So I'm back from Taiwan. Let me just say that, this trip was made all possible by God. Before I went, little did I know how under prepared I was, but everything just felt into places. Even though I've missed out many of the things people considered must do, at least I was able to visit most of the places I've planned. And for a first time solo traveller, I think it's pretty good already :)
As soon as I got off the plane and stepped on Taiwan's soil, unexpected things happed to me. At that time I didn't know Taiwan requires 6 months before the expire date of the passport to enter, I didn't have that and my passport was considered expired. The custom officer then called up the Cathy Pacific people, I thought they were gonna send me right back, after 13 hr of flight! Then a manager came, tried to understand the situation. Then he talked to some custom supervisor, and at last, they were able to give me a limited one time visa. I paid about 2000 NT for it, which almost used up all my cash at the time, and then told me never to do that again. While I was taking the picture for the visa, I overheard another couple having passport problem, saying some relatives were stuck in HK because her passport is expired. They were arguing with the visa officer, but they just couldn't seem to get what they wanted. I was very fortunate that I didn't have to say much and got the visa.
When I finally got pass the border, it was close to 12 am already! My luggage has already been taken off the pick up belt, and was placed in front of a Cathy Pacific counter, I think they were about to send it back, thought it was a lost luggage! I went ahead and grabbed it.
Now I need cash for my hostel, I can't believe a money exchange shop was still opened, so late at night! I went ahead and exchanged some traveller cheques, at terrible rate.
Then I needed to find out how the heck I can get to my hostel. At that time, all bus would have stopped operating already. As I stood there looking all confused, a person came up to me asked me if I was trying to get to my hotel. He immediately offered me a rate that he said is better than the hotel shuttle. I thought, this is just the perfect time to be ripped off, but I didn't care, I took the offer as I didn't want to take anymore risk at that time. He charged me 1300NT, which afterward when I checked my Lonely Planet Tour Guide book, that's exactly the average price they stated. I got in his luxurious Volvle escort, and went straight to my hostel. He knew exactly where my hostel was. We also chatted all the way there. He told me all about Taiwan, and I found out he also went to Vancouver too! He was super friendly, his name is Bill Kuei. I totally recommend him!
When I finally got to my hostel, the owner was already gone, but a resident there knew I was coming, and he kindly pointed the way to my room, and to the washroom too! That night, the bath just seemed like the nicest I've ever taken, even though it had some of the most basic facilities.
On the next morning, I finally met the owner, and paid my money for the room. After that, I realized, I'm all out of cash again! And worst, it's Sunday, all banks are closed! Fortunately 7/11's open 24/7, and my bank card works on their ATM, I got 10,000NT, and that was the last time I ever withdrew cash in Taiwan!
After a Taiwan style breakfast, I started to search for the church that I planned to go. It took me 2 hrs to get there because I'm such a terrible map reader! But God let me got there just in time for the service. As soon as I got in line to get in the church, it started to rain real hard! The worship was wonderful! Even though I was super tired, I was able to enjoy the service all the way! I knew none of the songs they sang, but the worship team was just great! I can say that was the nicest praise & worship I ever had! As well the surmon, amazingly I was able to understand 90% of it! After that, I stood up as a new comer, an old lady sat next to me started to talk to me. She was super friendly, she even bought me lunch! We chatted, she talked about her past, and I shared some of my stories... At the end we even exchanged address. We both knew probably we won't see each other again, but it was just nice to get to know such a nice sister in Christ.
After lunch, the time was just perfect to go see the protest outside the president building! It was raining real hard, but I still went. I took a lot of pictures, and experienced the unity of Taiwanese people! Then I went across to the Sun Yet Sen Memorial Hall, and read the scripture on the wall. I suddenly had a deep feeling. When Sun Yet Sen founded the new China, it was actually based on Christian faith that he deeply believed in. But selfishness, and other evil ways, just bought it so far apart from his ideal society.
Because of the pouring rain, and I was taking lots of pictures, exposing the camera to all the rain, my camera started to malfunction! I went to a few more places, then went back to my hostel disapointingly. I then tried to make some calls to my friends in Taipei, but I can get through to none of them. At that time, sunddenly, I became so depressed! I'm all wet from top to bottom; its the first day of my trip, and I can't use my camera anymore; and I can't find any of my friends! Suddenly it seemed like a cold cold city and i just wanted to go home. I continued to find a dinner place, I tried to go to Si Lum night market, but got off at the wrong MTR station, then I just picked a place nearby to eat, then went back to the hostel and sleep. I prayed to God: this is such a crappy trip, can You just try to improve it a little bit for me? Then I closed the light and went to bed, right when I did that, the owner came up and said phone call for me! It was my friend!
The next day, amazingly, after everything has dried up, my camera started to work again! So I went to check out some other places in Taipei, and at night went to meet up with my friend. I got on his scooter, and experienced the rush and the pollution of the Taiwanese traffic!
Tuesday, I went to Jiu Fen, a very interesting little place, which made famous by a chines movie. Lots of interesting little shop there, and I took lots of pictures. I've bought a little interesting looking clay flute, and the owner taught me a little bit how to play. I think that day was the first day I started to get over my jet lag, and I started to eat more stuff, just in time for the snacks there! One candy shop, which wasn't particularly crowded, called Law Ji, the owner instantly recognized me as a Hong Kong-nese, and started to speak to me in Mand-Cantonese which was quite hard to understand. She seemed very friendly, not the kind that only want to sell you something... She let me try all the samples. She said lots of Hong Kong people buy stuff from her... and then showed me something her customer sent back to her to thank her... then she started asking why I travelled alone, and stuff... and that I should bring my GF to see her next time if I have one...! Taiwanese people are just so friendly!
After that, I've met up with my other friend, and had dinner at Si Meng Ding. The next morning I began my journey to Tai Chung and Sun Moon Lake. By taking the train it gave me lots of chances to see different side of Taiwan, however buying the ticket was very complicated at first. There are different trains going on the same route but stop at different stops. Some are faster, some are slower. So you have to look at this complicated time table to decide which one you want to take. Luckily there were some very helpful volunteers at the train station helped me to find the right one.
It took me like 5 hrs to go to a town near Sun Moon Lake! I think next time I'll consider going there by air. There I stayed at a very old hotel. When I got in, I was the only person there! It reminds me of some scary movie. Lucily there were no weird noise at night, and I was able to get to sleep that night after some struggle. At the next town called ChiChi I had a chance to do a little bike trip and expeirenced the rural Taiwan. The weather there was ever changing. It was really sunny and beautiful when I arrived. As I headed out on my bike trip, I started to see black clouds covering half of the sky, and just as I reached the end of the bike route and tried to rush back to the rental place, the rain came pouring on me. It was quite an experience!
The next day I went to Sun Moon Lake and did a lot of hiking in the morning. The exact samething happened, gourgous weather in the morning, but pouring in late afternoon. In the afternoon, I began my round-lake tour by taking the round-lake tour bus, which has a very complicated time table, but with the right timing, it allows you to stop at different view points and pick you up after about an hour. I find that not many people took the bus, seems many people took the scooter instead. Anyway, for the entire day, me, another Japanese solo traveller, and an Iseral couple were the only customers! And all day the bus was operated by one bus driver. The bus driver was such a dedicated driver. Since there weren't many of us on the bus, he tried to help us to schedule where we should go! He even asked me to do English translation for the Iseral couple. That's when I started to chat with the couple. They are a retired couple, touring all over the world. They told me all the different places they went, and told me where I should visit in Taiwan too! Before that, they've spent 30 days to tour all over China! They didn't know any Chinese, but they made it through the trip and actually enjoyed it! Before that I always thought it would be quite dangerous to travel to China without a tour guide, due to all the theives, rip offs. and fake food! But this couple gave me a new light, maybe I should start planning my China trip!
During those days, I had a lot of chances to talk to different people, and they were all very friendly, and gave me lots of help. No one there ever tried to rip me off.
After that, I was off to HK. There I met many old friends, and had a lot of seafood. Also, I met with my aunt who had a stroke last year. I was so grateful to learn that my uncle has recieved Christ because my aunt made it through alive. Even though my aunt has to use wheel chair now, I can say that they are living a much happier life now. Everyday is a blessing for them.
My trip has finally ended, and I can't believe it's over already. Even though it's only a week and a half, it seemed like a long time. As I started to go back to work, to church, and see the same people I used see everyday, I realized that everything is back to normal again. I do hope that somewhere down the road, I'll go back there again!
Gallery
There are a few open areas with a refreshing view. Despite it’s close proximity to the highway, you do see some wildlife. I managed to see 1 squirrel, few ducks, a huge rabbit, and few horses. There’s a horse barn near Cariboo, so likely you’d see people walking the horses on the same trail. There’s a small dam at Cariboo and a few benches next to the river, facing west, so a nice area to rest and enjoy the sunset a little bit before heading back.
