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Taiwan trip 26 feb 2014 day 1

Day 1: SG to Taoyuan to Taichung

Our flights booked in May 2013 was finally due after many changes at Jetstar's side. We woke up at 5am to prepare for our trip to Taiwan. This is the 3rd time Im travelling to Taiwan with Mr Cheong but we have never been to Taichung prior to this trip. N to speak the truth, though we have booked the flights early, we have made no preparation for it till after CNY which was Feb 2014. Have been too tied up with wedding preparations, honeymoon, cny, and setting up of my own business.
Itinerary was in a mess.. ahahah and even 1 wk before the trip, I have yet to confirm our lodgings.. everywhere which I wanted to book was fully booked as it crashed with the  228 Memorial Day in Taiwan. We were very curious about this 228-long weekend and did a check on it during our trip.
Nevertheless, we were finally on our way...
We reached Singapore Changi Airport T1 at about 615am and checked in.
(Pardon my naked face)

since we still have some time before our flight at 715am, and boarding time 0640, we walked around to take some photos and search for breakfast


There were some greeneries made Piza, Trojan horse etc. I only helped Mr Cheong took pic with the Trojan horse since that's the only one which we have not seen the real thing.

However, Im very impressed with 'The social tree' which I feel is quite fun and interactive for travellers.


This was what we have designed and it was sent to our email for keepsake.




Decided to settle for breakfast at Killney cafe since not many shops were opened. I had the usual traditional Kaya toast + eggs + milk tea since I like bread 


and Mr Cheong had NaSI Lemak which looks rather pathetic to me

It's now time for boarding and towards Taiwan!
Upon arrival at Tao Yuan International Airport, our first stop was to the money exchange. We decided to use the US$ which was left from our honeymoon trip to change directly to NT$ instead of changing it to S$ and then to NT$ which would cause us to incur more losses if we were to do so....
2nd stop was to the telco in which we get the tourist card from Chunghwa telco which was just beside 台湾大哥大 (terminal 1, 1F)  We chose Chunghwa as there wasnt any queue but super long queue for 台湾大哥大 (anyway both of them have the same price plans)
The price plan is of below:

1-day: NT $ 100
3-days: NT $ 250
5-days: NT $ 300
7-days: NT $ 450
10-days: NT $ 500
30-days: NT $ 900

We knew that Taiwan tourism board actually has free wifi in many areas for tourists but we were still considering if we should self drive to some of the locations in Taichung thus decided to get the data card instead... Wifi would not work when we are on the road. We got the 10days card for our 9 days trip.
Mr Cheong started complaining that he was hungry. Yet he didnt want to have a proper lunch as he wanted to 'save' the space in his stomach for the yummilicious street food. So he got 'Lok-Lok' from the convenience store located at the airport to fill the stomach while I made a call to our Taichung's minsu. The lady had been calling me afew times the days before to confirm and reconfirm + keep reminding me to give her a call when I reached Taoyuan airport... I guess she must have been worried.. scare that I will fly her aeroplane the very last min since I did not pay a single cent for deposit.


After the quick food, we got our bus tickets from Ubus to take us from Taoyuan international airport to Taoyuan HSR station.


HSR standard tickets from Taoyuan to Taichung cost NT$590 per pax and we reached after about 40mins. 

Next we switched to HSR shuttle 160 (free is u flash your HSR tickets) to get to Fengjia. The lady told us to alight at Fengjia University but we missed our stopped as we just couldnt see any fengjia university along the way. Luckily, we only missed by 1 stop and Mr cheong had to help me pull the luggage and walk back 
The lady has already reached and brought us from the bus stop to the minsu which is like a 5min walk away. I must really emphasize on the difficulties in getting a minsu/hotel due to the 228 long weekend and almost thought that I would need to give Taichung a miss and change location.
Luckily the lady managed to squeeze out a room for us.
After  leaving our luggages at 逢甲浪漫蒔尚,  (review for 逢甲浪漫蒔尚) the lady gave us this cute little map around the vicinity which we didnt use.. we prefer to explore on our own.

We were advised to get a 优游卡 from 7-11 before we depart to yizhong shopping area

Exploring Fengjia vicinity

My dear Mr Cheong is hungry again and 吴记排骨酥 attracted him. His very first street food in Taichung.



The next thing which attracted Mr Cheong was the 花枝烧 aka fried squid. 




However, Mr Cheong soon got sick of the 花枝烧 though we did eventually finished it

There is a 50 嵐 just beside 7-11 (we bought our mrt card which can be used in both Taichung and Taipei) near to the entrance of 逢甲大學 and we decided to get the usual Red tea macchiato. Im actually rather surprised... why? cause this was Mr Cheong's first and last of 50 嵐 in Taichung, usually he would buy whenever he saw it....

Fengjia university 逢甲大學




We saw many CCA groups like the above in the garden of Fengjia university. We thought that they may be having some open house or whatever activities. Wanting to experience more of their university in Taichung, Mr Cheong decided to hold a lesson on financial accounting 


but it was so boring that everyone in the classroom left and Im the only student who gave him face by remaining in my seat though as you can see, Im bored as well


I wasnt the only one who was feeling bored during lessons yah?


I was attracted by the above. Doesnt it looks like the check-in sign on facebook? There were a few of them in FengJia University compound

Tried to take a pic together with Mr Cheong at the 'checked-in' sign but.. think we failed as it was blocked. After checking out Fengjia university, we proceeded to Yizhong street

FengJia University station to YiZhong street 逢甲大學  to 一中街

Buses from Fengjia university bus station to Yizhong Jie : 5,25,35 (first 8km is free) 
Cant really rem which bus we took but we only paid NT$9 to get from Fengjia University to Yizhong street (alight at 中友百貨)

Time for Food!!!



 We bought the mango ice cream puff... not that yummy though... cause the ice cream inside the puff was frozen and very hard. Maybe if you wait for a while longer it might taste better





碳考鸡排 is very popular in Taiwan... Stalls selling this always have a long queue however, we found the taste average only.
Along 一中街, there is a line of cute and fanciful restaurants and cafe. Modern toilet cafe is also along that street.



I already like how the taiwanese decorated their restaurants/cafes... so cute!


Feeling thirsty after food, we went in search for some drinks and we came across this 阿月红茶. Mr Cheong ordered their recommended Ice Lemon Tea and we felt it was refreshing.


Continue to search for more food


half boiled egg in the japanese wheeled pancake.. Something special





Mr Cheong requested to have a photo taken with this Rabbit mascot.. and I thought I will have 1 taken too


Mr Cheong thought that the below pinafore looks like a school uniform and thought it was suitable for me.. Personally I dont think i'll look good in that


we decided to travel back to Fengjia after that....and continued with our food hunt



If you are at the Fengjia night market, please go check out the famous and popular 官之霖大肠包小肠. it is really nice and must go to the 总店. we tried the 3rd store too also at Fengjia subsequently but it doesnt taste good.





and seriously as Im typing this now, Im missing the 柳橙绿 drink from this store
By then it was already passed midnight, time to go back for a rest!

For more photos can visit my Facebook :)
Read about my Taiwan 2014 travelogue:







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