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Showing posts from March, 2010

Cycling Around Mount Fuji

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Note that this photo is a posed shot. You are supposed to cycling anti-clockwise around the lake! Haha If you are deciding between taking the train to Kawaguchiko or driving, you can check out the car rental prices at   https://www.nipponrentacar.co.jp/english/user-guide/reservations.html   and train prices at   http://www.hyperdia.com/ It depends on whether you’re staying overnight at Kawaguchiko and the number of people travelling. Remember to add toll fees of about ¥4200 one way. We decided to rent a car but forgot about the toll fees so it ended up being more expensive. I’d say if you’re staying for one night and there are at least 3 of you, renting a car is a good option. If there are two of you and you want more freedom to move around (such as going to neighbouring places like Oshino Hakkai, Chureito Pagoda, Yamanakako etc) it is also better to rent a car. You should also be warned that traffic is congested upon leaving and arriving at Tokyo. We parked our car at our ryokan Kozan
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My Take on Taiwan

Although not as beautiful as Japan, I like Taiwan and will definitely go back. It's an affordable alternative to expensive Japan if you want to visit a Sino-Japanese country. Taiwan has many Japanese influences because of their history and many Taiwanese speak Japanese too. The architecture and scenery is Oriental but the people have the grace of the Japanese. Weather Taipei's weather is very erratic. It can be super hot one day and the next, freezing cold so for tourists, packing is a pain. I suggest packing a jacket for cold weather and just wear something normal inside. Layering is a good way to avoid baking to death in hot weather because you can remove the outer layers. For some funny reason, Taiwanese girls all like to wear long-sleeves even in hot weather so I was the odd one out in short sleeves. even if they wear short sleeves, they'd wear a long sleeved top inside and the short sleeved top over it... They also don't really wear shorts without stockings. Accord
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The Day Our Car Got Langahed

We were at tanxiang in taroko gorge and parked the car at the car park in front of silks place hotel to check out the surroundings but on our way back from lunch, we saw a policemen near our car so chris went to kay poh. It turned out that a local guy (about our age) reversed into our car in our absence so the front left side was a little warped. An honest guy, he made a police report and insisted on paying for the damages with his insurance. The funny thing is he was with his Singaporean friend and the friend told us “people usually just chao off but my friend says he cannot do that." So we went to the tianxiang police station to take down our statement, sign our name and even put thumbprint. The policeman gave us a slip of paper to pass to the car rental company to prove that it's not our fault. The guy offered to speak with the car rental company to explain that it's not our fault. Initially, the rental company wanted us to pay first then reimburse us when they get the
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Hotel Review: Leader Village Taroko (4*)

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Budget travellers will stay at family-run accomodations called Min Su 民宿 in Hualien or Sincheng (which will be quite inconvenient cos if you intend to explore 2 days you have to drive in and out of the gorge) while most tour group-type tourists will stay at the only 5-star hotel called SILKS PLACE at tianxiang but Grace recommended this unique hotel in Taroko Gorge because she stayed here when she visited and liked it very much. Located in Buluowan 布落湾, about 10 mins from the entrance of the gorge, this hotel is nestled among mountains and clouds =) very very scenic and lovely view =) the air is so fresh and everyday you can hear birds chirping... Hotel entrance. There is an area in front of the entrance where you can lie down and see stars (provided not too cloudy) Each hut has two rooms and the interior is semi-Japanese, with a platform and mattresses. Amenities are basic (no conditioner!! my hair was so rough after two nights of no conditioner >.<) Amenities: toothbrush and to
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Hotel Review: Fullerton Taipei 315 (4.5*)

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Chris stayed at Fullerton Taipei 41 the last time he was there for business trip which is in a better location. It was fully booked so he booked this one instead. This hotel is not near the main activity area in the city centre but neighbouring sights are equally accessible from here by taxi. Taxi in Taiwan is quite cheap, like Singapore prices without the 35% surcharge, so we kinda took taxi most of the time =P Mostly Causasians, Japanese and some Koreans. Just a short walk from here is a food street so meals is not a problem. There's a bank just right next door so getting extra cash is also very convenient. Breakfast is buffet style with an egg station (sunny-side up, omelette, scrambled). Typical of small boutique hotels, the range is just adequate. The restaurant is cosy and quiet, no noisy tourists like some large-scale hotels. Complimentary coffee (percolated) and tea with biscuits at the lobby every afternoon. The room is nice and cosy with all necessary amenities and even f
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Taiwan Video =)

Snippets of our Taiwan trip with the 7D... sorry some parts were v crappy... I couldn't figure out how to focus =P cos i'm still getting used to the video function =P
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Taipei Day 6: Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall （中正纪念堂）and Old Chang Beef Noodles （老张牛肉面）

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On our last day, we had the morning to walk around so we visited the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall （中正纪念堂）which was holding 2 exhibitions: Dinosaurs and Da Vinci, the genius. I liked the Da Vinci exhibition a lot. He was really a genius =) and i learnt something new... i never noticed that Mona Lisa had no eyebrows and eyelashes!! it is probably due to aging of the colours. And for the last supper, did you know that all lines in the room converge towards Jesus? coolz... =) This is the gate you go through to enter the memorial hall and i like the architecture of the building =) When i showed Priscilla the pictures, she said she was there a week ago to take wedding pictures! haha... it's become so common for wedding couples to go overseas to take pictures and Taiwan is a popular place because of the nice sights, flowers, architecture and most importantly, affordability. Chris and i are also considering taking photos overseas for our 10th anniversary which is in 2 years ^^ Pris is ver
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Taipei Day 5: Imperial Palace Museum （故宫）and Shilin Night Market （士林夜市）

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After coming back from Taroko Gorge, we had about half a day so we went to the Imperial Palace Museum where some of the most exquisite antiques, paintings and calligraphy are on display. The building itself is very grand but they planted many plants in front of it so in the photos, the building like kena blocked -.- to take a proper pic of this place, you'll need to sit helicopter -.- very crowded with many tour groups... almost like the lourve in Paris >.< We had tea at Level 4 of the musuem... looks very pretty with gold leaf even but doesn't taste nice. you're better off just ordering alishan oolong and skip the high tea set =P minimum expenditure of NT$120 per person expected. one pot of tea is about NT$160 (about SGD$8) so it's ok la. nice view and quiet place, no noisy tourists. good break from the crowds =) Admission to the garden beside the museum is free if you bought the tickets for museum entry so you can go there to jalan jalan abit. Chris bought some
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Taiwan Day 3-5: Taroko Gorge （太鲁阁）

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About 2 hours train ride from Taipei on the Taroko Express is Hualien and from Hualien, it's a short car- ride to Taroko Gorge National Park, a nice getaway from the city. Hikers will love the many trails here. If you don't like to walk too much (like us), don't fret, you can catch tours, rent a taxi or car and explore the area =) Take note that it's mountainous terrains and you'd be driving by the edge of a cliff so if you don't have the guts, it's better to join a tour. and although renting a car gives you greater flexibility, be aware that some of the trails are one way (as in not loop) so you got to walk back to your car. For tours, they let you off on one end, you walk all the way and they pick you up from the other end. To truly explore the sights, I suggest staying at least 1 night in taroko gorge itself. By the time you reach Hualien, it's almost afternoon so you can probably do a half-day tour and another half-day tour the next day (if you stay
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Taipei Day 2: Yangmingshan Flower Festival （阳明花季） and Taipei 101

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We wanted to catch cherry blossoms at yangmingshan and according to grace, the later in mar you go, the less you will see so although the guidebook advised AGAINST going on weekends, we went there on sunday anyway because the weather seemed fine that day (the weather in taipei is really unpredictable... weather good better go... if not if it rains and washes them all away, you'd cry man) anyway, i kena saboed by grace and the hotel reception... they told me that yangmingshan will be COLD so i brought my trenchcoat (which grace also advised me to bring)... -.- it was FREAKIN HOT!!! i was the only girl walking around in a t-shirt (i layered so i too off the outer long-sleeved top). i don't know what's with the taiwanese girls -.-??? it's so freakin hot and they wear jackets!!!! cardigans, longsleeves... and some even wear thick thick down jackets *mouth wide open* grace says it's because they don't want to get dark... ok, my arms are dark and i have the watch prin
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