugD5e0oX1_4mJ870YrOp2-4v8maXWBDAM3ACZ0UH2mx873Xauq8haitTnjIemVQGMbOrQjMUYgytLdC_QTrcH_DcsgSbuY/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Dog+clothes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLbL5v9MxS07jixnbTR4PVJKGIJ8fqR3Rs_7_XiB8n0hVJugD5e0oX1_4mJ870YrOp2-4v8maXWBDAM3ACZ0UH2mx873Xauq8haitTnjIemVQGMbOrQjMUYgytLdC_QTrcH_DcsgSbuY/s320/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Dog+clothes.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clothes for your pet doggie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdtEHHT9dE5C-ET775R4DwnJWmWYz0R3K6na6SL7kvfY9kcCF8mJxSXucTVJpBcGAqbgritveb7mSfwiZ_rqvPYYo1a9re0hbCGIW5jeo1gUjDFV2EyjWOqrYJxg-3HtJKAWIzPcGJrA/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Doggie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdtEHHT9dE5C-ET775R4DwnJWmWYz0R3K6na6SL7kvfY9kcCF8mJxSXucTVJpBcGAqbgritveb7mSfwiZ_rqvPYYo1a9re0hbCGIW5jeo1gUjDFV2EyjWOqrYJxg-3HtJKAWIzPcGJrA/s320/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Doggie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nonchalant doggie that had every passer-by snapping<br />
pictures of it...LOL</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJqNDlwO0UpRoGgOZBvnKwKZmFBSAAZEVck2CaisMsIeKp2PWFi5QvBGeN4jtO3_gZ3rztFSwseOJG4M7AdxKzRH-XHoHTUUkqhrhdYGbRg1WFcqNiE5cM0g9lLrnHs9qEJ-uR8Uarko/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+fishballs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJqNDlwO0UpRoGgOZBvnKwKZmFBSAAZEVck2CaisMsIeKp2PWFi5QvBGeN4jtO3_gZ3rztFSwseOJG4M7AdxKzRH-XHoHTUUkqhrhdYGbRg1WFcqNiE5cM0g9lLrnHs9qEJ-uR8Uarko/s320/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+fishballs.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A much recommended meatballs & fishball soup combo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdMg8WzgCXj1YyL1LG47EXqXz3V3MAyDXVq-lj0ZJFdndJSlyTVrsjRrn7YoFeNGY_w-Z0P-QjSHV8vSy20hGSsDILIPwYGmxwxBspV5RG5ZW-spta-QTm-jvC5MLwhP4RkteFTKA19c/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Mushroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdMg8WzgCXj1YyL1LG47EXqXz3V3MAyDXVq-lj0ZJFdndJSlyTVrsjRrn7YoFeNGY_w-Z0P-QjSHV8vSy20hGSsDILIPwYGmxwxBspV5RG5ZW-spta-QTm-jvC5MLwhP4RkteFTKA19c/s320/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Mushroom.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant mushrooms~!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> They cut up these mushrooms<br />for grilling.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnP9jKYyRtcbhyXpNuwX8AqS0kqh0lFiLiM-t1peZy0FnDYZhiCYkOuvZxYkT80Y3bD9b5cJ5H51qiVMGLhTtQe3BUtIMjqYQpsOYgZq3MLhfNjbgRieK3P6TOfzqHemaLkK9c3YyBic/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Mushroom+grilling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnP9jKYyRtcbhyXpNuwX8AqS0kqh0lFiLiM-t1peZy0FnDYZhiCYkOuvZxYkT80Y3bD9b5cJ5H51qiVMGLhTtQe3BUtIMjqYQpsOYgZq3MLhfNjbgRieK3P6TOfzqHemaLkK9c3YyBic/s320/TouristKitty+-+Mushroom+grilling.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
The lady who grills the mushrooms...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3y02xUeh9M6YbejFeA0rP430CRJmtd7gRWedfx_kojO4ktXWCF5fPBZO9vUMJRZ7mYXT4XqHuhr11-lbcjKMSeCQmBGift6mjYFckp3gSnGfFpuoXLcmeL3ufVgUDRhmiyqyjRns_1LI/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+stamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3y02xUeh9M6YbejFeA0rP430CRJmtd7gRWedfx_kojO4ktXWCF5fPBZO9vUMJRZ7mYXT4XqHuhr11-lbcjKMSeCQmBGift6mjYFckp3gSnGfFpuoXLcmeL3ufVgUDRhmiyqyjRns_1LI/s320/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+stamp.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant stamp...you can customize your own name stamp at this<br />
little store.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6Wo1NOhY2VtgNlP7SHMbwtJZNN5PN3jYq59vmwIxWzUT4j1eK6uPQNt9kjpHR6W12alRzrKh7cqZpiSrxg0eZup_w-xErNWOq6I-tl2TQfqS5zO98zwsAFlCzsdWr3gWFPbBD7FMazo/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Taoyuan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6Wo1NOhY2VtgNlP7SHMbwtJZNN5PN3jYq59vmwIxWzUT4j1eK6uPQNt9kjpHR6W12alRzrKh7cqZpiSrxg0eZup_w-xErNWOq6I-tl2TQfqS5zO98zwsAFlCzsdWr3gWFPbBD7FMazo/s320/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Taoyuan.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another recommended snack at Jiufen - Granny Lai's Yuyuan,<br />
I love this dessert coz the yuyuan are nice and springy. You can<br />
have it served hot or cold. I had mine cold so ice was added.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9pd5tBEV3hzornMPGUlJwgL1WafSfxjh7zQsuWdEiPqaDjPyQuXnVlMdyncn1gV5-q2bTJ1Jsp07_DhlV4KiX2decDJD9RT6B2eB21zcJcY5X7lSBjy-coweVMikjxf-_xaR28mTv_k/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Temple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9pd5tBEV3hzornMPGUlJwgL1WafSfxjh7zQsuWdEiPqaDjPyQuXnVlMdyncn1gV5-q2bTJ1Jsp07_DhlV4KiX2decDJD9RT6B2eB21zcJcY5X7lSBjy-coweVMikjxf-_xaR28mTv_k/s320/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Temple.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wandered down from the Jiufen market to find this entrance<br />
to a local temple...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwapQDndMZXnONeMUNRocMONtX1KSgzuBFJsuh9c3bCHSg1qB_SDIUO1yjiW2dOR77k35k6VZAT3Lg4S8peD1TzT4raoEskWoaa9jFJ-ZMpHyUaVToIWTy6bJyl5nhRi6rx9jaSWWXygk/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+dark+stairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwapQDndMZXnONeMUNRocMONtX1KSgzuBFJsuh9c3bCHSg1qB_SDIUO1yjiW2dOR77k35k6VZAT3Lg4S8peD1TzT4raoEskWoaa9jFJ-ZMpHyUaVToIWTy6bJyl5nhRi6rx9jaSWWXygk/s320/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+dark+stairs.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doesn't this remind you of the creepy stairways<br />
that Chihiro from Spirited Away had to<br />
run through in the anime?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NdFZBYk4ylVRQH-Fn-O6KD6hXh-xGzvr_rrznxJq0mDQyEbEiqPiA6gJuoNrfJ8SEcWhb2oZjWMmBBSPpNQ8DhaEkAIhdbo9mVLzLjJOFBswook95s8I68whEra4w52MKmKVn2S1qJs/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Teahouse+Stairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NdFZBYk4ylVRQH-Fn-O6KD6hXh-xGzvr_rrznxJq0mDQyEbEiqPiA6gJuoNrfJ8SEcWhb2oZjWMmBBSPpNQ8DhaEkAIhdbo9mVLzLjJOFBswook95s8I68whEra4w52MKmKVn2S1qJs/s320/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Teahouse+Stairs.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crowds of tourists to visit the various teahouses</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsq17RnzkNwNKqwtD22b8RphSK6HpYUHYAOZQvtvUC1GBazO33-Kzz3Nuufs6tbA1rNfbizIagHS9IJsy1Qrzr2CZtj4wLP_HP4WEXG812zWX0Kxo97h4MYFoS4OZm9OxZw29EWR9qMSw/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+teahouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsq17RnzkNwNKqwtD22b8RphSK6HpYUHYAOZQvtvUC1GBazO33-Kzz3Nuufs6tbA1rNfbizIagHS9IJsy1Qrzr2CZtj4wLP_HP4WEXG812zWX0Kxo97h4MYFoS4OZm9OxZw29EWR9qMSw/s320/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+teahouse.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the teahouses where you can yum cha...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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If you intend to stay over at Jiufen, do note that shops start at 8am and close early at around 7pm. So best to get any shopping done before then! =D Residents also turn in early so if you're still around the town in the evening & trying to navigate your way to your B&B through the dark alleys or stairways, try to keep your voice down. The stairways are located very closely between houses so voices do travel in a rather loud way. </div>
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You should also visit the <a href="http://www.lavendercottage.com.tw/" target="_blank">Lavender Forest</a> shop that is located next to an old theatre called the Shen-ping Theatre. It's full of lovely lavender items and you can even send a postcard home from there! They will help you post it for free. But you'll have to buy the postcard though...it costs about 25NT. =)</div>
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If you're in the mind for some desserts, try the specially flavoured ice-cream sold here too. I tried the rose & lavender flavours but...I personally like the rose one. =)</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyutC5_aFTyMHWNVd1Os4glgYSuCj4odOI017W952AYS57_rdnGmmGEJtYtBA4HU7HceaoMTn59iHO4pdQdA2042bKaXku56vWqgod3fzEHYAICb9oT_RjEN-wZ_sDwEKw0qsmCRNDlw/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Lavendar+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyutC5_aFTyMHWNVd1Os4glgYSuCj4odOI017W952AYS57_rdnGmmGEJtYtBA4HU7HceaoMTn59iHO4pdQdA2042bKaXku56vWqgod3fzEHYAICb9oT_RjEN-wZ_sDwEKw0qsmCRNDlw/s320/TouristKitty+-+Lavendar+House.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Lavender Forest - a little store that sells</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">lavender themed stuff like bath salts, books etc.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">It was started by 2 girls who loved lavender</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">so much, they decided to open up a shop of</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">their own! =D</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 13px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfo6LX3vokTKCOduS_Q_mEyyapvRRkokU7050UoIW9HBUqdUAtYGWfG3DbZXi6j6z_iYGIFZdPIlIQOrrvqGL7BK77TiaxpVBj3NsfYkc4DuT6lnd0tZXp93LHVqR0ghOzsRPsDrjePy4/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Lavender+Forest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfo6LX3vokTKCOduS_Q_mEyyapvRRkokU7050UoIW9HBUqdUAtYGWfG3DbZXi6j6z_iYGIFZdPIlIQOrrvqGL7BK77TiaxpVBj3NsfYkc4DuT6lnd0tZXp93LHVqR0ghOzsRPsDrjePy4/s320/TouristKitty+-+Lavender+Forest.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Teddy sits on the window sill that looks</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">into the shop interior</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 13px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqLBCBdndYBmoFyJMVpfU0fuv5jWutMytJ9LJPxaltW4PhFGTi_FhSQzckZgip2JpJqR9xaJvvAx3KyZ_lmYGaBGNZuWnuFHqR48RgR_Let2qcd-pd0VzaaeiPSa11s-yM4rF7MHQIp0/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Lavender+goodies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAqLBCBdndYBmoFyJMVpfU0fuv5jWutMytJ9LJPxaltW4PhFGTi_FhSQzckZgip2JpJqR9xaJvvAx3KyZ_lmYGaBGNZuWnuFHqR48RgR_Let2qcd-pd0VzaaeiPSa11s-yM4rF7MHQIp0/s320/TouristKitty+-+Lavender+goodies.jpg" width="239" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">
</span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Ms Bear - the Lavender Salesbear</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is the Sheng-ping Theatre...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4keXCLog0LW3bXQv-SKUX6nWMbXqVAuHjRX7vOGJieRXT7CZ9rvrYuGs_8yYKsbuo0vDkmtRB6h69sysHou0QOYNiLYjk05eMLFyzLv6qryFCnR8_MuQOkIZ3HbilUWxxYkjlMVQw8Lk/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Theatre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4keXCLog0LW3bXQv-SKUX6nWMbXqVAuHjRX7vOGJieRXT7CZ9rvrYuGs_8yYKsbuo0vDkmtRB6h69sysHou0QOYNiLYjk05eMLFyzLv6qryFCnR8_MuQOkIZ3HbilUWxxYkjlMVQw8Lk/s320/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Theatre.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old movie theatre that<br />
used to provide entertainment around the area</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
All in all, it was a fun experience to roam around this little town. There were alleys of shops to browse in and quirky souvenirs such as maltose candy lollipops shaped in cartoon characters and kitty ornaments like the below. The weather in November was cooling and I spent my evenings watching cable tv in the B&B room, which was quite relaxing. =D<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3lTjvZrRWaoUC6mEyJKzPxkDEIteMtGdJmI5szN7eHD03kzYHomj5xYHArJROTQIvuTkkwpvX9GwynRHH_RZLDZGJrVyKE9rsQ2CvPQA23zoLQtP0-rGkEwyRqMBO2R8EZtFpg86VTA/s1600/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Kitty+Souvenirs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3lTjvZrRWaoUC6mEyJKzPxkDEIteMtGdJmI5szN7eHD03kzYHomj5xYHArJROTQIvuTkkwpvX9GwynRHH_RZLDZGJrVyKE9rsQ2CvPQA23zoLQtP0-rGkEwyRqMBO2R8EZtFpg86VTA/s320/TouristKitty+-+Jiufen+Kitty+Souvenirs.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
So if you want to take a day trip out of Taipei, try visiting Jiufen or stay overnight if you will. You'll never regret it!<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://touristkitty.blogspot.com/2011/11/taiwan-2011-windsor-b.html" target="_blank">How to get there...</a></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11790644700839860235noreply@blogger.com0