Yehilu 野柳 & Ruifang 瑞芳, Taiwan (Day 6)

18th May 2018, Friday

Ah Zhu Mee Sua

Today, we are going quite a few places as recommended by Mr Zhu as we decided to engage his service again. When we met up with Mr Zhu, he told us to go have our breakfast at the famous Ah Zhu Mee Sua shop which is already open for business. So S walked us to the shop and we bought  4 small bowls of it. But i still find the size of small bowl big, it was quite nice to eat and there were pig's intestines inside.

After the wonderful breakfast, Mr Zhu drove us to Yehliu, where the Queen's head resides. He first dropped us at Wanli Distinct where we could see the great sea. We stayed around for 15 mins with toilet break and some photos taking.

Sea View

After that, Mr Zhu drove us to the entrance of Yehliu distrinct before we go to Yehliu GeoPark. Along the way, Mr Zhu kept telling us he will bring us to eat live seafood which will be better than the one we went the previous day. He told us to go take photos on the rocks which were created naturally and the rocks were very smooth and white. One of the rocks at the top was called "Camel's Humps" as it looks like there were two humps similar to a camel's humps.

Camel's Humps

Then Mr Zhu drove us to the entrance of Yehliu GeoPark and we went to buy our tickets. He gave us a short introduction on the naturally created stones and recommended us the must-see rocks in the park too. When we went in the park, there are a lot of people around and it was very sunny too. There were different forms of the stones and rocks to see. However, we kept walking to find the main attraction, which is the Queen's head. There was even a long queue line-up for photo taking, there was even a security guard monitoring and a line was surrounded the rock to prevent the public from touch the rock. It was mentioned that there was a crack line along the Queen's neck and it was rumoured that the head will be dropping soon. That is why a man-made replica on the Queen's head was built as a substitution. We walked around the park to see other rocks such as "The Slipper", "Mushroom Stones" and "Elephants". There were some tourists who just don't know how to behave in the park. They tried to climb up the rocks just to take photos and had to be shouted by the guards to get them down and not spoil the natural rocks.

Queen's Head

The Slipper

Elephant

Mushroom Stones

By the time we finished the park visiting, it was almost lunch time. As promised, Mr Zhu brought us to the live seafood restaurant located opposite the park. It was very crowded when we arrived there, most of the guests were in big groups. So we made our order first and Mr Zhu helped us to get the staffs to find us a table, which took a while before we had our table. Finally, we got our table and i was already hungry. When the first dish (which was live abalone) arrived, we were kind of surprised because the abalone were still alive. I even asked S whether we had to eat the abalone live...hahaha....Luckily we don't need, however, we had to witness the cooking of the abalones over the heated plate. The abalones were even jumping over the heat while cooking. After the abalones were cooked, we tried it...it was yummy with the freshness...(finally found something nice to remember there). But Ss don't dare to try it. We even ordered another plate of it...it was also very cheap as it costs around $3 plus for one piece. The fried fish was not quite nice as the fried skin was quite separated from the meat. But the meal was quite good as compared to the one we had on the previous day.

Live Seafood to choose

Wan Li Crabs

Live Abalones

Fried Prawns

Fried Omelette

Fried Fish

 After the nice lunch, we headed out to Ruifang where Mr Zhu wanted to bring us to see Shi Fen Waterfall. When we reached there, we went for a toilet break in a cafe. There, we saw red mangoes inside a box and Mr Zhu was telling us that the mangoes were sweet. Then he just bought two manages and treated us. Ss said she don't want to walk to see the waterfall as she was tired, so she stayed in the cafe and Mr Zhu told the staff to help him look out for Ss while he brought us up to see the waterfall... So we went ahead with the hike, there were many tourists there too and there was a suspension bridge to the waterfall. It took us around 15 mins or so to reach the waterfall and we spent another 15 mins to take photos there.

Suspension Bridge

Shi Fen Waterfall

After that, Mr Zhu brought us to Shi Fen to light sky lanterns. There were a lot of tourists there too and there was a heavy jam towards the entrance to Shi Fen. However, Mr Zhu drove through another shortcut to get into Shi Fen. When we reached, he took us to the very first-started up sky lantern shop where we bought a 4-colours lantern. There were around 9 colours (Red, Yellow, Blue, Purple, White, Orange, Green, Magenta and Pink) with different meanings. We were instructed to draw our blessings on every side of the lanterns with the ink brushes provided. When we were drawing, there was train coming and there were shouting from the shops owners to warn the tourists to get off the railway track. After the train passed, everyone was back on the tracks again.

Colours to choose for

Sky Lantern Shop

Our drawings

Coming Train

After we are done with the drawings and writings, the lantern was set to light off. The shop staff just took our lantern and told us to each hold the corners of the lantern. So there was like a standard procedure where the staff told us to do different poses with each side of the lantern. After the photos taking was done, he lighted up the lantern and told us to let go when he finished counting 1,2,3. Our lantern flew up in the sky when we let go though we won't know where it will fly to.

Up up and Away!!

After that, we went walking along the shops and did a little shopping when Mr Zhu told us he going to buy a famous snack near the train station. It was BBQ chicken wing stuffed with rice. He wanted to buy more but we told him to buy just one and we will share it.. In the end, he still bought 2 of it which mi and S ate it. It was quite nice and filling because of the rice inside....Feeling full the whole day...hahaa....Kt was not feeling well so we were deciding whether to go back hotel or continue going to Jiu Fen. Eventually, we decided to proceed on to Jiu Fen, Mr Zhu brought us to go up a world war ruin building. There, Mr Zhu showed us the Gorilla Mountain (which looks like a big sitting gorilla) and the Yin Yang Sea (where there were two colours in the sea).

BBQ Chicken Wing Stuffed with Rice

Yin Yang Sea

Golden Waterfall

When we were done, Mr Zhu brought us to see the Golden Waterfall where we spent some time to take photos. After that, we went to Jiu Fen where Mr Zhu told us to drop him a message when we were done with our shopping. There were many tourists there too and it was very squeezy on the single road (it was the only road in and out). There were shops selling food and souvenirs where i also bought some customised stamps. We just walked along the road without trying any of the food there too as was still feeling full. Also, tried looking for the egg puddings but with no avail. After walking around an hour and it was getting dark, we got Mr Zhu to drive us back to the hotel.

Sausages

Narrow Road

 

BBQ Mushrooms

When we reached back to the hotel, we took a while to rest before deciding to go to Shilin. We eventually took the train to Shilin market and S brought us to try herbal soups with pork and chicken. The soup was yummy...we finished all of it.....hahahaa....After that, we went walking the market and even went playing with the capsule machines. By then, it was quite late and we went back to the hotel....So tired after a long day....

Herbal Soups

Capsule Machines

Ji Dao Gao

Places Visited:
Wanli Distinct
Yehliu GeoPark
Shi Fen Waterfall
Shi Fen
Gorilla Mountain
Yin Yang Sea
Golden Waterfall
Jiu Fen
Shilin Market

Hotel Stayed:
VIA Hotel

Yang Ming Shan 陽明山國家公園, Taiwan Trip (Day 14)

30th November 2014, Sunday

Qixing Bus Stop

Today, we were supposed to wake up early and go to Jiu Fen and Shi Fen area but we 2 ended up getting up almost to 10 plus...getting super tired already...hahaha...So i told my friend just go to yangmingshan instead, as it was nearer. We got up to get ready and made our way to Jiantan Station to take the red 5 bus to go up. It was almost to 1 pm when we finally reached the national park. Then we changed to bus number 108 to go to the attractions around the park. We wanted to go to the waterfall stop, which was the further up. But the bus we got on was like only going half of the route and there were only single seats in the mini bus, most of the people have to stand and it was round and round up the mountain roads. It was damn bumpy too..We got off at Mount. Qixing bus stop and we were like stranded at nowhere again....hahahaa

Mountain 'Smoking'

Boiling Water

Fried Sweet Potato..Must Try!!!

So we just took the round Mt. Qixing Trail to walk to Xiaoyoukeng (小油坑), where there is 'smoke' coming out from the mountain...hehheehe.....It was stairs and stairs again, i really not feeling the mood and energy to do the hiking trails anymore. We were too tired....Once we reached xiaoyoukeng, we just went and see the 'smoke' coming from the volcanic pit on the mountain...There was a puddle of boiling water at the side too. And there was a very strong nasty smell too. After this, we went to the bus stop to catch the bus again. This time the bus was going up to the waterfall, and we had to stand on the bus. It was so hard to keep balance when the bus was going up the road and rocking from left to right. We passed by some bus stops on the top and we saw the people queuing to take the bus....is super super long....and it was like around 3 plus. And the further up we went, the more people we see at the bus stop. So we just decided we better don't alight the bus, if not, we won't be able to get back on the bus later on. There was even a point where the road was jammed with cars on both sides of the traffic. When we reached back to the bus terminal, it was about 3 plus. There was a food stall opening and we went to grab some food as we haven't had lunch yet. Most of the dishes were sold out too. The fried sweet potato snacks was the best of all we ordered...hahaha...even my friend likes it...we ordered 2 plates of it.

Gates of Yang Ming Shan

After that, there was a walking trail to yangming park. So we just walked slowly that trail and we didn't reach the park too...hahaa...it was like super far and we don't want to end up having no bus back again. So we took a bus back to the bus terminal and then we bought a packet of oranges from the side stalls too. The auntie was telling us 1 packet of 5 oranges costs NT$50 and there were own grown, very sweet. Those bigger ones were NT$50 each....The auntie didn't lie to us, the oranges were really sweet!! Sweeter than the ones we bought at Guanziling....After that, we queued to take the red 5 bus back to Jiantan station. After we came down to the station, we made our way to Shilin Night Market. It was different from my first visit, all the food stalls are along the road. As we were still full, we went abit of shopping first....hehehee...Then we just kept walking further in until we saw interesting food and then we will stop and buy back. There was a cake stall inside the market too, which was having long queue. So we went and buy 1 box too, similar to the one we bought from Tainan. But It wasn't so nice as the one we bought in Tainan. I would recommend to buy the one from Tainan instead of this one.... :P...It was quite crowded as we went in further and worse still, we both need to find restrooms.....

Super Big Sausages

Nice Nice Chicken Cutlet

Cute Dragon Design

Then i saw a Stay Real shop there (cannot help not going in the shop..hahaha), so i went in and asked whether the designs my friend (working in KL) wanted are available...hohohoho...1 design was worldwide out of stock and the other is selling only in Japan stores. Before we exited the shop, my friend pointed to me one design which she said it was cute too and asked me to take photo and go back ask my friend. Then we went to find restrooms but ended up walking to the next metro station. As we wanted to go back to the hotel, so we went into the station and the restrooms were inside (after the gates). After that, we took the metro back to Jiantan station and went back to the night market again. This time, we just went to buy the food we wanted to eat (got potato with cheese and chicken cutlet which was fried and then grilled). Then we took the metro back to the hotel, where we had our snacks. The potato with cheese wasn't as nice as the one i bought at Tainan. Here the potato was fried instead of baked...but it was a popular stall in Taipei...(later i saw the same stall in one of the alleys at Ximending too)....hohoho...Once back in hotel, i connected wi-fi and messaged my friend to let her know on the bad news and also showed her the one we took photo in the shop. She said she wanted that, so i went to the rock coco (which was also under stay real) branch in Ximending and helped her check on that design. Again, they don't have the stock anymore and the only store still having the stock was in Banqiao, which i didn't know where was it and i thought there wasn't enough time for us to travel there to buy the next day too. So i didn't ask the staff to help us reserve the shirt in that branch. I wanted to get one shirt for my friend, as she will be very disappointed if i going to tell her the bad news again. But that branch was too small and i didn't find a design that she will like. So we went back to the hotel.....and continue eating my potato and chicken cutlet....

Hotel Stayed: Rainbow Hotel

Places Visited:
Yang Ming Shan
Shilin Night Market