lea pof travels: Houtong

Showing posts with label Houtong. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Taipei, Taiwan: Along the Pingxi Line - The Sleeping Cats of Houtong

When's a good time to visit Houtong? Unless you like stalking sleeping cats, avoid visiting in the late morning at all costs! Here's a compilation of the kitty residents in this former mining town, who have either not awoken or are taking a cat-nap in an assortment of rather amusing kitty poses.

I visited Houtong once back in December 2011 and I just had to revisit my favourite cat! They were definitely more awake then, despite the rain. Many things have changed - the bridge from the train station to the town is new and pretty funky (More on that in an upcoming post! Or visit my flickr for a sneak!), and more people are swarming to the town.

But the cats (and dogs) remain unfazed by the attention, just see how they sleep! Everywhere. Anywhere. Even when you aim the camera directly at their faces.

More pictures are available on my Flickr (simply click any photo).

Taiwan: Almost 100 Shots of Food. *Burp*

Taipei, Taiwan: 3 Things I Could Do Again and Again and...

Taiwan Day 2 - Pingxi Line Daytrip:

Huashan Market (for Fu Hang Dou Jiang 阜杭豆漿)
Houtong 1, Houtong 2
Jingtong
Pingxi
Shifen
Jiufen
Back to Taipei
Shilin Night Market

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Taipei, Taiwan: Along the Pingxi Line - 7 Reasons to Visit Houtong

7 reasons why Houtong is worth visiting and re-visiting

Lest you start thinking that Houtong has nothing to offer except adorable, sleeping cats, here's a list of what you can expect from this cat-town, a train ride away from Taipei, Taiwan.

1) Cutesy cat motifs around town

The last time I visited, there were guidelines written along the bridge, the English was funny because it was translated literally from the Chinese. It was amusing reading about"hug the nature", "dance tango with the cats" and "emotionally noises", but you'd somehow get the point.

The bridge has been rebuilt or renovated. The guidelines are gone. Here's what you can expect from the get-go after you alight from the train:

Here's the avant grade bridge

2) Awake cats

Most cats were sound asleep in the late morning, but then, the early cats got the worms.

3) Dogs

Although it's famous for the cats, Houtong does have some dogs, though they're really rare.

4) Tourists, local and foreign alike

Cat. Unfazed by all the attention.

5) Small town charms

6) A cat-themed shop

7) The scenery

Given that it's former mining town. Isn't it amazing how the cats here brought life back to this sleepy town?

And to top it off, reason 8 is the sleeping cats of Houtong in my previous post! Do you have a favourite Houtong cat? I do!

More pictures are available on my Flickr (simply click any photo).

Taiwan: Almost 100 Shots of Food. *Burp*

Taipei, Taiwan: 3 Things I Could Do Again and Again and...

Taiwan Day 2 - Pingxi Line Daytrip:

Huashan Market (for Fu Hang Dou Jiang 阜杭豆漿)
Houtong 1, Houtong 2
Jingtong
Pingxi
Shifen
Jiufen
Back to Taipei
Shilin Night Market

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Taipei, Taiwan - Houtong

At Puli, I found out about this former coal-mining (monkey-roaming) town which turned into a tourist-magnet because of the cats here. Locals or tourists normally hop on and off the train because Ruifang is quite near (the cliff- and ocean town).

Why is Houtong so appealing? What's the big deal about cats? Well, it's more common to see stray dogs generally in Taiwan, and Houtong is one place where you not just see cats, but manymanymany of them, which come in different shapes and sizes. Bring some cat food or treats, and an umbrella (it was really wet in December)!

On the train to Taipei