(Tuesday / 01:56)
1st September
It was a good thing that we set off early to the airport because we got lost in the huge Taipei Main Station! It is the interchange for buses, MRT, HSR and TRA and it took us a while to find the bus interchange because we got fooled by the signage.
This is her first time being so far away from Singapore and she went back alone! Brave girl! Played with double exposure shots so she looked like that hehe
Me and my twin.
After she left for her flight, we took the bus back to the main station again to catch a train to Hualien.
It was the first for both of us! On the train they sell 便当which is basically mix veggie with rice but up to now we have not try it because we spent most of the train ride sleeping. I love sleeping in the train although my neck gets stiff. The moment I get onto it, the sleeping bug just bites.
Other than sleeping, the view outside the window could be so gorgeous! Since it was the first ride for us we spent the first (or two) hours looking out of the window to enjoy the scenery. There was this moment when I almost fell asleep when Felicia gasped and when I open up my eyes...
Sorry that the picture done no justice to the real thing. But yeah, suddenly there was no more high rise buildings nor farm site but the ocean with an island overlooked by clouds just outside the window.
It was then when I realized that I am actually on my trip. ^^
By the time we reached Hualien it was already dark. The streets were rather quiet and there was a kind of peacefulness that came in (despite the heavy backpack and slight sore shoulder). Checked into the hostel and the owner recommended us places to go so we went to the closest food area.
Tried goose meat and it reminded me a little of Singapore's Hainanese chicken rice. Walked around a little bit and got lost because we could not understand the map HAHA
Back to the hostel we met our room mate and they were from Taoyuan. The girls were really friendly! They asked us about our trip and recommended us places to go in Tainan because she say she loved the place and would be going there again. She shared her guidebook with me but I did not had the time to read it :x
2nd
Took the train to 鹿野. It is where the hot air balloon festival was held at and it was the last day! Really glad that we were able to make it! The view from the top of the mountain was crazy. Saw people doing paragliding and wondered what it was like to be able to fly.
In the evening we watched the hot air balloon show. The moment when they test the fire, whoa. The moment when they open up the balloon, double whoa. Suddenly I felt so touched I almost wanted to cry hahaha It is stuff like this that you have to see for yourself to really understand and appreciate the beauty.
It was a pity that they did not fly up though! All that happened was the hot air balloon flashing the fire in rhythm with the music played. Maybe it is a hint that I have to go somewhere else to watch the balloons fly hehehe (Note to self: Make New Zealand happen!)
After that it was chaotic. With kiasu blood flowing with us, we rushed to the shuttle bus station but only to see a long, long queue. And the queue hardly move because when the bus arrived, it was already packed with people from the previous station. In the end we paid a small amount to get onto another bus that was going to Taitung.
It was only the day before when I realized that we would have nowhere to stay on this day! How careless of me! In the end we booked a hotel room from agoda. Although it was one of the cheapest hotel available, we were really satisfied with the stay :D
We were given free breakfast although the promotion rate I paid for had no breakfast included hehehe My guess is that the receptionist had not pulled out our late reservation but just went ahead with their procedure - giving us our room (free upgrade! one of the possible perks for arriving late) and breakfast voucher. Aiya, we did not eat much also. Felicia was so excited upon seeing two large beds in the room waiting for us to use haha
And know what? I forgot to pack undergarment!!! We left our backpack in the hostel and brought only sleeping clothes out hahaha So I had to washed it and dry it with the hairdryer lol
Then before we left the hotel, we took the combs, toothbrush, body wash and shampoo and tissue box(!) too hahahaha We certainly made the money well worth!
That is a true Singaporean story tsk
3rd
Went around Taitung a little and stopped by a hotpot place for dinner. After that we took a cab to the baseball stadium near to the train station but there was nothing much to see.
Left the stadium after probably 20minutes of shooting danbo and we saw a cow on the way haha Asked the man who was also watching the cow if it belongs to him but he said no. He said that he saw the cow while he was on his bike and went to fetch water for it because it looked thirsty. And he did it twice! Kind people :`)
Took the train back to our hostel and then went to 自强夜市. Comparing it to Taipei's night market, the size is a lot smaller but of course, still filled with delicious food! Did I mention that the shape of my face have totally changed? HAHA
Other than seafood, we also had goat meat, braised meat with rice, sheep meat, chicken meat stuffed in chicken skin (damn awesome!), bubble tea and shaved ice. In the end while taking pictures of ourselves we have to try many ways to have the V shaped face ha
It's 1.55am right now and I have only 3 more hours of sleep before my day starts. Tomorrow is going to be a very very packed day! And my face is itching with rashes :( and pimples :( Rahh get better!! Bye!
Labels: Taiwan, thcrashedlyrics, travel