summary of taiwan (2010);

I'm currently on a blogging marathon to update on my past travel adventures before i leave for my next one in 10 days time! (:

So here's a quick summary of my 14-days Taiwan trip:

Upon arrival at Taoyuan Airport, we were being picked up by my friend's sister to her place in Hsinchu. It was pretty late by the time we reach her humble abode so we had an early night. The next day, we were up early ready to explore around and decided to take the train from Zhudong to Neiwan. Neiwan is a beautiful Hakka Town with traditional wooden architectures and old streets, where visitors may savor traditional Hakka eateries and shops by the old Neiwan Railway Station.

The next day, i went on a solo adventure and took the high speed rail from Hsinchu to Taichung, to explore Sun Moon Lake. This lake is famous for its clear sparkling blue water and picturesque mountain backdrop.

We took the train to Hualien the following day to explore Taroko National Park. Taroko Gorge is framed by sheer seaside cliffs and majestic inland mountain peaks. This impressive gorge located off the east coast offers crystal clear waterfalls plunging down the rock faces, marble­ ­­walled canyons, lush vegetation and cliffs so outsized they block out the sky.

We manage to drop by the Lavender Cottage, a beautiful farm with a restaurant that serves all kinds of lavender delicacies. It is a beautiful place to enjoy the scenic environment together with the subtle lavender scent that lingers around.

One of the highlights of the trip was our visit to Cingjing Farm. Being 1,750 meters above sea level, the weather is superb and one can immerse yourself in the fresh air and the scenic wild greenery of the Cingjing Farm.

While in Taipei we manage to eat our way through Shihlin and Raohe Night Market, shop around Wufenpu wholesale market and Ximending area. We did not miss out some of the main touristy place as well, such as CKS memorial hall and Taipei 101.

Some of the day trips that we had out of Taipei includes Danshui Old Street where the Fisherman Wharf and Lover's bridge are located, Yeliu Geopark, Jin Gua Shi (Gold Ecological Park), Jiufen, Huang Jing Pu Bu (Golden Waterfall) and Ying Yang Hai.

Alright, i'll have to sign off now. I will write up a detailed update soon. Till then, xoxo.

the venice of china - suzhou (2007);

After 4 days in Shanghai, we traveled on to Suzhou. The place where it's famous for canals and waterways, stone bridges, pagodas and exquisite gardens. About more than 40% of the city is covered in water, that being so, it definitely deserve the title as the Venice of China.

We visited a few of the classical gardens of Suzhou as well as a water town. Humble Administrator's Garden and Lingering Gardenare are among the four most famous classical gardens in China. One can take a relaxing stroll and soak into the serene ambiance unmatched anywhere. For those who appreciate it, the artistic merit of the gardens is also noteworthy. It is well worth the effort to get here if you are already in Shanghai since it's only a 45 minutes bullet train journey.

While traveling in China, you will soon realize that space and clean air are considered as a luxury. In the gardens, you will be able to have a peaceful experience in full view of the beauty. The gardens are meticulously planned, beautifully crafted and so lovingly preserved.

This is an extremely photogenic area of China so make sure you have an extra memory card and battery for your camera. I would recommend one to take the boat tour as the peaceful ride will provide a glimpse of how people live along the canal. Try to get on a boat right before or during sunset, you will be able to see the lanterns light up along the canal, which can be quite a magical experience.

how it all started - shanghai (2007);

I vividly remember my first school trip to Shanghai and Suzhou. It was my first time going overseas, and everything seems pretty new to me - from boarding the plane, to navigating around in a foreign place and eating random street food.

Being a study trip, we are always on the road visiting various companies and logistics port. But when the night falls, that's when the adventure really begins.

On our first night, we stop by The Bund, where the iconic waterfront provides a spectacular view of the Huangpu River and skyscrapers with cruise ships drifting along. During or after sunset is definitely the best time to stop by when the dizzy array of lights take over the night sky.

We then stop by East Nanjing Road - a touristy place and pedestrian street mainly for shopping. We had quite an unnerving incident there that night. There are quite a number of salesperson going around with brochures showing what their shops have to offer, and being a curious bunch of school kids, we followed one of them. We were then led to small alleys away from the main strip, and that's where we start to feel uncomfortable. The real hair-raising part is when the salesperson start to lock the doors after we enter the shop. We try to keep cool about it and walk around the shop looking at the various fake bags and shoes. After showing signs of disinterest, we headed to the door and felt a pang of relief when they unlock the door for us. If someone approaches you on the main strip, never follow them as you could get yourself into some real danger.

We manage to go up to the observation level of the Oriental Pearl Tower. Being a distinctive landmark that looks like a space capsule, the view from above is absolutely breathtaking. This place is probably a good start for one to have a glimpse of the city.

One of the most memorable adventure for me is definitely when we roam around the streets (we were staying in a red light district) looking for food after our lecturers are asleep. From weird looking mini lobster, dumplings, corns and wings, it was all surprisingly delicious, better than the usual 10-course dinner that we have every night. Not to forget the morning that we escape to get soymilk and youtiao (chinese crullers) for breakfast.

This trip was about 6 years ago, and i believe Shanghai must have changed a lot since then. My brother have recently came back from Shanghai for a work visit, and from what i heard, it is a really expensive city to live or even travel around now.