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

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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

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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

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Taiwan : Feng Jia, TaiChung - Full Stop Breakfast!【台湾游】 台中之逢甲 - 满点速食早餐！

Part 4 (Last) of Feng Jia-Chia, Taichung. :)

The day which we were going to start our day trip far from Feng Jia to Sun Moon Lake, the well known cake house/ souvenir shops while we were on our way and at the same time, some sight seeing too.

But before we started our day, BREAKFAST will be the first thing we had in mind and we must leave Feng Jia at 10.30am to start our fun trips with the transportation service we had hired! And you know what? There was only one place we could have our breakfast and especially it is located near to the guest room we lived. FYI, restaurants there normally opens later in the afternoon (11.00am as a norms) or in the evening, in fact it's depends on the location too.

- Feng Jia Shoplots -

We met our guest room's owner, Mr. Chiou at the breakfast place and he told us that the breakfast served was okay and okay it may seen. Found some seats and ordered our local breakfast just like others.

- 满点速食早餐 (Direct translation : Full Dots Express Breakfast) -

Where we were having our breakfast at the walk way of operating shops in the evening.

- The Menu of 满点速食早餐 -

The various Sandwiches, Fried Noodles, Beverages, theomelet, Bacon and others for your to fill our hunger before we started our day.

In fact, Taiwanese breakfast consist of high calories, and of course we need to depends on which restaurants/ cafes we visited.

And now, all of these were the breakfast we had!

-Vegetables Theomelet （蔬菜蛋饼）-

I never come across the word "theomelet" before, until I went google-ing in its Chinese words (lol). *geleng kepala*

Their theomelet was okay as I have tried a few pieces and sharing the whole plate with friends too.

- 鲜奶茶 (Fresh Milky Tea) -

Taiwanese Bubble Teas are awesome and as well as theirs! Is a must try when we visit Taiwan. :)

- 炒面蛋 (Fried Noodle with Eggs) -

I finished the whole plate of noodle and it was just nice for an individual portion and most of all - REASONABLE!! Conversion approximately NTD 10 = RM1.00, it's only RM3.80! :)

- Breakfast on the second day -

Since we had breakfast there before, might as well we had another breakfast again at the same place and it was the nearest and easiest spot we could have our breakfast before we leave Feng Jia to Taipei.

And now.... Teaser for the next post. :)

 - Mountains that we saw -

We were on our way to Nantou (南 投), our nice diver - Mr. Zhang told us a short introduction about that mountain whereby the mountain named 100 mountains or 99 mountains which formed after the earthquake years ago, I can't recall it and even I googled ups and downs, I just can't find the name of that mountains and there's a whole long lists of mountains at Taiwan. (OMG).

That's breakfast for us before we start our journey, stay tuned for the next Taiwan entries of mine! :)

Location : Feng Jia, Taichung （逢甲， 台中）

p/s : If you like my Blog, do vote for withinmeitzeu as "the best travel blog" in World Bloggers and Social Media Awards 2012 HERE by 28 January, 2012 as a support and encouragement! :) Thank you.

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