hk harbour is absolutely stunning...there's nothing better than a free ride on an old fishing boat... with sails... so nice... even on a hot day.. the ocean breeze cools things off..we rode from queens pier on hk side.. to the tsim tsa tsui pier... then walk along the harbour to see the hk skyline.. so nice...actually... they made many renovations to this tsim tsa tsui harbour area... they've re-shaped it to look like a board walk.. nice and clean...BUT... not like what it used to be... totally lost that traditional uniqueness... i think many hk ppl will have memories of the old harbour... and wished it to be the same still... there's too many this type of change happening in hk... too rapid... too much.. there's hardly a place you can go to ... to re-visit... everytime.. things are different... maybe this is the way hk is... constant change... no consistency...
bring alex with me to hk... we arrived just before noon... we went out to "afternoon tea"... then i picked up my hk residence card.. and return to china card... haha... poor alex.. follow me around...then we visited APM a new mall.. ok la.. same old... and then went to mong kwok for dinner...it was a tiring day.. although not too eventful... but enough for a first glimpse of hk :)
haha.. typhoon almost gone.. not yet.. still raining.. wind still blowing..but we could go out la.. went out for lunch.. and then back at home to use the computer..alex and george went to play basketball.. and i decided to stay home and use this time to update my blog.. i'm so happy.. finally it is all updated... u can all read what i've been up to... :)hopefully we can move one with our journey tomolo... hopefully the island of lanyu is open again for visits... we called the planes today.. and they still dun think it would be open.... see how it goes la... in the end.. we may head back to taipei.. :P oh well.. i miss all u guys... where ever u ar... i'm beginning to miss home ... write me!
hey everyone,i'm in the middle of one of taiwan's worst typhoons..... but i'm doing fine... i cant believe this, its amazing to witness the strength of a typhoon... it simply blew everything over... it like swallowed the whole of taiwan and just swirled it up.. haha...we are still in the middle of it.. as i type.. the worst is not over yet.. tomolo... should be the day it leaves... hopefully... alex and i were making our way around the island... we started last wednesday... started in taipei.. and headed south along the west coast of taiwan... we were half way to the south when we heard of the typhoon headed for taiwan... we cancelled so many of our plans :(and safely made our way to kaoshong (alex's friends place) in time to rest here waiting for the typhoon to come... it is a nice resting place... travelling is kinda tiring.. haha.. running around everyday.. catching trains.. buses... navigating where to go... anyways.. our plans for this week was to head north now along the east coast and hit all the beautiful scenic places of taiwan... but looks like we wont be doing that anymore.. since most of taiwan's east coast has been eaten up by the typhoon... the worst hit place of all... right now.. all of the trains, planes, buses have stopped running.. we have to wait for tomolo to see what will happen.. we will most likely be heading back to taipei.. cancelling all our plans :(me so sad... so much for seeing sunrise on Ai-li-san... and the aboriginal island of Lanyu... but at least we are safe... so.. dun worry about me... i'll be fine... next tuesday (26th) i will return to hk... hopefully hk wont get hit with typhoons... oh well... i guess this means either taiwan doesnt welcome me... or that taiwan wants me back for another visit, so they sent the typhoon along.. haha..i will update you with the other details of my trip another time... when i have the time to blog up :) bye bye
the day prior to arrival of the typhoon... its quiet... hot.. sunny.. but quiet...it is also a sunday.. so it explains the quiet morning streets...we headed out for breakfast... then to the cultural center where anoher sculpture of Chiang Kai Shek resides... then we headed to a beach area.. haha... typhoon coming and we still head to beach.. haha.. dun worry.. it was safe.. everyone was going...there was only slight wind..mild... and no rain... since the boats were still running... and many ppl were going.. we continued without concern...the beach side there was lovely.. we played dig up crabbys... along the beach.. he sand had little holes... they were breathing holes ... the bigger the hole.. the bigger the crab... and i suddenly caught sight of a crab peeking from a hole.. and slipped back down... so alex and george quickly started digging... we caught it.. haha... we then attempted at bigger holes.. but the bigger the crab.. the deeper the dig... and .. we couldnt find it.. haha... but it was fun...along the street side of the beach.. there were again.. street markets... filled with food and seafood delicacies.. yum yum... to my surprise.. a local dish is fresh cut tomatoes.. with a ginger and sugar dipping sauce... man its good... i want to learn to make it.. haha... we had lunch there b4 taking the boat back to kaoshong city... we spent the afternoon shopping and then headed to night market for dinner... the wind began to blow harder... and rain started to come down... at around sunset.. the clouds in the sky moved so quickly.. u knew the typhoon was coming... i've nevered seen clouds move like that.. not that fast... then.. we headed home and the rain started.. the typhoon was here!!!
from taichung.. we headed to tainan... (taichung meaning taiwan middle, and tainan means taiwan south).... the cities are named according to their geographic location on the island... at taichung we saw an old fort - AnPing Fort.... around the fort there is more street market... lots of food... we tasted a few of the specialties.. they were alright...then we walked to another site nearby ... called the tree house... it is an abandoned house swallowed up by a tree and its roots... the site has been refitted by an architect... (dunno who)... for better viewing.. and areas for exhibits... very amazing... a must see.. one of those hidden treasures...oh.. and while we were at the tree house.. we even saw the mayor of tainan and the vice president of taiwan... haha.. what a sight... they had security guards all over the place.. i'm amazed that they didnt kick us out... so.. we watched as they quickly browsed the site..after dinner in tainan.. japanese noodle.. very good.. we headed to kaoshong to find george.. again alex's friend...he took us around the city to see city lights.. a park redesigned with lights at night ... and the "love river" exact translation... the lights are also beautiful there...
we woke up to the rooster calls... and went out to see the sunrise... man.. the fog/clouds have lifted... and the mountain views were beautiful... the mountains seemed to go on forever.... we seemed so close to the sky... like i could touch it... as the sun rose... we were still 2 hours away from breakfast.. so we went back to bed.. and woke up at 7:30 for breakfast... then headed out to try to get a ride to the sheep farm...they lady at the hotel front desk suggested us to head up the mountain and try to hike a ride... or if we see a bus... since the bus arent regular... it is hard to know when there would be one... so... that is what we did.. and we were lucky to have a bus come our way... we arrived at the farm.. and realized this is where everyone was heading that morning... it was full of ppl... not sheep.. haha... but this farm has an even better view than our hotel.. it is even higher up... so instead of trying to get the perfect seat... alex and i hiked around the mountain to get a few good shots... because everyone was busy getting a seat.. there was nobody on the mountain.. just us.. so good... by the time we were done with our shootings... the show still hasnt started.. stupid ppl... we ended up still getting a good seat on the side of the mountain.. and watched as the dogs chased the sheeps up and down the hill... after the show.. we decided to walk down the mountain.. cuz it was the best way to see all of it... well.. we only walked back to our hotel... about a 20 min walk.. not bad... where we got our luggage quickly.... managed to catch the bus.... which we thought we will miss....then.. we headed to a place called "Lu Gong" where my skin blew up in rashes... mostly from the heat.. it wasnt the first time... i think its the temperature change... i can really stand it... cuz on the mountain it was cool.. and as soon as we headed down.. it was super hot... mainly cuz the typhoon was coming... our original plan was to head to Ali-San... another mountain.. but because of typhoon.. and it would be dangerous to head up the mountain again... we decided to head to Tai Chung for the night again.. at alex's friend David's place...
that morning we woke up to a late start.. and headed to a spa... man... ppl really know how to relax... first there is an exercise room... very spacious... then there are showers, spa, steam room, sauna, yoga room.. resting area... hhaha..i'm so not use to this style of relaxation... i simply cant sit in the water purpose-less and just rest... so .. i was in and out of there in no time... the sauna was nice... but since i was there alone... nobody to talk to.. since male/female have separate areas.... i got bored quite quickly.....i went out to the waiting area.. read magazines.. the ppl offered me a drink.. very good service... while i waited on alex to finish... man.. he just love the spas... anyways.. it is a very good way to relax... then we went to lunch.. and decided to head to the mountain area of ching jing... alex hasnt been there b4 either... it was recommended by his friend... so we quickly went home.. packed up and booked a hotel... they told us we had to catch the last bus which would be at 4:30 at a place called PuiYi....it was already close to 3.. and we were at least 2 hours away... the hotel told us we could make it... so.. we attempted... we got on a bus from taichung to puiyi.... but arrived at 5.... too late for the last bus... but the hotel kept calling us.. trying to help us get there.. they were so good.. they told us there is another bus that takes us to a place close enough that they can shuttle us to their hotel... so.. that is how we headed up the mountain... the ppl are really nice.. and this place is almost impossible to get to without prior planning... we are lucky...we arrived around 6:30 at the hotel.. and it was dark already... at night.. with all the fog.. we could not see very far... but we new we where high up... in the clouds... the area is full of little cabins for tourists... there is even a 7-eleven where we had dinner... then we went to rest early... to wake up early at 5 for the sunrise...
we headed out of taipei on an 11:06 train and arrived at a place called "sun ju" for lunch... they have a lovely temple here and street vendors.. famous for vermicelli... "haika" style... very good...near the train station i found a store selling a pair of converse shoes for only $15 CAD... oh man.. where do u find such a deal... so.. i bought it... the original price for this pair of shoes was $40 CAD more... thats crazy discount... anyways.. we then boarded the 2:44pm train to SamYi arriving at 4:30pm... pretty good timing... alex hasnt been here before.. and it was recommended to us by a lady on the train... she said there's an old train station totally worth seeing... so.. arriving at the station.. we realized there werent any buses to get around this old town... our only choice was to hire a cab.. or rent motor bikes... ehhh...after talking to a few locals... we decided on the motor bikes... yup..like little skooters... but better... there was a billboard with phone number to call... upon calling a lady came to pick us up and take us to her store... there she rented to us a motor bike... it was $350 TN... again about $15 CAD for 4 hours... wow.. how good is that... our only problem now was... driving this thing... haha.. alex has had previous experience driving this... but he's not 100% confident... anyways.. we had no choice... so.. with out a proper licence, nor proper motor bike training... we were off!!!first stop.. gas station... we didnt even know where to fill up.. haha.. put in $2 bucks... already more than the rental lady told us to... but its still cheap... then with a simple/not drawn to scale map.. we headed off to the mountains... to find the abandoned train station.. and the broken bridge... the scenery is absolutely stunning... so rural... yet so beautiful... with the motor bike... alex driving me sat behind him.. there was still plenty of room on that bike... haha.. it was a nice way to get around... i now understand why taiwan ppl loves these things... we got to the train station first... it was just lovely... wish i could post some pics... i will do so later... then we went to the bridge... we werent even sure if we were going the right way with such a sketchy map... but we found our way around... and made it... oh our way back.. we stopped at a mountain side cafe/restaurant for dinner... again.. the food was just wonderful... traditional styles.. for only $500 TN.. about $20 CAD.... this included 3 dishes.. a soup dish... 2 bowls of rice...and 2 drinks... it was sooooo good.. the diping sauce for the chicken is just like nothing i ever tasted... and the veggies... so fresh.. like.. straight from their backyard... man.. where do u find such deals... not to forget the beautiful scenery.. the wonderful porch.. under the tree with crickets singing... then .. around 7 .... it started to get dark.. we decided it was better for us to head down the mountain and back into the village at least... although we stumbled on a different path on the way back.. we still ended back to the rentals place... where we realized we had just missed a train... and since the next one wont be for another hour or more.. they lady recommended for us to go see fireflys.. so off we were again.. this time.. in the dark.. on motor bikes... finally we found the farm for the sightings of fireflys... there was nobody there... we werent sure if it was the right place... we walked in to find a family eating dinner and watching tv... haha.. i suppose they had closed for the day... they said they usually provide group tours for sighting fireflys. and other activities... they were surprised at how we found the place... we told them about the rental lady.. and they offered us admission free... took us down to the fields and showed us around... at 7:30pm .. the fireflys just came out... for the next half hour.. we watch small lights sparkle in the grass... its my first time watching fireflys... they are so pretty.... then.. we got on the 8:25pm train for Tai Chung... were we would spend the night... at alex's friends place... they took us to their night market and we had some soy chicken feet... so good... very soft and tender...
these next couple of days are mainly for resting and staying with alex's family before we go on the island tour... we went out with his friends... went shopping... went to a port city called "gay long" for dinner... taiwan is full of weird food... weird for me i suppose.. but its good.. on the 12th alex took me to the CKS Memorial Hall which houses Chiang Kai Shek ... and his legacy... mostly about the chinese revolution and such...chinese modern history... anyways. its totally worth a see... then we went to the national library ... mainly to use the internet.. haha... but they have so many rules... all have to sign in before entering the library... then have to reserve time periods of 1/2 hour to use the computer... we didnt know b4.. and got kicked off.. ooops.. haha... anyways.. i finally got on the computer and checked my 50 emails that accumulated ... haha... updated the blog...then went to a street full of book stores.. and bought a few discounted architecture books... so happy!! oh..and later bought 2 pairs of shoes... so pretty ... :)we will head out the next day on our island tour :)
the newest tourist destination of taipei is the 101 tower...it is currently the highest building in the world... but not for long..so.. while it still is... we went up to the observation deck to have a look... taipei is beautiful up there... its amazing how a city looks completely different from above... it is the first time alex has seen taipei at such heights.. and even he agrees it shocks him to see what it really looks like... you can easily understand where things are in respect to others... anyways.. the tower is constructed and designed by taiwanese engineers and architects... pretty impressive... for lunch we ate at the food court in the shopping center below the tower... the whole area around the tower has become another entertainment district... with high end shopping and movie entertainment... after this.... we took the subway/train to "dam shui"... translated means shallow water.... its an area that has a harbour... i suppose its an old shipping town.. but now.. a tourist area... filled with street vendors and wonderful night market..we tried a few of the delicacies... yum yum... and saw the sunset.... beautiful... and shopped around... then it was night time and we returned to taipei to pay a visit to alex's house.. to thank them for their wonderful dinner the night before... after that... it was then end of my mom and sis's trip to taipei... tomolo i will be moving to alex's place and mom and sis will take flight early in the morning...
alex arrived at our hotel door to take us out for the day... this is the first of two days which my mom and sis will be visiting taipei...my sister insisted on going to the zoo... (like a baby)... so we went... actually taipei zoo is pretty famous... anyways.. we took the skytrain to the zoo station and went to the zoo... to my surprise it was pretty good... at least for the amount it cost us... i cant remember exactly.. but i think it was about $4 or 5 dollars for an adult and we even got student rates so it was like $2 for us... for only $2.... a full day of amusement... now that is good... the prices for things get better... the zoo was well organized... the path follows a simple order, you never have to repeat where you've visited... unless you want to... so.. we walked quickly and went through all the areas before noon...the best was the koalas.. hehe.. my favorite... they've got quick a number of them.. they are so cute.. all so lazy.. just sleeping... haha.. in the afternoon, we went to the central entertainment district of taipei... where we will have dinner that night... the area is full of department stores, street shopping, underground malls, street vendors and more... for afternoon tea we went to "ding tai fung" for steam pork buns... so good ... it is the most famous in taiwan... and for sure.. the pork buns here are 10 times better than that in canada.. haha... i have to go again before i leave.. hahathen we did some shopping... didnt by much.. just sorta browsed... things are so cheap... shoes $390 TN.. which is like $15 canadian... from a street vendor selling hand bags.. we bought two from him... each also at $15 CAD... but they are of super quality... worth at least $50 CAD... man... that was a good deal.. cuz later tonight i saw the same bags selling for 5 times more.. i think its just cuz its a street vendor... he's trying to get ride of his stock... so.. then it was dinner time... and we had "teppan" the japanese style bbq where the chef cooks in front of u... the dinner was great... but it interesting cuz i felt like an interpreter.... translating between mandarin and cantonese... weird... but.. it was a good dinner...after dinner we went to a night market... which taiwan is famous for... we played games... "catch the goldfish"... u pay like $1 CAD for a little paper pan/disc with which u dip in water to try to catch the goldfish... the paper is like thing tracing paper that pretty much breaks as soon as it touches water.. but it does have a short time period in which it can carry goldfishes... its my first time playing such games... and i was lucky and got 3!!! haha... i knew the paper cant withstand too long.. so i go for the fishes near the surface minimizing the time the paper touches the water... and after i get one.. i quickly catch another b4 the paper thins out... the key is to go for the small ones... hehe... big ones.. are obviously too heavy... and.. in the end.. for every 3 u catch.. u get to bring 1 home... although i could bring one home... i let him free... i have no place to keep it... there are many more games of such... and lots of good eats... and shopping... so many street vendors... selling all sorts of goods...
this morning i woke up to rain, we were gonna go visit my grandparents this morning on the mountains... they live on two different mountains in hk so because of the rain we could only make it to my mom's dad today...we bought some flowers and took a taxi all the way to his place... this is traditionally what we do every time i come back from hk... its too hard to get there by bus and others... and plus hiking up the mountain isnt an easy task... so... we always take the taxi which brings us only two flights of stairs away... so we go visit him.. take our bows.. and we ride the same taxi home... just keep it simple...short and sweet... i actually like visiting up in the hills, its much cooler up there.. and its nice and quiet... peaceful and quiet, away from the city, with a perfect view of the ocean beyond... a nice resting place.. really...so.. keeping with our schedule we headed for the airport and was there by 5pm... went through security early to be ahead... there is always a line up at customs... the plane ended up delaying for half and hour... so we arrived at taipei rather late in the evening... from the airport, alex hired us a cab/van driver who took us straight to our hotel... (mom and sis) came with me... the driver was good... but still took us an hour to get to the hotel.. its a long distance... at the hotel, alex and his mom greeted us... so weird... but the cab was all paid for... and his mom offered to treat us all to dinner the next day... oh my... what do i say...then we settled in to rest for the night...
this is near Fuji Mt... its an area with hot springs and spas...the only bad thing about today.. was the pouring rain... but.. it was our last chance to go.. so we had to go la... we took the train there using a Hakone one day pass, then took the trams, buses, cable cars, boat and more to sight see... its totally worth it... we even took the bus to the outlet mall which was fun on its own.. trying to navigate to get there....but... we had a nice day... a tiring day too.. lots of walking... sightseeing.. i love beautiful scenery... on the last day... we went to the tokyo fish market... early in the morning... to watch the tuna auction and the selling of seafood...we got there around 6:30 am.... the auction was almost over.. but we still saw some frozen tuna fish lying in the freezer... they are so big... all 1 meter in length... after the market.. we went to eat the freshest sushi in the world... it was amazing... nothing can compare.. its the best i've had... yum yum... it wasnt cheap.. around the same as in canada.. but 10 times better... and the quality... nothing can compare..then .. after that.. we went to roppongi hills.. were it is famous for the designer chairs all along the street... we took a pic with each of them...lastly... we went to shibuya..shopping at shibuya 109..... then ate lunch.. and headed to airport lu... that was our last day... and the end to our japan trip..by the end.. we had planned well.. and spent every penny of our yen... we had like.. 13yen left.. couldnt buy even a piece of gum.. too bad... but.. it was good.. we calculated well :)
today was harajuku shopping day.. first to the togo shrine flea market.. wow.. i found kimonos for 1000 yen.. so good.. very nice quality too.. now.. all i have to learn is how to wear it.. hahathen.. to the meiji shrine.. a very beautiful place... we even saw a wedding take place there...-->
today we visited the imperial palace... and its gardens.. its alright... nice.. but not too impressive...then we headed for kanda/jimbocho... and area filled with 2nd hand book stores.. man.. its such a wonderful place to dig up goods... i found 2 wonderful tadao ando books.. one.. hand signed by the architect himself.. and.. all at very good deals too... if i had more time.. i think i would fine a whole suitcase full of books.. haha.. good that i didnt ...hehe :Pafter that.. we headed for tokyo dome... and baseball stadium area... with an interesting theme park beside it.. with roller coasters..and shopping center... then at night we went to Ikebukero... nice area for youngsters.. the best store Tokyu Hands.. man...best store for supplies for building models.. why cant they have such in canada???? -->
Happy birthday canada!!!we woke up a little later today.. cuz we are all so tired.. plus it was raining.. so.. we decided to take a little break and sleep in...we headed for Inuyamu at around 11am... we took a train that took 45 min... and reached the little town.... there is famous for the Inuyamu castle... it is a national treasure.. one of 3 originals still standing in japan.. all of the other castles around are re-builts.. so which is why we had to see this one...it was totally worth the extra trip.. the castle is amazing.. wonderfully preserved.. the scene from the top is just beautiful... wish i can show u some pics.. no time to load pics here... to help preserve the castle.. u have to take off your shoes.. and where their slippers... so neat... and because we went on weekday.. it was pretty much just us.. and the castle.. so nice... then the rest of that day we rode the train back to Nagoya.. and browsed the city... we were so tired.. when we boarded the train back to Tokyo -->
