Fourth day (Friday, May, 14, 2010) – 初一
Hsinchu – Tian En Mi Le Fo Yuan, Taipei 101, Wu Fen Bu, Ciyou Temple & Raohe Night Market
Same with other day, get up early in the morning, with motorcycle we go to TRA station to visit Hsin Chu. Fare for TRA train was NT. 125 (depart (+/-) 06.45, for 60 minutes), and continue with Guo Guang bus to go to TIEN EN MI LE FO YUAN (天恩彌勒佛院) it was Mitreya Temple, fare NT 48.
Here in front of Hsin Chu TRA Train Station - Zhunan Station.
It’s big Maitreya Temple, still in progress till now. In front of the gate, there was 72 meters Milefo (Smilling Buddha) statue. You can go inside, there’s a lot place I can visit inside. Next year at March 6, 2011 it will be announce. Many Maitreya follower from all the world will come to see it.
The temple was surround by 5 mountain and lake , when I visit there, it’s raining many fog there, so I can’t take photograph for it.
After lend a hand in the building (since it still progress) and follow noon ceremony we had lunch there and back to Taipei by bus at 14.20. It was queue, and we had to wait till 15.10 more. We get off at Taipei Main station, and take MRT to Taipei city hall to visit Taipei 101.
From outside MRT station we ride free bus to Taipei 101, actually we can go there by walk, it’s only 750 meters, but we want to know how to go there by bus.
Take picture around, we not enter the mall, and can’t take good photograph, it’s raining, many fog, and decide not to go up stair, it’s only waste money, can’t see Taipei clearly. To go up stair we had to pay NT 500 each, till 89th floor.
We take photograph also at New York New York, and back to TTH by MRT, to had dinner. We had dinner at same place as we arrived at 1st day.
After that get rest at TTH, we continue to Wufenbu.
It’s grocery place, you can buy shirt, bag, shoes, dress, it’s cheaper, but you’ve got to buy more than 2 pcs. I’m not interest at this place, since I do not like shopping, so we continue to Rao He. All by walk.
When I visit here, it’s 1st day (Lunar Calendar), many people came to pray, every date 1 and 15 at lunar calendar, many Buddha follower pray at temple.
Beside Rao He night market there was a Ciyou Temple also known as Songshan Matsu (Sea Goddess) Temple.
Many Buddha inside, it’s beautiful temple, more beautiful then Wen wu temple and Longhsan temple for me. I arrive here about 21.30, the temple had 5th floor, it’s nice temple. I think Buddha statue here was complete. If you go to Raohe Night Market you've got to enter this temple.
After that we visit Rao He night market, for me this market was the cheapest market I ever go when I’m at Taipei.
The market was so tidy, people who visit the market was divide two way, get inside and get outside the market. At the center there were many pedestrian food. It’s clean, I like this night market. Stuff here for me cheap, I buy sandal for NT. 85, many stuff here. It’s getting late we decide to back TTH at 23.30 by taxi.
Actually the fare only NT 80 (open gate fare NT 70), I pay use NT 100, and the taxi driver said, since it’s already late (going to 24.00) so he charge us NT. 20. I already tired, and want to get rest asap, so I don’t argue with him.
Wake up in the morning, to catch HSR Train to Taichung.
If we board early in the morning there was discount 35% (fare NT. 455), but if not the discount only 20% (fare NT 595). HSR train fare to all destination, early in the morning and late night is cheaper. Here schedule and fare for HSR Train. HSR Train station open from 06.00 - 24.00.
After packing, we store our luggage at TTH (free, one of TTH facility), and only bring our backpack going to Taichung (we spend one night there).
We run to Housanpi MRT station and get off at Taipei Main Station. I didn’t had to get out from the station, the HSR station was there.
Arrived at Taipei Main Station 06.23, and we arrived at in front of HSR ticket gate at 06.30 am, but it’s we already late for 5 minutes and we can’t get the cheap ticket (last cheap ticket was at 06.36), so we had to pay more NT 140 to go to Taichung for next train at 07.00.
Other way to go Taichung was by bus and TRA train, fare was cheaper, but it’s take time longer than HSR.
The train was clean, nice, and very comfortable, I get sleep there.
07.49 we arrived at Taichung, our friends pick us up there and planning go to Sunmoon Lake.
I went to toilet at Tai Chung HSR Train, the toilet was clean and there're toilet tissue for the closet.
Outside the Station, suddenly, taxi driver (Mr. Lee) came to us, offer us to go to Sunmoon Lake fare NT 4.500, no bargain, each of us NT 900.
Below Mr Lee name card.
Other way to go Sun Moon Lake was by bus, ride bus from Taichung to Puli, then take bus to Sunmoon Lake.
To surround the lake there’s bike rental here. But I think it's not comfortable traveling by bike, because the way up and down, it's better traveling by bus.
Traveling by bus is the cheapest way to surround the lake , fare only NT 80 for one hole day. Here Lake surrounding bus timeable.
We not staying there, but if you want to stay there I recommend you to stay at Laurel Villa. You can book by mail.
First we visit Wen Wu temple, it was Kong Zi Temple (Confucius Temple).
People around there believe, when they facing final test, they copy student ID test card and pray there hope can pass the test and get good mark. It’s also available card to hang there, just fill : name, address, mail, and your wish. I also hang my name there, wish all will success (I don’t know what should I write).
There also small bell (like bell, but not similar), write name and wish there, and then hang it, it’s allow to made every wish. If I not forgot the cost probably was NT. 150 for each.
Inside, there were fortune teller machine, insert NT 10, then doll inside machine will go inside the house and get out with small piece of paper, she'll drop it at the place, just pick it (language in China and English). If you didn't understand, there a person outside will explain.
In front of Kong Zi temple there were Guan Gong (Guan Yu) spear, one of three kingdom hero’s. And there’s short relief about three kingdom there.
After that we visit peacock Garden, there were a lot peacock there, there's also white one. I never see white peacock in Indonesia, at here my camera battery low, so I can take picture, but if I had it from my friend I will post it. It’s beautiful.
Since I visit there at May, so the flower not bloom anymore, the best time to visit there was March - April, but it’s was cold, so we not visit Mei He Garden.
Then we had lunch, ordering vegetarian fried rice, cost NT 60 for each.
After that we visit Shueishe visitors center, we hire boat here. Mr Lee help us book the boat. The boat actually for 20 person, fare NT 1.800 (for 6 person, for 20 person each had to pay NT 200 more, but we had to wait till the boat full). It like ride VIP boat.
We came to Lalu island, but we can’t get off, it’s forbidden to get off.
We take picture around the boat, and had fun.
Next destination, we visit Syuanguang & Syuantzang temple, I forgot who was Buddha statue there, Syuantzang temple was so quite, nice place for study, I can hear nature sound here.
Mr. Lee said at the first time only one temple there, Syuanguang, but since it's too small so they built other temple Syuantzang. We only had short visit here.
We also visit Ci En pagoda, but we can’t enter it, since it had earthquake 2 years ago, no visitor allow to go up stair. It’s nice pagoda to visit, very beautiful, but we can’t visit ;(
After that I bought Alishan Tea, it’s very expensive for me, since I bought tea at Shenzhen only CNY 50, after my friends help me bargain, I bought Alishan Tea cost NT 700. It’s original green tea, healthy tea. I saw at Airport the cost was NT 800. And also buy snack NT. 100 each, I buy 2, if you want to buy snack ,buy here, because maybe you can’t find it at other place.
It’s already noon, about 15.30 we decide to go to Taichung museum. But it’s not allow to take photograph there.
At Taichung, there’s a Temple, I forgot the name, it’s big, giant temple, beside the temple there was museum. My friends said, may rich monk stay there, before they decide to be a monk they used to be rich person, but they left it all behind.
In front of the gate, there was Milefo (Smiling Buddha), inside there was 4 face Buddha statue with different look. And there's other Buddha also. Many visitor visit this temple.
Mr Lee charge us NT 500, each add NT 100, because we only made deal to Sunmoon Lake but we ask him to deliver us to Taichung Museum also, but it’s ok with us.
At 17.00 we decide back to Taichung, walk at Fengjia night market.
We stay at minshu near Fengjia Night market (only 2 minutes walk), actually the price was NT 1.100, but our friend bargain for us NT. 750 for one night (breakfast only for one person and we didn't take it), because we only stay from 19.00 and at 06.00 morning we leave Taichung.
We stay at Feng Chia Music House. There were piano inside, you can play it, but only till 21.00 pm
For dinner we eat at Fengjia night market, I order vegetarian O Wa Jian, it was Taiwan traditionally food, taste not too good. After that move to other place eat mee soa, also chou tofu (stinky tofu). My friends said, if you want to buy it’s better to buy fried one, because steam one was so stinky. Fried stinky tofu a little bitter, but not to smell.
And you know what at Taiwan also had ote-ote, it’s pedestrian food, same like at Indonesia.
Other Taiwan biscuit called Tai Yang Bing Gan - Sun biscuit in English.
After that back to minshu get rest.
Wake up early in the morning to catch bus to LCCT, after take instant noodle for breakfast (and wash dishes of course, one of Riyani Apt’s rules) we take cab at 06.00 (still dark at KL) to Puduraya bus station. From KL Plaza, fare RM 10 (there’s a lot taxi there) time +/- 10 minutes to get there.
Then take Aerobus to LCCT fare RM 8.
The bus arrive at LCCT about 07.20 more (board 06.30 am). Then we self check in and drop baggage, it’s only take short hour.
Even the airport was crowded, but immigration not queue.
At 09.35 get in the plane. We going to fly for 4 and half hour, so we had to order meal inside the plane.
I suggest to order meal by online, just in case. I can’t order meal since there no meal available, only noodle and sandwich for meal, other’s already sold out.
Fare for rice RM 12, noodle RM 6, and mineral water RM 2, other drink, milo, juice, soft drink RM 5. They only accept MYR, and NT for payment. But if you pay in NT they will return the change in MYR.
15.30 arrive at Tao Yuan (International Airport at Taiwan), after immigration process we took Evergreen bus to reach Taipei (here bus from Taoyuan airport to Taipei), fare NT 140. We get off at Zhong Xiao Xin Sheng MRT Station take MRT to Housanpi.
The MRT was at the end of the road, near traffic light (walk about 3 minutes with luggage from bus stop). Don’t forget to buy easy card, there’s discount 20% for MRT and bus at Taipei, and it will efficient time.
Easy card fare NT 500, NT 100 for deposit, and it refundable. Here site of Taipei MRT .
We take exit 2, and call Ms Lee (Owner TTH) to pick us up, if you don’t had Taiwan number you can made phone call from MRT station (near elevator go up) there’s public phone.
What a miracle, the maid who pick us up was Indonesian person, who work with Ms Lee, she been 1,5 year there.
At TTH – Taiwan Taipei Homestay we stay at 4th floor, and had to carry our luggage by our self to get up stair. The room was nice, clean, and comfortable.
Then we ask her is there any vegetarian resto near there, what a bless it’s only need 4 minutes to get there by walk. The food was good, you can choose the food, and had to balance. Food was pay from the weight, and rice was NT 5, soup was free, water free also. Here the food I eat that time.
Actually there’s a lot vegetarian restaurant at Taipei, but since we didn’t know the direction, so we decide to eat near TTH.
Here site about vegetarian food at Taipei, other vegetarian food site
After had dinner, we take MRT to Longshan Temple ), it take 19 minutes by MRT (blue line) to get there. It’s already 18.45 when we arrived, it’s will be nice if we can arrive about 17.30, the temple will be nice in that time.
This temple more then 200 years old and many people pray there.
There were fountain in front of the Temple.
There were night market near, but we not visit it. I bought delicious snack in front of the gate, cost NT 50 each.
After pray, we take MRT to Ximending. It's pedestrian walk and sold alot stuff there, Many local people there, you can buy electronic stuff here, It's also fashionable place. We buy umbrella here, cost NT 190, we bargain buy 2 for NT 350.
At 22.20 we back to TTH, before it we go to 7 eleven near TTH buy bread and water for breakfast.
I just back from Taiwan with my friends, still feel dizzy, and sleepy. I went Taiwan for 4D/3N, and transit at Kuala Lumpur arrived and departure (2D/2N). It was short journey, but I can’t stay there for long time, since I only had short holiday.
Here my journey there.
First day (Tuesday, May, 11, 2010).
Bukit Bintang, Petaling Street, Central Market
I took Air Asia flight from Surabaya to Kuala Lumpur at 09.55, transit there. Since only one flight from Kuala Lumpur to Taipei everyday, so I had to stay one night at Kuala Lumpur.
Indonesia regulation for fiscal free, I go to fiscal locket and give them copy of pasport (first page only) and copy of NPWP card, and had stamp on my ticket.
Arrived at LCCT 13.30 (Malaysia time). After immigration and get luggage it’s already 14.20.
I stay at Bukit Bintang Kuala Lumpur, so I take Star Shuffle bus to get there, fare RM 18 (RM 15 + RM 3 for baggage, if you not carry baggage fare RM 15). Schedule arrived Kuala Lumpur for 1 hour, but I don’t know why we arrive at KL Plaza (place I stay – Riyani Apt’s at Bukit Bintang) at 16.35 (bus start board at 15.00). I Bought bus ticket at Gate 5 – bus stop at LCCT.
You can also take other bus, Aerobus, but they only stop at Puduraya bus station or KL central, fare RM 9, and you had to continue by other bus or monorail or cab to get there, if you arrived at busy hour, the road will be crowded, and fare you should pay will be expensive. I not recommend to go by cab, Star shuffle bus delivered to in font of KL Plaza.
I don’t really like this apartment, since we had to share restroom with other and the restroom not convenient for me (not because I had to share, but I don’t feel convenient with the restroom at all, no soap, not so clean, and the most things I don’t like is the restroom door lock), window at my room no security lock, I stay at 14th floor. For money that I pay, I can find other budget hotel, better than this, and I can had breakfast for buffet, at Riyani Apt’s (here riyani site’s) no breakfast, yes there a kitchen, but only available to cook instant noodle.
Riyani room fare for master bedroom (with restroom inside) RM 100, for other room RM 85, (restroom share). For holiday, weekend there surcharge RM 15 for all room.
After check-in, we directly take Metrobus from Bukit Bintang (in font of Mc Donald) to Petaling street fare RM 1 (about +/- 10 minutes). There’s nothing special to buy there, all stuff same with Indonesian product, shoes, bag, shirt, other stuff. For me even we can bargain here, but the price is expensive, they only can give discount till 20%, and price still expensive. But there’s a lot street food you can buy there. I buy Dragon fruit and mango fruit there, it’s delicious, and other fruit all RM 1 for each.
After walk around there, we decides to had dinner. I found vegetarian depot next Petaling street. The owner was nice, he introduce all food they have. Even only small place, but a lot people eat there, (local and foreign). I order Vegetarian rice with gingers and soup.
fare RM 4.8 each and drink lou Han Guo RM 1.
After finish our dinner, we take a walk to Pasar Seni, in English it’s called Central Market (+/- 5 minutes from there). It sold handicraft and Malaysian food, I bought key chains RM 6 for 6 pcs, for me it’s cheap. Take some picture till 20.35, then we catch bus back to KL Plaza, I forgot the bus number, but you can ask with bus driver they will tell you which bus you must take to get Bukit Bintang. Bus fare RM 1.
Arrived at Bukit Bintang we go to Pavillion Plaza, in front of KL Plaza, take picture there. And back to hotel at 22.20.
I take Twin tower Picture at night from Riyani Apt’s.
After lend a hand in the building (since it still progress) and follow noon ceremony we had lunch there and back to Taipei by bus at 14.20. It was queue, and we had to wait till 15.10 more. We get off at Taipei Main station, and take MRT to Taipei city hall to visit Taipei 101.
From outside MRT station we ride free bus to Taipei 101, actually we can go there by walk, it’s only 750 meters, but we want to know how to go there by bus.
Take picture around, we not enter the mall, and can’t take good photograph, it’s raining, many fog, and decide not to go up stair, it’s only waste money, can’t see Taipei clearly. To go up stair we had to pay NT 500 each, till 89th floor.
After that we visit Rao He night market, for me this market was the cheapest market I ever go when I’m at Taipei.
