2009 Taiwan Trip - National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

Dr Sun Yat-sun is recognized as the Father of the Nation by both China and Taiwan. One of limited common principles of the two.


During his lifetime, Sun was devoted and committed to establish a modern China. People was always the first concern in his eyes. With this humanity belief, he gradualy developed a significant political philosophy which is known as Three Principles of the People (The People's Relation / Connection, The People's Power and People's Livelihood / Welfare). Yet, we still have much to work on it.


Traditional outlook of the Memorial Hall.


Honour Guard Exchange Ceremony is a must-see activity.
Videos:
Honor Guards Perform Exchanging Ceremony Part 1
Honor Guards Perform Exchanging Ceremony Part 2

Sometimes, we can see things clearer in distance. View of Taipei 101 from the Memorial Hall Square.

2009 Taiwan Trip - Won Star Ximen @ Taipei

Won Star Ximen (萬事達西門館) is located exactly at Ximending area where one can enjoy shopping or dining anytime he / she wants. It has been opened for a month only, thus, everything is still very new.

Romantic color of bedding but not my cup of tea.


Similar to most hotels, the room comes with integrated shower tub, toilet and washing area.


Good that there's an in-room wardrobe which is not available in JustSleep. However, Won Star provides no safe.


By comparison, staff of JustSleep is more friendly and nice.

Price: HK$ 590 / room / night (No breakfast)
Room Type: Twin
Capacity: Max 2 pax
Add: Xining Nan Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City 105 (台北市萬華區西寧南路105號)
Remarks: In-room free Wifi is available

2009 Taiwan Trip - Just Sleep @ Taipei

JustSleep (捷絲旅), a new hip hotel which is very popular among Hong Kong people. It's located at the opposite of famous shopping area, Ximen. A few minutes from Ximen MRT Station on foot.


Its room setting does beat down many other hotels. Unlike most hotels, the twin room comes with 2 desks which allow more privacy to each roommate.


Washing area, toilet and bathroom are well separated. Better facility and time management for roommates.



Staff there is nice but not too professional to handle many guests at a time. Yet, it's a good try while it's still new.

Price: HK$ 700 / room / night (breakfast included)
Room Type: Twin
Capacity: Max 2 pax
Add: 台北市中華路一段41號
http://www.justsleep.com.tw/StoreDetail.aspx
Remarks: In-room free Wifi is available

2009 Taiwan Trip - Shui Yang @ Sun Moon Lake

As I often mention, a good hotel would make a trip to be more enjoyable. Let's start from the best hotel during my trip. Shui Yang (水漾民宿) is a minshuku located in Sun Moon Lake.


The owner is a super friendly and nice gentleman. Actually, he is pleased to answer any questions his guests raise. He even allowed me to settle full payment upon arrival as I am not from Taiwan. Moreover, he has good connections with restaurants and transportation operators. Therefore, his guests can often enjoy a better rate.

Its L shape floor-to-ceiling windows in room allow you to appreciate the lake from day to night or from night to day.





Only one drawback of this minshuku is it's a bit far away. I had to take bus from the Sun Moon Lake tourist centre to it. The bus operates once an hour. If you miss it, then one have to take taxi or limo to there. Despite of the location, Shui Yang is value for money.

Price: NT 3,900 / room / night (breakfast included)
Room Type: Tow Double Bed
Capacity: Max 4 pax
Add: 南投縣魚池鄉日月村豐年街56號
http://shuiyang.emmm.tw

2009 Taiwan Trip - Summary

Oct 26-Nov 1, 2009 (7D6N)

During my trip, what impressed me most was the majority of Taiwaneses were very friendly and helpful. It's what I didn't experience much at my first trip around 10 years ago. Probably because I joined a tour rather than arranged everything myself last time. Well, there's one funny exceptional case. A young lady replied she was lost and ran away after my friend and me asked for direction. I hope her reaction was caused by Halloween. Haha.

Let's have a look on the itinerary:

Day 1
HK --> Tao Yuan Airport --> JustSleep (Dragonair + King Bus + MRT Ximen Station)
Lunch @ Sushi-ExpressNational Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (MRT National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Station)
National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Area & Zhongxiao Dunhug Area (On Foot)
Dinner @ Dintaifung & Tuhsiaoyueh (On Foot)
Raohe Street Night Market (Taxi)
Taipei 101 (Taxi)
Stay @ JustSleep (MRT Ximen Station)
Day 2
Presidential Office Building (MRT NTU Hospital Station) Lunch @ Yonghe Soybean Milk (On Foot)
National Taiwan Museum (On Foot)
Taipei Zoo (MRT Taipei Zoo Station)Dinner @ Butaya
The Red House (MRT Ximen Station)
Stay @ JustSleep (On Foot)
Day 3
Sun Moon Lake (MRT Taipei Main Station + Taiwan High Speed Rail Taichung Station + Nantou Bus Sun Moon Lake Station)Lunch @ Sun Moon Lake (On Foot)
Shuiyang Minshuku (Lake-surroundings Bus Ita Thao Station)Lalu Island & Syuanguang Temple (Cruise)
Market (On Foot)
Thao Performance & Dinner (On Foot)Stay @ Shuiyang Minshuku (On Foot)

Day 4
Shueishe (Lake-surroundings Bus Ita Thao Station)
Hanbi Hiking Trail (On Foot)Lunch @ Mos Burger (Nantou Bus Taiwan High Speed Rail Taichung Station)
Won Star Ximen (Taiwan High Speed Rail Taipei Station + MRT Ximen Station)
National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall (MRT C.K.S. Memorial Hall Stationc)
Dinner @ Yongkang Beef Noodle (On Foot)
Yongkang Street (On Foot)
Shida Night Market (MRT Taipower Building Station)
Stay @ Won Star Ximen (MRT Ximen Station)
Day 5
Jioufen (Taiwan Railway Ruifang Station + Keelong Bus Jioufen Station)
Lunch @ Ruifang (Keelung Bus Ruifang Station)
Jingtong (Pingxi Line Jingtong Station)
Shifen (Pingxi Line Shifen Station)Seafood Dinner @ Keelung Miaokou Night Market (Pingxi Line Ruifang Station + Taiwan Railway Badu Station + Taiwan Railway Keelung Station)
Stay @ Won Star Ximen (Taiwan Railway Taipei Station + MRT Ximen Station)
Day 6
National Palace Museum (MRT Shihlin Station + Bus Red 30)
Lunch @ Jianchiwu (MRT Minchuan W. Rd. Station + Taxi)
Rooftop Ferris Wheel @ Miramar Entertainment Park (MRT Chientan Station + Free Shuttle Bus)
Dinner @ Shihlin Night Market (Free Shuttle Bus MRT Chientan Station)
Stay @ Won Star Ximen (MRT Ximen Station)
Day 7
Breakfast @ Dintaifung (MRT Zhongxiao Dunhug Station)
Eslite Bookstore (On Foot)
Hello Kitty Sweets (On Foot)
Lunch @ Tuhsiaoyueh (On Foot)
Taipei Main Station Area (MRT Taipei Main Station)
Ximen Area (MRT Ximen Station)
Won Star Ximen --> Tao Yuan Airport --> (Taxi + King Bus + Dragonair)

Retreat in Bintan and Singapore - In-Villa Dining

"In-villa BBQ" How to make it? Let's try and find out.

Neat table setting was done by an associate in short time. The BBQ set came with a few appetizers, ie chicken salad, Greek salad, etc, side dishes, ie. potato, grilled vegetables, fried rice, dessert, ie. fruits. All food was good, except the oily fried rice. Even a bat was attracted by our dinner.


Here were the cast: chicken, fish, pawn, lobster and fillet. Our cooking skills? Chef's standard of course. Thanks for the fresh ingredients. Only garlic could enhance their taste and thus no extra sauced was needed.



Better presentation, better taste.


Dinner of another night. A seafood pizza with various seafood on top. Ox tail soup was rich while potato soup was very creamy. Behind the scene, there lemongrass ice-cream and mango orange ice-cream were awaiting us.


Extra: A melon in a Singapore supermarket which haven't seen in HK.

Retreat in Bintan and Singapore - Villa on the Rocks

Among many world renowned resorts, I picked Banyan Tree where to spend 3D2N because of it's reputation in running premium resorts.

Welcome to my independent villa. If you really love the villa, you can buy it and then you are entitled to share profits with the resort developer. For me, I prefer to be a visitor.


2 reasons why I chose Villa on the Rocks. The first is private jacuzzi and the second is boundless ocean view.



The room.


In line with the destination, all decorations are in Indonesian style.



Very rural feel roof.


This sofa is very comfortable to lie on and relax.



Shower in front of the ocean.


Towel art is very common in hotels during recent years. This one is royal peacock.


Complimentary items: tree top bananas, sea salt and a beanie turtle.


A tree which probably provides the bananas above.

Retreat in Bintan and Singapore - Day and Night @ Bintan

Forget all fame and gain. Simply lie back and enjoy the nature in relaxing mood.

Ebb tide in early morning


Blue sky and white clouds




Sun set



Crescent moon with little stars

Retreat in Bintan and Singapore - T3 @ Changi Airport

Jun 7-Jul 1, 2009

Where is a good choice for retreat? Certainly a place where you can receive good friend's warm hospitality. And thus I picked Singapore again. To make the break more relaxing, we further retreated to Bintan, a beautiful place with international resorts. Bintan is a territory of Indonesia but is mainly managed by Singapore. It just takes an hour to there from Singapore by ferry. So convenient.

Let's stay in the city for some more moments before retreat. Here's the newly launched Terminal 3 at Changi Airport. Spacious and well-equiped. It's also the home of giant airbus, A380. This infrastructure demonstrates the Singppore governemtn does have determination to outperform its neighbours.