lea pof travels: October 2014

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Nantou, Taiwan - Puli Town

Off solo to Puli, the geographic centre of Taiwan, in Nantou county. Wanted to try paragliding, but no chance, nonetheless, it's a lovely countryside, with good air and good water (one of the cleanest in Taiwan, apparently), and friendly laid back folks. The biggest Buddhist temple in Taiwan, with a boarding SCHOOL (apparently very popular among celebrities and elites because pupils are not allowed to date), can also be found here, and their temples are really high-tech to say the least. It's usually a springboard to the Sun Moon Lake (a 30-minute drive) and there's also a hotspring resort (another regret).

It was also here that I found myself 'locked out' of my accommodation (minsu owner was out painting), tried to figure out how to use their dying-breed of payphones, sought shelter at the temple next door (friendly old folks who wanted to exchange for some Singapore dollars), met a European tourist who followed his Lonely Planet guide religiously, an amiable ex-discipline master from Hong Kong, and an enterprising (to put it nicely) tour guide-cum-photographer who convinced me that Philippines is my next SE Asian destination.

After my mom left, '7' (7-eleven), and Family Mart became my favourite haunts. Anyway, this tea sucks - it's bitter. Love the Japanese snacks sold, remember to request for them to be heated up first!

Cozy. Until I realised it was my stop (most people were headed to SML) and fumbled out of the bus (I took off my shoes!) and searched desperately for my ticket.

How sometimes something good comes out of something bad. If I wasn't locked-out, how would I have the courage to meet you?

Couple that runs the temple next door with sweetheart Yuki

Reminds you - 'We belonged to an era that when something was broken, we would fix it, instead of throwing it away.'

Yuki is the type of dog who will wait for you to return when you leave.

After some failed attempts to get the minsu owner... Grandpa finally called and got through. So I packed up my bag (after a long chain-smoking session), checked in and left for a tour with the boss on a scooter (it's really scary if you don't hold on tight!)

At a paper factory

I chose my own mould (out of about 50, some quirky and some Cheena) and made 1/2 of my own fan (useful for National Day Parades).

Step 1: Imprinting by touching lightly

Step 2 (thereafter sought professional 'help'): heating

Step 3: Glueing and pasting

Step 4: Making the border

Down to the creek for some really clean water (ironically for washing clothes)

Wine in Puli, wanted to sample some wine but they were closing, had some wine popsicles (what's the point when the alcohol has evaporated?)

This was a Taoist temple on top of a hill with intricate carvings and panoramic views of Puli

Off for a gathering. It's a potluck party to celebrate the art class' last lesson of the term.

The contraption that looks like a toaster but is used to remove dust from the duster

Giant peanuts yum

Tangyuans filled with meat.

Amazing mums can keep their children focused on completing tasks. Unfortunately not all mums are this amazing so most children may never finish what they have started.

It's also possible that I'll retire to this quaint old town (just like my Japanese teacher-turned-minsu owner) especially since their Art teacher (a supposedly famous painter who was supposed to draw my portrait) didn't mind giving me a small plot of land to build my own house. Such is the hospitality of these folks. If the time comes and I decide to take up this offer, will it still be valid?

Taiwan Day 7 - Puli, Day 1:

Puli

Taiwan Day 8 - Puli, Day 2:

Sun Moon Lake

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Taipei, Taiwan - Taipei 101, National Palace Musuem and DIng Tai Fong

Back in Taipei, much more accessible but it was definitely getting cold. Taiwanese seem less sensitive to the cold, because I could range from wearing 1 layer to 5 and whether it's cold or otherwise, most Taiwanese dress up really warm and pretty in their winter togs. We wanted (okay, fine, I wanted) to try out Hello Kitty Sweets but we needed an advance reservation, as did Mr J cafe (whatever), so over 2 days, we did a ton of other things like visit Taipei 101 (wet and cloudy), National Palace Museum (no photography allowed in exhibition halls and, do check out rates properly first), Wufenpu Garment Market, Shida Night Market (I like), Shilin Night Market (so-so) (Not many pictures at Night Markets for obvious reasons), and last meal together at Ding Tai Fung (at some Japanese Department Store, I love Japanese Department Stores).

Cute graphics at Train Station

How much is that Hello Kitty in the window?

Gave up waiting for free shuttle in the rain, just cab (it was a five minute ride)

'It's so high, it disappeared into the clouds.'

At random Night Market (for mantous and oyster omelette)

National Palace Museum has a very interesting history. including stories about how the KMT packed crates of Chinese treasures to ship to Taiwan and how those exhibited are the choice picks. Having been to museums in Shanghai and Beijing, together combined, the treasures number so many, it's hard to put a value to things, and imagine, how many more are 'missing'!

Do join the complimentary English museum tours, you'd learn a lot more than going around on your own.

At the adjoining park

Not sure where this was:

Wufenpu! It was a mess, and not exactly cheap to me, but trendy definitely. Trending winter. -__-

DTF is an institution.

Then 2 to the airport, 1 to return. Do ask your hotel if they sell bus tickets to the Taoyuan Airport, because they buy group tickets and you can save some money (not much, but it is good enough). The outside waiting of the airport looks really pathetic (3 restaurants, very rundown) but when you go inside the transit area, it's upgrading and looks really fun (I only knew it much later when I left). Solo thereon...

Taiwan Day 1 - Taipei, Day 1: