Taiwan 2nd Day : Qingjing and Gaomei Wetlands

 I researched and researched for the 2nd day activity to have this done DIY but it was just too hard in this area. Bus are not frequent and what if it rains? Decided best to get KLOOK tour instead with Qingjing and Gaomei Wetlands together.

You may get it here:
https://www.klook.com/en-PH/activity/90491-qingjing-farm-gaomei-wetland-day-tour/

Took our breakfast at MWD near our hotel. It was cheap and delicious. I am not a fan of sausage but for some reason I really liked the sausages in Taiwan. The bread is so good as well. This is like 115 NTD.

We were the 1st to be picked up at our hotel at 8am and got the others along the way to our 1st stop -Qingjing Farm. 

An hour and a half later, we had our bladder break at the gas station and saw these flowering trees across the street. Not sure if these were Cherry Blossoms though. 

Qingjing Farm

It was already at 10:30 AM when we are inside the Qingjing Farm. Not expecting anything except for the sheep of course but we were greeted with a line of Cherry Blossoms. 

Finally caught Shaun's family. They were muddy though given the rain

amazing view of the mountains from here

We just went down the trail till we saw this sign. At the left side is the Equestrian show, we were not really interested and left during the show and just caught some acts before it ended.

selfie with the Sakura

then it rained a little

We exited the farm and walked across the street to start the Skywalk. Timecheck :11:40 AM
At the entrance, we turn right to reach the Carton King at the end, this is where we will meet our tour driver so he can take us to our lunch.

the end of our Skywalk 

Tour Driver took us to our lunch which is kind of expensive. It was 2480 NTD for the five of us. The other 3 in the group is family so they were seated in a different table. Meal was decent, I liked the Pork liver steak so much I had like 3 or 4 slices but just when we were so full the main dish was served.  I cannot  for the love of God imagined chicken be served with its head and feet.hahahha.

found this Sakura tree just outside the resto

 It was foggy then when we went back to Qingjing to watch the Sheep Show.

then came to the part where it rained and could no longer see what's being done, so we head out to the meeting place ahead of the other people watching the show.

Tour driver informed us we are heading down to Gaomei. It was like a 2hr drive. There was no sunset at that time but the mood is giving. 

Left Gaomei at 6:30 PM and arrived in Taichung at 7:30 PM. Initially , we planned to drop by at the night market. Due to exhaustion and also need to wake up early for the Sun Moon lake tour, we opted to be dropped at our hotel instead.

Taiwan 1st Day : Taichung

 We bought tickets from Klook for our HSR trip from Taoyuan to Taichung. The trip was more or less 40mins. We decided to spend our 1st days in Taichung so we won't be having issues flight back home. 

From HSR Taichung, we took a TRA to Taichung and just walked to Chance Hotel for roughly 3mins. Yes,  we chose this hotel as it is near everything we need - 7/11, restos bus stations and train station. It's just a walk across the Taichung TRA station.

We arrived in Taichung at 1:45 PM, check in is at 3pm but we were already allowed to check in early as the room is already available.

this is the building you see when you go out of the Taichung train station

MIYAHARA 
No. 20號, Zhongshan Rd, Central District, Taichung City, Taiwan 400
Hours: 10AM to 9pm Everyday

This used to be an Opthalmology clinic but was turned into a dessert/restaurant with Harry potter Vibes.
Interior is great. Though we were not able to try the ice cream since the queue is long.

2nd floor is the resto but it was closed so we cannot go upstairs.. Pardon my smile..hahaha

Plan was to take uber to Chun Sui Tang but my friend said it's ok to walk since it's not that hot. Here's some shots from our walking.

This is giving me Cheonggyecheon Stream vibes in Korea

Chun Sui Tang Original Store
No. 30號, Siwei St, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan 403
Hours: 8AM to 10PM everyday

Never been a fan of Milk tea but I wanted to try the original one. So we dropped by the birthplace of Boba Milk tea. I liked the milk tea it was more of tea flavor than sugar. LOL. My friend who drinks milk tea in the Philippines doesn't like it though. It's not sweet to her taste. We ordered Shrimp Xiao Long Bao here as well and it was so good.

get your queue number here, you will be given the board menu, just check the circle and wait to be called and pay at the cashier then you will be seated.

we ordered the best seller which is the original one.

Taichung Literature Museum
No. 38號, Lequn St, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan 403
Hours: 10AM to 5pm Everyday except Monday as it is closed.

This is a few walks away from Chun Sui Tang, we dropped by as well as we like to Japanese Architecture. Entrance is free, there are cafes and some resto I guess at the back where the big tree is.

the one at the right side of the tree is the cafe/resto area

Liuchuan (Willow River) Canal 

probably best during sunset or early evening

Painted Animation Lane

Lane 100, Linsen Rd, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan 403

Open 24 hours

Do not go here just to see this place to avoid disappointments. We are already in the area, we decided to check it as well. We only liked the Totoro Bus stop, others are just some graffiti splashed on the walls of this small lane.

Head back to Chance Hotel by Uber  and rested for a bit. I met a College Buddy at 6:30 PM Taichung station for a quick catchup. Took some snaps while waiting.

Taichung Old train station

Taichung Old Station this is just at the side of the new station

the back of this giant is the new Taichung train station

it lights in the late afternoon and night

with my friend Marichelle

End of 1st day.

Taiwan Trip (8days 7nights)

My friend impulsively booked us a round trip ticket to Taipei having no cheap flight for Japan or Australia. With only a month to prepare for the itinerary, I was literally overwhelmed with things to include and what not.

Here are the things you need to prepare before arriving in Taiwan.

1. Register at https://etravel.gov.ph 3 days before your travel.

2. Register at lucky land  https://5000.taiwan.net.tw/index_en.html

Taiwan Tourism Bureau launched a subsidy scheme titled "Taiwan the Lucky Land," in which NT$5,000 will be provided to 500,000 foreign tourists who win a lucky draw over the course of three years from May 1, 2023 up to  June 30, 2025

Step 1. Register at least 1 day and within 7 days before arrival

Step 2. Try your luck and draw at the arrivals hall of airports in Taiwan

Step 3. Receive your prize on the spot and enjoy your trip to Taiwan

Prizes: Ipass ,Easy Card, iCash and Accomodation Vouchers

My friend won the draw (Easycard) while I was not. I guess I ran out of luck this time. 

Things to consider in making out your itinerary :

1. What do you want to see/experience

2. Where will you stay

3. DIY or join tours

After long deliberate research, I was able to complete our itinerary. Having 2 bases - Taichung and Ximending. Initially, I wanted to go to Alishan but decided to scrap it as it will consume a lot of travel hours not to mention multiple check-ins. I'll probably include this on my next visit with the itinerary that will better suit it.

1st Day  -  Taiwan Arrival, travel to Taichung

2nd Day - Qingjing and Gaomei Wetlands

3rd Day - Nantou- Sun Moon Lake

4th Day - Taichung Half Day Tour/ Check-in Ximending

5th day - Beitou Thermal Valley (DIY) / Shopping

6th day- Northcoast Tour ( Jiufen, Shifen ) Booked tour

7th Day - Taipei 101/ Tamsui 

8th Day - Flight Back home

I did not include the 8th day in the count for day in Taiwan as it just literally flight back home.

1st Day Kyoto-Gion Area

First Day High!

We started so early in the morning, the bus schedule is 06:26 AM at the stop near our hotel, which is like 2mins walk or so. We took Bus 80 and alighted at Kiyommizu-michi Bus stop. We just followed the people and did not turn on our google maps, then I realized it wasn't the correct entry street for Hokanji. I remember the alley was narrow  but this one is a little wide and the road is going uphill to Kiyumizudera. So we turned left and found this photospot on our way , there' actually a mark on the road indicating that.

•  Hokanji 

Finally found the correct alley

took another spot here to replicate our shot here last 2017

2017, back when we was shorter than me

behind us are people trying to get a snap as well of Hokanji 

• NinenZaka and SannenZaka

view from the top

Down the stairs view

spotted a cute store

• Breakfast at Starbucks Kyoto

We explored the NinenZaka and SannenZaka first while there are not so many people yet.  After that we lined up at Starbucks to take our breakfast. Surprisingly, there were already quite a few waiting in line. I counted 10 people before us.

No more space for tatami seating

managed to get a spot in the corner just for the 'gram post..hahaha

cute souvenir you can buy from Starbucks

TIP: When the Store opens, they require customers to take the stairs and save a spot first before you can order. Get someone from your group to save your spot and the other one going to the other end of the hallway and go back down to order your drinks and pastries.

Going to Kiyumizudera

saw a newly wed couple in a photoshoot

saw one photographer taking a picture here, so we stopped and took ours

• Kiyumizudera

view from the garden

see the pagoda from our back?

it's too tight to take a picture here , a lot of people wanting to take their spots

walk a little away from the platform and you'll get the same view minus the crowd

the pagoda that was on our back in the photo earlier
Tip : do not take pictures at the front, there is no crowd at the back

After Kiyumizudera, we headed back down to Ninenzaka to go to the next Stop. Kodaiji.

see the crowd around 11AM, this is the exact reason why we took pictures here earlier

Japan streets are so photogenic

women supporting women, probably besties

• Kodaiji

at the entrance

The Kodaiji Temple was closed for renovation but we actually went here to check the Bamboo Forest as well. The Bamboo Forest here is less crowded but it literally took me out of breaths, there is only one way you can go through it, you need to climb uphill then go down, no counterflow traffic. It is just a small area compared to the Arashisyama Bamboo Forest

If you only have one day in Kyoto and can only spend in Gion, it' s better to drop by here to get the Bamboo Forest Feels.

• Nishiki Market

Took our lunch here and went around. No More Free Taste in Nishiki Market. Hahahaha. Too bad, my son loved their free Karaages and nuts.

Went to some shoe stores and 2nd Hand stores, but the price is still expensive. So we opted to spend coins in the gachapons. 

taken at 1:43 pm. probably not a good time to drop here at this hour


We were heading next to Pontocho Alley but then I had to take a bladder break. We went down to the Subway area just to find restrooms. Arggh, no restrooms in the train station, luckily there are stores and what seemed like underground mall. We then found this Mario head by accident after getting out of the underground.

• Pontocho Alley

                                    the stores are still close, this looks better at night though

• Tatsumi Bridge

If you have watched memoirs of Geisha, this picture might be familiar to you. Yes, I am a fan of the book and the Movie.

this bridge is pretty in Spring, so I read

we walked through the small alley in the bridge and saw these tourists wearing their kimonos

Original Plan was for us to go to Hanami-Koji Dori then to Kennin-Ji before going to Yasaka Shrine but my son kept bugging me to buy his headphone so we head back to Kyoto, alighted at the stop near Yodabashi Mall.

testing the headphones, you can also score cheap shoes here, read from the dummies page they were able to buy NB 327 for 3500 PHP

We then walked to the hotel just so we can pass the Higashi Honganji Temple. We did not enter here though as we've been here last 2017.

We then took our dinner near the hotel and head back to Kyoto again to search for the Thrift stores.

Kyoto Tower view from Kyoto Station

mysterious light beam, we thought aliens are coming but nah this is just from kiyumizudera

.Ended the night at 8:42 PM, stopped by the nearest 711 and did some shopping for post dinner snacks.. Of course , we are Filipinos.

This is a DIY itinerary and we spent most of the time- walking.. 

Here's the recap of our 1st day Itinerary:

1. Hokanji

2. NinenZaka and SannenZaka

3. Starbucks Kyoto Ninenzaka

4. Kiyumizudera

5. Kodaiji

6. Nishiki Market

7. Pontocho Alley

8. Tatsumi Gion Bridge

9. Yodabashi Mall

10. Higashi Honganji

Original Plan

1. Hokanji

2. NinenZaka and SannenZaka

3. Starbucks Kyoto Ninenzaka

4. Kiyumizudera

5. Kodaiji

6. Nishiki Market

7. Pontocho Alley

8. Tatsumi Gion Bridge

9. Hanami-koji Dori (tourists will be banned here starting April 2024)

10. Kenninji Temple

11. Yasaka Shrine

If you are not intending to shop on the 1st day, you can try to follow the Original Plan. Numbers 9-11 is doable and you still finish at 7 or 8pm depending on your phase.