Taiwan Guide : Tai Chung (V.1) - 3 Days 2 Nights 【台湾游】 台中 : 三天两夜

The compilation for 3 days 2 nights in Taichung with WHERE to GO and WHAT to EAT during Summer, August 2011.

All the following places and foods can be found in Taichung itself (by foot) and as you all know, we hired a diver a.k.a Brother Zhang (by transportation) for our trips to further places such as Sun Moon Lake (日月潭). For your information, ten of us stayed at Feng Jia, a convenient district for shopping and searching for various Taiwanese delicacies.

Taichung (台 中)
Feng Jia (逢甲) District
*Place to visit :
  - Day time at Feng Jia (逢甲)
  - Feng-Chia Night Market (逢甲观光夜市) 

*Foods to eat :
  - 野澤三 "Ye Ze San"
  - 满点速食早餐 (Direct translation : Full Dots Express Breakfast)

The following are the places that Brother brought us to - Trip to Sun Moon Lake （日月潭）from Feng Jia, TaiChung. 

Nan Tou (南投)
*Places to go 
  - Sun Moon Lake - SyuanGuang Temple (玄光寺)
  - Sun Moon Lake - Ita Thao Village (伊達邵)

*Souvenirs to buy :
  - Sun Moon Lake - 一福堂老店 (Oldest Bakery)

Puli (埔里)
*Food to eat :
  - 18度巧克力工房 (18 Degree Chocolate Factory) 

West District (西区)
*Souvenirs to buy : 
 - 日出土凤梨酥 (DawnCake)

After purchased cakes from Dawn Cake Bakery, Brother Zhang sent us back to Feng Jia during the evening, that completes our trip to Sun Moon Lake.

Furthermore, I received several emails from readers asking me regarding Brother Zhang's contact, and to ease most of you from sending inquiries to my mailbox, the following will be his contact :-

张嘉文 (张哥哥 / Brother Zhang)
0926-782788
URL : http://wish.okgo.tw
email : ls22912122@yahoo.com.tw

Okay! That's the complete compilation of my trip at Taichung. Have a nice trip for those who are going there for holiday! :)

- Feng-Chia Night Market (逢甲观光夜市) -

- Sun Moon Lake （日月潭）-

- Parrot found at Sun Moon Lake （日月潭）-

Read More

Taiwan : TaiChung - Homemade 18°C Ice Cream and Dawn Cakes!【台湾食】台中 - 自家做之18°C 雪糕 与 日出蛋糕好吃哦！

 Part 4 (The End) of Road Trip to Nan Tou (南投), Taiwan.

Finally, it's the last entry about trips and what I did/ visited at Taichung area - Feng Jia and Nantou. :)

Before we headed to the Chocolate Factory of tempting ice cream and the outlet of yummy Cheese Cakes and Pineapple Tarts, Brother Zhang (the Driver) brought us to 酒乡埔里 (Wineyard PuLi ) to have a look, unfortunately it was approximately 30 minutes before their closing time, therefore we had a quick look only.

We always heard about all kind of Taiwan must know, talking about nice desserts, 18度巧克力工房 (18 Degree Chocolate Factory) and 日出土凤梨酥 (DawnCake) are the one I love and most recommended one, non the less, 一福堂老店 (Yi Fu Tang Lao Dian) for Taiwanese Snacks too.

-  18度巧克力工房 (18 Degree Chocolate Factory) -

I don't know why it was named Chocolate Factory, but it definitely selling chocolate too. :) I had it and the dark chocolate truffles just heart melting. There's a story behind this shop that involving Father and Son relationship. Sweet, doesn't it? 

Every bites running through the throat were just too good to be true, the ice cream, sorbet, gelato, truffle and etc. :) Creamy and fruity with full ingredients in their preparation.

- ICE CREAMS!! -

The fruits shown makes our saliva automatically felt the taste. LOL :D

Seriously, long queue of people does make the ice cream taste even good. 

- Showing off what we had -

- Coffee Machine -

Even the coffee taste good there and it's for free! :) How I wish I will have one in my future home, coffee whole day long, serving friends and family easily. :) Nice Nice Nice!

- Once again, I'm feeling Eighteen -

Yea~ People thought I was 18 during my Taiwan. To happy or not to be happy?

**Official Website : Feeling18度c 巧克力工房 (18 Degree Chocolate Factory)

**Location :
545 南投縣埔里鎮慈恩街20號
(No. 20號, Cí'ēn Street, Puli Township, Nantou County, Taiwan 545)

Proceeding the the next place and we were almost back to the suite...

- The Sunset just beautiful with Round Salted Egg Yellow Sun -

Before night, Brother Zhang drove us to see Bitter Nut girls and they were mad hot with transparent clothing (sexy night wear). My Gosh! And Brother Zhang even treat us nice to let us take a look of them (bought bitter nuts) with a very very close distance, which... I have those photos, but I can't share. He even told us that when the night getting darker, those girls will get naked with a thin layer of fabric or a blazer to cover up. 

I see guys went "eye eating ice cream" thou. haha :D

So here we went after explored a little bit of Taiwanese lifestyle -

 - 日出土凤梨酥 (DawnCake) -

Getting closer back to our suite and we did bought nice cheese cakes from there too. IT IS VERYVERY MAD CHEESY AND CREAM, melted in the mouth kind of cheese cake. :)

They have one of the most beautiful packaging that I have seen so far, attractive and meaningful packaging with Chinese culture. Brother Zhang even told us that, tourists from near and far just love to go to Dawn Cake over and over again.

- Cakes for Souvenirs -

- Vintage Typewriter -

 

- Uplifted Vintage Lamp/ Fire Extinguisher -

- The Price List -

- All those are cheese cakes -

It has to be refrigerated, so that we could eat it while it is chill and in its best condition.

- Pineapple Tarts -

In facts, pineapple tarts divided into two (2) types which are SOUR and SWEET. We must take note of it to prevent from purchasing wrongly.

- Buy Buy Buy -

Meatball-Online bought some, Doggie bought some, IceHippo bought some, Singaporean friends bought some too. :) And in addition, Cheese Cakes for supper too!! :)

Official Website : 日出土凤梨酥 （DawnCake) Location : 台中市西区五权西三号街

No. 43, Wǔquán West 3rd Street, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan 403.

 That's all for TaiChung. Good bye TaiChung.

And next - Days at TAIPEI!!! I LOVE TAIPEI! 我爱台北！！

Read More

Taiwan : Sun Moon Lake, TaiChung - Lucky OWLS from Ita Thao Village【台湾游】 台中之日月潭的伊達邵

Part 3 of Road Trip to Nan Tou (南投), Taiwan.

5 minutes (within 10 minutes) ferry ride from SyuenGuang Temple（玄光寺）'s wharf, we arrived at Ita Thao Village (伊達邵)'s wharf. Everyone of us seems excited to visit the village and upon entering, we saw colours and various stores such as souvenir shop, dining restaurants, small eateries and etc along the street at the village.

-  Ita Thao Village (伊達邵)'s wharf -

Interesting building that looks like a large ship.

"Ita Thao is called Barawbaw in thao language. The Han people call it North Cave. It was named Te Hua village after the restoration of Taiwan, and is under the administration of Yuchi.

Barawbaw is the last residence of the thao people at Sun Moon Lake. On account of the continuous stream of tourists, many Han people moved here to go into trade. Therefore, Ita Thao becomes the most populous area around the Sun Moon Lake. There are stores, restaurants, and hotels in the village. Also the thao people establishes the "thao Cultural Village" for tourists to appreciate the traditional culture, songs, and dancing of the thao tribe.

The harvest ceremony, the most important and splendid ceremony among all the others held during the year, is held every year during August in lunar calendar. If you visit Ita Thao during this month, you will have the chance to appreciate the culture of thao people. Barawbaw(Ita Thao) is the entrance to the Shuishe Mountain." - Source

- Local Small Eateries 红茶山竹鸡 "Hong Cha Shan Zhu Ji" （Black Tea Bamboo Chicken) -

- Local Small Eateries 山猪肉香肠 "Shan Zhu Rou Xiang Chang" (Wild Boar Sausage) -

Quite a number of extraordinary eateries that we could find from the village, which... we might not see at the city. We had tried the Wild Boar Sausage and gosh! When we bite the sausages, the oil just burst out! More over, there's sausages that added with Taiwanese local Rice Wine and that's even tastier! Nom Nom Nom. :D

Beside the sausages we tried, we bought a few refreshing drink while sharing it among us for that warm day.

WE MUST DRINK LOTS OF WATER DURING SUMMER IN TAIWAN!

- 阿一小馆 "Ah Yi Xiao Guan" -

Randomly walk in to the restaurant when we saw the world 牛肉面 "Niu Rou Mian" (Beef Noodle)!! Without eating the famous local delicacies recommended by people all over the world, we shall presume that we never visited Taiwan before! :P

Walked in and sat down!

- Beef Noodle Soup -

- Fried Beef Noodle -

Both of the beef noodles taste good, the gravy and the soup were nice and different when compared with our Malaysian style.

- Hot and Red Oil Chilli -

When I sniffed the chilli, I was madly coughing and almost got me chocked. One drop of the chilli oil in the noodle we had was enough and spicy that we could never forgotten. 

Chilli lover must try it if you saw it at any of the restaurant in Taiwan. ;) Dare or not?

- Native Custom -

Who wanna buy one for collection? Different sizes from Children to Older people.

- Fukurou/ Owls -

At Sun Moon Lake/ Taiwan, the owl symbolised guardian, protection and believing good lucks that Fukurou will bring to the local. Even the pilots at the ferry that we went for the cruise are very keen to sell the lucky necklaces to all the tourists in the ferry too.

- Taiwan Spirit 台湾原色 "Taiwan Yuan She" -

- Taiwan Spirit 台湾原色 "Taiwan Yuan She" -

When we traveled from town to town/ place to place, some souvenirs bringing back as collection at home is a must have. Reasonable pricing with tempting offers that we couldn't have enough. Those key chains and fridge magnets, I love and a bunch of them (collection from other places too) keep inside my drawer and attached on the fridge at home.

- Local Wine -

Nice packaging attracted meatball's friends and I wonder, do they drink them?

Anyway, we walked back to the wharf together with other tourists after a short walk at the village, it was quite late as our nice Brother Zhang was waiting for us at Shuishe Pier (水社码头).

- Bye Ita Thao Village -

We shall meet again some day. :)

- Street Artist -

Before we leave Sun Moon Lake, I saw live guitarist. Nice to know there's people who did that at Sun Moon Lake! :)

Good bye Sun Moon Lake, you had treat us well.

View Ita Thao Village with larger view

Read More

Taiwan : Sun Moon Lake, TaiChung - SyuanGuang Temple 【台湾游】 台中之日月潭的玄光寺

Part 2 of Road Trip to Nan Tou (南投), Taiwan

Continued our road trip from the Bakery to Sun Moon Lake （日月潭）, Brother Zhang leave us at Shuishe Pier (水社码头) which also known as Sun Moon Lake Pier (日月潭码头). We waited Ice Hippo to buy us the Lake Cruise's (码头游艇) tickets to enjoy the sight seeing and well known temple. :) 

- A stamp for each guest -

Each adult ticket cost NTD300 and whoever going for the lake cruise will be stamped, without the stamp shown, no one is allowed to go for the lake cruise. So we took a picture of all of our stamped ARMs! :) Do you know which one is mine? ;P

- The Lake View from Shuishe Pier （水社码头/ 日月潭码头）-

A short walking distance that all of us need to walk before we go in to the right Cruise. :)



- That's Ours! -

The Lake Cruise crew required us to enter the Golden coloured Boat namely 日月之星二号 (Sun and Moon Star No. 2) , while during the lake cruise (before we stopped at the wharf of SyuenGuang Temple （玄光寺）), they introduced us the landmarks which can be seen along the lake and they even sell Owl Necklace to tourists as an ornament of protection and guardian of a person. Fukurou/ Owl is a symbol of good luck to them. :)

- Saw that golden pillar over the building? -

The pillar is made of GOLD!! If I'm not mistaken, it is a hotel at Sun Moon Lake.

- Arrived at the Wharf -



- Arrival at the entrance to SyuanGuang Temple （玄光寺）-

Crowded with people. Gosh! And everyone will take the hiking trail to reach Syuanguang Temple.



- The Map of Sun Moon Lake -

Sun Moon Lake area is so huge which consist of few temple and path way for hiking. I mean when there's a stair, that's for hiking purpose. Good environment for a walk.

- 阿麽之古早味 - 香菇茶叶蛋 (Ah Ma's Recipe of Mushroom Herbal Egg) -

They told us that the Herbal Eggs was good and yup! It was GOOD!! :) Everyone must try it and they were selling like hot cakes.

- Native Artists -

One of them looks cute. :) And I like their costume and their vocal.

I took a video and click "Play" to watch it for 1 minute ++.

- Native Tribe for performance (Youtube Channel HERE) -

Nice performance right? They are there to learn for a living and I love their voice. It was a loss that I didn't buy any of their records for remembrance. :( If I manage to visit Sun Moon Lake again, I will buy their CD! :)

- Hiking Trail to  SyuanGuang Temple （玄光寺） -

We had a walk for a while to reach the temple which located at the top. Along the path way, it was just green with trees and it just cleared a bit of our mind. Stop by and take some photos with the green background.

- Arrived at SyuenGuang Temple -

A perfect view of Sun Moon Lake from up there. Awesome and beautiful view right? I simply love scenery traveling kind of vacation besides.... SHOPPING!

- 拉鲁岛 (Lalu Island) -

Located at the middle of Sun Moon Lake and actually it was man made island. Once it was opened for the public to step on it, however, it was closed since an serious incident occured.

- Me and the Beautiful Scenery of the Lake -

- 盼望日月潭美景 A scenic view of Sun Moon Lake -

As written :

" The front of Syuanguang Temple affords  a fine view of Sun Moon Lake. Lalu Island （拉鲁岛） is clearly visible, as are all of the sights around the lake- the lovely hills of the Hanbi Peninsula and the Lalu hotel on its flank, and scenes near Shuenshe Village such as the Christian Church （耶稣堂）, Plum Lotus Garden （梅荷园）, Shuenshe Pier （水社码头）, and Jhaowu Pier （朝雾码头）. Passing tourist craft tie up expanding waves of ripples, adding a bit of movement to the picture-postcard beauty of the lake and the green mountains that surround it. "

- The Main Entrance of （玄光寺） - 

A long introduction about the history of the temple that I found from Sun Moon Lake's website.

" Syuanguang Temple, located around 2.5 kilometers from Xuanzang Temple, was built around 1955. The relics of the Buddhist monk Xuanzang are enshrined here. Xuanzang was a famous Tang Dynasty Buddhist monk. By order of the Tang emperor, he was sent to India to seek Buddhist scriptures.

After more than 10 years, he returned to China, bringing back more than 650 sutras, and together with his disciples, he translated 75 of these. He also acquired 1,335 scrolls. His efforts made great contributions to the spread of Buddhism in China. During the war between China and Japan, a Japanese person managed to acquire a fragment of Master Syuanzang’s bones from Nanjing. It was taken to Ci'en Temple in Japan’s Saitama Prefecture, where it was enshrined. In 1952, this piece of bone was brought to Taiwan, and after Syuanguang Temple was built at Sun Moon Lake in 1958, Master Syuanzang’s bone piece was placed there and enshrined.  

This temple lies between Sun Lake and Moon Lake. Inside is a golden idol of Master Syuanzang, above which is written, “Great National Scholar”. A wharf has been built by to the waters, with its back to the mountains. " - Source

- Stone Carving -

Many tourists were there and queuing for their turn to take a photo with the Stone, I did not wait for my turn, however I just took my photo with it behind. :P (That's a trick to prevent from long queue.)

We had a walk and enjoyed ourselves with photography and the beautiful scenery and off we go to return to the wharf to the next tourist spot at Sun Moon Lake. FYI, beside SyuanGuang Temple, there are some other temples to be visit to, if we have more time with more hiking. :)

- Mascot Buddies were there! -

For those who haven't meet them, view from Left to Right - Meet Bunny, PomPom, Meatball Turtle and Doggie. :) Ice Hippo didn't make it to Sun Moon Lake, her owner (the foot) left her unaccompanied at the hotel while that's the arms of Carlos L. (the one who don't have a mascot :S)

Returned to the wharf and headed to the next place, 

- Jiu Ju Cultural Village （九族文化村） through Sun Moon Lake Ropeway （日月潭缆车） -

Another way beside by road, we could opt for ropeway from the Lake to reach Jiu Ju Cultural Village. From what I have understood, Jiu Ju can also be known as a theme park which inclusive of Taiwan native culture that will be shown to all. Anyway, because of time constrain and inadvisable comments for tourists like us, we didn't visit Jiu Ju. 

Okay! That's the end off Part 2, next will be...

The Village at Sun Moon Lake - ITA THAO VILLAGE (伊達邵)

See what's exciting during the visit to that village that everyone believe in OWLS! :)


View Sun Moon Lake ShuiShe Pier (B) with larger map

Official Website : Sun Moon Lake

Read More

Taiwan : Nan Tou, TaiChung - YiFuTang, The Oldest Bakery 【台湾游】 台中之南投 ： 一福堂老店

Part 1 of Road Trip to Nan Tou (南投), Taiwan.

While we were on our way to Sun Moon Lake （日月潭）, Brother Zhang (our driver) brought us to Taiwan well known bakery at Nan Tou area. While I was surfing the internet searching for some information about this bakery, I have found out that there were few other branches which located at Taichung City too! :) However, I think it is not as large as the bakery that we had visited that day.

- The Logo -

The Logo of 一福堂老店 (Yi Fu Tang Lao Dian) which attached outside the building and I bet every tourists/ visitors will sees it while they are on their way to Sun Moon Lake and 九族文化村 (Jiu Ju Cultural Village).

- The Direction signboard -

Next destination was Sun Moon Lake!

Within two hours, I met so many tourists in groups from other Asian countries such as China and Hong Kong, I'm sure their itinerary includes the bakery as one of their visiting place.

- 天下第一酥 -

I assumed that the bakery is the first and oldest on at Taiwan. :) We entered the building and managed to took some photos of what I found it interesting and best seller of cakes. The above is the favourite spot where most/ all of the tourists might want to have their photo shooting with.

- The moulds  -

Various moulding board attached on the wall and all of them are quite interesting of all kinds of patterns, big or small. No, those attached are used 'for decoration purpose and people doesn't walk to the wall and pick whichever they want to use for their next products. :P

-  It's time to choose cakes and cookies! -

One corner of the products being presented and person in charge will introduced all kinds of cakes and cookies to their customers and varieties of tester for us to try! :D

- Their history represented by the frames hanged -

And the next...... Scroll to see more of their famous cakes, cookies, milky sweets and other local snacks to buy!

- Various choices of snacks and cakes as souvenirs to friends and family -

- 鲜奶太阳饼 (Xian Nai Tai Yang Bing) -

Direct translation would be Milky Sun Cookie. It taste soft and filling. It is a good selection as souvenirs to others, which most friends who came back will bring us this. I like this one and I did bought some for the office too, especially for my Boss with nice packaging designed box.

- 招牌柠檬饼 (Zao Pai Ning Mong Bing) -

The "Signature Lemon Cake", the texture of the cake is soft and taste.. still okay with sweet and lemon-ed flavour, combination of cake's texture, the person in charge recommended us to chill it before consuming and keep them inside the refrigerator. The cake would be nice if consume it together with a cup of coffee or tea during the afternoon.  :)

10 of us bought various cakes/ souvenirs and the benefits purchased from 一福堂老店(the bakery), they even have the transportation service of packing and sending the purchased items to our staying place a.k.a. the service apartment that we were living and we don't need to bring our goods through out the day trip.

Time consuming in the end and off we go to the next destination - Sun Moon Lake!

- Our Transportation and one of the building at Sun Moon Lake -

A very short introduction about Sun Moon Lake... I like the scenery and the native people there! However, that place was way to crowded with tourists and I felt miserable when those people were not that friendly and the whole place was NOISY!!! :(

- Cruising at Sun Moon Lake -

码头游艇， 我来咯！！！ Lake Cruising, HERE I COME!! :D

And it will be written in the coming Taiwan's entry! Stay updated!

Official Website : 一福堂老店

Location : Sun Moon Lake Branch, Taiwan - 日月潭店:南投縣埔里鎮桃米路23-2號

Read More